Diversified printing, signage and vehicle graphics company Sign on Time has revealed how investment in an HP Latex R530 has helped the business reduce production costs and take on work in additional markets, with plans already in place to add more HP Latex machines to its line-up.
Based in Kilcoole, around 25 miles south of Dublin in Ireland, Sign on Time began life in 2017 with a vision to build a sign-making business with attention to quality, lead times and customer service. The company has since evolved into a multi-service provider, operating under the tagline ‘Brand it. Print it. Wrap it’.
Specialising in end-to-end services, and with a client base ranging from local tradesmen to corporate businesses, the company is constantly on the lookout to strengthen its offering, with investment in machinery key to this approach. Consistent with its growth strategy, the company recently chose to invest in a new printer.
Long-term HP trust leads to latest investment
Managing Partners Petr Plachy and Jitka Placha have a long affiliation with HP, having taken on their first machine from the manufacturer in 2010, purchasing an HP Latex device for a company they ran in their native Czech Republic. After continued success with HP, the duo has stayed loyal to the manufacturer, taking on several machines across various businesses over the past 16 years.
On this occasion, Sign on Time elected for an HP Latex R530, a compact hybrid printer that seamlessly handles both rigid and flexible materials. Running at speeds of up to 24sq m/hr in indoor mode, the device can handle boards up to 1.6m wide and 5cm thick, while also printing in colour and white.
The flexibility of the HP Latex R530 enables users to create applications such as indoor and outdoor signage, wall décor, interior graphics, banners and vehicle graphics. In addition, like all HP Latex devices, it runs water-based HP Latex Inks, which have far less impact on the surrounding environment than solvent, eco-solvent and UV inks.
“This was a natural continuation of the decision we made back in 2010, when we bought our first HP Latex printer,” Petr said. “We believed then, and still do, that the working environment matters, and we preferred water-based inks over solvent inks.
“We knew we wanted to move production forward by adding direct-to-board printing, and we were also looking for white ink capability. The R530 felt like a brilliant hybrid solution. After seeing it in person at FESPA Berlin 2025, it was only a matter of time before we made the final decision.”
New HP investment delivers broader application scope
Sign on Time finalised its investment in October 2025, purchasing the new machine from NTI Digital Solutions Ireland, an approved HP distribution partner. The company took delivery of the printer in November and has been using it to produce various applications, many of which involve direct printing onto rigid boards, ever since.
“Being able to print direct-to-board significantly reduces our production costs, which opens the door to new markets and a wider range of jobs,” Petr said. “It makes our pricing more competitive, and it has already helped us win new business. The white ink option opens up new possibilities, especially for clear materials, and we’re committed to learning the machine properly so we can use it to its full potential across a wider range of applications.”
The new HP Latex R530 has been running alongside several other HP machines that were already in place at Sign on Time, namely an HP Latex 335, which was installed in 2018, and an HP Latex 570, which was purchased in 2020. While these machines have been excellent servants, plans are in place to upgrade these to the HP Latex 830, while the company also hopes to add an HP Latex FS Series in the near future.
“We’ve been in the industry for over 20 years and have remained loyal to HP Latex for the past 16,” Petr said. “It’s been genuinely satisfying to see the progress from our first HP Latex L26500 device to today’s machines. More than anything, it feels like HP listens and continues to improve, which is something we really value in a long-term partner.”
