Keaykolour reKreate board selected to produce turtle dove decorative hang-ups for Christmas.
Turtle dove decorative hang-upsAn innovative range of environmentally friendly coloured boards, Keaykolour reKreate, has been used to produce hundreds of turtle dove decorative hang-ups in time for Christmas! Manufactured by Arjowiggins using an exclusive patented process, the range is supplied by Antalis McNaughton in the UK.
The project entitled ‘Project Hangup’ is the brainchild of London based graphic designer, Jacinta Sullivan. Due to the loss of habitat and illegal hunting this bird is listed on the Red List of conservation concern.
The turtle dove hang-up is made from ‘upcycled’ foil and card and uses materials that are difficult to recycle and transforms them into beautiful objects.
The idea for the venture came about when Jacinta visited a packaging trade show and discovered that hot stamping foil, a premium material used in many printed designs was difficult to recycle and usually ends up in a landfill. As a designer, Jacinta was stunned to discover the amount of waste produced in the creative industry.
The start of the process began with the help of printers Benwells, collecting the excess foil waste off the companies press. Paper is then cut and the used foil re-spooled and stamped onto Keaykolour reKreate using a die.
This process is repeated on the same piece of card with different coloured foil and dies to achieve the textures and collage effect.
Once the foiling process is complete, the sheets are die cut into turtle doves and the final hang-ups revealed.
The innovative reKreate range is made by reusing waste fibres, which would otherwise be thrown away. This cuts the use of dyes and pulp by up to 50 per cent and reduces the effect on the environment.
Jacinta commented: “The feedback has been really positive, people are drawn to the unique design of the decorative hang-ups we have created, which naturally sparks a conversation about how they are made. I believe in great design, creating things that will be kept, not thrown away. My hope is that Project Hangup will inspire other creative’s to discover unique design solutions by using interesting working processes that consider the environment.”
Process of making the turtle doves Antalis McNaughton said that the Turtle dove hang-ups will be distributed to their design customers and creative printers over the coming weeks.
The company also wishes to thank Howard Fletcher for donating his time to write the copy which features on the packaging of the doves.
For more information visit:
www.keaykolourpaper.com/reKreate
 Process of making the turtle doves |  . |
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New Business won following installation of an
HP Indigo 5600 Digital Press.
OVI purchased the HP Indigo 5600 to increase its range of photo applicationsUK based One Vision Imaging (OVI) has installed an HP Indigo 5600 Digital Press in order to maintain its competitive edge and increase its range of photo applications for new and existing customers.
The professional photographic laboratory, based in Coventry, decided to opt for the HP Indigo 5600 because it believes the print quality is as impressive as silver halide. Another reason for the investment was also a natural progression for the company as it continues to adapt to meet changing market demands.
“The HP Indigo 5600 produces prints of such high quality – it’s really impressive,” said Nik Proctor, Sales & Marketing, VisionImPress – trading style of One Vision Imaging. “The finishing options available are also extensive and they increase the creative possibilities for photo applications. Our core customers are professional photographers so we have to be able to deliver cutting-edge, unique solutions to meet their creative requirements.”
One Vision Imaging will continue to offer services that use silver halide, but intends using the HP Indigo 5600 to expand its product portfolio to suit a wider variety of customer needs, such as shorter runs and environmental considerations.
Since installing the new press this year, OVI has been planning the launch of additional products, such as business cards and other marketing collateral. The company also plans to expand its existing product range of photo albums and framed photos and hopes to offer in-house design services.
“The HP Indigo 5600 has already helped us to win new business and move into other markets with new applications such as an order to print 300 books, which we wouldn’t have won had it not been for the short-run capabilities of the HP Indigo 5600,” commented Proctor. “With such great results in a short period of time, we are looking forward to the opportunities this new press will bring to our company as we continue to explore its many advanced features and market-leading capabilities.”
