Next took delivery of the press last week, with general manager Romeo Sanuri (pictured) telling ProPrint that the company is looking to create a stronger presence in screen printing and open up opportunities for personalisation with the press.
"It will be used mainly for point-of-sale and point-of-display applications," he said. "The aim is to convert a lot of the screen printing jobs to digital."
The purchase makes Next only the second printer in the Asia-Pacific region to install a FB7500, after Melbourne-based Magnify Media deployed the first FB7500 in November last year.
Next managing director Tom Tjanaria actually made the decision to buy the press following a trip to Magnify to check out the machine in a live setting.
"We've been waiting for this printer ever since HP announced it was developing technology that would shift screen-printing from an analogue to digital platform," Sanuri said.
The FB7500 is Next's fourth UV flatbed printer, with the company also running an EFI Vutek PressVU320, an EFI Vutek QS2000, and a Durst Rho 351R.
"We have a clear objective for this printer - to shorten the turnaround time," Sanuri said. "If we can improve on delivery times, then our clients can promote their products and services faster."
With a client list that features advertising agencies and fashion retailers, Next produces a range of signage products such as exhibition display graphics, retail merchandising, and promotional materials.
Next, the digital print division of commercial photo finishing company Photo King, is based in the inner-city suburb of St Peters. The company employs 16 full-time staff and was established in 2004.