Wide format printing and portability are not commonly seen as bedfellows, but over the past year, PP Graphics has combined both and inadvertently opened up a profitable revenue stream with future potential.
PP Graphics is owned by Full Circle, one of the UK’s largest event and exhibition suppliers, but operates as an independent business. Sixty per cent of its core services are tightly integrated with Full Circle’s production activity, with the remainder spread across non-expo projects such as retail, museums, and wider customer experience environments.
In March 2025, when Full Circle’s key exhibition client requested on-demand access to print on site, PP Graphics made the strategic decision to invest in a Mimaki UJV100-160 UV LED printer and Mimaki CG-160FX Vinyl Cutter Plotter from CMYUK. The brief was clear: PP Graphics would own, manage, and operate the Mimaki equipment, deploying it wherever Full Circle’s client needed fast and flexible production.
Today, this two-machine Mimaki print and cut configuration is effectively a touring production hub, trucking its way around the UK and Europe, delivering on-site print for Full Circle’s end client, plus a growing number of exhibitors who are discovering the convenience of its capabilities on the show floor. What started out as an unusual solution for a single client has turned into a highly profitable service model based on the twin cornerstones of portability and Mimaki reliability.
PP Graphics recoups Mimaki investment in two shows
So far, the Mimaki duo has supported several major shows, including events in Paris, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, and Aberdeenshire. For this client, it is scheduled to support eight shows a year.
Financially, the impact has been dramatic. Within just two shows, PP Graphics not only recovered the full cost of the equipment but generated over 35% profit above its purchase price.
“The first show paid for the printer, while the second show was all profit,” says Andy McIntyre, General Manager, PP Graphics.
The business approached CMYUK through its Senior Digital Sales Consultant, Jason McNulty, who has known Andy for many years. “We had a list of printers, but our requirements were specific. We needed a printer that could handle being moved frequently, didn’t struggle with levelling, and was easy to use. What also made the Mimaki the standout choice was that it could be powered by a standard household three-pin plug,” he says.
Print and cut to the rescue on the show floor
Once PP Graphics has set up its print and cut facility on site, it does much more than service the main exhibition client. The realities of live events mean that forgotten artwork, last-minute changes, and unexpected empty spaces are commonplace. By operating a fully functional print and cut facility within the hall, PP Graphics can quickly step in to produce replacement panels, extra graphics, and text-based elements on demand, rescuing exhibitors and stand builders who would otherwise be left on the spot. For PP Graphics, it has unlocked last-minute, crucial work that the business would never have encountered if production remained centralised.
The Mimaki UJV100-160 is a UV LED roll-to-roll machine printing up to 1.6m wide. It offers instant-dry ink with a vibrant colour gamut and is suitable for a wide range of applications for both internal and external use.
The Mimaki CG-160FX Vinyl Cutter Plotter complements this printer perfectly. At 1.6m wide, it offers high-precision performance and speeds up to 100cm/s. Perfect for contour cutting, stickers, and decals, it is fast and accurate.
On the road
Frequently moving a printer like this is a testament to Mimaki’s robust engineering and reliability. It has to withstand transportation, rapid installation, and variable environments, all while delivering high-resolution colour and accurate output.
The Mimaki has proved itself in the field — tough, user-friendly, and unfussy. It can be moved and temporarily installed without the need for constant levelling or complex recalibration. Daily cleaning and basic checks are enough to keep it in full production mode and normal operation. The only time the company experienced any difficulty with the printer was when a rigging beam accidentally fell onto it, destroying its electronics. It was replaced with an identical printer and service once again resumed.
“We’ve had no issues with the printer whatsoever. It’s never missed a beat — it just carries on. It looks after itself,” says Andy.
Under cover
Perhaps the most unusual validation of this service model involved Greater Manchester Police. It approached the company with a highly sensitive query — could they print posters without ever seeing the content? PP Graphics proposed NDAs, but this wasn’t secure enough as the force was working several levels above this security protocol. The conversation quickly shifted from conventional outsourcing to a more radical idea: could PP Graphics train a police operative to run the Mimaki? If so, they could ship the printer directly to them, allowing covert printing in a secure location.
“They did it incognito in some kind of basement. I’d love to have known what they were printing,” says Andy.
Further growth potential for on-site printing
At present, PP Graphics uses its touring Mimaki kit primarily to service Full Circle’s major exhibition client, however it is considering exploring how it can be used as a wider service to other organisations and venues. With a clear proven record of rapid ROI and the inadvertent discovery of real demand for on-site, instant print problem solving, the concept has already moved far beyond an experiment.
