An industrial printer and sign maker in Staffordshire has doubled its capacity after investing in new high-tech machinery - thanks to a five-figure investment.
Cannock-based Kazoo PSG creates custom signage for businesses, from brochures and leaflets to large-scale banners and exhibition displays.
After securing an £81,000 hire purchase facility from Lloyds Bank, the company invested into a new high-tech Kongsberg cutting table to allow it to produce up to 1,000 advertising boards per day.
And the business has already started to enjoy the benefits of the extra capacity that the faster machine has added to its operations, allowing it to meet increased demand and reduce waste.
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During the pandemic, Kazoo turned its focus towards supporting the NHS and in the first few months of lockdown it created and delivered 40,000 visors for frontline staff.
It also used the period of quieter trading to invest in its printing operation thanks to a coronavirus loan acquired through Lloyds Bank. The new cutting machine Kazoo has just installed means that these upgraded printers can now be run at full capacity – 10 times faster than its operation before the pandemic.
Kazoo has already increased its annual turnover by 40 per cent since 2019, now the firm is looking to hire 10 new staff in the next 12 months.
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Simon Talbot, director at Kazoo PSG, said: "There's no doubt that there have been moments of uncertainty over the last two years, but we recognised an opportunity to take stock and assess how we could grow. With the help of Lloyds Bank, we've been able to invest in those opportunities and it's paying off.
"It's also meant that we were able to give something back and support the frontline staff whose efforts have been so crucial to saving lives. The next 12 months look set to be our biggest yet and I'm excited to see us develop and support new businesses with their marketing and advertising needs."
Vijay Chouhan, relationship manager at Lloyds Bank, said: "Kazoo is the perfect example of a business that used the downtime the pandemic created productively. Investment in new machinery and new staff was brave during a period of uncertainty but is testament to the vision of Simon and the team to identify opportunities and areas for growth.
"At Lloyds Bank, we'll continue to be by the side of businesses to support their ambitions and develop solutions tailored to them."