Zimmermann Industries has boosted its capacity by 400 per cent following its purchase of a Mimaki JFX600-2513 UV LED flatbed inkjet printer.
Installed at Zimmermann Industries’ facility in Lilydale, Victoria, in December, the new addition to the production line marks a significant leap forward for the company, by enhancing its efficiency, output, and expansion into new markets.
“Since the installation, we’ve been flat out,” Steen Zimmermann, owner and director of Zimmermann Industries told ProPrint.
“We’ve done more work in a month than what our previous printer did in a whole year.”
Founded by Steen Zimmermann in 2007, Zimmermann Industries is a leading turn-key fabricated and electronic signage supplier, and has worked with major retail brands including Reebok, Focus on Furniture, Lovisa, and Mecca.
The purchase of the JFX600-2513 continues Zimmermann’s longstanding relationship with Mimaki Australia, with the new machine replacing a second-hand Mimaki printer purchased two years ago. The new addition takes the total number of Mimaki machines owned by Zimmermann throughout its 18-year history to seven.
“We’ve only ever had Mimaki. We bought our previous machine to get into the flatbed market and we got it second hand because, at the time, we didn’t have the work to warrant the investment of a brand-new machine,” Zimmermann said.
“I never thought we would go from a second-hand $40,000 machine to a brand new machine. I thought there would be a mid-point in there. But, after looking at the increasing volume of work our clients needed from us, we knew we needed more capacity. So, when we started the process of looking for a new machine, it just made sense to go with what we knew.
“We did look at other printers, but Mimaki came out on top in terms of speed, quality, and durability of ink. Not only that, the JFX600-2513 offered everything we needed. We felt that with some of the other machines, we would have to compromise on one feature to get another. The JFX600-2513’s speed is also unbelievable – it’s up to 16 times faster than our previous machine.
“There are only three JFX600-2513 machines in Australia and we’re the only one with this configuration in Australia. The Mimaki team flew us to their showroom in Sydney to see the machine, and we also visited a printer based in Albury who also has a JFX600-2513, where we did durability tests.
“Overall, it was about six months of due diligence by us before we bought it. It was a big leap to even buy the first one and that was second-hand, so we wanted to be certain this was the right fit for us, and it has paid off.
“From start to finish, the Mimaki team have been great. It was a two-week set up. Once we got it off the truck, Mimaki did everything and trained up our team. Whenever we need support, they are there. There are cheaper and more expensive machines out there in the market, but I don’t think the others have the tech support that Mimaki has.”
The ability to print bespoke architectural decor with the JFX600-2513 has also significantly enhanced Zimmermann Industries’ presence in the decor market.
“We’ve been developing our texture printing for the past two years, and it’s an area that we’re really focused on. We’re now starting to do more surface printing such as display walls in retail and trade showrooms,” Zimmermann said.
“For example, instead of using wallpaper or tiles for a wall display of taps and fittings in a plumbing supplies store, we’re now replicating that with texture printing. So, the texture software of the JFX600- 2513 was another major drawcard for us. It allows us to offer a range of services to clients now, depending on what they need and their budget.
“We’re currently working with a retailer on the opening of their new flagship store. They are in a heritage building and tiles were damaged prior to them moving in. They can’t replace the new tiles in time for the launch, so we are printing replicas as an interim solution and then they will replace with custom made tiles after launch.
“The interest from brands once they realise what we can do with has skyrocketed. We get new jobs every week. It has opened a lot of other avenues for us that we couldn’t do before. It’s the same skillset by our team and the same capacity that we have; it’s just adding more value to what we can offer.”
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