Lancashire-based Poppy Signs has boosted its production capacity and removed a key workflow bottleneck by installing a JWEI JCUT 3230 digital cutting table from CMYUK.
Lancashire-based Poppy Signs has boosted its production capacity, expanded its application range, and removed a key workflow bottleneck following the installation of a JWEI JCUT 3230 digital cutting table from CMYUK. The company, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, specialises in bespoke, turnkey signage solutions from survey and design through to manufacture, installation, and maintenance.
Operating from a 10,000 sq. ft facility with a team of 18, Poppy Signs has built a reputation for delivering high-quality, complex work to tight deadlines. The JWEI digital cutting table is the latest in a series of strategic investments designed to keep the business agile and competitive.
Founder and Managing Director Dave McDonald spent over a year researching options across the market, benchmarking the JWEI against traditional tier-one tables. He was particularly impressed by the combination of advanced functionality, build quality, and price performance.
“If you make a list of all the major cutting tables, most people will put certain brands at the top as the pinnacle – the Ferraris of the market. What the JWEI does is give you that kind of top-notch performance but at a more accessible price point. When you line up the features, speed and capacity, and then look at the price, it’s a bit of a wow moment,” McDonald says.
Key features that drove the investment included the 3.2m-wide cutting area. Poppy Signs had already been printing in-house at 3.2 metres wide, but its previous Kongsberg table was too small to handle the full width. McDonald notes that the JWEI finally lets the team use the full width of their printers. Furthermore, the inclusion of an Automatic Tool Changer and powerful milling capabilities at this price point proved highly attractive. The comprehensive standard toolset, which includes creasing wheels, has also allowed the company to add products like Correx wraps and other folded items to its offering.
Before the installation, Poppy Signs faced a clear bottleneck at the finishing stage. The new table has transformed this workflow, increasing production capability by an estimated 30 to 40 per cent. The business can now process 3.2m-wide prints from its hybrid printer and finish them at full size, as well as comfortably handle large panels such as 4m x 2m aluminium composite sheets for totems and cladding.
The investment in automation has also enabled Poppy Signs to stabilise its production staffing. Previously, multiple team members would be pulled into the workshop to help clear backlogs. Now, two dedicated members of staff can handle the bulk of manufacturing. The JWEI has also improved existing applications, such as the automated cutting of PVC-free Gecko wallpaper drops (supplied exclusively by CMYUK), which was previously a labour-intensive manual process.
Behind the technology investment is a long-standing relationship with CMYUK. McDonald highlights the unbeatable technical advice, guidance, and tier-one support provided by Sue Hayward, CMYUK’s Commercial Director, and Nick Reed, CMYUK’s Business Finishing Manager.
“We’ve always punched above our weight,” concludes McDonald, “but the JWEI has given us the firepower to match our ambitions. It’s not just improved what we do today, it’s reshaped what we believe is possible for the business going forward.”