Impressed by Fujifilm’s ink manufacturing facility in Broadstairs, Andy Wilson tells us why PressOn has made this important investment
Based in Chatham, Kent, PressOn produces high quality digital print for a huge range of applications. It delivers solutions for just about every aspect of large-format digital printing, from vehicle wraps and wall coverings to retail displays and building covers. PressOn has a strong reputation for reliability, quality and great service, and this often means having the very best technology to work with.
The search for the right technology to meet PressOn’s growing need for faster production resulted in their latest investment with Fujifilm, the Acuity Ultra Hybrid LED, which was installed this week (3rd June 2025). Managing director, Andy Wilson, explains, “Printing technology is very mature now. A few years ago, a printer investment would have been good for the next three to five years. Now they are much more long-term investments, akin to the old screen presses. It’s now a ten-year minimum investment, because the technology is so established.”
This, of course, makes it that much more important to make the right choice. Andy continues, “We have done a lot of research and due diligence before making this purchase. We attended exhibitions and spoke to other users in order to get a real-world, hands-on view of what our target printers could do.”
He says that Fujifilm was pushed to the top of a long list thanks to Mike Lewis. “Mike invited me down to Fujifilm’s facility in Broadstairs. Before we even saw any of their machines, we looked at their ink manufacturing. One of the people there said something that really struck me. He said that ‘when all things are said and done, the only thing that’s left behind is the ink’.”
“This made me think. We often focus heavily on the technology that delivers the ink, but not enough on the ink itself. Most machine manufacturers focus on the delivery technology, but because Fujifilm manufactures its own ink, it’s a huge focus and priority. That was a big wake-up call for me.”
Fujifilm manufactures its ink in the UK, and this was another significant factor in Andy’s decision to go with them. “It means we’re not subject to global supply chain issues, and in the unlikely event of a problem, technicians and resources are readily available to analyse it. Broadstairs is only a 45-minute drive from our factory. I was amazed at the amount of ongoing development work they’re still doing on the ink. I highly recommend that anyone in the business considering their next investment opportunity should visit Broadstairs to see how Fujifilm makes their ink.”
He adds, “Fujifilm’s R&D and its ability to analyse their work is impressive. In one lab, a technician showed us that if needed, they can cut a printhead through the nozzle and use a microscope to analyse what’s causing a blockage. Historically, the approach might have been to just try another batch of inks. These guys are really digging deep into the technology, and I thought that was amazing.”
Choosing the Acuity Ultra Hybrid LED
Andy explains why Press On specifically selected the Acuity Ultra Hybrid LED. “Production is definitely a factor. We’ve had, and continue to have, great success with our existing technology. We’re printing a lot more panels, and the opportunities with white ink on clear film are huge. The Acuity Ultra Hybrid LED is a production machine that can handle this work quickly.”
He also wanted to move the company towards UV ink. “UV ink technology has moved on significantly since the last UV machine I bought in 2012. I sold that in 2019, so it’s been six years since we last had a UV printer. Our existing technology has been absolutely amazing, and we continue to use and enjoy it, but we needed something with bigger production capacity. Fujifilm’s ongoing development of UV inks means they are always looking at how to improve it, make it more sustainable, and make it better. This was a very deep persuader for me.”
Andy concludes, “We are in a very competitive market, and to stay at the top, we need to have the right technology and equipment. We have only just installed the Fujifilm Acuity Ultra Hybrid LED, and we can’t wait to see what it can do and how it will help our business. I would like to thank Mike and the Fujifilm team for their help and support, and invite Eye on Display over to see us in a few months to see how we are getting on.”
Read more about Fujifilm’s Broadstairs facility here… https://www.eyeondisplay.com/special-report-an-eye-on-fujifilm-wide-format/