How Replay boosted growth and flexibility with the Agfa Anapurna printer

The advantage of the Anapurna? Its flexibility!

When it acquired Sadocolor Duplimedia, Replay (Belgium) not only gained skilled staff but also inherited a machinery park that partially overlapped with their own. When production was centralized, decisions had to be made about what to keep. “We couldn’t do without the Anapurna,” says Andy Halasz, co-director of the company.

Replay, a Brussels-based company known for the quality of its decorative applications and photo printing, acquired the Sadocolor Duplimedia print & sign business that had been established for over 20 years, offering a wide range of products and services, for both large and smaller formats. The acquisition brought significant growth in revenue, expanded technical capabilities, and an increased customer base.

“Our two companies were highly complementary,” says Andy Halasz, who runs the business with his brother Stephen. “The same was true for the teams. The integration has gone smoothly, and it’s as if our new colleagues have always been part of the team.”

Quality and flexibility

Since November, all activities have been centralized, necessitating a rationalization of the machinery. “We couldn’t keep everything,” Andy continues, “but one gem we definitely wanted to retain was the Agfa Anapurna H2050i LED from Sadocolor Duplimedia.” This UV printer, configured for five colors (CMYK and white), supports both flatbed and roll printing. “It’s a perfect complement to our equipment and was part of the DNA of Sadocolor, which is now our ‘photo and lettering’ department. Even though it’s not a new machine, it runs like clockwork and delivers excellent print quality, especially in white. And credit to Laurent, the machine’s operator, for maintaining it so well.”

“More importantly, the Anapurna offers specific advantages, particularly its flexibility. It’s a hybrid machine, allowing for quick media changes between panels and rolls, ideal for small jobs requiring high flexibility, such as printing 15 different panels in 10 copies each.”

According to Andy, the Agfa Asanti workflow is another strength: “I was amazed by its efficiency in maximizing material savings. We have now connected Asanti to our Zünd cutting tables.”

New solutions

The Anapurna symbolizes the synergy brought about by the merger between Replay and Sadocolor Duplimedia. “Thanks to the combined expertise of both teams, we can develop new solutions, as we recently did for a new client, a Belgian builder of amusement park rides. This company needed a solution to print on PMMA panels, a thermoplastic, transparent material. Screen printing was used in the past, but due to the exposure of such rides to transport and temperature changes, achieving good adhesion of UV inks on PMMA was challenging. However, we found the right formula, which we now apply using the Anapurna!”

“Staying independent”

Andy and Stephen Halasz are optimistic about the future, especially after recently being recognized as a Royal Warrant Holder. “After integrating the activities, we’ve further increased our turnover by attracting new customers and expanding our services for existing ones. Everything is going well, even faster than expected, allowing us to remain ambitious, though not overly so. We want to stay true to who we are, an independent company. We are our own shareholders, not part of a group, and that’s important because it allows us to stay close to our customers while giving us the freedom to choose our strategy.”