New investment made to deliver vibrant and accurate colours
ESP flies the flag with Hollanders textile printer investmentUK graphics company, ESP Technologies Group, has announced an investment in Hollanders HPS ColorBooster XL. The company hopes that the new machine will allow for the production of a wide range of interior and exterior applications including point-of-sale graphics, flags, banners, plus back-lit and front-lit work onto polyesters and polyester mixes. A key requirement for ESP was that the new solution would retain brilliant hues and top class quality which is uncommon when using many dye sublimation machines.
Printer comes with a raft of technological breakthroughs.
Mimaki JFX500 2131Incorporating a raft of technological breakthroughs, the launch this month of the Mimaki JFX500-2131 is being heralded as a new benchmark in high quality, environmentally advantageous and high volume UV printing. Boasting printing speeds up to 60 m2/hr, the JFX500-2131 is 2.5 times faster than conventional JFX printers from Mimaki and is designed to bring new efficiency, quality and price/performance to the sign & graphics industry and wide format display marketplace. The new printer is scheduled for release this autumn.
Highlights of the new Mimaki flatbed is a new print head and advanced LED curing aimed at producing an exceptionally high resolution image quality. The new flatbed printer offers multiple ink options which allows for enhanced production flexibility.
The Mimaki LUS-150 ink is a newly formulated CMYK LED curing ink with high speed curing properties and is flexible up to 150 per cent. The result say Mimaki is increased elasticity on a wide variety of media and substrates without cracking or fracturing the cured ink during handling, cutting or other post-print processing.
Roland logo
Faster Print Speeds and excellent Print Quality
Roland launch new VersaArt RE-640 high speed printerRoland DG (UK) Ltd. has launched the brand new VersaArt RE-640, a 64-inch eco-solvent printer.
Priced at £10,999 Roland said the new printer offers superb performance and productivity and that it has once again smashed the barriers to entry to high-speed sign and display production. The price includes a one year RolandCare Silver warranty and an Intermediate Digital Print course at the Roland DG Academy.
“The new VersaArt printer is designed to meet the demands of today’s global marketplace by providing high-speed printing and impressive colour reproduction at an affordable price point,” said Brett Newman, Technical Director, Roland DG (UK). “Sign shops and print providers will appreciate the performance features, versatility and outstanding overall value offered by our eco-solvent RE-640. It offers the fast production environment a balance between speed and quality that is unmatched at this price point in the UK.”
Engineered for long, unattended production runs, the new VersaArt features Roland’s latest print head technology for high end image quality. The company said that the VersaArt’s unique eight-channel print head accurately reproduces the finest details while delivering vibrant high-density colours for flawless photographic reproductions, smooth gradations and superb contrast. A mirrored dual CMYK ink configuration (CMYKKYMC) produces first class colour consistency, even in the fastest print mode of 23.1 m2/hr. It pointed out that with the new VersaArt, the image quality achieved in high-speed mode equals that of the previous model’s standard mode. As a result, high-quality prints can be produced much faster.
VersaArt RE-640 features:
64-inch wide-format eco-solvent inkjet printer
Eco-Sol Max ink
Four colours (dual CMYK)
Roland OnSupport
Remotely track production with alerts to a user’s computer or smart phone when ink is low or a job is finished.
Advanced print head technology for high end print quality
Variable droplet control produces droplets in seven different sizes to accurately reproduce every detail
Mirrored eight-channel ink configuration for colour consistency at all print speeds
Roland Intelligent Pass Control virtually eliminates banding
Maximum print speed 23.1m2/hr.
Easy maintenance and low running costs
Automated cleaning function to minimise ink consumption
A dual-wiping system effectively removes dust and debris from the print head to reduce maintenance requirements
Powerful, easy-to-use Roland VersaWorks® RIP software
Media profiles that automatically adjust the colour, amount of ink and other factors critical to print quality
Easy-to-use interface for quality results from the very first print
Energy Star and Roland ECO label certified for environmentally-friendly operation and long-term performance
Service and support with Roland DG Care, Academy and Creative Centre
Service and Support Resources
For added value, Roland products are backed by Roland DG Care, providing reliable, service and support for all Roland products over their lifespan. Roland DG Academy teaches everything from printer basics to advanced production techniques, applications and more. The Roland DG Creative Centre is an extensive gallery of real-world applications which the company maintains is a great source of inspiration for new creative ideas at the Roland head office near Bristol.
