Irish Printer - Issue 4 2023

04

Horizon’s

Cover Story

Following

MAD Colour brings profitable work in-house with HP Stitch S1000 24

Delegation has made life a bit easier for Dermot Downer

ED’S LETTER

Welcome to issue 4 of Irish Printer for 2023.

Impress Printing Works came away from this year’s Irish Print Awards with not just one award but five - Book Printer of the Year, Sheetfed Colour Offset Printer of the Year, Graphic Design & Print Collaboration Award, a Bronze award for Print Finishing and most importantly of all, the overall Print of the Year accolade. Fintan O’Callaghan attributes this success to the firm’s experienced staff and a commitment to quality and customer service. In business for 32 years, diversification is one reason for the company’s longevity. An expansion into packaging is, says Fintan, proving successful and a sector the company is keen to move further into. There are other plans afoot at Impress Printing Works; as Fintan says, watch this space.

At this year’s Green Awards, Horizon Digital Print scooped the Green Manufacturer Award. The win is, says Horizon, partly down to its investment in a Vanguard VKR3200-HS roll-to-roll UV-LED printer, a machine that prints excellent quality products 10 times faster than previously at a fraction of the cost. Thanks to its LED functionality, the cost of the printer’s power consumption is predicted to be a tenth of the power of Horizon’s previous system. It’s a machine that is, says Declan Kelly, Print Manager at Horizon Digital Print, ideal for the firm’s needs. For more on Horizon’s investment, turn to page 21. Also in this issue, Trimwel celebrates 40 years in the print business. In 2018, the company was acquired by Metamark and since then, has doubled in size. Nick Little says the print firm isn’t about to take its eye off the ball; “customers can look forward to the coming years with full confidence in their favourite supplier.”

On page 13, Padraic Kierans at Anglo Printers explains how investment in a new Colorado M5 UV Gel printer is the next step in the firm’s wide format journey and on page 17 we meet the latest addition to the MJ Flood team, Emmanuel Duffy.

Editor: Denise Maguire

Email: editor@irishprinter.ie

Creative Director: Jane Matthews

Designer: Lenny Rooney

Production: Nicole Ennis

Contact: Irish Printer, Ashville Media Group, Unit 55, Park West Road, Park West, Dublin 12, D12 X9F

Tel: (01) 432 2200

Web: www.irishprinter.ie

Printed by: McGowans Print

Printed on: HP Indigo 10000 using Novatech paper supplied by Antalis.

All rights reserved. Every care has been taken to ensure that the information contained in this magazine is accurate. The publishers cannot, however, accept responsibility for errors or omissions. Reproduction by any means in whole or in part without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. © Ashville Media Group 2023. All discounts, promotions and competitions contained in this magazine are run independently of Irish Printer. The promoter/advertiser is responsible for honouring the prize. ISSN 0790-2026

As always, we’d love to hear from you. If you have any thoughts on this issue, please drop us a line at editor@irishprinter.ie. Enjoy!

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New book takes a peek into the world of print in Ireland

Earlier this summer, Roddy Doyle visited the National Print Museum to launch ‘Strange Types & Odd Sorts, A Peek into the World of Print in Ireland’. The book is a collaboration between the Museum and Fighting Words, an organisation that provides free programmes and mentoring in creative writing and related arts to children, young adults and adults with additional needs. To create the book, volunteer compositors and printers from the Museum worked with a team of mentors from Fighting Words to document memories of lives lived in apprenticeships, jobbing houses, newspapers, binderies and a now utterly transformed world of printing.

The forward is written by Roddy Doyle, Co-Founder of Fighting Words, whose father was a printer. “I felt close to my father as I was reading the essays in this collection, immersing myself in the world of the printers – his world, too – and I’m grateful to the authors for this and grateful too, because the writing is of such a high standard, so alive and informative and just plain great.“

I felt close to my father as I was reading the essays in this collection, immersing myself in the world of the printers

HOW TO PURCHASE

To purchase a copy of ‘Strange Types & Odd Sorts’, go to https://www.nationalprintmuseum.ie/product/strange-types-odd-sorts/

I’m grateful to the authors for this and grateful too, because the writing is of such a high standard, so alive and informative and just plain great

