Curtis Signs builds on 20 years of growth with Roland DG technology
Curtis Signs | United Kingdom
For more than two decades, Roland DG technology has formed the backbone of Curtis Signs' production workflow.
The company's first Roland DG investment, a CAMM-1 Pro cutter purchased in 2005, remains in regular use today. Alongside it, the Roland SP-540V printer continues to produce reliable output after many years of service.
Today, production is led by a TrueVIS VG3-640 printer/cutter with White ink, producing everything from everyday signage to specialist vehicle graphics.
Before
- Media management relied on educated guesswork, visual checks and occasional physical measurement.
- Operators had to spend additional time checking how much material remained on a roll before printing.
- Production decisions were often based on judgement rather than precise media usage data.
After
- Roland DG Connect provides clearer visibility of how much material remains on each roll.
- The team can plan production with more confidence and reduce reliance on manual checks.
- Curtis Signs has reduced guesswork, improved workflow control and seen a reduction in media waste.
Long-term production advantages
- Hardware still performing after more than 20 years
- Reliable day-to-day production across varied applications
- Consistent print quality for signage and vehicle graphics
We need equipment that we can trust day in, day out. The fact that some of our machines are still running after 20 years says a lot.
The longevity of the equipment has provided Curtis Signs with confidence that its production capability can continue to evolve without compromising reliability.
Bringing greater visibility to media management
Before introducing Roland DG Connect, media management relied largely on operator experience.
Estimating how much material remained on a roll often involved visual checks or physical measurement before beginning a print job. Although this approach generally worked well, it introduced uncertainty and required additional time before production could begin.
Previous workflow challenges
- Manual media estimation
- Physical measurement before printing
- Additional operator time
- Production decisions based on experience rather than live data
Media management required an educated guess as to the amount on a roll, or a physical measurement before printing if we weren't sure.
As workloads increased and production became more varied, the need for more accurate media visibility became increasingly important.
Smarter production planning with Roland DG Connect
Roland DG Connect has helped Curtis Signs simplify production planning by providing accurate information about remaining media on every roll.
Instead of relying on estimation, operators can now make informed production decisions before starting a job, reducing interruptions and improving overall workflow efficiency.
Key workflow improvements
- Accurate visibility of remaining media
- Faster production planning
- Reduced manual checking
- Greater confidence before starting print jobs
There's definitely less guesswork.
Replacing estimation with accurate production data has helped improve efficiency without adding complexity to the team's workflow.
Continuing to optimise production workflows
While Roland DG Connect already delivers measurable benefits, Curtis Signs continues to expand how the platform is used throughout the business.
With a wide range of materials used every day, creating media profiles and ensuring consistent workflow settings remains an ongoing process.
Future workflow development
- Expanding media profile library
- Increasing software integration
- Improving workflow consistency
- Unlocking additional Roland DG Connect functionality
We're still in the process of using it to its full advantage. Because we work across such a wide range of media, setting up profiles for everything takes time - but it's something we're continuing to build out.
It's about getting the setup right and being consistent. Once that's in place, you really start to see the benefit.
As workflows continue to develop, Curtis Signs expects Roland DG Connect to play an even larger role in improving production efficiency.
A partnership built on dependable support
For Curtis Signs, the relationship with Roland DG extends beyond hardware and software.
Reliable aftercare, maintenance plans and ongoing support have helped the business maintain production continuity while continuing to grow.
Partnership benefits
- Reliable aftercare support
- Cost-effective maintenance plans
- Consistent hardware performance
- Long-term confidence in production
"Aftercare is excellent, and the maintenance plans are very good value."
The combination of dependable equipment and responsive support has enabled Curtis Signs to focus on growing the business while maintaining consistently high production standards.
Looking ahead: Growing with Roland DG
As Curtis Signs plans for the future, Roland DG technology will continue to support its next phase of growth.
The business is exploring compact flatbed solutions that will allow it to expand production capabilities while making efficient use of its existing workspace. At the same time, the team plans to continue embedding Roland DG Connect more deeply into its daily workflow.
With reliable hardware, evolving software tools and trusted support, Curtis Signs is well positioned to continue building on a partnership that has already lasted more than 20 years.