Large format print business Hollywood Monster has returned to EFI for its latest investment having installed a SwissQPrint Kudu flatbed in March this year.
The latest machine is an EFI Vutek M3H LED UV printer which has replaced the older of two EFI HS125 printers it had purchased from CMYUK, supplier too of the latest machine.
The M3H is a hybrid printer using LED UV and is considered a replacement for EFI’s established GS series.
Hollywood Monster CEO Simon McKenzie says: “The two HS125s have been great printers, and they have worked really hard for us and our clients, but as we continue to grow, we needed to upgrade. We have consistently chosen EFI technology because they continually push the boundaries of what’s possible whilst also helping us reduce our carbon footprint.”
This is thanks in part to the use of LEDs to generate the UV. These are only switched on when needed rather than being left in operation as mercury vapour lamps need to be. Energy draw drops from 15.5kW to 3.8kW, a 75% reduction.
The new machine uses fewer consumables as inks no longer need to be purged between jobs, requires less waste and has increased up time. McKenzie adds: “In terms of energy consumption, the M3h is far more sustainable and efficient which is incredibly important to us from an ESG perspective, and even though it’s a 3.2m wide printer, its footprint is smaller than the HS125. Part of the reason for that is because of its reduced tables depth that take up less floor space. It still copes with the large sheets but makes the feeding of these into the printer much more manageable.” These can be up to 50.8mm thick.
The latest Vutek is the 14th printer purchased from the supplier in 20 years continuing a relationship that McKenzie calls “central to the growth and success of our business”. That growth is perhaps focused on London where the Birmingham company already works for Westfield Stratford as well as retail brands. It has recently named Steve Allen as head of London projects, its first member of staff to be based in the capital.