RICOH M c GOWANS

Next generation RICOH Pro C9500 hits the market

RICOH says its new Pro C9500 represents a leap forward in the evolution of production technology, designed to enable commercial printers expand their production reach. The new flagship tonerbased press features improved efficiency and automation, while developing greater labour savings throughout the entire workflow. Collectively, the press’ new features support cost control, business expansion and free up time for other tasks. The new Pro C9500 has, says RICOH, been developed to enable commercial specialists accelerate their analogue to digital transition or upgrade their Print on Demand-oriented digital capabilities. Other features and enhancements include improved media handling of paper between 40gsm and 470gsm with extended input and output options for media up to 1260mm; a newly developed fusing system that allows media to pass smoothly through the fusing process whilst applying heat and pressure evenly to achieve high image quality on a wide range of substrates; and a new paper transfer unit to enable improved front to back registration.

McGowans goes to the Zoo

McGowans Print recently completed a project for Dublin Zoo – signage for the aye-aye, the Zoo’s new lemur species. Aye-ayes are a small nocturnal species of lemur that can only be found in the wild in Madagascar. Known for their long, thin middle finger which they use to search for food, the aye-aye has a long, bushy tail which allows them to balance as they travel along tree branches.

With 48,000 square feet spread across two warehouses, we provide Expert Packaging Solutions and Trade Finishing Services such as:

DELTA

Delta Group acquires FEREF

The Delta Group has announced the acquisition of FEREF, the original entertainment marketing agency responsible for creating content for film, TV and toy companies since 1968. The company says the acquisition will accelerate its multi-channel proposition for film, TV and gaming clients, adding creative and content creation capabilities to its existing expertise across print, creative, digital, social and experiential activations. FEREF is responsible for creating original film posters for films such as Get Carter, Star Wars and James Bond. More recently, the agency has delivered successful advertising campaigns for Mattel, Spotify and Sony Music. Danni Murray, The Delta Group’s MD of Film,

ANTALIS

Entertainment and Gaming, said: “Combining FEREF’s unrivalled reputation for creative in the entertainment sector with The Delta Group’s existing expertise across print, creative, digital, social and experiential, will change the way campaigns are delivered in this sector.”

Unthink opts for Cyclus Offset

Antalis’ Cyclus Offset 100% recycled uncoated paper was selected by Dublin-based design studio Unthink for the production of a book supporting an FM radio station by artist Garrett Phelan. The Free Thought FM book is intended to be a manual for practitioners and interested parties as they explore the subject of education and class. Antalis says the choice of substrate was an important component in helping Unthink to achieve the

utilitarian aesthetic required. Licensed for just 30 days, Free Thought FM was a radio station which provided an open forum where free thinkers and members of the public could join presenter Phelan to explore issues primarily around class inequality and access to education in Dublin.

The Free Thought FM book captures the ideas, concerns and solutions that were raised through documentary photography, academic essays and

insightful diagrams. A limited colour palette brings order and consistency to the diverse content while the print substrate was also an important factor, says Noelle Cooper at Unthink. “To reinforce the utilitarian aesthetic we were hoping to achieve, we needed a tactile, uncoated paper. Antalis was very helpful when it came to choosing papers and provided us with a variety of dummies to help us in the decisionmaking process.” For the cover of the book, grey board was covered in Cyclus Offset FSC certified, 100% recycled 135gsm. Cyclus Offset was also used for the end papers, in 170gsm, and for the text pages, in 155gsm. The book was printed lithographically using a 4-colour press and the cover mattlaminated for durability.

A limited colour palette brings order and consistency to the diverse content

New HR Director at Canon UK & Ireland

Kathryn Scott has been announced as the new HR Director at Canon UK & Ireland. In her new role, Kathryn will be responsible for driving forward its people vision including its inclusive culture and supporting the business to realise its mid-term growth ambitions. Kathryn has held roles at Cisco, Imimobile, Antenna International, Sky and T-Mobile. “Canon has a solid foundation of great HR initiatives and is clearly achieving business goals as a result of great teamwork. I’m looking forward to working with my team and all the people leaders to nurture the talent we have. It’s an exciting time to join Canon and I’m optimistic about what we can achieve together for our employees,” said Kathryn.

