Interiors brand, Romo, has invested in new print and finishing technology from CMYUK, installing a Canon Colorado M5 alongside a suite of Neolt finishing equipment at its Nottingham headquarters.
Founded in 1902 and now in its fifth generation of family ownership, the company has enhanced its sampling department with a Neolt Jumbo XY Matic Plus, Neolt Rewinder, Neolt Stacker XY Matic Plus 165, Neolt Unwinder, and a Neolt XY Matic Plus. The investment is designed to improve efficiency and bring greater control to a high-volume operation that produces around 1,100 sample books per week across six standard sizes.
The sampling department, which employs around 90 staff, creates pattern books, swatch cards, and cut samples that support fabric and wallpaper sales. Central to this process is the white paper frame mounted on the back of each fabric sample, carrying technical data including width, pattern repeat, and performance details.
Previously, these frames were printed externally using litho processes and delivered in large batches organised by page number. Staff then had to manually collate them into the correct sequence for each pattern book. For larger-scale designs, photo stickers were applied by hand to show a full motif. The heat-reactive, adhesive-backed paper stock further limited suitable in-house print options, while an ageing trimmer was becoming unreliable.
By moving production in house, Romo anticipates initial savings of around £85,000 per year.
Damian Easom, manager of Romo’s sampling department, said: “Romo has always valued quality and efficiency. Bringing new technology in house is key in strengthening these fundamentals, keeping us at the forefront of our industry, and best serving our loyal customers.”
He added: “With the Colorado, we know that the first print that comes off the printer will be identical to the thousandth even when the work runs through the night unsupervised. That reliability gives us peace of mind and a significant competitive advantage.”
The new workflow supports bulk printing on 500m rolls with automated unwinding, rewinding, and stacking, reducing manual intervention and improving consistency. Easom said Romo is also exploring wallpaper applications, with trials planned at its Nottingham site in the coming months.
