Leading greetings card producer transforms production speed, flexibility and scalability with Duplo’s flagship digital die-cutting solution, the DSM-1000 B2 platten die-cutter.
In a market where print providers are under constant pressure to deliver faster, at higher quality, and with fewer skilled operators, The Imaging Centre has once again placed itself at the cutting edge of UK digital print finishing. Already known as an early adopter of Duplo’s first DC-20K B2 finishing system, The Imaging Centre recently became the first UK business to invest in the Duplo DSM-1000 B2 Die Cutter. The goal: to overcome critical die-cutting bottlenecks and allow the business to scale rapidly in a sector seeing double-digit growth in high-value, short-run greetings card work.
“We needed a solution that would futureproof us,” says Adam Short, Managing Director of The Imaging Centre. “We had reached the limit of what we could put through our existing DC-20K. One day's print output from our B2 press was taking us five days to finish — it was becoming unsustainable.”
A powerful answer to capacity and bottlenecks
The DSM-1000 was selected after close collaboration with the Duplo team. The DSM-1000 delivers unmatched precision and speed, combined with automated waste separation, a PC-controlled interface, and lightning-fast changeovers, all ideal for The Imaging Centre’s fast-turnaround card production.
“The speed of the DSM was really impressive, it was a key reason we chose to invest,” says Adam. “Jobs that took four or five hours on our previous production workflow now take just 30 or 40 minutes on the DSM-1000.”
According to Operations Director Jessica Penfold, the impact on production has been transformational. “Before the DSM, we had to run night shifts just to keep up,” she explains. “One day’s B2 press output would take five days to clear through finishing. Now, we’ve matched the capacity of the B2 press and can stay ahead of demand.”
Opening new doors to growth
Since installing the DSM-1000, The Imaging Centre has unlocked new growth opportunities while keeping existing customers for longer.
“Our business has always grown at 10–16% per year,” says Adam, “and we achieved 14.2% growth last year, without even promoting ourselves. The DSM has given us the confidence to go after the growth that’s out there.”
One clear shift is the type of work the business can now take on. “We’ve extended the lifecycle of our customers,” Adam explains. “In the past, greeting card publishers would start digital and move to litho for volume. Now, with the DSM-1000, many are staying with us longer because we can deliver quality, flexibility, and fast turnaround.”
The team is also seeing inbound demand from larger publishers who would previously have been turned away. “We used to be hesitant to take on big jobs. Now, with the DSM-1000, we can say yes, and deliver what those customers need,” says Adam.
Modernising die-cutting, removing reliance on legacy kit
In addition to boosting capacity, the DSM-1000 is helping The Imaging Centre move away from ageing die-cutting equipment that no longer fits their automation-first model.
Jessica explains: “Our old platen die-cutter makes me nervous – It’s manual, and sheet movement issues cause quality problems and reprints. Everything else here is advanced and automated – the DSM brings die-cutting in line.”
Changeover times are another huge win. “On the old machine, a 25,000-card job with 12 designs would take four days, with 20–30 minutes setup per design,” Jessica says. “On the DSM, three changeovers took under seven minutes. That’s a game-changer, especially with the number of design changes we handle.”
The system also enables greater staff flexibility, an essential factor in a market where skilled operators are in short supply.
“We’ve deliberately trained a wider group on the DSM and this includes night shift staff, so we’re not reliant on a handful of specialists,” says Jessica. “This gives us flexibility to move people where they’re needed, which is hugely valuable.”
Empowering people and building flexibility
For Adam and Jessica, the success of The Imaging Centre is as much about their people as their technology. “We’ve had a vision for a long time, to develop our staff and give them real careers here,” says Jessica. “The DSM-1000 fits that perfectly. It’s intuitive and easy to learn, which means we’re not reliant on a few specialists anymore. We can train more team members and move them flexibly across production.” Adam adds: “That flexibility is hugely valuable, we want multi-skilled people who can move between areas, not teams tied to one machine. and this makes our people more valuable too.
Looking ahead — and leading the market
The DSM-1000 has helped position The Imaging Centre for future growth. The team already produces 20 million cards a year, 2% of the entire UK greetings card market, with ambitions to grow to 10% share.
Adam is clear about their goal: “We want to be seen as experts in what we do, and be in control of our growth, not dictated by it. The DSM-1000 gives us that control.”
He also sees changing market trends playing into their hands. “Everyday card demand is growing, while traditional Christmas cards decline. We’re perfectly positioned to serve that market with quality, flexibility, and speed.”
And with the UK print industry facing ongoing skills shortages and rising demand for automation, The Imaging Centre’s investment in the DSM-1000 couldn’t be better timed.
As Jessica puts it: “The DSM gives us confidence, capacity, flexibility and consistency. It’s an essential part of our future.”