Top brands move to paper packaging

Paper-based packaging is on the rise, with a number of well-known brands swapping plastic and glass for fibre.

According to Two Sides, Pot Noodle is trialling a paper pot in a bid to cut down on 4,000 tonnes of virgin plastic every year. Following a three-year development process, the trial will see 500,000 chicken and mushroom flavour Pot Noodles repackaged in a paper pot and sold in Tesco stores in the UK. The shift to paper-based packaging is said to be the biggest change made to the brand’s pot since its launch in 1977.

FUJIFILM

Fujifilm sells first Acuity Ultra Hybrid LED

German firm Fokina has invested in an Acuity Ultra Hybrid LED to boost its business’s productivity. The new press will work alongside an original model Acuity Ultra, which the firm purchased in February 2020. It’s hoped that the two machines will allow for a greater level of flexibility, printing on substrates including Forex, PVC, Dibond, selfadhesives, banners, mesh and more. Fokina MD Sven Breiter said he chose the Acuity Ultra Hybrid LED thanks to its reliable printing technologies. “The Acuity Ultra Hybrid LED is the full package. The media transportation process is very smooth and its ink drop placement is highly precise. It made perfect sense to invest in another Fujifilm printer following the success we’ve had with the Acuity Ultra.”

Another well-known brand, Pringles has developed a paper fibre alternative that makes the tube fully compatible with paper recycling streams once the lid has been removed, while Mars Wrigley has trialled paper-based packaging for its Mars bars in the UK. Available at 500 Tesco stores for a limited time, the move is part of a $1 billion investment by parent company Mars, Inc to tackle climate change and scarcity of resources and comes after a number of other confectionary brands including Quality Street, KitKat and

Ferrero Rocher converted their packaging to more recyclable alternatives. When it comes to alcohol brands, Absolut is joining Carlsberg and Johnnie Walker in trialling an alternative to glass. As part of a threemonth pilot test, the vodka brand will be sold in paper bottles in 22 Tesco stores across Greater Manchester this summer. Made from 57% paper, the bottles will include a recyclable plastic barrier, with customers able to recycle the packaging as paper through normal household waste.

It’s an exciting time to join Canon and I’m optimistic about what we can achieve together

Kathryn Scott, HR Director, Canon UK & Ireland

WALSH GRAPHICS TURNS

Walsh Graphics, one of Ireland’s leading suppliers of signage, wide format materials and plastic solutions, has been in business since 1993. The company’s unrivalled customer service and industry knowledge has seen it grow from a small family business to a respected industry leader. Its success is directly related to its experienced and dedicated staff, who ensure that Walsh Graphics is a company that offers unrivalled customer and product support.

With a head office and warehouse in Cork and a strong online presence, Walsh Graphics continues to grow and develop its product range by aligning with market leaders such as 3M.

3M is a science-based technology company that is committed to improving

lives and doing business in the right way. At 3M, honesty, integrity and the ability to work as part of a team contribute to a culture that is founded on curiosity, problem-solving and collaboration.

3M works tirelessly to deliver their vision – ‘3M technology advancing every

improving every life’.

3M is one of Walsh Graphics’ preferred brands for graphics, signage, car wrap and interior products and stocks many highquality 3M products including, but not limited to, 3M TM Car Wrap Series 2080, 3MTM Print Wrap Film IJ280 and the brand new 3MTM Car Wrap Series 2080 High Gloss.

As well as cast materials, Walsh Graphics offers high-quality printable and colour vinyls, sheeting products, display products and much more from best-selling industry brands.

This October marks 30 years in business for Walsh Graphics, a milestone the company wouldn’t have reached without the support of its loyal customers and devoted staff. It is with this support that the company was able to move to a new, larger office and warehouse in 2022 that’s allowing Walsh Graphics to better serve its customers and manage future growth.

If you require more information, contact the team on 021 452 4744 or shop online at www.walshgraphics.ie

With a high quality range of products and a commitment to customer service, the future’s looking bright for Walsh Graphics

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After investing in a new Colorado M5 UV Gel printer, Anglo Printers is delighted to announce a new supplier relationship with Canon. “We see the new machine as the next crucial step for us at Anglo Printers in wide format printing, allowing us to expand our offering in large format, poster and pull up product portfolio. The investment will also allow us to offer our customers some seriously cool special effects.

