Print Solutions
Kettering based business Artisan Signs has invested in Agfa’s new Anapurna Ciervo H3200 hybrid wide format inkjet printer. The company was impressed by the Asanti software used to operate its Avinci dye sub printer from the manufacturer, which was purchased in 2023. This positive experience was a decisive factor in the decision to buy the new printer, as it utilises the same workflow software, thereby streamlining the 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.
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, it invested early. 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.
Over the past two years, Artisan had assessed the market and attended industry events such as FESPA. Ultimately, the decision to choose the new Ciervo machine was influenced by the Asanti workflow, which it found to be highly effective.
‘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 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,’ said Graham Davey, managing director of Artisan Signs.
