Sporteze co-owner Jackie Watson said that they had seen the machine (pictured) at the recent Visual Impact Image Expo digital trade exhibition in Sydney and decided that it was the required technology boost the company needed to grow.

The company’s clients range from corporations such as Telstra to local WA businesses and sporting organisations that require the printing of logos or promotional material onto polyester shirts and neoprene stubby holders. The company also embroiders promotional business shirts.

“The business was growing,” said Watson. “We were using basic screen printing equipment based on a six-colour and four-colour carousel and we were doing it all by hand.”

“We were at the point where we felt new equipment was needed, so we took ourselves off to the printing expo in Sydney.”

The 1604W1 has been specifically developed as an entry-level printer. It offers print quality up to 1,440 x 1,440dpi and print speeds of up to 15m² per hour.

“We really liked the machine but we were sceptical at taking the plunge,” said Watson. “The Fujifilm Sericol people showed us how the machine worked and we were impressed with it, and reassured [by] them. We’ve never looked back.”

Sporteze chose the complete ValueJet package that included the J-Feeder continuous ink delivery system, J-Eco Subly Nano NS-60 inks designed for polyester textiles, and Jetcol digital transfer papers.

Watson believes the ValueJet has been instrumental in bringing in more business, due to the higher quality of products it offers without a commensurate higher cost.

“I don’t really want the business to grow too much more,” Watson admitted. “I enjoy getting out and meeting people all the time. I don’t want to get to the stage where I miss out on that.”

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