In addition to using the HP press to deliver cost-effective short runs, OVI said it will also utilise the six-colour capabilities of its new HP Indigo 5600 to raise its customers’ photo prints to a higher quality standard on par with silver-halide technology.
The HP Indigo 5600 has a seven-colour capability and includes special options such as the Thick Substrate Kit, Combined Multi-Shot and One-shot process (for synthetic and paper substrates), and White Ink, providing the flexibility for a variety of print applications.
“The Thick Substrate Kit has allowed us to bring more services in house, as we can create photo album covers here. It also increases our application range as the choice of substrate has increased,” said Proctor.
Capable of printing up to 90 full-colour A4 pages per minute (ppm) in Enhanced Productivity Mode (EPM) and up to 272 ppm monochrome, the HP Indigo 5600 Digital Press is designed for the special needs of commercial, digital print service providers (PSPs).
More information about HP is available at www.youtube.com/hpgraphicarts
http://www.onevisionimaging.com/
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Latest High-End Inkjet Printer/Cutter Pro series
praised for high quality and precise output.
Mr Eli Keersmaekers CEO of Roland DG Benelux accepts the Viscom 'Best of 2012' awardRoland DG has announced that it has won a Viscom ‘Best of 2012’ Award in the Signmaking category for its SOLJET PRO4 XR-640 printer/cutter. The prize, which was awarded at the show in Frankfurt in October, is given to the events most innovative exhibitors.
The SOLJET PRO4 XR-640 was launched in September 2012, and explaining its reason for presenting Roland DG with the ‘Best in 2012’ Award, the Viscom jury said: “With this new print and cut machine, Roland DG is appealing to professional signmakers and supporting them as they seek out more creative opportunities in the market. The XR-640 can be used for the most diverse applications, including stickers, window decorations, banners, posters, vehicle-wrapping and canvas. The jury was especially impressed with the seven- and eight different colour printing configurations in the machine including CMYKLcLm, Light black, white and metallic silver inks. The Roland machine is set apart by its high quality and absolutely precise output.”
Responding to the award, Eli Keersmaekers, CEO of Roland DG Benelux, said: “The XR-640 is our new flagship product and we have high expectations of it. The jury recognised that the XR-640 is the ideal unit for signmakers, thanks to its great versatility and excellent quality. We are therefore also proud that we can add this Award to our growing list.”
The 64-inch XR-640 combines accelerated print speeds with Roland’s integrated print and cut technology, a new print head design, both seven- and eight-colour configurations, and new Eco-Sol Max 2 inks in nine colours: cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK), plus light cyan (Lc), light magenta (Lm), white (Wh), metallic silver (Mt) and new light black (Lk). Roland pointed out that the SOLJET PRO4 XR-640 is designed for volume production in the sign and graphics market allowing companies to express their creativity with high-end effects and finishes as well as developing profitable new applications and markets.
Viscom is the largest trade show in Europe for the signmaking industry, taking place biannually, switching between Düsseldorf and Frankfurt. Since it was founded in 1986, Viscom has become the leading trade show for visual communication. The Viscom Awards honour the innovative achievements of the Viscom exhibitors. There are five categories for the awards: Signmaking, Large-format printing/LFP, Light advertising, Textile refinement and Software. The jury consisted of the editors-in-chief of various trade magazines, representatives of trade organisations and members of the exhibition organisation.
Focus to be on free monthly seminars to help customers generate new revenue streams.
BN-20 Boot Camp Invitation
Roland DG UK has announced the launch of a new initiative, the Better Business Boot Camp, which aims to introduce its portfolio of print technologies and the broad range of applications they can produce to a wider audience including sign makers, copy shops, print houses and in-plants. The first of the ‘Better Business Boot Camp’ series will be an afternoon session running from 3pm to 6pm on Wednesday 21st November 2012 focused on how the desktop VersaSTUDIO™ BN-20 can bring added value and new revenue streams to printers. The session will be run by Joe Wigzell, manager of the Roland Academy and held at the recently-refurbished Creative Centre in its Clevedon HQ.