This is the first installation in Ireland of the new Canon Colorado M5 with white ink, which also features media handling to facilitate double sided printing and the choice of both matt or gloss print output. We see this as a breakthrough in productivity, never before seen automation and a vastly superior image quality. We look forward to working with Canon and showing off the new products to our clients through our team of sales personnel and account managers,” said Padraic Kierans, Managing Director at Anglo Printers Ltd.

The print firm has also recently installed a pre-owned MBO T800

BREAKTHROUGH IN

Buckle Folder (B1 size) with an 8/4/4 configuration and banding palamides in the delivery. This will, says Padraic, considerably speed up the firm’s folding productivity and thanks to eight plates in the first unit, expand its range of folded products. “The machine was sourced in France by Piers Goodwin of Southsea Graphics and we are delighted with its performance. We have a number of significant new installations and exciting developments to announce at Anglo Printers over the coming months, which will increase our footprint in the Irish print market and set us up for further expansion of our growing business in the months and years ahead.”

PRODUCTIVITY

Anglo Printers ups its wide format game with a new Colorado M5 UV Gel printer from Canon

40 YEARS

For the past 40 years, Trimwel has been serving the needs of the sign and print industry

FOUR DECADES of EXCELLENCE

Dublin-based Trimwel opened its doors in 1983 as a 3M distributor and is now celebrating its fortieth year in business. “A lot’s changed since we welcomed our first customers, but I think we’ve remained faithful to the basic business formula that attracted them to us in the first place and that’s among the most important things that have helped drive our continuing growth,” says Trimwel MD Nick Little.

Trimwel is a name that’s well-known to anyone operating in the sign and display industries. The company has built itself a substantial following and a great reputation. Most signs and graphics producers and digital printers have Trimwel on speed dial as the company supplies all the

We’ve developed wonderful relationships with our customers and while we’re celebrating our fortieth year in operation, I must extend mine and my colleagues’ thanks for their continued support

materials they need to profitably undertake practically any job that comes along. Trimwel supplies those materials from substantial stocks, next working day or sooner, at prices that keep customers returning.

“We’ve developed wonderful relationships with our customers and while we’re celebrating our fortieth year in operation, I must extend mine and my colleagues’ thanks for their continued support. Our suppliers need to be acknowledged too. They trust us to represent their brands and supply their products. We take that very seriously and we’re told we’re getting it right.”

Since first setting up in 1983, Trimwel has grown significantly. Its most recent growth spurt has seen the company double in size since self-adhesive materials manufacturer Metamark acquired it in 2018. “Metamark brought some great expertise to the business and committed resources that we needed to help Trimwel really deliver its potential. It’s great to be part of the Metamark family and our fortieth just happens to coincide with Metamark’s thirtieth year. We’ll raise a glass to both events.”

To celebrate its four decades in business, Trimwel has a number of events planned over the next few months. “That doesn’t mean we’ll be taking our eye off the ball though. We’ve got plans to address the needs of our customers long into the future and to make sure our services reflect our customers’ expectations and needs.” Customers will always need materials and it’s Trimwel’s task to make sure they get what they need, when they need it. “We actually support market growth. We do a lot of listening and we have a reputation for understanding what our customers require. With a track-record that speaks for itself and a playbook full of creative plans to do yet more, our customers can look forward to the coming years with full confidence in their favourite supplier.”

CAREERS

Emmanuel’s expertise allowed him to forge strong relationships with clients and serve as a trusted advisor

MJ FLOOD FRESH PERSPECTIVES AT

Emmanuel Duffy, a seasoned professional in the printing industry, recently made a significant career move. After serving as a Production Solution Executive at Xerox Ireland for 17 years, where he excelled in developing revenue-generating opportunities for clients and optimising print sales, Emmanuel has joined the MJ Flood team. This transition signifies an exciting new chapter in his professional journey and presents new opportunities for both Emmanuel and the MJ Flood organisation.

