A pair of ‘workhorse’ HP Latex 3600 printers has been added by Surface Print, opening up more high-end applications to the wallpaper manufacturing business as well as reducing lead times by two-thirds.

The Lancashire-based family-run wallpaper manufacturing business says its decision to invest in an additional two HP Latex 3600 printers, in addition to the six Latex machines it already has has opened up a range of markets, enabling customers to expand their offerings with ‘exciting’ new high-end products.

By blending analogue and digital printing techniques, Surface Print says it achieves highly creative designs and finishes. Wallpaper can be printed using a traditional method and over-printed with digital details, or vice-versa, opening up new possibilities.

In addition to the three Latex 3600s, the company has three HP Latex 570 Printers. However, demand for its products and services led to an additional two 3600 printers being added in July 2021.

‘There is an expectation of short lead times with digital printing, so we invested accordingly,’ said Jason Gilliat, business development manager at Surface Print. ‘The HP Latex 3600 printers are renowned as being the workhorses of the industry and have a proven track record for quality, versatility, reliability and robustness.’

Since HP reseller Perfect Colours installed the machines, Surface Print has noted a marked improvement in its production efficiency. 

‘The investment in the two new machines has massively increased our capacity and helped us to reduce lead times by two thirds,’ Mr Gilliat said. ‘We can facilitate greater volume for our trade print partners and at the same time have spare capacity for the R&D of new application possibilities and mixed processes.

‘We have mainly been using the two new HP Latex 3600 machines to print both coated and uncoated non-woven material, including specialist materials such as grass-cloth, cork, paper weave and textiles. This has in turn added a new dimension to digitally printed applications.

‘Our digital facility and HP Latex machines complement our traditional print operation. While they are very different processes, they work together to provide our clients with a creative wallpaper production facility that offers something quite unique within the industry,’ he concluded.