Wigzell said: “The desktop VersaSTUDIO™ BN-20 is Roland’s most affordable wide format digital print and cut device to date, and as such offers the printer or sign maker phenomenal flexibility for what is a comparatively low cost of entry. Feedback from customers so far has been very positive and we believe that these seminars will be instrumental in ensuring that the industry understands just how versatile this machine really is.”
The compact 20” wide integrated device prints full colour, plus metallic or white, and contour cuts on a full spectrum of media. It can produce everything from stickers, decals, labels, t-shirt transfers, Point-of-Sale and Point-of-Purchase, photo prints, posters and small format signage to vehicle graphics – all from the desktop.
The Boot Camp seminar day has been divided into five sections:
• The Mess – meet and greet, lunch and networking
• Make Money – ROI, costings, and testimonials
• Training Room – overview of the benefits of the technology
• Action clinic – a tour of the Creative Centre with machines in operation
• Applications – overview of the wide range of applications the BN-20 can perform
BN-20 printer and cutter “The focus of the Boot Camp is as much on ROI as it is on the applications and technology,” continued Wigzell. “We know our customers are not only interested in how good the technology is, but how it’s going to make money now and how this breaks down. As such, we have a whole section dedicated to exactly this with clear ROI and costing statistics.”
“It’s also an opportunity for sign makers and SME digital and commercial printers to see all the possibilities the BN-20 offers but without the pressure of a ‘hard sales’ environment. We think this is a critical component of the Boot Camp. Customers need to be able to ask questions and explore the technology in-depth without feeling that every question will lead closer to a sale there and then.”
Participants are invited to either bring along or send in advance their print files so samples can be produced on the BN-20. While they are there, visitors will also be able to look at the broad range of applications available with Roland’s growing portfolio of wide format printers as well as its range of engravers and 3D milling machines.
For more information about the VersaSTUDIO BN-20 Better Business Boot Camp visit www.rolanddg.co.uk/betterbusiness Those who would like to sign up for a BN-20 Boot Camp can call Roland DG on 0044 (0) 845 230 90 60 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." mce_' + path + '\'' + prefix + ':' + addy27500 + '\'>'+addy_text27500+'<\/a>'; //--> .
www.rolanddg.co.uk / www.rolanddental.co.uk
New ink warranty and certifications introduced as well
New solutions to HP’s large-format sign and display portfolio with the HP Scitex FB7600 Industrial PressHP has announced a number of enhancements for the HP Scitex FB7600 and TJ8600 Industrial Press’s as well as new ink warranty and certifications. The company said the new features were designed to help print service providers (PSPs) capture new business opportunities with higher-value application and service offerings.
Highlights of the new solutions are:
- New features such as metallic effects, and improved workflow for faster turnaround with the HP Scitex FB7600 Industrial Press.
- New point-of-purchase (POP) print modes for printing high-quality text and fine details with the HP Scitex TJ8600 Industrial Press.
- Certified environmental performance with a new GREENGUARD Children & Schools certification for HP FB225 Scitex White Inks and HP TJ210 Scitex Inks.
- A warranty for vehicle as well as finished graphics with the 3M™ MCS™ warranty for HP LX610 Scitex Latex Inks and HP 792 Designjet Latex Inks, a 3M™ MCS™ warranty component.
“Sign and display PSPs face increased demand to expand their services while meeting faster turnaround times and delivering higher print quality,” said Xavier Garcia, vice president and general manager, HP Scitex Industrial Presses, HP. “By offering high-value upgrades and providing a comprehensive range of ink warranties and certifications, we are protecting our customers’ investments while supporting their business growth.”
The new features for the HP Scitex FB7600 Industrial Press include new printmodes for higher speeds when producing small text, barcodes and fine details. In addition, HP said workflow improvements can deliver easier media loading, reducing setup time and allowing customers to print without interruption.
