Artisan Signs Invests in Agfa’s Anapurna Ciervo H3200
UK-based Artisan Signs has invested in Agfa’s Anapurna Ciervo H3200 hybrid wide-format inkjet printer. They were impressed by Agfa’s Asanti software, used to operate their Avinci dye-sub printer from Agfa, which they purchased in 2023. This positive experience was a decisive factor in their decision to buy the new Agfa printer as it utilizes the same workflow software, thereby streamlining their processes.
Artisan Signs was established in 1997 by Graham Davey and his father, who had extensive experience in the print industry. At that time, Graham was living in Canada, but he returned home to help set up the business. He became the Managing Director when his father retired in 2008. The company remains a family affair, with his wife Alison and son Jake now part of the management team. Artisan Signs has been located on the same trading estate for the past 28 years and currently operates from a 7,500 sq ft unit, employing seven people.
The business has evolved significantly over the years, transforming from a focus on hard signage to a more print-based approach in line with trends in the signage industry. With the advent of wide-format printing, they invested early in this technology. While Artisan still serves customers from its early days and is well-known locally for producing hard signage and vehicle graphics, approximately 70% of the business now caters to the exhibition trade. They collaborate with contractors and exhibition organisers, who have become the driving force behind the business. This latest kit is required to satisfy this market specifically, and Artisan has made this significant purchase, an investment of £190,000, to meet those needs.
Artisan first became a customer of Agfa when they purchased Agfa’s Anapurna 1650 print engine in 2010. Subsequently, they invested in a Canon Arizona 3.2m flatbed UV printer and a Mimaki UHV 320 roll-to-roll machine. However, both of these machines began to show signs of ageing and were becoming problematic. As a result, they decided to replace them with a new Anapurna Ciervo H3200 hybrid print engine installed in January this year.
Over the past two years, Artisan had assessed the market and attended industry events such as FESPA. Ultimately, their decision to choose the new Ciervo machine was influenced by the Asanti workflow, which they found to be highly effective. They thought it made perfect sense to have the new Agfa Anapurna Ciervo printer operating alongside their incumbent Avinci dye-sub machine.
The Anapurna Ciervo family consists of hybrid wide-format inkjet printers available in three sizes: the H3200, with a print width of 3.2 meters, the H2500 (2.5 m) and the H2050 (2.05 m). Their hybrid design allows them to handle a diverse range of rigid and roll media for both indoor and outdoor applications. Productivity is enhanced by efficient continuous board feeding and the ability to print on multiple boards simultaneously (up to four).
Additionally, the printers utilize UV LED technology, offering both economic and ecological advantages. They are compatible with GREENGUARD Gold-certified inks that feature Thin Ink Layer technology, which helps reduce ink consumption. These inks provide a wide colour gamut and exceptional rendering of dark solid tones, along with capabilities for pre-white, sandwich white, and post-white printing in a single run.
“The decision to acquire another Agfa machine was primarily driven by the Asanti workflow software, which we have been using since 2023 after purchasing the Agfa Avinci dye sublimation print engine. Since the Anapurna Ciervo also operates on the Asanti software, it streamlines the production flow to our Zund G3 cutting table and eliminates a step in the studio’s workflow. This reduction in processing time is very beneficial for us, especially when meeting tight deadlines for exhibitions. Additionally, Graham Clark, the Asanti specialist at Agfa, is highly responsive and provides effective solutions, which significantly influenced our decision-making process,” said Graham Davey, Managing Director of Artisan Signs.
Both old machines were removed from the building before the new Agfa Anapurna Ciervo H3300 arrived. Artisan needed the floor space and had to reorganise the shop floor to take delivery and accommodate the new printer before Christmas. Traditionally, Artisan experiences a slowdown in December, so this timing was best, they then waited until early January to install the new machine and train the team. The new printer was operational and ready for daily tasks by January 8, 2025. Overall, Artisan has expressed their satisfaction with this investment. The white print capabilities are of much higher quality and quicker than before. The capacity of the new hybrid printer more than compensates for the two old machines and will enable them to take on more business. Additionally, they are looking forward to the energy savings associated with the cold-curing feature of the new machine. There is a general movement within the exhibition industry to be more mindful of short-use items and their environmental impact. Artisan is very aware of this and is strongly committed to promoting green products, utilising eco-friendly inks, and investing in energy-saving technologies to reduce their environmental footprint.
Finally word from Graham: “We completely trusted Agfa to get the new machine up and running quickly, especially since we had no backup machine available, as those had been removed to create space. Our previous experience with Agfa and the Avinci had been positive, which gave us confidence in their capabilities. Fortunately, they did not let us down, and we are very pleased with our decision to invest in this new engine.”
The preceding press release was provided by a company unaffiliated with Wide-format Impressions. The views expressed within do not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of Wide-format Impressions.
