Cactus Graphics looks to ‘disrupt the market’

Cactus Graphics, a print and graphics company based in Dover, Kent, has recently invested in a Fujifilm Revoria PC1120S in order to expand into new markets and boost its colour capabilities.

The company has a rich history in print, going back almost 150 years thanks to the business’ link with Buckland Media Group, a family business which started all the way back in the mid-19^th century.

Launched in 2021, the company is seen as a forward-thinking and modern print business which is run by managing director, Katie Weaver, who runs Cactus Graphics with commercial director, Richard Archer.

The business invested in the PC1120S six-colour press earlier this year after being introduced to Fujifilm by local distributor, Colyer. Cactus visited Fujifilm’s Luton showroom three times, including one visit where it took files and designs to explore the capabilities of the press.

Cactus needed to replace an existing four-colour press that was out of contract and so the decision came to “be bold” and “disrupt the market”, according to Weaver.

“The six-colour Fujifilm Revoria PC1120S wasn’t the only press we looked at with special colour capability – but it was the one that delivered by far the best overall package,” says Weaver, adding: “It’s fast, the power consumption is remarkably low, the machine footprint is compact, the quality is excellent, and it also offers us long sheet capability as standard – whereas alternatives we looked at would have required significant additional cost”.

Weaver and the team feel that the press reflects its ethos as a company, and that Fujifilm shares many of its ambitions in encouraging young people into print and engaging communities with the medium of print.

Speaking of the machine’s capabilities, Archer adds: “The colour matching ability we have now is phenomenal, which is fantastic for things like brands and logos in particular, and something our design agency clients will really benefit from. We also have orange and pink in the Cactus Graphics logo – so there’s an immediate benefit for our own marketing materials.

“With the combinations we can now run using white, metallics, and pink – we’re also opening the door to a lot of potential B2C work, where in the past we’ve been mostly focussed on B2B.”

Discussing the design of the press, Archer says: “It feels like Fujifilm has been really intentional in the design and taken care to get it right. With some other presses it often feels like the additional colour stations have been crammed in as an afterthought to try to capitalise on recent rising demand for special colours – rather than designing a press around that special colour functionality.”

Andy Kent, divisional manager, Graphic Communications at Fujifilm UK, concludes: “Forward thinking businesses need technologies that take them forward. We’re delighted to have partnered with Cactus Graphics, equipping them with the tools, in the Revoria PC1120S, to take their creativity to even greater heights as they continue to grow their business.”