Preston-based Optimum Signs is to launch a new division that will involve the exclusive distribution of key products primarily aimed at the events and hospitality sectors. The company – which in the first six months of this year surpassed last year’s figures, making this its eighth year of growth – is expanding its large-format services which it aims to be 50/50 trade services.
The moves come on the back of investment in staff and kit. A general manager is to join the company this year, allowing senior project manager Darren Watt to step back from production and focus on R&D and sales, and investment in a Canon Colorado 1650 – supplied by CMYUK – is providing new opportunities.
Prior to the installation of the Colorado, Optimum was running six older Mimaki printers, three of which (2 x solvent and 1 x UV) have been replaced by the Colorado, with the remaining three retained for small volume output. Other equipment in the company’s plant list includes a Kongsberg digital cutting table, Mimaki JFX 500 flatbed and Mimaki UJV 55-320.
The ability to deliver a possible huge campaign for a new national media client was what ultimately pushed Optimum towards investment in a new printer. “I said I’d buy the Colorado if we won the job, but we didn’t,” said MD Matthew Austin. “But we were still suffering with the same production issues. I soon came to realise that we couldn’t afford not to have one. Once the Colorado was installed, it hit the ground running outputting over 800m2 in the first four weeks alone, something that could not have been achieved with the old production line-up.”
Austin added: “The ability to switch between matt and gloss is a fantastic feature of [the Colorado]. The colour consistency, the fact that we can get it to match Pantones, easily is impressive. We work for a national retailer that uses a particular type of blue, and the Colorado reproduces this colour the same every single time. The UV-gel inks seem to go further too.”
A recent favour for a sign-maker to produce 50 2mx1.2m banners saw the Colorado output two rolls of material at 68m2/hr. “Both rolls were printed in less than three hours. The guy that dropped off the media was shocked when we called to say the job was ready for collection. It was a quick turnaround but still with impeccable colour and print quality.”
Optimum Signs has grown year-on-year for the past seven years. The purchase of a Kongsberg digital cutter in 2019 helped to keep it fit, agile, and responsive throughout the Covid pandemic. Recognising the opportunity for outside dining bought about by that pandemic, the company started promoting its Alfresco range of outdoor products (café barriers and posts, parasol umbrellas, festoon lighting, planters, awnings, canopies etc). That product line is expected to become turbo charged with the launch of the new division.
The future of Optimum Signs will see a business of two distinct parts. It has always manufactured traditional neon and has a department dedicated to the bending of glass for this portfolio. “It’s a beautiful product line that’s becoming more niche but also opens up lots of doors for us,” said Austin.