For more information on Roland’s VersaART RE-640 printer visit www.rolanddg.co.uk/RE-640
Tel: 0044 (0) 845 230 90 60.
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Company adds additional Mimaki JV33 to expand its digital capabilities
7m hoarding produced on a Mimaki JV33Cheshire based MC Signs (UK) Ltd has established itself over the last twelve years as much more than a sign maker. With such experience, the company has earned an enviable reputation via a host of big brand clients, whilst still serving long standing customers in the local area. Specialising in vehicle graphics, fascia signage, shopping centre hoardings and display graphics, the company is able to answer virtually any sign and display request.
With traditional sign making skills allied to a suite of Mimaki wide format printers and cutters, MC Signs (UK) Ltd offers services that range from consultation, design, production, installation and if required, full project management. It’s this sort of wherewithal that has won them high profile clients such as JCB for whom they have provided extensive vehicle wraps and creative work that really shows off the capabilities of wide format digital print.
Combining techniques
Founder and director, Matthew Cooke details the role that digital output plays for his company, using a recent and very impressive truck side graphic for JCB as an example, “We’re able to offer full colour, photographic output for clients, which we typically print to a 7 or 10 year vinyl before over laminating for protection,” he says. “Frequently we combine coloured or metallic vinyl with digital print as it gives us greater creative freedom and the ability to merge a range of effects and finishes.”
MC Signs (UK) Ltd’s vehicle bay is almost 20m long and provides an ideal environment for even the largest vehicles (the JCB side panels were some 12m by 3.5m!) and ensures a consistently high quality finish – something Cooke sets his company’s stall out with. “Providing work that exceeds our clients’ expectations is core to what we do here,” he remarks. “It’s frequently the biggest reason that customers return to us for future work, so our attention to detail is paying off.”
Shopping centre branding is a further area of significant expertise for the company and a recent project was the production of a laminated hoarding for The Original Art Shop at the Westfield Shopping Centre in Derby. The 7m long graphic was produced using a Mimaki JV33, printed onto self adhesive vinyl before being laminated and finally applied to the hoarding.
Expert application skills
The JCB work was produced as a combination of part and full wraps and expertly demonstrates the company’s digital print and application skills; whilst delivering a striking piece of branding for their client. “With this much canvas to work with, we’ve got a great opportunity to show off the best of their brand,” comments Cooke. “A high quality digital print, combined with JCB’s instantly recognisable corporate colours creates a visually arresting advert on the side of the truck.”
MC Signs (UK) Ltd has recently branched out into ‘web to print’ with the launch of an online shop, so everyday items such as banner stands and sign trays can be ordered via their website (www.mcsignsshop.co.uk). The site also contains a great gallery of the company’s commissioned work and its history alongside a complete guide to the products and services the company offers. The common thread of quality runs through every element of MC Signs (UK) Ltd’s product range, and core to delivering this is the equipment and materials the company uses.
Using original ink to guarantee quality
Cooke first invested in a Mimaki outdoor durable printer in 2006 and recently added an additional Mimaki JV33 through authorised Hybrid reseller, Graphic Printing Technologies to sit alongside two Mimaki cutting plotters (and their original workhorse machine that continues to output high quality work to date).
“Having briefly tried third party products I know from bitter experience that the only way I can be assured of our printers producing the quality our customers expect is to use genuine Mimaki ink.” Cooke continues; “The JV33 doesn’t miss a beat, so it’s always right first time, every time.”
Looking at their long list of satisfied customers, for MC Signs (UK) Ltd, it’s evidently not just right – it’s top quality output, that’s expertly applied – which is what customers have understandably come to expect.
