MLG targets wide format growth with new Nyala 5

Print Solutions

McAllister Litho Glasgow (MLG) has installed a new Nyala 5 flatbed printer from swissQprint to handle a surge in demand for wide format work. The new machine is helping the business to diversify into new applications as well as reduce running costs and consumables. 

The commercial sheetfed litho printer has invested more than £1 million in its wide format capabilities over the past two years. The swissQprint Nyala 5 flatbed printer is the latest addition to its production line up and follows a particularly strong increase in workload during the past five to six months. The family owned business a operates from a 40,000 square foot site with a workforce of 45 and turnover of £6 million. 

The Nyala 5 configured by MLG has CMYK, white and varnish inks alongside roll to roll capability. It is being used across a broad range of applications, including point of sale materials, signage, display stands, window graphics and floor vinyls for customers ranging from local businesses to blue chip organisations. 

Director Brian McAllister said that the company had a strong track record in producing wide format work but had stepped up investment two years ago. Since then, demand has increased and its current line up of equipment could not keep up with the workload. 

Brian added, ‘We looked at three or four manufacturers when considering the next stage of our investment programme. The quality produced by the Nyala 5 and the speed at which it can achieve that quality stood out. There were also substantial potential savings in running costs and consumables, which made the overall package very attractive.’

Wide format now represents approximately 20% of MLG’s business. The company has benefited from crossover between its litho and wide format customer bases, with clients increasingly seeking to place litho, large format and digital print and finishing work with a single supplier. 

The Nyala 5 is also helping the company handle demanding substrates, including 5 mm foam flooring used for retail advertising campaigns. White ink supports the growing requirement for window graphics and other specialist applications, while varnish enables MLG to offer haptic effects such as drop gloss. 

Brian explained, ‘Although it is still early days, we have been very impressed by the machine’s build quality, output and speed. The quality of the white ink is noticeably stronger than the previous capability we had on site.’

When weighing up the decision to invest, MLG considered the total cost over the machine's lifespan. Factors included reliability, service support, energy consumption, consumables and potential downtime. ‘The Nyala's performance gives us confidence that we have invested in the right platform for our continued growth,’ said Brian. 

The Nyala 5 features a 3.2 × 2 metre flatbed and can reach a top speed of 253 m² per hour. Its modular platform offers up to ten individually configurable colour channels and can be adapted as production requirements develop. 

Ian Maxfield, regional sales manager at swissQprint, said: ‘It has been great to be part of MLG's strategy to grow its wide format business. The Nyala 5 is ideally suited to support their growth strategy. The combination of superior print quality, versatility and productivity enables the Nyala to be the workhorse of a digital print operation and will give MLG a critical business edge.’