Covid has proved disruptive for many sectors of the UK economy but one company that has reported a spike in business as usual during the pandemic is Thermal Printer Support Ltd (TPS). The Redditch firm has seen sales surge by 24% year-on-year as demand for automated labelling solutions grow in the run up to Natasha’s Law, as well as manufacturers turning to automation to boost productivity.

With profits increasingly steadily during the past three years, the UK’s leading specialist supplier of thermal transfer and direct thermal print systems has now invested in a new facility that offers six times the space of its previous site. This expansion includes a new workshop for return to base repairs, improved stock holding capability and a showroom to introduce its range of printers, print and apply systems and label applicator solutions.

In addition to recruiting two new business development managers to drive new sales and product development in the UK market, TPS is also recruiting engineers to boost its next working day response time for service contracts, and any ad-hoc requests, to keep downtime for its customers to an absolute minimum.

TPS says food companies preparing for Natasha’s Law are helping to contribute to its strong performance. The new regulation comes into effect from October 2021, requiring businesses to provide full ingredient lists and allergen labelling on foods packaged for sale on the premises.

Explaining the company’s mission to become the UK’s largest integrated supplier of all label printing, product coding and label automation technologies, Jason Asser, TPS Managing Director, says: “Our business model is to provide a ‘one-stop shop for all’ with a complete range of products that are associated with thermal transfer printing and the application of labels.

“As you would expect we work with all the major manufacturers, supporting the complete sales cycle from onsite surveys through to installation and beyond, utilising our network of highly-trained engineers. Bespoke projects are especially welcome and we guarantee a next working day engineer visit as part of our very competitive repair contracts.”

Label printers, both liner and linerless, which are more environmentally friendly with no backing paper and so less waste, are proving popular among TPS’s customers seeking thermal printing solutions, software and consumables, backed up by experienced service engineers

Holding almost everything from entry level to industrial high-volume printers, TPS is currently adding to its stock of brands and models. This will ensure quick delivery for customers and avoid the supply chain issues currently afflicting parts of the UK economy.

TPS’s partners and products include the iCube series of high-performance, full colour inkjet printers, parts and support. TPS is a registered specialist partner for all Zebra industrial printers and print engines, the official UK distributor of Godex, along with being reseller partner for TSC, Printronix and Sato thermal transfer printers and associated products. It is also the UK partner for ARCA, the leading Italian print & apply and label applicator manufacturer.