Bluetree Group expands cutting capacity with second JWEI table

Bluetree Group has added a second JWEI JCUT-3230 digital cutting table to its wide format production facility, following a “significant” equipment investment last year. Supplied by CMYUK, the new table complements Bluetree’s existing JWEI JCUT-3230, High Roller Carousel roll storage system, Neolt XY Matic Plus 165 trimmer, and four EFI super-wide printers.

Bluetree’s move into large format printing began in 2024, with the company committing to the sector with an investment strategy. “We decided we needed to throw everything at it to make it work and went to drupa with that in mind,” said Bluetree Group’s managing director Mark Young.

The JWEI JCUT-3230 features a 3.2 x 3m bed, matching the width of Bluetree’s EFI printers to reduce waste and streamline production. The business uses the tables to run different materials simultaneously – PVC on one and soft textiles on the other – improving throughput and efficiency.

“The JWEI has all the gadgets and routing tools,” said Mr Young, adding that CMYUK’s training and the OptiScout software integration were “fairly effortless”.

An automatic High Roller Carousel roll storage system has also been integrated to speed up material handling and maintain workflow. Positioned directly behind the EFI printers, the carousel accommodates up to 16 rolls and supports Bluetree’s frequent material changeovers.

“We probably work with nine or ten live materials. Our run lengths are fairly short, and we do quite a lot of changeovers throughout the day, so it’s important for us to have the ability to switch between them quite quickly,” said Mr Young.

The production set-up also includes a Neolt XY Matic Plus 165 for poster slitting, which handles rolls up to 70kg and supports Bluetree’s print finishing needs.

Last year’s EFI press installations included a VUTEk Q3r, two VUTEk h5 hybrid machines, and a VUTEk FabriVU 340i+ for dye sublimation. The move to EFI printers was driven by performance, pricing, and existing supplier relationships. “We were really impressed with the quality – they really work so well for us,” Mr Young noted.

With enhanced cutting, finishing and storage capabilities in place, Bluetree is now well-positioned to scale its wide format operations across multiple applications.