Positive+ Purchases SwissQprint Machine at The Print Show
The Positive+ team at the SwissQprint stand at this year's Print Show where the deal was confirmed
Positive+ has confirmed the purchase of a new Impala 5 printer from SwissQprint at The Print Show in September, which is set to boost speed and streamline production.
The decision has been three years in the making, with the Mitcham, Greater London-based business waiting for the right time to make the investment.
Multiple options were considered when it came to picking a new printer, however the 2.5m SwissQprint flatbed stood out after the Positive+ team went to demo the model.
“The team was suitably impressed,” Danny Sullivan, managing director at Positive+ told Printweek, “and we knew what our clients required.”
Sullivan explained: “It was a process of talking to our clients, understanding where they're going in the next 12 to 24 months and then understanding what machine was required for that. And the SwissQ basically stood out head and shoulders above everybody else.”
The company’s existing kit facilitates its customer requirements; however the new machine is set to tackle speed, Sullivan explained, while the quality on all substrates and the support offered by the supplier were important factors.
“Ensuring that we get to market with the right quality, right budget is a key element, but it really comes down to a reliable machine taking out roadblocks and making a streamline production.”
Sullivan added: “The team felt that it wasn't a sales pitch, it was a journey that we're going to go on with them for the next five years; that was a key dynamic that the team really liked.”
Positive+ offers services in design, print, direct mail and installations, with the new machine set to predominantly work on the POS market such as on banners and posters, as well as adding value to its FSDU, CTU, office and retail fitout offerings.
Additionally it is hoped the machine will open a market for larger volume runs and greater capacity, while helping boosting quality as the business launches B2C sites through its online technology.
The machine is due for installation in the firm’s 3,250sqm factory at the end of November.
A further purchase is also lined up within the next two weeks for additional supporting finishing kit, soon to be confirmed, with total investment expected to total between £400,000 to £500,000.
The business has recently spent time and funds focusing on IT improvements such as workflows and online shops, making sure these were in the right place before making its recent investment.
Typical clients for the business include retail, leisure and pharmaceuticals with growing interest from print management companies.
Sullivan’s father founded Solo Print, a print consultancy firm, in 1993 which went on to become Positive Images UK after Sullivan joined the company in 1993.
Then in 2019 the business partnered with Colouration, a supplier of POS material for the beauty and fragrances industry, with the two companies becoming one to form a new larger print group and rebranding as Positive+.
The business employs 24 full-time staff and four part-time, with a turnover of £3.2m this year, reflecting a 6% growth on the previous year.
In the next 18 months the business is looking to an additional 25% growth.