As the UK’s largest trade printer, Route 1 Print processes more than 10,000 jobs per week, with large-format work accounting for up to 2,000 of those jobs. Facing growing demand for outdoor banners and signage, the company identified finishing as a critical bottleneck and prioritised automation to maintain speed and reliability. Initial investments included PLASTGrommet’s Evolve Air Welder and eyelet presses, followed by the Finishing Station and, most recently, the Hybrid TexWiz integrated banner finishing platform. “Finishing is one of the biggest challenges in large-format production, so introducing more automation allows us to deliver higher quality products faster while expanding the range of solutions we can offer our customers,” said Mark Young, Managing Director of Bluetree Group.

By consolidating cutting, eyeletting, welding, and sewing into automated systems, Route 1 Print has brought large-format finishing fully in-house, improving quality control and eliminating reliance on outsourced processes. The TexWiz platform alone has removed a key production constraint, enabling the company to produce PVC and polyester banners on a single system while significantly reducing manual intervention. Capacity gains are substantial, with Young stating that the enhanced finishing automation will allow the business to nearly triple output while improving turnaround times and resource allocation. Supported by PLASTGrommet and UK distributor Atech, the investment positions Route 1 Print with a scalable, resilient workflow where finishing is no longer the limiting factor—but a competitive advantage.

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