During his tenure as a Production Solution Executive at Xerox Ireland, Emmanuel played a vital role in the company’s success. His primary responsibilities included working closely with customers to identify and develop new revenue streams within the print industry and optimise their print operations to enhance efficiency and profitability. His expertise allowed him to forge strong relationships with clients and serve as a trusted advisor, guiding them towards strategic decisions that aligned with their business goals.

Joining the MJ Flood team

His decision to join the MJ Flood team demonstrates his desire for new challenges and opportunities within the printing industry. The Konica Minolta range of production print devices will allow him to offer additional printing services to his customers, such as the AccurioLabel 230 and 400 digital label printing machines.

Emmanuel’s arrival at MJ Flood brings a wealth of industry knowledge, a proven track record of success and a fresh perspective to the team. His expertise in developing revenue-generating opportunities and optimising print sales is expected to enhance the company’s ability to serve its clients effectively. His collaborative approach and client-centric focus also align well with MJ Flood’s commitment to providing tailored solutions and exceptional customer service.

Future Outlook

Emmanuel’s expertise and experience in the production print field will undoubtedly contribute to the further expansion and success of MJ Flood’s production print solutions. With a comprehensive branch network of nine offices around the country, MJ Flood provides rapid response times with the personal touch and reassurance that dealing with a local office provides.

With a strong team member like Mark Lynam already leading the way in the production print division, the addition of Emmanuel further reinforces MJ Flood’s dedication to delivering exceptional services and solutions to their valued clients. With its combined knowledge, skills and passion for the industry, MJ Flood is confident in its ability to meet and exceed the evolving needs of its customers.

Emmanuel Duffy moves from Xerox to join the MJ Flood team

Mark Lynam and Emmanuel Duffy

Following the firm’s success at the Irish Print Awards, Fintan O’Callaghan at Impress Printing Works isn’t resting on his laurels

How’s business at the moment?

Business is good. We’ve had a very good year and an exceptional summer, which is unusual in the print industry. Normally, the summer months are a quiet time for printers. I think that busyness is down to a combination of factors – our customer base is quite diverse and we operate across a number of different sectors. As a result, we have a lot of repeat and referral business which has kept us occupied this summer.

Did you enjoy the Irish Print Awards?

It was a fantastic night and we nearly had to build another wall for all the awards we received. It’s also served as a great motivator for us to do an even better job than we’re currently doing. The Print Awards is an important event in the calendar and one not to be missed.

IMPRESSION MAKING an

In terms of the business, we’re always looking to expand and grow and that’s made possible through our excellent team. The success of Impress Printing Works is really down to them”

Impress Printing Works

took home the overall Print of the Year award (for ‘The Treaty 1921 – Records from the Archives’), along with Book Printer of the Year, Sheetfed Colour Offset Printer of the Year, Graphic Design & Print Collaboration Award and Bronze for Print Finishing. What do you attribute that success to?

I think it comes down to the experience we have at Impress Printing Works. We’re in business 32 years this year and between the team we have about 200 years’ experience, from sales right through to pre-press, printing, finishing and delivery of product. We’re constantly investing in the latest technology and equipment to ensure the products we deliver are of the highest quality. We always strive to be the best at what we do so if there’s technology that will help us do that, we’ll invest in it. Of course, it’s a balancing act between investing and ensuring you remain competitive for the customer, but if there’s a value for the customer, then there’s ultimately a value for us. Investment in technology also allows our customers to showcase their own design innovation; we’ve got the technology in place to facilitate that and I think ‘The Treaty 1921 – Records from the Archives’ is a good example of that.

I think the uniqueness of the book is down to how it pulled together a combination of several elements, from design and printing to finishing

Was ‘The Treaty 1921’ a particularly complex print job?

I wouldn’t say it was difficult. It wasn’t anything new for us, it’s the type of work we consistently do on a day-to-day basis. I think the uniqueness of the book is down to how it pulled together a combination of several elements, from design and printing to finishing. The title of the book and what it’s trying to portray are very clearly represented in the physical book; the binding in particular fits really well with what the book is all about. We really enjoyed producing it and were delighted to win the big award of the night for it.

Are there any sectors you would like to expand into?

We’re always looking to expand. Traditionally we would have been a commercial print business, but more recently we’ve diversified into packaging and related industries, thanks largely to client demand. It’s a space we’d like to push going forward. There are other areas we’re investigating; for now all I can say is that there are exciting times ahead. Watch this space!

