JMA UK secures personalised security solutions with Roland DG technology

The UK has seen a concerning rise in burglaries, with 238,893 crime reports recorded across England and Wales during 2023-2024 - a staggering 27 burglaries every hour. Alarmingly, 70% of these incidents involve entry through unlocked doors, underscoring the need for effective security measures, including high-quality locks and keys.

Enter JMA. Established in 1972, JMA UK began as a locksmith premises in Harrow, later transitioning into a key wholesaler during the late 1970s. By 1984, its wholesale operations had grown significantly, becoming the UK's largest supplier of key blanks, with a presence in over 100 countries, six production plants across three continents, and a portfolio of more than 50,000 products.

As a B2B supplier, JMA UK caters to locksmiths, retailers, and key cutters, offering a diverse range of key and lock-related products. Although JMA’s solutions are heavily focused on security, in response to growing consumer demand for personalisation - 76% of customers now expect personalised products - JMA UK introduced their innovative 'Personalised Cool Keys.'

JMA UK's 'Personalised Cool Keys' bring a unique touch to traditional security items. These high-quality domed key blanks allow customers to personalise their keys with custom images, logos, and designs. The product's appeal lies not just in its creative potential but also in its accessibility, as customers can order small quantities with flexible design options for their business or larger residential establishments.

The role of Roland DG

To meet the demand for these bespoke security solutions, JMA UK turned to Roland DG's VersaSTUDIO BN2 series printer/cutter, supplied by leading resin supplier, Liquid Lens. The BN2 series combines high-quality printing with precision contour cutting, enabling JMA UK to deliver vibrant, personalised key designs efficiently and cost-effectively..

The VersaSTUDIO BN2 series offered JMA UK the perfect solution to streamline production and enhance productivity. The BN2 series prints and contour-cuts graphics in a single automated process, saving time and reducing manual handling. This functionality is particularly crucial for key designs, which often involve intricate logos and patterns.

With high-definition print heads and advanced ink technology, the  delivers sharp lines, vivid colours, and crisp details - perfect for detailed company logos and brand identifiers on keys. The desktop-friendly design and intuitive software make the BN2 easy to operate, even for team members with minimal printing experience. Its simple front-loading system is ideal for locksmith environments where efficiency is critical.

The process to make ‘Personalised Cool Keys’

The production of personalised keys begins with an image - typically a customer-provided logo. If clients don't have an image, JMA UK offers design services for a small fee, utilising Roland DG’s state-of-the-art FlexiDESIGNER VersaSTUDIO Edition design and output software. Once the design is approved, it is processed through the BN2's dedicated Versaworks print & cut software. This seamless workflow ensures that the printing and cutting stages are completed with minimal downtime, enabling quicker turnaround times for customer orders.

Once printed, stickers are left to off-gas overnight (up to 24 hours) before the top layer is peeled away. The sheets are then loaded onto JMA UK's 22-tray Liquid Lens Opal machine. Despite being around 10 years old, this semi-automatic doming machine continues to operate effectively for JMA’s sticker shapes and manual application.

The resin cartridge is loaded into the machine, with dosing set according to the sticker’s shape and size. Once doming is complete, the entire sheet is transferred into the Liquid Lens curing oven at 45 degrees Celsius and left to set. Whilst the stickers dry within a few hours, they are typically left in the oven overnight (off when closed) to ensure full curing.

Each label is covered in a high-quality, clear gloss polyurethane resin. This resin, housed in two-part cartridges, keeps the catalyst separate until application. The catalyst initiates the curing process, setting the resin on the labels. The result is a hard-wearing, glossy dome that enhances the logo or design, aiding key identification and providing better grip.

Once fully cured, stickers are ready for application onto keys, key rings, leather fobs, or shipment to customers who prefer to apply them themselves.

JMA UK’s verdict

Reflecting on their experience with the BN2 series, Ryan Spendlove at JMA UK expressed high satisfaction:

“The BN2 is perfect for our scale of operations. It's user-friendly, simple to maintain, and the integrated print and cut functionality saves us considerable time compared to using separate machines. The support from Roland DG has been fantastic - quick responses to technical queries and easily accessible online manuals make maintenance straightforward.”

“Liquid Lens has been instrumental in our doming process for years. Their Premium Polyurethane Resin and Opal doming machine have ensured consistent quality and durability in our personalised products. The integration of the BN2-20A with our existing production setup was seamless, and we couldn’t be happier with the results.“

Looking forward

With the BN2 series powering their personalised key production and Liquid Lens providing essential resin doming expertise, JMA UK continues to see growth in demand for their custom domed keys, key rings, and stickers. Looking forward, JMA has plans to expand the current product range to include more designs in a variety of sizes and shapes – powered by the BN2 series, with scope to expand Roland DG’s footprint within their customisation hardware arsenal.

measures, including high-quality locks and keys.

 

To discover more about the BN2 series and how Roland DG technology supports innovative businesses like JMA UK, visit rolanddg.eu.