Going above and beyond

Pro Co hit the headlines in Signlink back in August with news of its significant investment in new machinery, and from getting to know the company better, it seems this is just one of the ways it is staying ahead of the competition. With two sites, one in Sheffield and one in Stansted, and 140 members of staff across the two, Pro Co is certainly fully equipped to offer a broad range of services to its customers. Its annual turnover of £14m is also indicative of a company that is growing at a rapid rate.



Carl Jackson, large-format manager, and Graeme Parry, production director at Pro Co, tell me more about their own history with the company and why they do what they do.



 
“I have been in the industry since 1998,” says Jackson, continuing: “I enjoy creating something from scratch and then seeing it out and about on the street, whether as a sign, on a vehicle, or as something 3D in stores. It is great to see the whole process come to an end product. At Pro Co, every day is different and every job is different, so it is never boring. Something new comes along technology wise every year which either makes the process quicker or produces a better product.”


Parry first started working for Pro Co in 1999, and continues: “It was my first job straight out of university and I started in the lasering department. Since then I have worked in numerous roles within the manufacturing side of the business up to my current role. The pace of change is something that keeps you interested and keeps you on your toes. The industry should never be stagnant and you should always be looking at how to move forward through continuous improvement and breaking new barriers.”


Pro Co covers a wide range of services including commercial digital and litho print, automated print, dynamic communications, marketing operations, large-format signage, direct mail, books, and even more. The company recently turned around a project in just two days for one of its clients, which involved 3D cardboard engineering. It also completed a three-floor refit for a local business that included wall graphics on every floor.

Change for the better

As mentioned above, Pro Co’s investment in technology has had a great impact on production. Jackson explains: “We invested in an Agfa Jeti Tauro high-speed high-quality machine and a 3.2m wide Agfa Anapurna 3200i, which are both LED machines. They have both changed the way we produce jobs from the way we were producing jobs previously on our old Anapurna hybrids. It has changed our output and how we work massively for the better.”



Parry adds: “We have also brought in a Ryobi 925 LED UV in SRA1 format, which is massively improving both our speed of turnaround in litho utilising the instant dry print but also adding much needed capacity and increased efficiency.”



Of course, great customer feedback is one thing but industry acknowledgement can make all the difference when it comes to attracting new business. For Pro Co, being shortlisted for Company of the Year at the Print Week Awards is an “honour”.

Parry comments: “It is a great feeling that the company has been recognised in this way. It is fantastic to have reinvested in new equipment that can help in delivering for our clients but for me, it is having a totally committed workforce that are willing to go above and beyond again and again that has put Pro Co up there with the best.
We all share the pride in being nominated.”

Jackson says: “It is a big honour to be recognised for everything that we do. We always try to do something different to everyone else and push the boundaries in one way or another. We are trying to promote our brand and what we do.”

Looking to the future, Parry recognises that the company’s main focus is expanding even further on its growth. He says: “The main focus now is driving the business forward and utilising the kit, process, and techniques to the maximum benefit of our client base. We expect to see an increase with the amount of automation in the business, which covers automated print and dynamic communications, the rest as they say is top secret.”

Jackson highlights areas of the market Pro Co is looking to enter in the near future: “There are definitely a lot of new areas that we are trying to excel in. We are looking into digital signage for next year and what we can do with motion LEDs.”

It sounds like the Pro Co team is busy building the business and working on unique print and signage projects, but what makes it really stand out is its ability to think outside the box and work outside of the everyday routine. This, after all, is the only way to differentiate yourself as a business, therefore, Pro Co looks set to continue its success in the future.


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