Fastsigns Sheffield and Chesterfield invests in Latex R530 to expand sustainable print

Print Solutions

Fastsigns Sheffield and Chesterfield has invested in a new HP Latex R530 printer, with the aim of expanding its services and taking on more work from environmentally minded clients.

Based just outside Sheffield city centre, Fastsigns Sheffield and Chesterfield is part of the UK franchise network, working with customers in the local area on a range of projects. The company specialises in custom printing and graphics and recently took on the new HP hybrid printer, to strengthen this part of its business.

The Latex R530 runs at a top speed of 24 square metres per hour in indoor mode, and can print on media up to 5 cm thick and 1.6 metre wide, while users can print in colour and white at a resolution as high as 1200 x 600 dpi.

On top of this, the printer runs water based Latex Inks. These water based inks have a lower environmental and workplace impact than many solvent, eco solvent and UV inks, due in part to their low volatile organic compound (VOC) content. In addition, the machine itself is manufactured using 25% recycled plastic, further increasing its environmental credentials.

It was these eco minded qualities that proved a major investment point for Fastsigns Sheffield and Chesterfield, which purchased the machine from approved partner Perfect Colours. The company took delivery of the new device in January 2026. While the printer has only been up and running at the company’s facility for a matter of weeks, staff have already felt the benefits of the new machine.

‘Our other printer is solvent based, so having a new Latex machine will allow us to produce more recyclable products,’ said director Martin Slater. ‘This is something we haven’t explored previously, but we are investigating ways of marketing this to environmentally concerned purchasers.’

As to the type of work that will be running on the machine, Martin said this will include roll media, substrate and direct to substrate applications. To support the printer moving forward, the company has also purchased a new Summa flatbed cutter and upgraded its Print Factory RIP software.

‘We needed to increase our capacity to cope with demand,’ Martin said. ‘The ability to print direct to substrate means we cut out some processes, speeding up our delivery.’