TWR Acrylic has invested in a Mimaki JFX200-1213EX flatbed UV printer from Xpres to bring its premium acrylic and event print production in-house.
The Wee Rhubarb Gift Co Ltd has expanded its manufacturing footprint with the launch of a dedicated division, TWR Acrylic, backed by an investment in a mid-format Mimaki JFX200-1213EX flatbed UV printer. Purchased through authorised reseller Xpres, the new machine allows the company to bring its short-run production entirely in-house and expand its trade supply services across the UK.
The business, co-directed by mother-and-daughter team Claire and Loren Sutherland, was founded following a last-minute printing emergency for Loren’s wedding. After successfully redesigning and printing their own event signage at short notice, the duo transitioned from corporate careers into full-time print personalisation, initially operating from a spare bedroom. One year on, the company has expanded into a dual-site operation, running a production workshop in Glasgow alongside a dedicated print facility in Dunfermline.
The launch of the TWR Acrylic division follows the identification of a specific gap in the British craft and corporate events markets. The company noted a high demand among independent makers for premium acrylic sheets featuring the contemporary colour palettes and finishes widely used in the US, which were historically difficult to source in small volumes within the UK.
TWR Acrylic now supplies custom-sized wholesale sheets tailored for small businesses that lack the industrial equipment to process raw materials. In tandem, the firm’s Print Studio arm has expanded to provide direct-to-substrate graphics for trade event planners, branding agencies, and commercial retail clients.
As volume grew, the firm sought to replace a lower-cost, imported UV DTF system that had caused operational bottlenecks due to a lack of technical support. Claire Sutherland, Director at TWR Acrylic, explained, ‘We struggled with support. We didn’t want to be stuck relying on web chats to another country when something went wrong. For us, having proper UK-based technical backup became essential’.
The requirement for localised technical support led the company to the Mimaki JFX200-1213EX. Having previously researched the output of larger Mimaki engines, the team selected the mid-size flatbed format to achieve high production speeds and fine text resolution, whilst securing a bed size that leaves headroom for long-term commercial growth.
Sutherland said, ‘The print quality from the Mimaki was incredible. There was just no comparison. We considered a smaller machine, but I knew we’d outgrow it quickly. The JFX200 gives us a longer-term solution with a larger bed size and faster production speeds. It just opens us up to so much more’.
The flatbed technology is currently being used to output highly detailed, one-off event commissions, including bespoke retail signage and personalised wedding table plans printed directly onto colored acrylic substrates. Looking forward, the company plans to capitalise on the machine’s capabilities by launching a proprietary line of pre-printed decorative acrylic panels under the brand name ‘Boundless by TWR’.
Sutherland concluded, ‘The new Mimaki printer has given us the confidence to take that even further’.
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