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New HP Indigo 5600 Digital Press to print specialty products
UK-based Easibind International Ltd has announced the installation of a new digital press. The investment in the HP Indigo 5600 Digital Press was made to expand their ability to print specialty items for branded corporate stationery, POS displays and other products on a wide range of paper and plastic substrates.
HP-Indigo-5600-Digital-PressThe new HP Indigo 5600 press includes special features such as the thick substrate kit, combined multi-shot and one-shot process (for synthetic and paper substrates), and white ink options, all of which provide flexibility for a variety of print applications.
With a seven-colour capability, HP says the Indigo 5600 can handle substrates from 80g/m2 to 460 microns enabling it to print branded stationery, packaging, promotional items and security recognition and identification cards in cost-effective short runs with full-colour graphics, PANTONE Colours and personalisation.
Easibind was established in 1977 and uses a range of printing and finishing technologies to produce a diverse range of products. The company also has an HP Indigo press s2000, which it will continue to use alongside the new machine. The new press operates at speeds of up to 68 full-colour A4 per minute (up to 90 pages per minute in Enhanced Productivity Mode) and can use special-effect inks including UV red, light cyan, light magenta, digital matte and white.
Harry Skidmore, founder and CEO, Easibind International Ltd said:
"The advantage of HP ElectroInks is that they are transparent just like litho inks, so we can produce litho quality using the white ink as a base laid on solid-coloured substrates or as a backing - last ink down - on transparent materials. We print a lot of subsurface on the transparent ranges, using white ink to maintain the high-definition CMYK images through the face. This provides a scratch-proof top surface which is useful when using long-life polymers."
Easibind makes full use of the growing number of plastics used for corporate products and displays and carries out the pre-treatment for substrates to be digitally printed in-house.
"The HP Indigo 5600 can print on a wide range of substrates including synthetics. PP, PET and PVC are widely used in the industry," explained Skidmore. "We also use other materials for trademark and specialist applications. These include polycarbonates, polyesters and thermoplastics which are used for POS and display, security and recognition, and industrial thermoforming markets."
Easibind offers UV coatings for all its standard production processes for scratch resistance and anti-microbial protection. These are applied to HP Indigo printed products as a near-line finishing process, adding further value to the print.
Skidmore concluded:
"Demand is growing for high-volume personalised media. We can do this with a combination of our conventional UV litho presses and our HP Indigo digital presses”.
More information is available at www.youtube.com/hpgraphicarts
http://www.easibind.com/
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New press to enable cost-effective short-run production of retail POS units
UK based Derwent Displays has bought an HP Scitex FB7600 Industrial Press to increase productivity of POS display units and to expand its product portfolio.
Derwent DisplaysThe company made the investment to complement its existing screen and lithographic production facilities in order to produce cost-effective short runs, offer versioned and personalised products, and broaden its range of tailor-made retail POS products.
"We will now be able to meet our customers' bespoke requirements within a short timeframe thanks to the press' reduced turnaround times and its cost-efficient runs," said Neil Haywood, managing director at Derwent Displays. "We'll also be able to use the press for jobs that require special finishing with the spot or full-gloss varnish feature."
Derwent Displays employs 35 people and provides creative end-to-end solutions from design to fulfilment for in-store and outdoor displays, shelf units and cartons. The company serves retail suppliers in the food, pet care, pharmaceutical, do-it-yourself and leisure markets across the UK.
The HP Scitex FB7600 Industrial Press, launched in October 2011, is a high-volume production printer that is designed to deliver high-quality print on a wide range of rigid and flexible substrates in thicknesses up to 25mm. Using UV-curable ink, the press operates in eight print modes with speeds up to 95 full-size sheets per hour (500m2/hr, 5380ft2/hr) with a POP production mode producing up to 55 sheets per hour.
Other features include a spot gloss capability that helps deliver high-end solutions in 2D and 3D format. The edge-to-edge printing feature means that final-size materials may be loaded (up to four at a time with optional Multi-sheet Loader Kit). HP maintains that this eliminates the need for trimming as well as reduces potential damage through additional handling. It also said that the new HP 225 Scitex Ink is crack and chip resistant, reducing damage during folding.
