Print Solutions Wide Format Solutions
JCT Developments, a large format digital print business based in Ringwood, Hampshire, has been a customer of Ultraflex Europe for the past 10 years. Founder Julian Turner explains why sticking with a media partner offers great benefits for his business.
JCT Developments has been in business since 2005. It was formed by Julian Turner, who started his career as a precision engineer and machinist working on F1 and motorsports car parts in the automotive industry. He left that industry, as he wanted to move from a factory environment, and he started to do building and shop fitting work. This ultimately led to the supply and fitting of printed graphics and his business grew from there. The first print machine purchased was in 2011, a 1600 UV printer which Julian mastered using his machinist skills and experience and now has an arsenal of printing and cutting equipment to support the customer base.
‘I suppose we started the business in reverse to others who specialised initially in print and did the installation off the back of it. We had a customer base from installations first,’ said Julian.
The company, that now employees 15 people and 30 external contractors, was the first in Europe to take delivery of the EFI HS Fast4 125 Vutek machine in 2019, a 3.2 metre wide UV high speed printer. It also has a Jetrix 3.2 metre roll to roll, a Screen Truepress Jet W3200UV flatbed printer, various Mimaki 1600 size eco solvent printers and two cutting tables at its Ringwood site.
‘Having a background as a precision engineer and starting out in installation has made us very particular about the media we use,’ explained Julian. ‘There is nothing worse than being on site, usually out of office hours, to install some graphics and find it doesn’t go to plan. So, we rigorously test the media we use through our printing machines and have found some great solutions with Ultraflex Europe.’
Julian initially met Jim Fox, current sales director at Ultraflex Europe in 2013 when he was approached by him about a print machine he was selling. They have built a strong relationship over the years and Julian now seeks advice from Jim on any new ideas he has for the business. In fact, each print machine purchased since this time has been with the assistance of Jim Fox. Ultraflex Europe now supply JCT Developments with ink, banners including front lit options, and 100% recyclable Komaprint boards in both 3 mm and 5 mm thicknesses.
‘The drive to find the right eco friendly board is a great example of how the relationship with Ultraflex Europe benefits us. We were approached last year by Jim with some samples of a brand new eco board and it now benefits us in so many ways,’ said Julian. ‘It is a pure brilliant white that saves us on ink use, and we get really bold and vibrant colours by printing on it. It is a dense board too so it cuts well, and it comes with a document that confirms it can be chipped down and recycled so it doesn’t go into landfill. It is helping with our drive to be more environmentally friendly and to reduce our carbon footprint.’
JCT has a variety of customers from print management business, agencies, and several direct clients like M&S. It supplies customers across the UK and into Europe with window vinyls, recyclable foam PVC prints and some large scale office wallpaper graphics too. Many of these customers are now driving a carbon neutral agenda, so as part of the supply chain JCT has it high on the agenda of its business.
‘Ultraflex Europe has given us the solutions to many of our business ideas and problems over the years. It has been a good supplier to JCT Developments and I think that once you have a good supplier it is worth sticking with them. The people at Ultraflex understand our business, our equipment and the media that works well with our machines. So, if a new media is launched that will benefit our business, the company will approach us to test it and that is really positive, especially if it helps us to reduce our carbon footprint and business waste. Overall, the service from Ultraflex has been good, the team is knowledgeable and if we order before 2 pm we always get it the next day. I see the relationship growing providing that the company continues to be proactive and to react quickly.’
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