Our roots lay grounded in the photography sector and the wonderful world of image processing. We began our journey in the historic quarter of Derby’s Friargate in a Georgian building once home to the Berlitz School of Languages. Then, we were known as Friargate Photography, a prominent Printer and Photographic Studio developing and producing commercial photographs for Estate Agents and businesses across the Midlands. Our ardent team of two became five within the first year and as we grew, so did our ambitions.
Within two years, we had outgrown our Friargate home. We had secured several large contracts with global enterprises that had prompted us to expand into new premises on Abbey Street. Our skilled team of 25 were known as Multiprint, processing, developing and finishing prints for professional photographers around the UK. We excelled through our expertise and solid relationships with our clients. But it was our continuous drive to innovate and embrace new technologies that drove growth and success then followed.
We were an experienced Photographic Studio, proficient developers using traditional methods and silver halide processing. But the first 36″, wide format inkjet from Epson changed our world. This revolutionary machine was the only one in the region and cost an incredible £25,000. It’s impressive wide printing capability allowed us to offer exhibition scale photographs to both new and existing clients, putting us at the forefront of the service printing industry. Soon after this we invested once again in a brand new Lightjet Processor. This American made 50″ wide laser printer produced Lambda style prints that matched the quality of the Durst revered by photographers and exhibition designers. As computerisation swept the commercial printing sector, we embraced Syquest discs, Bremson Technology and drum scanners to name a few. Multiprint seized each technological advancement and we stayed ahead of the game.
FOR OUR FIRST MONTH TRADING, OUR TURNOVER TARGET WAS JUST £2,300
Nick Pancisi – CEO
The exhibition arm of the Multiprint business began to take off. Our diverse capabilities and printing artillery set us apart from the competition and the team grew. Our 25 strong team had been focussed predominantly on photo processing and finishing, but now a quarter were focussed on events and exhibitions. We began to work with Museums, National Visitor Centres and on Product Launches and Advertising Campaigns. It was at this point that Multiprint became two separate entities; Multiprint and MX Display (Multiprint ‘Ex’hibitions).
The original Multiprint has expanded and grown to become one of the most respected and longest serving professional photographic laboratories in the UK. Now known as One Vision Imaging this business offers an unrivalled range of photographic services and continues to strive for innovation, delivering new, exciting and unique products year after year.
Early large format printers were slow. Slow and messy. Bulk ink didn’t exist, so the cartridges had to be refilled by hand using a syringe. Sometimes nights were spent on the production floor in sleeping bags, waiting to change media or refill the ink. As the only large format printer in a 50 mile radius, the order book was full which allowed us to invest in the latest equipment and therefore, print faster. We bought a Durst. At the time, this was a cutting-edge piece of machinery. A hybrid printer that could print sheet stock as well as roll-fed media. It was the work-horse of the business and it pushed us forward and brought more opportunities.
The new technology we had invested in was big and we were quickly running out of space. We had outgrown our premises on Abbey Street and it was time to move. In 2006 we moved to our current home on the Meteor Business Park, close to the City Centre. Our location keeps us at the heart of the UK, ideally positioned for national projects and close to major network links. Our new home is in fact two units knocked through to one large production facility that boasts four wide-format printers, five cutting machines, plus laminators, finishing tables and calendar units.
We continue to grow, embracing new technologies and finding innovative solutions for our clients. In 2009 we were one of the first printers to adopt fabric dye-sublimation and made this product a successful commercial solution for retail and exhibition graphics. We have developed our own range of printed fabric products for walls, lightboxes and freestanding displays.
In 2015 we pioneered the custom floor printing market with a revolutionary new product called G-Floor which has developed into a comprehensive range of printed floor graphic products for every project. We have explored pre-programmed, moving LED lightboxes, dye-sublimated metal prints and now we are pushing the boundaries with acoustic solutions for commercial spaces.
Our hunt for the latest technology, the best printers and state-of-the-art techniques drives us forward.
Today, our talented team of over 30 people work incredibly hard to deliver the fantastic projects we work on each and every day. We continuously strive to deliver exceptional design, print and installation services of large format graphics and signage through maintaining the highest standards of quality, reliability and customer experience.
If you’d like to work with us and have a project we can help with, get in touch with one of our friendly team on 01332 613 900 or email ideas@mxdisplay.co.uk.