Local growth fund helps John E Wright upgrade Hull operations

Print Solutions

Following the installation of a Zünd digital cutting table at its Nottingham facility in 2014, John E Wright has invested in an additional system for its Hull operation.The Zünd G3 L-2500 was purchased with the help of the Local Growth Fund delivered by North East Lincolnshire Council. Its installation will significantly speed up and increase finishing operations for the exhibition, sign and display company – so much so that John E Wright plans to expand its current workforce of 13 employees with immediate effect.

Commenting on last year's installation of a similar Zünd G3 with Prepare-it automated workflow software at John E Wright's central facility in Nottingham, Alan Edwards, technical director, said: ‘Thanks to a significant reduction in the time needed to prepare files for ripping and cutting we have seen a massive increase in productivity and a much lower waste percentage.’

Hull's G3 features the same software and is expected to deliver equally impressive results.

Formerly, vinyl cutting was done on a Mimaki CG-130 FXII cutter but all other cutting and trimming was completed by hand – a time consuming process for a busy print room – or substrate manufacturers would cut the materials to size. Now, the production team can bring more cutting work in-house and use more profitable materials for banners, point of sale, posters and roll up graphics. Thanks to the machine's 1 Kw router, it can also handle thicker substrates popular for signage, such as Dibond, MDF, Forex and acrylic up to 30 mm thick.

Additionally, Zünd UK supplied the G3 with PackZ software, enabling John E Wright to expand its Hull services with packaging mock ups and other new products.

The cutting table is running alongside an Océ flatbed printer and several HP Latex printers.

Andy Magson, manager of the Hull factory, commented: ‘Having installed the Zünd and Prepare-it software less than a week ago we are already seeing the benefits. Now we have all our services in-house which gives us better control over jobs and gives our clients faster turnaround times. It integrates with all our print machines and streamlines our workflow, saving us hours each day.’

He added, ‘It was the missing piece of the jigsaw for us to offer a complete service in-house. We are already seeing the benefits as we have gained new clients from having the machine.’

Like all Zünd systems, the G3 L-2500 has a modular design to enable a configuration to be created for every user depending on their individual needs, and to be retrofittable with new tools or technology. It is also designed for maximum automation, efficiency and safety, and minimum maintenance and operator intervention, while being robust and reliable for heavy duty work.