A recent investment in a Mimaki JFX200-1213EX flatbed UV printer is helping Scottish business TWR Acrylic expand its print capabilities and support growing demand for bespoke acrylic applications.
Initially operating from a spare room, the company was founded by director Claire Sutherland and her daughter. It has since expanded into a workshop in Glasgow alongside a dedicated print facility in Dunfermline. The business now serves customers across personalised products, print services and wholesale materials.
The launch of TWR Acrylic followed what the company saw as a gap in the UK market for premium acrylic sheets in colours and finishes popular with makers and sign businesses in the United States.
“We could see incredible acrylic ranges being used by makers and small businesses in the US, but there was very little available in the UK that matched the same premium look and feel,” said Ms Sutherland. “We realised there was a real opportunity to bring those styles and colour palettes to the UK market making them accessible for crafters and small businesses.”
Today, TWR Acrylic supplies wholesale acrylic sheets to crafters and small businesses, while its Print Studio division produces bespoke printed graphics for sectors including events and retail.
As demand for custom print work increased, the company began looking at ways to bring more production in-house. Ms Sutherland said previous experience with a lower-cost UV DTF solution highlighted the importance of reliable local support.
“We struggled with support,” she said. “We didn’t want to be stuck relying on web chats to another country when something went wrong. For us, having proper UK-based technical backup became essential.”
The company subsequently invested in a Mimaki JFX200-1213EX through reseller Xpres after evaluating a range of technologies.
“The print quality from the Mimaki was incredible. There was just no comparison,” said Ms Sutherland. “When we saw it up close and understood what it could do, it really stood out. We considered a smaller machine, but I knew we’d outgrow it quickly. The JFX200 gives us a longer-term solution with a larger bed size and faster production speeds. It just opens us up to so much more.”
The printer is already being used to produce a range of bespoke applications, including event displays and retail signage. One recent project involved a wedding table plan featuring hand-drawn caricatures of every guest.