"All our objectives of quality, speed and cost-effectiveness are clearly met by this press' features," continued Haywood. "We wanted to enter the digital print market with HP, as its technology offers the latest innovations, from which our business will benefit."
The press can handle a wide range of media, including paper, synthetic paper, self-adhesive vinyl, foam PVC, PVC sheets, polystyrene (HIPS), and both corrugated and compressed cardboard.
"Our improved flexibility will enable us to meet a wide range of application requirements and we expect that the HP technology will help us to maintain our competitiveness within the retail business," added Paul White, design director.
More information is available at www.youtube.com/hpgraphicarts
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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/
More information is available at www.youtube.com/hpgraphicarts
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Faversham House, organiser of Digital Print UK has announced that a new date for the exhibition has now been confirmed - 5-7 November 2013.
Digital Print LogoThe event, the first digital print-specific show of its kind in the UK, will be held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.
Faversham House, an established media and exhibition company, has said that it is confident of ensuring ‘considerable benefits for everybody’ with the new scheduled date, following extensive industry feedback.
Show Director for Digital Print UK, Rudi Blackett said: “We are determined to build on the considerable success we have enjoyed in running Sign & Digital UK, which is also held at the NEC. The consistent feedback we’ve received is that there is real demand for focused, targeted, cost-effective niche shows like ours that fill the requirements for exhibitors and show visitors alike.”
Faversham House confirmed that it will be making a series of announcements in the run-up to the new show, which will have the theme of ‘making money from digital print’.
Chris Rushton, Sales Manager for Digital Print UK, added: “We already have a significant level of pledged support for our new show linking an increasing number of people wanting to get into the growing digital print market. Further details will be made available in due course, but the needs of suppliers for a targeted show will be met.”
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Installation designed to maintain competitive edge
The UK print company, B-Print and Display Limited has announced the installation of an HP Scitex FB7600 Industrial Press. The company stated that the new machine will assist them in improving the speed and flexibility of its retail POS/POP offering and to help maintain their competitive edge.
L -R Will Skelchy MD Gary Fairfax production manager John Hedley director and Robbie Rutherford directorThe Scitex can print up to 95 full-size sheets/hr in production speed and up to 55 full-size sheets/hr with POP quality.
Founded in 1981, the Nothumberland-based B-Print and Display delivers an extensive design, merchandising and retail POS/print offering to its clients; backed up by collation, packing, distribution and storage services.
Will Skelchy, managing director said:
"The HP Scitex FB7600 will meet a wide range of our application requirements and ensure we maintain the lead we currently have on our competitors. We were very impressed by its speed, which will significantly up the tempo in terms of production capacity and our ability to meet client deadlines.”
Skelchy added: "Also notable is the vibrancy achieved in the printed output, which is always something we strive to improve upon. As for other features of the FB7600 that we particularly like, there are too many to mention - the machine is fantastic!"
As its first HP purchase, the company believes the new installation will deliver a variety of enhancements to improve its brand-related retail POS and print services offering towards its broad client base.
These include the ability to print up to 25 mm thick on a wide range of media, such as foam PVC, PVC sheets, polystyrene (HIPS), and both corrugated and compressed cardboard. In addition, HP maintain that the new six-colour HP FB225 UV-curable ink set will provide excellent dot gain and an impressive colour gamut up to 600dpi resolution, while a new edge-to-edge printing feature will ensure improved material usage and waste reduction.
According to Skelchy, the HP Scitex FB7600 Industrial Press' scalable and modular platform was another important factor in the company's decision to select the device.
"The ability to upgrade in the future is an added benefit and gives us the flexibility and confidence to know that it will remain in step as our production expands," he said.
Skelchy also cites HP's brand heritage and reliability as other factors in his company's decision-making process.
"From the outset, the service levels and expertise of HP were exceptional and very reassuring, and we are delighted to be entering into what we hope is a long and successful partnership," he concluded.
More information is available at www.youtube.com/hpgraphicarts
http://www.b-printanddisplay.co.uk/
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