Press on Digital Imaging investment key to maintaining production demand.
The UK-based sign and display company, Press on Digital Imaging (PODI) has added a second HP Scitex LX850 Industrial Printer to its growing portfolio of HP large format digital printers.
Press on Digital Imaging has added a second HP Scitex LX850 Industrial PrinterPODI produces imaging for indoor and outdoor graphic arts applications ranging from retail and event signage, to vehicle graphics, banners and building wraps. It made the investment through HP dealer, CWE Solutions, and hopes the new machine will help it to increase production and retain capacity across its key vehicle-wrapping and window-film accounts.
Andrew Wilson, co-director, PODI said that the HP Scitex's water-based inks, together with its 3.2m-width and dual-roll capability, deliver important efficiency advantages.
"We undertake a tremendous amount of promotional work using self-adhesive vinyl, including a very large contract to produce high-quality livery for wrapping London taxis, which demands extremely fast turnarounds," said Wilson. "With printers that run solvent ink, the solvent remains in the vinyl and requires a 24-hour gassing-off period. This waiting time is completely eliminated with the latex printer, such that we can finish the vinyl the minute it comes off the machine.
"The wider width is also a huge differentiator that dramatically drives up productivity - not because our work always requires huge widths, but by the ability to print more graphics across the roll," he continued. "Add to that the fact that we use two rolls side-by-side, instead of just one, and it's easy to see how the LX850 delivers such a hard punch. We only installed our first LX850 in September, but since that time have already put over 70,000 m2 of substrate through it."
Fast speed that didn’t come at the expense of quality was a key criterion for Wilson during initial discussions with CWE Solutions to determine the best device for the company.
"The LX850 delivers the best speed achievable at the high output quality we require," he explained. "Although some UV machines might be faster, they quickly fall down in terms of their suitably for vehicle applications, so it's about fulfilling all criteria - not just one."
The new machine’s 1200dpi resolution also enables PODI to meet the exacting expectations demanded by the retail cosmetic brands the company serves.
"Projects undertaken on behalf of prestige brands involve an increased element of stringent, close-visual inspection," he explained. "The high expectation for quality means that we would rapidly lose business if we compromised for a second."
According to Wilson, the company has won contracts as a direct result of its ability to meet environmental stipulations.
"The promotional wrapping work we do using London taxis would have gone elsewhere had it not been for our HP Latex Technologies, as the client sought tangible proof that the impact on the environment would be reduced," he continued. "The water-based inks and the fact that the media can be recycled once removed from vehicles ticked the right boxes."
http://www.cwesolutions.co.uk/
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