Kettering, UK - Leicester-based QQD Design and Print (QQD) recently purchased a Mimaki JV300-160 solvent printer from i-Sub Digital. The new 1.6m-wide machine was installed earlier this month and has since helped QQD to speed up the production of a wide range of display graphics. 

Serving multiple sectors, and with a niche market of museum graphics, QQD is widely recognised for its high standards and commitment to meeting its clients’ needs, from concept through to fitting of the finished product. The company combines valuable traditional techniques with modern technology to produce the very best possible results. 

As part of this strategy, QQD opted to upgrade its existing Mimaki JV33 printer to the very latest Mimaki JV300-160 printer. QQD’s Brian Swann explains: “We’d had the Mimaki JV33 for a number of years, and whilst it was still working very well, we wanted to move with the times and invest in a newer machine which was capable of producing wider output.”

The company is a loyal Mimaki customer – having previously upgraded to the Mimaki JV33 from the Mimaki JV3 – so wanted to stick with Mimaki for its latest investment. Brian Swann was keen to benefit from the latest developments including faster production speeds and an enhanced colour gamut. The Mimaki JV300 Series delivers stunning photo-quality prints at class-leading speeds, providing an excellent wide format solution for sign and graphics professionals such as QQD.

The Mimaki JV300-160 offers the unrivalled versatility of multiple ink types which was a big plus to QQD. Brian Swann explains: “We were also impressed with the increased inkset options which will enable us to broaden the colour gamut of our printed output.”

QQD also has a UV flatbed printer in-house, alongside small format digital printers, but the Mimaki machine is – according to Brian Swann – the real ‘workhorse’ of the business. 

At the same time as purchasing the new Mimaki printer, QQD also invested in a Mimaki CG130 FX2 cutter – as part of a cost-effective bundle deal from i-Sub – to replace an ageing Summa cutter which, whilst still fully operational, was probably too dated to keep up with the pace of the Mimaki JV300. On the new cutter, Brian states: “I’m very pleased with it; it’s the latest technology, fast and very efficient, and has far exceeded our expectations.” 

On working with i-Sub, Brian is very complimentary: “I’ve known the i-Sub team for a long time and they really take an interest in the products they sell. They truly understand the technology they are supplying, take the time out to properly understand our needs, and then recommend the very best solution. They know their stuff!” 

i-Sub Director Emma Plant who was instrumental in the sales process adds: “I’ve worked with Brian for nearly 20 years now and he trusts my judgement and advice. I was delighted to be able to recommend the Mimaki JV300 printer as the logical next step. It met all of their requirements.

“We were also able to upgrade their cutter at the same time in a great value Mimaki printer/cutter bundle deal and that swap out has also proved to be a great success.”

QQD’s Brian Swann concludes: “We are valued by our clients for our excellent, friendly service and willingness to always go that little bit further to get things just right. Keeping up with the latest technological developments is something we always do and – with an impressive, regular client base – we must be doing something right!”