Romo has invested in a Canon Colorado M5 and a suite of Neolt finishing equipment from CMYUK to bring its fabric sample frame production in-house.
Romo has enhanced its production capabilities by installing new printing and finishing equipment supplied by CMYUK. The interior décor company has integrated a Canon Colorado M5 UVgel printer alongside a suite of Neolt finishing hardware at its Nottingham headquarters. The installation includes a Neolt Jumbo XY Matic Plus, Neolt Rewinder, Neolt Stacker XY Matic Plus 165, Neolt Unwinder, and a Neolt XY Matic Plus.
The new equipment sits within Romo’s sampling department. This division employs approximately 90 staff and produces around 1,100 sample books per week across six standard sizes. The department creates pattern books, swatch cards, and cut samples for interior designers and furniture manufacturers.
A crucial element in this workflow involves producing a white paper frame mounted on the back of each fabric sample. This frame secures the material and displays essential technical data such as width, pattern repeat, and performance specifications. Historically, Romo outsourced the production of these frames using external litho printing. This process required staff to manually collate the frames into the correct sequences for each pattern book upon delivery. Furthermore, staff had to hand-apply photo stickers for large-scale designs to show the complete motif.
Material constraints also complicated the legacy process. The paper stock used for the frames features a heat-reactive adhesive backing. CMYUK notes that conventional printing technologies relying on heat have the potential to cause melting or jamming with this specific material. At the same time, an existing internal trimmer was reaching the end of its working life.
To resolve these operational restrictions, Romo selected the Canon Colorado M5 paired with Neolt bulk handling equipment to create an internal end-to-end solution. By bringing frame production in-house, the company anticipates initial savings of approximately £85,000 per year.
Damian Easom, Manager of Romo’s sampling department, explains the company’s ethos. He says, “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.”
Regarding the new hardware, he adds, “Quality and consistency are paramount. 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 Neolt system enables the Colorado printer to handle 500-metre rolls for automated overnight running. The integrated workflow also utilises the Neolt XY trimmer to cut material accurately and consistently. Romo states that this integration reduces manual touchpoints and provides faster turnaround times.
The CMYUK team, led by Group Commercial Director Sue Hayward and Service and Demo Centre Manager Neil Roberts, managed the installation. Easom praises the supplier support. He states, “Our experience with CMYUK has been excellent. Any challenges we faced were met with prompt knowledgeable assistance. Their commitment to customer service has been second to none.”
Looking ahead, Romo plans to leverage the equipment for bespoke wallpaper production. Easom concludes, “We envisage customers being able to select any design from our vast library and have it printed on the wallpaper of their choice. Over the coming months, trials will begin at our Nottingham site, with a view to expanding services before the end of the year.”