OK To Colour invests in a Canon Colorado M3W UV LED roll-fed printer from CMYUK
As the print industry continues to demand faster turnaround times and higher quality output, UK-based print provider OK To Colour found the solution it needed in the Canon Colorado M3W UV LED roll-fed wide-format printer from CMYUK.
Prior to the Colorado M3W, the business was relying on an HP Latex 800 printer, which was becoming increasingly unreliable. Its limitations were particularly evident when handling white ink applications, a growing area of customer demand. The search for a more robust, higher capacity, and versatile solution led founding directors Alex Fitch and John Wick to CMYUK and the Canon Colorado M3W.
From a humble start to a flourishing PSP
Founded in 2016, OK To Colour started out in the humblest of beginnings – a small attic room in John’s mother's house where a plotter and a Mac were situated, and a damp basement that doubled up for the finishing area. After six months of operating out of the makeshift home studio, Alex and John moved the business into a small office space in Hackney Wick, London. Over the next few years, they steadily grew the company, upgrading to larger premises and investing in key equipment including Latex and flatbed printers.
Today the business operates out of two facilities situated in Hackney Wick (for London), and Essex (for the rest of the country). Now with a team of seven, OK To Colour has established itself as a go-to provider for a variety of wide-format printing services. Servicing the events, corporate, and interiors sectors, it works with high-profile clients such as Snapchat and Vodafone. Its expertise in white ink applications, including graphics on glass and fabric walls, has been a particular draw for corporate customers looking to elevate their spaces.
The recent investment in a Canon Colorado M3W printer has been transformative for the business, allowing it to dramatically increase production speeds and reliability. "The Colorado has been amazing. It’s allowed us to take on larger jobs, meet tighter deadlines, and deliver exceptional quality to our clients,” says Alex.
The Canon Colorado difference
The Canon Colorado M-series is the fourth generation of its UVgel 1.6m wide roll-to-roll production printers. Extremely productive, it offers exceptional quality and an impressive range of applications. It was designed for the lowest total cost of ownership: low ink, low energy use, and low media waste. Easy field upgrades enable it to support its customers’ businesses as they continue to expand.
The OK To Colour M3W model outputs up to 111 sq. m per hour with vibrant colour and sharp details courtesy of Canon’s unique UVgel inks. These ensure precise dot placement, instant drying, deep saturation, no odour, and are safe for sensitive environments. Its hassle-free white ink is up to 3 times faster than comparable technologies, while the LFXfinish+ technology allows the business to print premium applications with a rich velvet matt or a brilliant gloss finish. Matt and gloss can also be printed in a single pass.
Production advantages
“The speed, quality, and reliability of the Colorado have been amazing. We had a huge job come in recently, over 150 meters of print, and we were able to get it all done in a single day. That kind of turnaround would have been impossible with our old printer,” says Alex.
Another key benefit of the Colorado MW3 is its ability to handle double-sided prints in a single run. "With the HP Latex 800, we had to run each side separately, which was incredibly time-consuming. Now, we can just set up the job and let the Colorado handle it all in one go, saving us hours of production time," he says.
The Colorado's versatility has opened up new opportunities for the business. The ability to switch between matt and gloss finishes without the need for lamination has been a significant advantage, particularly for work in the corporate and events sectors. "A lot of our clients are now asking for white ink applications with graphics on glass or fabric walls. The Colorado's white ink capabilities have been a real game-changer, allowing us to deliver high-quality, durable results without the need for additional finishing steps," he explains.
CMYUK support
The transition to Canon Colorado UVgel technology has been supported by OK To Colour's partnership with CMYUK. “The service and support we’ve had from CMYUK has been fantastic. They really took the time to understand our business and provide us with the best solution. Adam Booth [Senior Digital Sales Consultant] has been incredibly helpful throughout the entire process. He's been there to answer any questions we've had and ensure we're getting the most out of the Colorado technology,” notes Alex.
Both Alex and John remain dedicated to providing a top-notch service to their customers. With the Colorado M3W now at the heart of production, OK To Colour is well-positioned to drive future growth and provide solutions to the ever-evolving demands of its clients. Says Alex, "The Colorado M3W has been a real game-changer for us. It's allowed us to boost our production speeds, improve our reliability, and expand the range of applications we can offer. We're excited to see what the future holds as we continue to push the boundaries of what's possible with wide-format printing."