SP Print Solutions Invests in a Mimaki Printer & JWEI Cutter
Founded four months ago by Steve Partington, SP Print offers wide-format print services backed by his 25+ years of industry experience.
Gloucestershire-based start-up, SP Print Solutions, has installed a Mimaki JFX200-2513 EX flatbed UV LED printer and JWEI JCUT-2131 digital cutting table from CMYUK. Together, the new investments form a powerful production engine to drive a diverse range of wide-format printing and finishing applications.
The business was set up four months ago by Steve Partington, who has over 25 years of experience in the print industry. It offers a broad range of wide format digital printing services, including display graphics, signage, vinyl and glass manifestation, bespoke packaging, and more.
Steve chose to purchase equipment through CMYUK–a company he already knew and respected. Having worked in the printing industry for some time, he was well aware of CMYUK’s reputation, through his own personal experience and through contacts who also have a relationship with the company. "I knew that if I wanted to find the knowledge, support, and finance in one place, CMYUK would tick all the boxes," he says.
Mimaki reliability
Steve chose the legendary Mimaki JFX200-2513 EX flatbed UV LED printer, a trusted workhorse recognised for its quality, versatility, and reliability. "I needed something that I knew would work with pretty much any substrate. We offer a wide range of materials, including, but not limited to, paper, board, polypropylene, PVC, composite panels, acrylic and SAV. I know the Mimaki is something I can grow into, and it's easily interchangeable," he says.
The Mimaki JFX200-2513 EX, often dubbed as the most popular entry-level flatbed on the market, is a perfect all-rounder. Steve chose the four-colour model with white, which prints up to 1200dpi. It also features a vacuum bed that can handle both rigid and flexible substrates up to 50mm thick. This flatbed also delivers high-value, textured effects through its 2.5D print ink layering capabilities. It’s also space-efficient, simple to use, and has low running costs.
JWEI partner
Complementing the Mimaki is the JWEI JCUT-2131 digital cutting table. Since their UK launch in September 2023, the JWEI JCUT cutting tables have disrupted the finishing market leaderboard, offering all the capabilities of premium brands, with a rich feature set included as standard–at an unprecedented price.
The JWEI JCUT-2131 delivers superb digital cutting capabilities without compromise. Now all businesses, from the smallest owner operator, can benefit from high quality, precision cutting, and speed, which is usually reserved for the historic premium brand, higher-price solutions.
The cutter includes an automatic feeding conveyor, 1800kW liquid cooled router for powerful milling, Auto Tool Changer (ATC), Universal Cutting Tool (UCT), Kiss Cut Tool (KCT), Electric Oscillating Tool (EOT), Crease Wheel Tool (CWT), V-Cut Tool (VCT), and a modularised cutting head that accommodates up to 3 sets of tool combinations simultaneously. Speed performance from this table is formidable too, running up to 1200mm per second (the equivalent of 75m per minute), and a maximum acceleration point of 1G.
"I've used various cutting tables in the past, and the JWEI's value for money and capabilities both now and for the future made it a no-brainer over any other cutting equipment that's available. Everything that I've wanted to do with it, so far, I've done with ease," says Steve.
Future proofing himself, Steve purposefully chose a larger sized model. "I could have gone for the smaller table, but the last thing I wanted was, in five years' time to think to myself, 'I wish I'd bought the bigger one'," he adds.
Installation and training
Installing the equipment was a very positive experience."I certainly got the most out of the installation team, who were absolutely amazing," says Steve. "There were some initial concerns about the positioning of the equipment, but the team were very patient and very helpful. We put all the kit in, took it out and then put it all back in again in another configuration. They were just brilliant."
Likewise, the training. "It was very thorough; and the engineers were great. Although I have the knowledge from using both Kongsberg and Zund machines previously, the JWEI and its software is new to me, and so we went through every tool and every material in detail. Of course, should I need anything, i know that CMYUK is always at the end of a phone. I've also been invited up to CMYUK demonstration centre any time, to sit with the team and go through some of the finer details of certain applications, should I so wish," he says.
The printer and cutting table are ideal companions, underpinning Steve's production workflow perfectly, providing him with quality, versatility, and the capacity for growth. "It's early days but I've found that the majority of people who have placed an order with me have come back for more," he says, adding, "With these two principal pieces of equipment, I'd like to think that I can handle whatever comes through my door."