“The enhancements to the HP Scitex FB7600 Industrial Press allow us to take advantage of faster print modes on a variety of jobs, helping to significantly increase turnaround times for customers,” said Dan Kimmerly, graphics director at KDM P.O.P Solutions Group, a beta customer for the new press features. “The upgraded press has been up and running for just two weeks and we are already considering installing the new features on our other HP Scitex FB7600 Industrial Presses.”
The press’s new metallic colours effect application, supported by HP software partner ColorLogic, is designed to give customers an HP-tested, high-value metallic printing solution for specialty applications and POP displays. It requires the ColorLogic plug-in, HP FB225 Scitex White Ink and Hazen media, which is the HP-approved media option for metallic substrates.
The HP Scitex TJ8600 Industrial Press now offers a new POP print mode with enhanced image quality for printing text, barcodes and fine details, such as quick response (QR) codes for POP signage applications. In addition, the press is now compatible with 20pt thick substrates such as styrene, commonly used for lightbox POP displays.
For environmentally-conscious clients, HP FB225 Scitex White Inks and HP TJ210 Scitex Inks are now GREENGUARD Children & Schools CertifiedSM, making the inks suitable for printing indoor graphics. HP TJ210 Scitex Inks are the second UV-curable inks to receive the GREENGUARD certification, following only the HP FB225 Scitex Inks.
HP also announced availability of the 3M™ MCS™ Warranty. It said that this is widely recognised as the industry’s most comprehensive finished graphics warranty, for select HP Scitex and HP Designjet Latex Printers when using approved 3M films. The 3M™ MCS™ Warranty covers fading, cracking and peeling.
Product and Warranty Availability
HP Scitex FB7600 Industrial Press owners can upgrade their existing systems with the HP Scitex FB7600 Industrial Press Upgrade Kit expected to be available worldwide on Nov. 1st.
HP Scitex TJ8600 Industrial Press owners can upgrade their existing systems with the HP Scitex TJ8600 Industrial Press Upgrade Kit. The new POP print mode is available now and the media upgrade is expected to be available worldwide on Dec. 15th.
The 3M™ MCS™ Warranty will be available with HP LX610 Latex Inks in November 2012 and HP 792 Latex Inks in February 2013 for finished graphics produced by customers that have completed 3M’s certification process. More information on registration and certification requirements is available at 3mgraphics.com/warranties.
More information about HP large-format sign and display solutions is available at www.hp.com/go/signanddisplay
Vibrant images achievable with Sihl Direct's Vivalux backlit media for Latex printers
Widespread acceptance from the marketplace
for high quality media
Recently, Sihl Direct UK announced that its PolySOL media is now shipping in the UK and Ireland and has received widespread acceptance from the marketplace. The satin finished, water fast polyester film for solvent and latex inks comes in two thicknesses which the company said is ideal for roll up and pop-up-systems and displays. Sihl highlighted the fact that its resistance to high temperatures mean it provides an ideal solution for HP Latex printers.
“Thanks to PolySOL’s grey back, the media has nearly 100 per cent opacity making it ideal for free-standing applications,” said Ian Turnbull, Operations Director for Sihl Direct UK and Ireland. “The excellent flatness allows this media to be used for a wide range of signage, advertising and POS applications. The innovative coating and its bright whiteness lead to a quick drying time and a wide colour gamut with Eco-, Mild- and True-Solvent inks as well as Latex inks for HP Latex printers.”
But who is this new entrant to the large format digital printing industry and how is a new company behind such innovative thinking?
While Sihl Direct UK is a new company, its holding company Sihl, owned by the Diatec Group in Italy, has a 110-year history and a product range that is already familiar with most people in the industry. Sihl Direct began trading this year and Ian Turnbull is the man responsible for getting it all up and running. As well as the UK, Sihl Direct is supporting Ireland from its offices near Manchester and is encouraging end users and resellers to contact them for more information.
