Tiato invests in Canon and Mimaki technology with CMYUK

Print Solutions

Tiato is continuing its impressive trajectory with the purchase of a Canon Colorado M5W and Mimaki CJV200-160 from CMYUK.

These investments are the latest milestone in a year of transformation for the company, kick started by the purchase of a Jwei digital cutting table (also from CMYUK) installed in February 2024, and then a move to much larger premises for a reimagined workflow to boost productivity and efficiency.

The cutting table investment enabled the Tiato team to run finishing jobs in parallel with print jobs, streamlining production and freeing up time to focus on new business. This automation laid the groundwork for the new printer investments, as the business could now take on more complex and time sensitive jobs.

In this latest investment round, Tiato purchased a Colorado M5W, Canon’s flagship 1.6 metre wide UVgel printer. Offering speeds of up to 159 square metres per hour coupled with superb print quality and a fully enclosed smart design, Tim Tomblin, Tiato’s founder, was highly impressed with the demonstration at CMYUK’s showroom in Shrewsbury.  Since installation, the efficiency and speed of the M5W have transformed the workflow.  

‘We process lots of flexible Ferro paper, which works with magnetic surfaces, and produce anything between four – eight rolls for retail campaign rollouts. The Canon Colorado has really speeded this up; we are now able to print four rolls a day, whereas before we were printing one roll overnight, and a single roll during the day, it’s ridiculous the time savings we’ve made on this,’ he said.  

The Colorado enables the team to deliver volume work on tight deadlines with ease.

‘We delivered 90 metres of hoarding, printed, laminated, cut on the Jwei, delivered and installed all within 24 hours – there is no way we could have done that before, it would have taken a good three days,’ said Tim.  

As the fully loaded model of the Colorado M series, the M5W comes with ‘fuss free’ white UVgel ink, perfect for the current aesthetic trends in retail displays.  ‘We often print white onto clear window film for our retail clients, as we are used to working with white ink thanks to the capabilities of our eco solvent Mimaki printer,’ said Tim.

The Colorado M5W also comes with Canon’s FLXfinish+ option. This allows users to print high value applications with either a velvet matt or high gloss finish at the touch of a button. Mixed matt and gloss finishes in the same pass are also easily achievable.  

This latest investment round also includes the purchase of a new Mimaki CJV200-160 eco solvent printer, a roll to roll device with a single printhead, delivering image clarity and detail up to 17 square metres per hour. It replaces an existing 10 year old Mimaki CJV300-160 solvent printer.   

Tim has always considered himself to be a Mimaki man – working with the brand for many years. ‘I love Mimaki printers,’ said Tim. ‘They are very reliable, and the colour is excellent.’

The new Mimaki CJV200-160 builds on the CJV300 heritage, providing the team with familiar handling, while offering the benefit of improved calibration.

‘The CJV200 is a nice upgrade. It is quieter, very reliable, and fits our vehicle wrap work and specialist graphics perfectly,’ he added.

The production workflow at Tiato is organised for optimum efficiency. The Colorado is used for large retail print runs and work requiring the fastest throughput, while the CJV200 is dedicated to specialist graphics and vinyl vehicle wraps. The equipment has been installed at the company’s new modern premises, which is double the size of its last facility.

‘The increased space we have allows us to carry out different production tasks simultaneously,’ said Tim. ‘The layout means jobs can get done without interruption, and every process has its place. We also have the space to bring a van inside for wrapping, which is a godsend.’

CMYUK has been an important contributor to this story.  The company's reputation for excellent communication, technical expertise, and after sales support have been key reasons why Tim after many years, remains a loyal customer. ‘Once you have a connection with a company you tend to stick with it. I get offered printers from suppliers all the time, but I am not interested.  The CMYUK support team is always helpful, knowledgeable, and get things resolved quickly,’ he said.  

Looking ahead, Tim sees the new equipment as the foundation for further growth, ensuring the confidence to deliver any job, large or small, efficiently, and to the highest standard. He concluded, ‘The new printers have freed up time, opened up opportunities, and put us in a great place to target more direct business and continue our success story.’