UK large-format printer The Big Ink Tank is preparing for growth having successfully installed and commissioned an Anapurna Ciervo H3200 hybrid UV LED inkjet printer from Agfa.
Founded in 2009, the company provides high-impact large-format print and installation services for a wide range of clients and applications, such as exhibitions, signage, and gallery and museum graphics. These are manufactured at a compact industrial unit near Coventry, UK where a tight-knit team of six utilises a fleet of specialist equipment to turn concepts into reality and ideas into physical products. The Big Ink Tank team offers design and artwork origination services to customers, as well as handling fitting and installation.
“We’re not a sausage factory,” stated owner Ty Power, who established The Big Ink Tank around 17 years ago. “Everything we do is pretty much bespoke, and our margins are based on adding value through creativity and service rather than just chasing volume.
“End-to-end services mean our team must be agile and flexible. Each of our team needs to be capable and able to get hands-on with everything we do and willing to get stuck in.
“That means our print technology similarly has to be reliable, flexible, and capable of really high-quality output because our work is on show in some very demanding environments.”
Upgrade delivers greater capacity and capability for growth
The Big Ink Tank recently upgraded its equipment portfolio with an Anapurna Ciervo H3200 from Agfa.
This wide-format hybrid inkjet printer works up to a width of 3.2m (126in) and at a volume up to 192sqm/h (2067sqft/h) using UV LED inks in six colours (CMYKcm + white). The printer can be operated in roll-to-roll or flatbed configurations, with quick-release tables at the infeed and outfeed on either side of the print engine allowing switching between formats in a matter of minutes. The Big Ink Tank’s work is split roughly 60/40 in favour of roll-to-roll printing.
Ty said: “This flexibility is a nice bonus for us as it means we can handle the broadest possible range of work without too much hassle. We make every effort to batch work and schedule our production appropriately but having that capability makes life even easier.”
The Anapurna Ciervo H3200 model has replaced an Anapurna H3200i UV LED wide-format printer that was installed in 2018. This was a major investment for The Big Ink Tank as it was the company’s first new wide-format printer having previously printed using a pre-owned inkjet printer from another manufacturer.
The print company’s transition to Agfa inkjet digital printing technology was primarily driven by the need for greater substrate compatibility and increased ink efficiency.
“Our previous inkjet printer put down a lot of ink; it was very heavy and expensive when you’re printing full-coverage exhibition graphics and signage. With Agfa, and now especially with the Ciervo model, the ink laydown is noticeably lighter, but the image looks better. That’s a big plus when you’re handling all sorts of materials.”
Asanti streamlines workflow and output
Agfa’s Asanti software also helped. Asanti is a complete, automated sign and display production hub featuring award-winning colour management technology that is powered by the latest version of Adobe PDF Print Engine. It boasts fast, automatic PDF pre-flighting and advanced functionalities for various applications.
“Moving from our older RIP to Asanti was probably the biggest worry,” Ty admitted. “But after a few weeks it just became normal. Asanti is so intuitive and user-friendly that now we’d struggle to go back. We’ve got preset board and roll sizes, common jobs set up, and it’s all very straightforward for the team.”
Now in 2025 and with orders on the up and volumes increasing, deadlines were getting tighter and customer expectations increasing. Recognising this, Ty took the step to trade in the ‘impeccably maintained’ Anapurna H3200i printer and upgrade.
“The decision to bring in the Ciervo H3200 model was a strategic step for us as a business.
“In reality, the Anapurna model we originally had was a fantastic machine and we could easily have carried on using it. We seriously weren’t looking at anything else but it’s like a car and at some stage, however good it is, the value starts to drift and technology moves on.
“The new platform has given us a real leap forward,” Ty said. “For example, the print quality of the Agfa wide-format inkjet printer we were running was perfect for the work we were doing but as technology has moved on, the new model’s print quality is even sharper and smoother. This is a genuine benefit as we are being asked to print more signage for exhibitions and museums, so the expectations for print quality and legibility are naturally higher. With the Anapurna Ciervo H3200, we can print this type of work without any trouble.”
For exhibition work, the uprated production throughput of the Anapurna Ciervo H3200 has been a boon. What used to be a full day’s printing is now done in just over half a day. As Ty explained: “Realistically, because of the way we feed and handle boards, the throughput is about double.
“The nature of exhibitions means you often get artwork dropped on you at the last minute. With the Ciervo, we can increase the speed, get things turned around quickly, and still be confident in the result. It’s given us a lot more headroom when everything lands at once.”
Understanding and support
Agfa’s reliable support for The Big Ink Tank since their initial investment in 2018 played a large part in Ty’s decision to upgrade.
“We’ve had minimal issues since the upgrade and the one or two we have had have been quickly handled by the Agfa team. We know that things can go wrong with any technology; what matters is how quickly you’re back up and running.
“We know that Agfa is only a phone call away and we can quickly get someone on site if we can’t handle the issue ourselves. Even software updates are done overnight so we come in the next morning and it’s all ready to go. It’s a small thing but shows they understand how we work.”
James Argent, Sales Manager (UK South) at Agfa, said: “Companies such as Ty’s are the bread-and-butter of the print industry. They are producing great work for a loyal customer base. So, when they choose to invest, it is a major step for them and must be the right choice to help them cement their position and grow their business.
“As a hybrid platform, the Anapurna Ciervo H3200 comfortably handles the mix of rigid boards, roll media and fabric-based substrates that The Big Ink Tank runs daily.
“We are delighted that Ty and The Big Ink Tank have chosen to reinvest in Agfa’s hybrid inkjet printing and to continue growing with our technology.”
Ty concluded: “We’ve effectively doubled our throughput without needing a bigger team. For a business of our size, that’s huge. It gives us a solid five-year platform where we know we’ve got the capacity and quality to grow without constantly worrying about whether the press can keep up.”
