The 2601 Creative Print team used five-metre-wide Kavalan Gecko wallcoverings to eliminate panel joins throughout the hospital installation
Bristol-based wide-format specialist 2601 Creative Print has been officially presented with the Kavalan Green Leader Powerhouse award during a CMYUK open house event in Shrewsbury. The award had been collected in person on their behalf by CMYUK team during the FESPA expo in Barcelona. The European awards programme, now in its second year, celebrates print companies that choose Kavalan’s PVC-free materials for complex, high-impact interior installations.
2601 Creative Print received the accolade for a large-scale visual overhaul of the children’s department at the Royal United Hospitals Bath. The project involved converting a traditionally clinical healthcare environment into a bright, immersive space designed to reassure young patients, support visiting families, and improve the working environment for hospital staff. The installation covered more than 250 square metres of wall space with custom, woodland-themed graphics populated by illustrated animals, storytelling details, and playful visual moments, designed in-house by 2601 graphic designer Jason Andrew.
To execute the project, the team specified Kavalan Gecko 320GB Greyback, a sustainable material alternative supplied by exclusive UK and Ireland distributor CMYUK. The substrate features a polyester base and a PVC-free resin coating, ensuring the material meets the strict fire ratings and safety compliance standards required for high-traffic public interiors. Because the material is manufactured in widths up to five metres and supports both Latex and UV ink technologies, 2601 was able to output the large visual scenes as single pieces. This seamless production method allowed the woodland graphics to flow continuously around the department without visible vertical panel joins.
Founded in May 2015 by Steve Williamson and Paul Johnson, 2601 Creative Print provides design, wide-format production, and site installation services for visitor attractions, educational institutions, healthcare providers, and live environments. The business has used the Kavalan Gecko product line for four years, relying on its structural traits to manage challenging building environments.
Paul Johnson, Founding Director at 2601, explained that the installation team values the material because its lightweight construction is balanced by a robust body that masks uneven or imperfect plaster walls, resulting in a smooth, premium finish. Steve Williamson, fellow Founding Director, added that the project was particularly significant for the team due to its positive impact on patients and staff, whilst demonstrating that sustainable material choices do not require a compromise on physical durability or print quality.
Paul Warwick, regional sales manager for the south at CMYUK, concluded: “2601’s Royal United Hospitals Bath project is exactly the kind of work the Kavalan Green Leader Awards were created to recognise. It demonstrates how PVC-free materials can be used in meaningful and technically demanding applications without compromising on performance, quality, or visual impact.”
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