Leyland-based digitally printed wallcoverings specialist John Mark Ltd. said the innovative results it has achieved with its HP Latex 800W have opened up expansion opportunities in a host of markets.

Digitally printed wallcoverings specialist John Mark Ltd. has praised the impact its "exciting" HP Latex 800W printer has had on business, saying it is planning to invest in more technology from HP to support its growth plans.

Based in Leyland, John Mark Ltd. is a leading provider of wall coverings, using digital print to produce a wide range of applications for customers both in the UK and markets around the world.

Due to a significant rise in demand for its expert services, John Mark opted to invest in new equipment to bolster its production setup and - as a long-term user of HP printers - it once again turned to the digital printing technology market leader for assistance.

John Mark selected the HP Latex 800W printer and while the Covid-19 pandemic led to a short delay in the machine being delivered, it was installed by approved HP reseller Papergraphics at the company's facility in Leyland in February of this year. The company has spent the last few months testing out the printer to see how it can support its plans to move into new markets and grow its customer base.

Matt Fletcher, Commercial Manager at John Mark Ltd., said that the company has been "over the moon" with the high quality of output it has achieved during testing, to the point where the business is already looking ahead to its next investment from HP.

"We have trialled printing onto silk, linen, grass-cloth, cork, vinyl, foils, metallic leaf and non-woven materials so far, and it has been great to create exciting new finishes," Matt Fletcher said. "We're constantly innovating, using unusual print bases to push the limits of this new process and create beautiful home décor products.

"We are over the moon with the new possibilities that this new printer offers us and our designers. In fact, so much so that we're ready to buy the full scale 3.2m version once it is available."

Matt Fletcher was also quick to praise the innovative white ink option on the HP Latex 800W, saying that while the company is yet to run major production with white ink, this feature has opened up all sorts of exciting and profitable opportunities.

"We have used the white layer to block out areas of the background and then print on top to create unique finishes not seen in wallpaper printing until now," Matt Fletcher said.

"The feedback we've had on this white layer process from our customers is that it's a game-changer - and one that will enable them to stand out in a crowd. We are sure this new white layer print process is here to stay and will transform the way we design and print wallpaper. We can be even more creative with future collections."

The addition of the new HP machine has also proved a big hit with Kit Miles, a leading designer of high-end wallpaper and fabrics, who works closely with John Mark Ltd.

Kit Miles explains: "The HP Latex printer has opened up a world of possibility, and with it comes the added opportunity to think about digital print in a radically new way,"

"The world around us has variety in terms of shade, tone and texture as well as surface finish. Now we can begin to look to reflect that in some of our new design work.

"Having trained as a textile designer at the Royal College of Art, I feel a great sense of happiness returning to a method akin to that of silk screen. Through this technology one can think in layers and opacity; we simply could not have done that previously."

The new HP Latex 800W is running alongside John Mark Ltd.'s existing arsenal of HP printers, which includes no fewer than six HP Latex 1500 machines dedicated to its main production processes, as well as two HP Latex 570 printers which are primarily used for sampling and bespoke one-off pieces.

Matt Fletcher said that based on John Mark Ltd.'s incredible success of using HP printing technology over the years, there was no hesitation in once again returning to the manufacturer for new investment.

"We've been with HP from the very beginning and the support we receive and the level of training our staff has been provided with has been second to none," he says.

"This has helped us grow organically, and HPs water-based ink system, and planet partners programme further deepens our commitment to becoming the most sustainable wallpaper manufacturer on the planet."

For more information on the HP Latex 800W printer, please click here