Megapixel
How Megapixel Improved Productivity by Upgrading their Printing Tech
Meet Megapixel
Singapore-based design and print services company Megapixel improved productivity by 50% and pivoted to new markets by investing in the HP Latex R2000 Printer.
- Established in Singapore in 2016
- 24-hour operations, six days a week
- Specialists in printed advertising (indoor and outdoor), POS, and FSDU displays (events and backdrops)
- Services include in-house design, production, and installation
The challenge? Keeping up with fast-paced customers
With a client base mainly operating in the retail and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sectors, Megapixel’s customers needed to adapt to ever-changing market conditions. Speedy turnaround times and brand integrity are critical to stand out in these competitive industries.
To stay ahead, Megapixel needed to build a competitive edge over similar print suppliers:
The team wanted to improve their workflow to eliminate inefficiencies and reduce their turnaround times—enabling them to pivot faster.
They also needed to match the current demand for printing on rigid materials. Clients are now using rigid prints for more practical applications, so Megapixel needed these capabilities to keep up.
Megapixel had to re-think their environmental footprint and develop more sustainable products for an increasingly eco-conscious market.
The solution? The HP Latex R2000 Printer
A true hybrid solution for printing rigid and flexible material on one device with a fast changeover.
How the HP Latex R2000 helped Megapixel stay on top:
Megapixel opened up its offering with new substrate options and scratch-resistant,1 durable prints thanks to HP Latex Inks. It also unlocked the benefits of white inks with HP Latex: sharp highlights with glossy, high-opacity, and the whitest white.2
The business took control of its production peaks with high-speed quality and multi-board printing. The team embraced a more sustainable approach with water-based inks and odorless prints.3
Megapixel saw a 15-20% material cost reduction when compared to Megapixel’s pre-2019 production line. It also saw reduced running costs with 5-liter HP Latex Ink cartridges.4
Always-on, cloud-based control with PrintOS digital integration kept Megapixel ready for 24-hour operation.
Tangible benefits for the Megapixel team
Here’s how HP’s Latex R2000 printers helped Megapixel supercharge their production line, and the real-world improvements they delivered:
A 50% boost in productivity
We cut production time from three days to one day when we print corrugated on the HP Latex R2000 since we didn’t have to mount and trim anymore. This one workflow improvement alone significantly reduced our costs.”
- Bernard Chew, General Manager, Megapixel
• Within a year, the HP Latex R2000 Printer had cut production times by a third.
• For higher volumes, the R2000 has cut lead times from a typical two-week cycle to seven days.
• Megapixel can now print directly onto a range of rigid materials, including corrugated card, acrylic, glass, and textured laminates—perfect for operational efficiencies in the FSDU segment.
• This also helped them avoid a ‘print and mount’ process, delivering a 15-20% material cost reduction.
• Megapixel now has a faster print turnaround than ever before. They can design print, and install signage for a national convenience store chain within 36 hours— receiving the brief on Friday and delivering on Saturday evening.
Substrate versatility
"With the R2000, we can showcase our creativity by printing FSDUs directly to wood, and a wide range of substrates including paper and plastic formboard, PVC foam, corrugated board, acrylic, polycarbonate, and aluminum composite panel.”
- Bernard Chew, General Manager, Megapixel
• A wider range of substrates set Megapixel apart from its competitors—particularly in the competitive retail market.
• In 2020, this versatility allowed the team to pivot quickly towards other forms of signage when its usual clients were closed due to COVID-19.
Color management
"HP Latex Inks produce the glossiest whites that don't turn yellow over time or crack when you bend or fold them-unlike UV-inks that fade or vellow after just two years! Having these capabilities has helped us grow in the FSDU segment."
- Bernard Chew, General Manager, Megapixel
- Megapixel's clients demand adherence to strict brand guidelines. Colors need to be sharp and accurate to stay on-brand.
- The HP Latex R2000 Printer delivered consistency across campaigns: Megapixel used one print technology solutions for both rigid and flexible prints, which delivered a more consistent output.
- Using high-opacity HP Latex white ink2 resists yellowing over time.
Sustainable delivery
"HP Latex Inks are water-based and produce odorless prints, which are safe for both our print operators and customers. Printing on sustainable materials like fabric, polyester, and repurposed media lets us explore new, more eco-conscious markets.”
- Bernard Chew, General Manager, Megapixel
• HP Latex technology delivers the certifications that matter.
• Water-based inks and odorless prints3 allow you to reach more indoor spaces, including sensitive environments.
Better products, delivered faster
Since installing R-series technology onto the production floor two years ago, Megapixel has become a more agile business and unlocked more market segments.
The faster pace and improved productivity have opened the business up to delivering personalized products on shorter runs, all made profitable thanks to the increased production efficiency.
Combined with the sustainability credentials, Megapixel can now target higher value jobs, such as product packaging and premium, custom runs.
Footnotes
- HP Latex Overcoat improves scratch resistance on low-cost prints where lamination may be impractical or too expensive. Scratch resistance based on internal HP testing in December 2019 based on ISO1518-2:2011. Estimates by HP Media Performance Lab on a range of media.
- Whitest white based on ISO/DIS 23498 compared to competitive alternatives using solvent and UV technologies under $50,000 USD as of May, 2020. Test performed on black opaque self-adhesive vinyl (L*:4.16 – a:0,48-b:2,34) with 160% UF printmode using HP 873 3-liter White Latex Ink Cartridge. Visual opacity = 91%.
- There is a broad set of media with very different odor profiles. Some of the media can affect the odor performance of the final print. Based on sensory evaluations conducted by Odournet done according to VDI Guideline 3882 where HP 872, 882, and 886 Latex Inks were characterized as “weak” in odor intensity and “neutral” for hedonic tone.
- Compared to the HP Latex R1000 Printer series with 3-liter HP Latex Ink cartridges. For the HP Latex R2000 Printer series, all colors in 5-liter ink cartridges except white
- Applicable to fourth-generation HP Latex Inks. UL ECOLOGO® Certification to UL 2801 demonstrates that an ink meets a range of multi attribute, lifecycle-based stringent criteria related to human health and environmental considerations (see ul.com/EL). HP is the only printing company with UL ECOLOGO® Certified inks in the “Printing Inks and Graphics Film” product category, see spot.ul.com/main app/products/catalog/.
- Applicable to HP Latex Inks. UL GREENGUARD Gold Certification to UL 2818 demonstrates that products are certified to UL’s GREENGUARD standards for low chemical emissions into indoor air during product usage. Unrestricted room size—full decorated room, 33.4 m² (360 ft²) in an office environment, 94.6 m² (1,018 ft²) in a classroom environment. For more information, visit ul.com/gg.
- Applicable to HP Latex Inks. The ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Level 1 demonstrates that an ink conforms to or meets the standards of the ZDHC Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (ZDHC MRSL) version 1.1, a list of chemical substances banned from intentional use during the production. ZDHC is an organization dedicated to eliminating hazardous chemicals and implementing sustainable chemicals in the leather, textile, and synthetics sectors. The Roadmap to Zero Program is a multi-stakeholder organization which includes brands, value chain affiliates, and associates, that work collaboratively to implement responsible chemical management practices. See roadmaptozero.com.
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