Westcolour invests in HP PageWide

Westcolour, a paper wrapping business based in Cornwall and Bicester, has detailed its latest investments, including the purchase of a HP PageWide Advantage 2200.

The press investment comes at the same time as the expansion of a new 15,000sq ft facility in Granville Way, Bicester, which the company sees as a “bold step forward” in delivering print, packaging, and fulfilment services to customers in the UK and beyond.

The company’s website highlights its commitment to the environment as it credits itself as one of the first mailing companies in the UK to eradicate as much plastic from its supply chain as possible. This change meant the company fully converted to paper and other recyclable materials in the wrapping part of the business, which sits alongside the print management arm of the company.

The business has worked alongside companies like Whistl, Immediate Media, and Slimming World Magazine, and is partnered with industry bodies such as Two Sides, the Strategic Mailing Partnership (SMP), and the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF).

Westcolour’s new factory unit includes 600 pallet spaces of racking, vastly increasing its fulfilment and storage capabilities.

The HP investment opens up the company to new opportunities with products like stationary, direct mail, greeting cards, and direct mail – all with new personalisation and finishing capabilities.

Speaking of the investment, Andrew Bowden and James Ward, owners and directors of Westcolour, say: “We’re delighted to partner with HP – an industry leader in print technology. Its innovation aligns perfectly with Westcolour’s commitment to quality, consistency, and reliability. This investment allows us to deliver more value, more creativity, and more flexibility to our customers.”

Moving forward Westcolour hopes to work more closely with HP, especially as it has seen improvements in the print market, and new avenues for the company to move into.

Bowden says: “After a challenging few years for the print industry, we’re seeing renewed trust in print as a high-impact channel. Our goal is to help our customers delight their audiences with personalised, value-driven, print-based subscriptions, newsstands items, and direct mail.”

HP has seen a number of installations in the past year, from both its wide-format and industrial divisions.

Earlier this month, Microforum Services, based in Toronto, demonstrated the increased popularity of vinyl records by investing in a HP Indigo 18K digital press to help produce vinyl record jackets, rigid boxes, and custom packaging for deliveries.

The company, which has been in business for around 25 years, provides an end-to-end service for vinyl records including pressing, testing, packaging, and download cards and labels. The company also specialises in CDs, cassette tapes, and bespoke packaging.

Frank Stipo, president of Microforum Services Group, says: “The HP Indigo 18K empowers us to bring more work in-house, double our productivity, and deliver the premium, design-driven solutions our clients´ demand. Its larger B2 sheet size and 24pt duplex capabilities have opened new opportunities for high-end packaging and personalized applications.”