this market or maybe recently have, and suppliers need to remember we are all human and to just help each other grow.” The Powerhouses of Citiprint In terms of the powerhouses producing the work required for quick turnarounds without an impact on quality, Kent-Ledger has a range of machines in operation. One of the company’s first wide-format printers was a Mutoh 1604 which needed to be lifted out of an empty school swimming pool (the seller’s print room), complete with a shark mural on the wall. However, today, the company operates two Epson 60600’s which Kent-Ledger says he “absolutely loves”. “My team is always joking that it’s only because of the LEDs to light up the media when printing, but they’re a fantastic bit of kit and so quick which is exactly what we need.” The company also has swissQprint’s second-ever manufactured machine – a testament to the manufacturer’s long-lasting quality. Kent-Ledger says whilst he has joked with swissQprint to buy it back and have it as a museum piece, it is still impressive on quality, and with an upcoming head upgrade. This should enable Citiprint to print a lot faster in that department which is crucial for same-day production. “On the production side, I bought a flatbed laminator/applicator around the same time and it’s been invaluable. A 5m workbench is also super handy and allows us to work on several jobs at once which is a godsend,” he explains. On the software front, Citiprint has a great relationship with PrintFactory for its flatbed work with the team able to log in anywhere and see how jobs are progressing, how efficient the company is with wastage, and most importantly the layout and nesting which allows the company to significantly reduce costs and maximise output. Digital Factory keeps the Epsons running and Citiprint switched to ShopVOX mid-2022 for job management which KentLedger says has been “fantastic”. “For the first time, I can see what it actually costs to produce a job accurately and customers are finding quicker quotes even more useful,” he says. “I was on a road trip recently and was able to send proofs, invoice, and set up delivery for a job on a laptop in a few minutes with it without having to be at a desk.” Since 2016, Citiprint has lots to be proud of having been responsible for a huge amount of impressive work including graphics for the coverage of the Queen’s funeral. For Kent-Ledger, the best thing about the industry is that the work is so visual meaning it can be hard to miss your projects around London and further afield – including in blockbuster and Netflix films! With all this in mind, something KentLedger can be absolutely sure of when looking back at his business’ story, is that he has given it everything he has and he says he is “nowhere near finished”. Recently, the company upgraded its vehicle fleet which Kent-Ledger says is something he could have only ever dreamed of a few years ago. “Being a small company it really warms your heart when you reach a key milestone – you might not even realise how big a deal it is until years later or until it’s repeated back to you,” he explains. “It’s that kind of pride in your job that matters and every single job matters.” Also key to the business’ success has been bringing everything important in-house including the fleet of delivery vans in order to maintain a high level of service and control over delivery. “When you have everything integrated (big corporate word for me), you cannot go wrong and if you do, you can easily see how to rectify or overcome it. “Being able to print, deliver, and install ourselves no matter what day, hour, location, is absolutely the key to our success. We’ve always been disruptors and I have no problem smashing the status quo of how things have always been done in the industry.” Looking forward and Kent-Ledger says there are exciting things to come from Citiprint with the most exciting thing of all being not knowing what the next job will be or who will be calling next. “In the past few months, we became an official supplier to Formula 1 which is epic and we’re looking forward to more of that work. I’m sure there will be more kit added throughout the year and growth as a company, but ultimately personal development too. I should probably spend some of those 24 hours planning my wedding finally too!” 29 Issue 248 - August / September 2023 email: news@signlink.co.uk COMPANY SPOTLIGHT / CITIPRINT ▼ Working with Industrial Abseiling, Citiprint produced a 20m-long vinyl logo for a 50m-tall wind turbine ▼ Citiprint has never seen itself as having competitors and instead focuses only on what it's doing
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