The HP Latex R2000 printer has enabled Whitespace Group to expand into new markets, cut costs, and produce work in-house that was previously outsourced.
Exhibitions and events supplier Whitespace Group has praised the impact that its HP Latex R2000 has had on the business, revealing that the machine has allowed it to expand into new markets and grow its customer base.
Whitespace Group comprises four businesses – Skyline Whitespace, Whitespace Digital, Whitespace XPO and WhiteboxGo – with each focusing on a specific market segment. This operating model has allowed the group to establish a partner network of suppliers across 45 countries and offer services to brands, event organisers and agencies in markets worldwide.
Last year, the group took the decision to upgrade the printing setup at Whitespace Group, which primarily focuses on exhibition stands. This involved opening a brand new 550 square foot graphic production room and investing in additional printing equipment.
Having considered the options available to the market, Whitespace Group opted for the HP Latex R2000, taking delivery of the machine in May 2023. One year on, Whitespace Group Production Manager, Barry Gentry, said the new printer has proved to be a shrewd investment, with the machine enabling the company to produce work in-house that it previously had to outsource.
“The printer is very versatile and has provided us with the opportunity to use a wider range of materials that we previously wouldn’t have considered, for example cushioned flooring,” Gentry said. “The machine has facilitated access to new markets and customers as it provides us with the opportunity to print large-format applications, such as custom flooring, where we would previously have outsourced work.”
Gentry added that the sustainable features of the HP Latex R2000 have also supported growth over the past 12 months, allowing it to work with more environmentally conscious customers. All printers in the HP Latex range run water-based HP Latex inks, which have much less impact on the planet than their UV, solvent and eco-solvent counterparts.
“It is by far the most environmentally friendly method for large-format graphics, printing directly to recycled substrates,” Gentry said “As it is quicker to print direct, we are making savings on energy usage and manual handling. This has helped us to reduce our operating costs by one third.
“The versatility enables us to cater for diverse customer needs and the environmentally friendly features of HP Latex align with our own environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) strategy. This appeals to customers that prioritise sustainability in their exhibition and event projects, thus opening new market segments for us.
“With this in mind, we are open to further investment as the business grows and continues to drive the increase in sustainable production.”
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