Lancashire-based Poppy Signs has invested in a JWEI JCUT 3230 digital cutting and finishing table from CMYUK. The company says the installation has increased production capacity, widened its application range, and removed a longstanding finishing bottleneck.

Poppy Signs, which marks its 20th anniversary this year, provides bespoke signage services including survey, design, manufacture, installation, and maintenance. Operating from a 10,000 sq ft site with a team of 18, the company works for both agency clients and direct customers.

Founder and managing director Dave McDonald said he spent more than a year researching options before choosing the JWEI system. He compared it with what he described as the market’s traditional top-tier cutting tables, but said the JWEI stood out for its mix of functionality, build quality, and value.

“If you make a list of all the major cutting tables, most people will put certain brands at the top as the pinnacle – the Ferraris of the market,” said Mr McDonald. “What the JWEI does is give you that kind of top-notch performance but at a more accessible price point. When you line up the features, speed and capacity, and then look at the price, it’s a bit of a wow moment.”

Among the key advantages for Poppy Signs was the ability to process work at the full 3.2m width of its existing printers.

“We’ve been printing 3.2 metres for some time, but our older cutting table meant that we were artificially limiting ourselves. The JWEI finally lets us use the full width of our printers, which is exactly what we needed,” said Mr McDonald.

The company said the new table has increased production capability by an estimated 30-40%, while also making it easier to handle larger boards and more complex work. It has also opened up new applications, including folded Correx products and more efficient finishing of large Gecko wallpaper drops.

Mr McDonald added that the automation has reduced the need to pull in extra staff from elsewhere in the business to clear workshop backlogs. He also praised CMYUK’s support during the purchase and installation process, adding: “Their technical advice and guidance is simply unbeatable. Their demo facilities are excellent. You get tier-one support to match the kit.”