What are the challenges to operating a print business today?

The same challenges facing every other business in the country – rising costs and trying to remain competitive. A lack of skilled personnel within the industry is another challenge facing many print firms. We’re very lucky in that right now, we have a very good team who benefit from continuous training. I think our reputation is really down to the experience

we have in-house. There’s no substitution for learning from the best and the knowledge and experience that our team has is passed onto other members of the team. The recently announced Print Media Technician Programme is an excellent initiative and will go some way towards alleviating the skills shortage in the sector.

Have you invested in any green initiatives?

We recently installed solar panels on the roof of our premises in Walkinstown, which is producing a lot of the energy we need in the facility. We also segregate and recycle all our waste paper. We’re constantly looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint and improve our sustainability credentials.

What advice would you give a print firm looking to scoop the top award at next year’s Print Awards?

If you do what we do, you’re in with a chance. I’m not going to give away any of my secrets!

What are the ambitions at Impress Printing Works?

To continue doing what we’re doing, to constantly improve and to find new ways to bring value to our customers. In terms of the business, we’re always looking to expand and grow and that’s made possible through our excellent team. The success of Impress Printing Works is really down to them.

Horizon Digital Print’s investment in a Vanguard Europe digital machine – the first in Ireland – is the central focus of its sustainability drive which has seen the company scoop Ireland’s national Green Manufacturer Award ahead of global brands such as Coca-Cola. Described as a userfriendly machine printing excellent quality products 10 times faster than previously at a fraction of the cost, Horizon Digital Print has also announced a major investment in

Vanguard Europe parent company Durst’s LIFT ERP software which will, says the company, further drive its sustainability ambitions.

The Vanguard VKR3200-HS roll-to-roll UV-LED printer runs at speeds of up to 3,000 sq ft per hour. “The Vanguard is a versatile, user-friendly and uncomplicated machine – and the quality of print is excellent,” said Declan Kelly, Print Manager at Horizon Digital Print. “It has super-fast turnaround times and the cost of the power consumption is predicted to be a tenth of the power of our previous system, thanks to its LED functionality. The Vanguard is so versatile – for fabrics, PE, paper, mesh, PVC, vinyl and other materials we print on. It’s an ideal product for our needs, with perfect image quality and it’s also extremely reliable. From one of our clients in Dublin, JCDecaux, we’ve had many positive comments about the quality of the lightbox

Setting Standards new

A Vanguard investment has helped Horizon scoop a green award

skins that are all produced on the Vanguard. We had a painless installation that only took two days, followed by a couple of days training.”

Derek Gillen, Managing Director at Horizon Digital Print, said: “As an already established Durst production house, investing in yet more state-of-the-art technology – this time from Vanguard – is an important step forward. Our big focus has been on energy reduction, which is why we were even more delighted to win the Green Manufacturer Award this year. The decision to purchase the Vanguard was at the centre of our sustainability drive, thanks to its green credentials.”

Fabian Sottsas, Managing Director at Vanguard Europe, said: “We are delighted with this first installation in Ireland and to have played our part in the Horizon sustainability and wider company success story. It is all part of the Vanguard ‘Growing your Business’ strategy, where we work in partnership to help deliver new opportunities through our technology. The Vanguard VKR3200 roll-to-roll machine sets new standards with high print quality and performance that is available at a competitive price point.”

My name is Luba Healy, I am originally from Ukraine, from a town called Gaivoron (Haivoron), at 17 years old I left to study in Belay Tserkov, where I got my degree as a Veterinarian Doctor, after working as a vet in Ukraine, I decided to come to Ireland to improve my English, I have lived in Ireland now for the past 22 years, I have met my husband here, we now have a beautiful family of 5 children, and the rest is history as they say I have made two humanitarian trips to Ukraine since war started, one to rescue my mother and grandmother and others and a second trip bringing vehicles packed with humanitarian aid to donate to those desperate for our help The people who can’t leave for various reasons are now mainly the women, children, old people and people unable or unfit for military duty, these are the silent suffering majority that really need our help. I have set up this iDonate page and have called it “Love Ukraine Benefit Alliance”. My name translated means love, and really that is all we can do for the people of Ukraine, given the devastating and heart-breaking situation that my country of birth finds itself in

