HI-FLI BANNERS INVEST IN THE FUTURE IN KIRRIEMUIR

18th November, 2009 @ 03.00 pm

Published Date:
18 November 2009
By Janet Thomson

A KIRRIEMUIR company is riding out the recession by investing for the future.
Hi-Fli Banners & Flags Limited, part of the long-established Wilkie Group, has celebrated the delivery of a new printing machine which has the potential to open up new markets and has doubled the company's capacity overnight.

When it comes to textiles, few companies know more than the Wilkie Group, founded in 1868 in Kirriemuir.

Hi-Fli Banners & Flags Limited was established as an off-shoot of the group in 2000, in response to the increasing availability of digitally printable textiles and the emergence of new digital textile printing techniques.

They first dipped their toe into the digital textile market with the installation of three TexJet machines, which were eventually replaced by a ColourBooster machine.

More recently Hi-Fli has taken delivery of an additional, new, MutohViper Direct-to-Textile printing system supplied by DCP Systems of Sheffield.

This installation has introduced DCP Systems to the Mutoh direct to textile technology as all their previous installations in the UK had been paper transfer machines.

Following many years of commercial and sales experience within the Wilkie Group, David Scrymgeour was appointed managing director of Hi-Fli Banners & Flags Ltd. in early 2008.



Very early in this role he began to analyse each section of the business in order to help retain its strong position in the UK market.
The result of this analysis indicated that another machine was required and the search began in late 2008 to find a suitable addition to the fleet and to find a UK-based supplier that could help the business with installation, training and ongoing support.

Mr Scrymgeour said: "Early this year we began to look in earnest to find a supplier first and foremost that understood our market and had a product or solution to fit.

"We had dealt with DCP Systems in the past and so they were a natural starting point. We had such a good rapport with their sales and technical staff and they were able to discuss with confidence our immediate requirements and future needs that we looked to them to source our next textile printer.

"They recommended the Mutoh Viper, a direct to textile printing system that would meet our immediate customer orders for banners and flags, but also be flexible and adaptable enough to enable us to go out and look for new clients with differing needs. The Mutoh Viper has the potential to introduce us to different substrates for printing hence opening up new sales opportunities."

The Mutoh Viper is specifically suited to printing on transfer paper or direct to textiles using sublimation ink.

Via the unique heavy-duty motorized unwinding/winding system for rolls up to 100 kg and an extra tensioning tool, the printed media is optimally prepared for post-treatment on a sublimation unit.

It is possible to print onto many kinds of non-stretch materials for the manufacture of flags, sports goods, mouse mats, curtains, tile murals, exhibition stand decoration and many, many more applications.
The majority of work going through their plant in Kirriemuir is, unsurprisingly, banners and flags, but Hi-Fli also design and deliver a huge range of textile display products including exhibition stands, stage branding, building wraps and display textiles for sporting events and ceremonies.
The Mutoh Viper will predominantly be used for producing short run, quick response jobs and is seen as a perfect fit.

Mr Scrymgeour continued: "The installation of this new Mutoh Viper direct to textile printer will enable us to offer a much wider portfolio of products to our clients and may open up new markets to us.

"Applications such as sample swatches for fashion and soft furnishings for example are now possible – bespoke fabrics for weddings, restaurants, one off events or interior design – all of these applications are possible using this new printer. We are excited at the prospects and our customers and potential customers are already making noises about what opportunities are now open to them through us."

Hi-Fli purchased the Viper with a bulk ink system attached, which allows far greater flexibility and confidence to take on last minute, quick response jobs – effectively, doubling their capacity over night.
Hi-Fli has the full range of in-house finishing equipment including industrial sewing machines and eyelet machines so that they can maintain complete control over the quality of the finished product and also ensure a quick turnaround of jobs.

With the benefit of over 130 years of experience in handling textiles, Hi-Fli has taken on the ethos of their parent company and are passionate about the effect their business and products have on the environment. All of their fabrics therefore are sourced through ethical companies and are 100% recyclable.

They even offer a recycling service for their customers to return their graphics when they are done.

Mr Scrymgeour added: "Hi-Fli has a good core customer base but to make ourselves even more viable in these difficult economic times we needed to increase our output, hence the new installation.

"It is a bold move to invest in a new machine at this point in time, but we believe that we have chosen the right printer, with the right solution provider to forge a strong partnership so that our customers can benefit from our combined expertise and experience to help deliver the best textile products for their needs."

Hi-Fli has also recently appointed a new sales manager for the UK in Gary Thorpe who has been involved in the textile and digital print industry for many years.

Gary will be responsible for helping to open new markets for Hi-Fli and securing business for the textile printers.

Mr Scrymgeour concluded: "Service engineers based in the UK that have a passion for getting the job done efficiently and without fuss was a key factor in choosing DCP Systems as the solution partner for us - as indeed was the level of specialism in the digital textile market.

"We are now confident that, when we come out of this current recession, we will be sitting poised with the right people and the right machinery to move forward, dealing with the continual changes in demand and our team are ready to face whatever challenges they encounter."