Hollywood Monster super charges production with a Vutek X5r from CMYUK

Print Solutions

Hollywood Monster is gearing up for its next phase of growth with a major investment in an EFI Vutek X5r roll fed UV-LED printer from CMYUK.

The new 5.2 metre wide printer represents considerably more than additional print capacity for the Birmingham based visual communications specialist. It is part of a wider production strategy designed to increase throughput, reduce unit costs, and create a more automated workflow capable of supporting larger and more demanding projects.

Hollywood Monster has a strong pipeline for the coming year, including a number of significant international opportunities across sporting events and retail. CEO Simon McKenzie believes the business has reached a point where further growth depends on being prepared to invest ahead of that demand.

‘There comes a point where you either back yourself or accept staying at the level you are already at,’ said Simon. ‘We have been in business for 30 years, we know what we are capable of and we can see the opportunities ahead of us. This investment is us making that commitment.’

For Simon, that commitment also says something important about the confidence within Hollywood Monster itself. The decision to make such a substantial investment reflects not only his own belief in the direction of the company, but the belief of the wider team in the business, its pipeline, and what it can achieve next.

The Vutek X5r can print at speeds of up to 751 square metres per hour and has been designed for high volume production with minimal operator intervention. However, speed in isolation was never the objective. The wider aim is to reduce the cost and time involved in producing every square metre of finished output.

Automation sits at the heart of the X5r platform, with technology that monitors print quality, nozzle performance, media roll length, and ink levels, while supporting long, uninterrupted production runs. Just as importantly, the printer can integrate a range of finishing processes directly into the production workflow, including automatic inspection, back printing, vertical slitting, trimming, and horizontal cutting.

It means printed material can move much further towards a completed graphic before leaving the machine, reducing handling and increased pressure on the finishing department.

Simon said, ‘What interests us is what happens to a job from the moment it enters production until it leaves the building. Every additional touch, every delay, and every unnecessary process has a cost. If we can take those stages out while maintaining the quality, that changes the economics of the job.’

The purchase of the X5r follows Hollywood Monster’s investment in a Vutek M3h last year, and continues the relationship with CMYUK that stretches back more than two decades.

Over that period, EFI Vutek technology has become firmly embedded within Hollywood Monster’s production environment. The X5r is the company’s 21st Vutek printer supplied through CMYUK. That history has created a level of confidence and trust that Simon believes carries considerable value when making an investment of this scale.

‘We really value our relationship with CMYUK. It understands where we have come from and where we want to go,’ said Simon. ‘Over the years, we have grown together, and we have built a true partnership. We share knowledge and ideas, and work together to ensure that any new technology takes our business forward.’

Accommodating the X5r will require significant changes to Hollywood Monster’s production facility. Existing production equipment is being repositioned, additional space created, and the factory floor reorganised to accommodate the new equipment and revised workflow.

The X5r is expected to be installed in early November, with the wider reconfiguration programme taking around six weeks and continuing into January. It is a substantial undertaking, but one the company regards as necessary if it is to increase both its capacity and competitiveness. The increased capability will place the business in a stronger position to pursue larger projects where production scale, fast turnaround times, and guaranteed delivery are critical.

Technology investment is only one part of its growth strategy. The company also plans to continue investing in people and developing its sales operation, including expanding its presence in London.

The ambition is not simply to become a larger version of the existing business, but to create the infrastructure needed to compete at a different level.

‘After 30 years in business, the scale of the Vutek X5r investment is as much a statement of confidence as it is a production decision,’ said Simon. ‘We believe in the opportunities ahead and putting the technology, infrastructure, and people in place to pursue them.’