Jun 23, 20232 min read

Lots to smile about at The Big Display Company

Wide Format Solutions

The Big Display Company has a lot to smile about having taken receipt of its latest print engine, a new Agfa Avinci CX3200 dye sublimation printer, which is giving the company triple the output of its predecessor.

The Big Display Company, based in Slough, is a family business, originally established in 1978 by Vince Murphy as Bullseye Awards and Garments Ltd. For many years it specialised in the production of trophies and awards and became a leader in its field. In fact, even today it still produces the iconic annual BBC Sports Personality Award. But over the years, to future proof the business, it diversified into many other areas and Vince now works closely with his two sons, Jack heading up marketing and Joe driving sales.

The business started to diversify around 20 years ago and as Vince had a background in screen printing, it initially purchased a small Roland printer to add banners to the product offer as a lot of the business was event driven. Over the years buying machinery became addictive, according to Jack, and they added further Latex machines to the fold. The company then took a leap into direct to board printing with the purchase of its first UV printer and around 15 years ago invested in its first dye sublimation printer. This allowed the compnay to print fabric gazebos, flags and tablecloths. This was followed by four further in line printers.

Continual investment and diversification over the years enabled the business to offer a one stop solution for clients. Today, the company has an arsenal of multiple printing systems and a Zund GS 3.2 metre cutter.

‘On the new machine, marketing director Jack Murphy said, ‘We are really pleased with the results from our first Agfa print engine. Our old dye sub machine needed replacing with repair bills growing each year, so our raw material supplier suggested we talk to Agfa. We knew what the business wanted, we have purchased many machines over the years, so I asked lots of technical questions.’

The new Avinci CX3200 3.2 metre wide dye sublimation roll to roll printer can print both directly to textile and to transfer paper, and at a speed of up to 270 m2 per hour. The advantage to The Big Display Company is the firepower as it runs three to four times faster than the old machine, it is more reliable and, having the off line fixation, it doesn’t waste as much material. It is also much more energy efficient and features ‘Thin Ink Layer’ technology resulting in very low ink consumption.

This new investment will once again open new markets for The Big Display Company.