A case study of Nisso Support System Co., Ltd. which has installed the UCJV300-160 and UJF-6042MkII e, was published in the sign and display industry magazine "POPEYE" , No. 270 (April 2024 issue).
The following is the published article in its original form.
I asked Mimaki to coordinate our goods production equipment. I always get advice from them for consultation and support.
Nisso Support System Co., Ltd. had been engaged in the renovation and cleaning business based in Hokkaido. However, due to the COVID-19, the number of tourists to Hokkaido plummeted. The company urgently needed to develop new sales channels.
In the midst of this situation, Mr. Yuji Nihei of the company proposed a change in business type to a manufacturing and sales business specializing in sports-related goods that would enliven the overall sporting event. He established a business office in Yamagata and took the lead in launching the new business.
Mr. Nihei, Director
"In my previous job, I was involved in event-related business in Yamagata. When developing a new business, I sought partnerships with various sectors. Since I am personally acquainted with ski jumpers, I wanted to do something to boost the sporting events," he spoke about how he entered the business.
What equipment is needed to produce goods? What kind of players are there? While conducting research with everything in hand, he learned that Mimaki was providing comprehensive support in this field.
"I called them right away, but they seemed perplexed because there was not many places that they could show me the actual equipment, given that we were in the midst of the COVID-19. However, the person in charge listened carefully to what I wanted to do and suggested the best equipment in detail." Mr. Nihei applied for a business restructuring grant based on the proposal. He obtained the necessary funds for capital investment, and equipment was installed one after another.
Inside the office, machines and products are lined up in various places.
The showroom has a wide range of Mimaki products and unofficially calls itself Mimaki's "Yamagata Showroom".
The equipment can be broadly divided into three categories: the first is sublimation transfer equipment. The centerpiece is “Mod.200” vacuum flatbed heat press manufactured by Monti Antonio of Italy, and this is a high-end machine of which there are few examples introduced in Japan. The company decided to introduce this machine because it is capable of coloring deeper into the material than conventional heat press machines and does not lose color even with stretchy materials. The machine can also be used for materials with high-pile, allowing for expressions that other companies cannot achieve. For the sublimation transfer printer, the company chose the TS55-1800, a specialized machine optimized for sublimation transfer.
TS55-1800
The second is sheet output equipment. The roll UV inkjet printer "UCJV300-160" and laminator "LA-140W Plus" were installed. UV ink does not require a drying process, it can meet urgent needs and can be used to change emergency press conference boards and construction signs. In addition, by utilizing the special effects of multilayer printing, it would be possible to liven up sporting events by setting up photo spots that is good for social networking sites.
UCJV300-160
LA-140W Plus
And the third is goods production equipment. The flatbed UV inkjet printer "UJF-6042MkII e" can be used for a wide range of goods production since it can print on three-dimensional objects (cylindrical with optional unit). Goods packaging can also be produced in-house, reducing both costs and inventory risk. Small-lot, one-of-a-kind product development is also possible. The "CFL-605RT" flatbed cutting plotter can also be used for fine cutting of small goods printed with UJF.
UJF-6042MkII e
CFL-605RT
"In the case of baseball and soccer, where sports and entertainment are fused together, the merchandise business has been established to some extent, but in minor sports such as ski jumping, no one is involved due to inventory risk issues. On the other hand, in Europe, a large number of cheerleading goods are sold, and we would like to use this as a model to pick up one or two needs without spilling them."
Since there are almost no one installed the vacuum heat press machine "Mod.200" in Japan, finding the best settings for transfer time, temperature, etc., depending on the material, is also a big challenge. This know-how is being accumulated day by day.
Two years have passed since the introduction of the machines. Mr. Nihei has been very busy performing a wide variety of tasks by himself. He says, “I came this far with the help of Mimaki's coordination, and I am thankful that Mimaki has always been there for consultation and support, rather than abandoning me after sales.
Regarding the future, Mr. Nihei hopes to take advantage of the fact that he has not being familiar with the conventional systems and methods to create innovative products and initiatives that the industry has never thought of, such as printing, custom-made goods, and signage. He is showing a positive attitude, and learning every day to achieve this goal.
User profile
- NameNisso Support System Co., Ltd.
- IndustryRenovation/cleaning/production and sale of goods using special printing equipment/planning, production, and advertising agency for advertising, publicity, design, various printed matter, and publications, etc.
- AddressYamagata office: 426-1 Murakizawa, Yamagata-shi, Yamagata, Japan
- Phone numberYamagata office: +81-23-676-8188