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Textile printing specialist RA Smart has reached an agreement with Fujifilm to supply the latter’s Acuity Prime flatbed printers in the UK. The deal strengthens RA Smart Large Format, the wide-format arm of RA Smart launched earlier this year.
The Acuity Prime is the first new Fujifilm flatbed since the company ended its long-standing agreement with Canon (formerly Océ) for the latter’s Arizona line of UV-curing printers. It is a 2.54 x 1.7m model able to handle media up to 51mm thick.
RA Smart, which will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022, has already ordered two Acuity Prime presses. One of the machines is intended for Ebbsfleet Printing Solutions, a sign shop and digital print company based in Kent, but the other will be remaining at RA Smart’s Macclesfield head office as a demonstration device.
Adam Booth, who joined RA Smart earlier this year as a partner and director, and who has been the driving force behind the company’s move into wide-format, commented on the new agreement, saying, ‘Having been in the print industry for years, even once working at Fujifilm myself, I have always been hugely impressed with Fujifilm – with how they operate as a business and of course, their technology. The fact that Fujifilm invests significantly in R&D and ink technology means that they can drive the best return on investment and ensure quality is consistent. This really sets them apart from all other players in the industry. When the Acuity Prime, which sets a new benchmark for price / performance, launched this year, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity of adding it to our product portfolio.’
The director went on to address how he sees the industry developing next year. ‘It hasn’t been a typical year, and I envisage that next year we are going to see a real push within the market – not just within print but also finishing solutions too,’ he said. ‘The entire start-to-end process of helping customers to produce fast turnarounds of high-quality products is a key trend that I expect to see. The Acuity Prime is ideal for meeting these demands, due to its fast print speeds and superb quality. I also foresee many printers replacing their older flatbeds that are expensive to service and support, which is, again, where the Acuity Prime offers a great opportunity. I am looking forward to seeing how the machine benefits our customers’ businesses.’
Andy Kent, divisional manager at Fujifilm Graphic Systems UK added, ‘We are delighted to be partnering with RA Smart – a trusted and reputable print company and supplier. We are confident that this relationship will enable us to reach customers more effectively than ever before.’