Wilmot-Budgen has become the first company in the UK to invest in Agfa’s new Onset Panthera flatbed digital inkjet press. The move represents a “significant” step in the company’s plans to enhance both productivity and sustainability at its new print facility.
The Panthera FB3216 has been described by Agfa as the only true high-productivity flatbed inkjet printer on the market, capable of handling display and packaging applications on a range of materials. Its LED curing system is designed to improve colour reproduction and reduce waste through faster start-up and less risk of media deformation.
Managing director of Wilmot-Budgen, Richard Budgen, said: “We are a long-term fan of the Onset platform, and have been hanging on to see where LED would head. Agfa’s significant investment in R&D in recent years has seen the technology accelerate and the time was right for us to secure the advantages LED will bring.”
He added that the new press will deliver increased speed and print quality, as well as energy savings. “With the Panthera’s significant energy reduction performance, we are keeping our brand, retailer, and print management customers front of mind supporting them to meet their sustainability goals.”
Mr Budgen also highlighted the benefit of working with a single supplier: “Agfa is in a unique position; it produces the machine, inks, software and service to support us – one supplier to solve any issues. We get the quality, consistency, and reliability we need in one package to support our future growth.”
Paul Fitch, head of inkjet UK, Ireland, and Nordic at Agfa, welcomed the investment: “Their acknowledgement of the leap forwards that the Panthera represents versus its predecessors demonstrates our commitment to innovation and driving this technology forward.”