If you would like to donate something everything helps, to Revolute @luba1976 , with IBAN LT21 3250 0744 96084372 and BIC REVOLT21

QUALITY WITHOUT

INVESTMENT

MAD Colour brings profitable work in-house with HP Stitch S1000

We can now o er customers in Northern Ireland the best quality fabric prints without compromise

MAD Colour’s purchase of an HP Stitch S1000 dye sublimation printer has allowed the Belfast-based print firm bring work in-house and significantly grow its business. Having begun life in 1977 as commercial printing outfit Minprint, the company has evolved over the years to become a diversified business, offering a wide range of services to customers across a number of markets. A large part of MAD Colour’s offering is large-format print, with several machines already in place to deliver work to clients. The print firm already had an HP Latex 800W, an HP Latex 360 and an HP DesignJet Z6200, as well as an EFi Vutek GS3200 printer, but was still having to outsource some work to a third-party.

To fill this gap in production, MAD Colour turned to HP and decided to invest in an HP Stitch S1000 in April 2023 from approved HP distributor RA Smart. The purchase has allowed the company to bring previously outsourced textile work inhouse, taking greater control over production as a result.

“We are using the machine to create products such as

flags, air mesh banners, tablecloths, fabric frames and event backdrops,” said MAD Colour Managing Director Jamie McMinnis. “We already offered these products via a third-party supplier, but the purchase means we can now do it all in-house. The printer means that we have better control of the supply chain, have reduced the risk of logistical complications and are better in tune with the very time-sensitive event and hospitality markets.”

Jamie said these expanded capabilities and the ability to respond quicker to customer demands will give the business an advantage over its competitors in Northern Ireland. “We now offer the most advanced dye sublimation print facility in Northern Ireland, meaning we can remove carriage costs and reduce lead times by the time it takes to ship products from mainland UK or Europe to the local market. We can now offer customers in Northern Ireland the best quality fabric prints without compromise.”

Jamie also spoke about the benefits of combining HP’s hardware and software solutions, explaining that – as was the case with its HP Latex and HP DesignJet printers – the HP Stitch S1000 is connected with HP Print OS and Onyx Thrive to ensure maximum productivity and performance. “As second- and third-generation HP Latex users and having previously run an HP UV flatbed printer, we know that when combined with Onyx Thrive and HP Print OS, HP’s solutions are hard to beat.

“HP’s entry into the world of dye sublimation to offer a solution for the growing large-format fabric market offers a high quality, simplified, yet versatile solution to this sector and this really appealed to our large-format team.”

Delegation has made life a bit easier for the Westside Press MD

TALKING TO... DERMOT DOWNER

How did you get into the print industry?

My Dad had a newspaper that he printed himself on a Solna Perfector and he also did general jobs on a Multilith printing machine. I saw an opportunity to work with him and got my apprenticeship at 17.

What do you like and dislike about the industry?

I like the people in this trade - we all have a passion for what we do. I don’t like the financial return you get after all the hard work is done.

How has the industry changed since you first started?

Today, the technology is mind-blowing. Everything is user friendly compared to the hardship we had to go through years ago.

What do you see as your biggest success in life?

Apart from my wife, three sons and a daughter, I’m proud of where Westside Press has come from to now. A lot of hard work and stress along the way, but very satisfying when I look back.

What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?

I have only ever worked in the one job, but in the early days when machines broke down and I’d have to work through the night to meet deadlines - that wasn’t much fun.

What’s your dream job?

I like my job more today as we have delegated a lot of tasks that I didn’t like doing to managers that are doing a great job.

Favourite film?

Goodfelllas, Casino or Heat, great movies with Robert DeNiro, even Meet the Parents! I love comedy too.

What’s your favourite band/ musician?

Coldplay or a bit of Rod Steward.

Are you a glass half empty or half full person?

Half full, I like to stay as positive as I can, it’s healthier.

Who or what makes you laugh?

A night out with my great friends.

What superpower would you most like to have?

Any power that could stop the man-made misery that’s been brought to so many families.

How would you like to be remembered?

An honest person that worked hard for his company and the trade in general.

Life is…

Beautiful.