Ian Turnbull, Operations Director of Sihl Direct UK and Heiner Kayser, Managing Director of Sihl Sihl is already well-known in the inkjet printing market as a leading provider of coated media through OEM, distribution and reseller channels. The company has a reputation for quality, consistency and reliability but was aware that many of its end users didn’t even know they were using a Sihl product. In order to address this situation and to take more control over its own destiny, Sihl Direct was established to service the large format printing market directly, with Sihl manufactured and branded media, through both selected partners and directly to the end user.
Despite setting up this business from scratch, Sihl Direct has the backing and full support of The Diatec Group, a multi-million pound international corporation. Its long term strategic goal is to strengthen the position of its product and corporate brands to a broader audience.
The task of getting the business up and running is down to Turnbull, with support from head office in Duren, Germany. Its Altrincham office includes a showroom and a 700 m2 warehouse, the location of which allows Sihl Direct to reach approximately 80 per cent of the UK population within a three hour drive thanks to the excellent motorway connections throughout the country.
The Manchester office has a small but dedicated local team, supported by several hundred people across Europe and the USA and is looking to grow as the business develops.
Turnbull added, “I am very confident in Sihl Direct’s products. Our broad range of coated media for aqueous, solvent and UV-curable printers is of exceptional quality and this can make a huge difference to the overall viewing experience for printed output.”
Products now available from Sihl Direct include a wide range of specialist materials for most wide format inkjet printers and ink technologies, such as canvas, vinyls and films as well as a comprehensive stable of photo base papers for high quality photographic and fine art reproductions. Its aqueous, inkjet photo paper range includes Maranello Foto Paper PE glossy 198 g/m². This is a Microporous SuperDry coated paper, based on a premium opaque white double-sided PE coated true photo paper with instant drying is especially suitable for laminating.
Sihl Direct's Maranello photo papersSihl Direct highlighted its TriSolv multipurpose papers for outdoor billboard advertising with maximum impact. These are multi-layer coated, water- and outdoor resistant, high white papers, which have been specially developed for solvent as well as UV curing inks. Sihl Direct said that these are considered the industry standard for this application.
The company also plans to expand its product ranges into new markets. One particular area of interest is that of canvas solutions. It has recently announced an inexpensive canvas for art reproduction, Clara Beneficial white 350 matt 3579. Targeted at the volume and cost sensitive marketplace, this canvas is ideal for bespoke art reproduction for private homes and commercial areas such as hotels and conference rooms.
Sihl Direct maintains it has the manufacturing capability to deliver very high quality materials and substrates with high service and support levels at cost-effective prices. Resellers and end users looking for the best quality at great value are encouraged to get in touch with Sihl Direct to discuss their requirements and discover what the company can offer.
As a special offer for Digital Print News,
Sihl Direct is offering readers a 10 per cent discount on its Maranello Foto Paper PE glossy 198 g/m²,
when this article is mentioned.
Please call Ian Turnbull on 0044 (0) 161 927 9051.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." mce_' + path + '\'' + prefix + ':' + addy53592 + '\'>'+addy_text53592+'<\/a>';
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Recent investment in new wide format hardware is servicing clients large and small
Create Signs’ growing teamUK based Create Signs has moved with the times since directors Ian Lamont and Andrew Fogg set the company up in 2002, but with core values of creativity, quality and service at its heart, the Bristol based sign maker is entering its second decade with a spring in its step.
Visit the company's premises (located on the A38 near Churchill, to the south west of Bristol) and they're a hive of activity; with a workshop stocked full of kit and substrates, primed to meet the needs of small local businesses right through to servicing large healthcare, education and retail contracts. In their ten years of business, the team have won prestigious new clients, but just as importantly, retained long standing customers at the same time.
Ally Jones, responsible for Create Signs' marketing and new business initiatives has put in place a number of processes at the company, leveraging networking, social media and good old fashioned hard work to ensure Create's name is in the frame when it comes to winning new contracts.
Strong online presence
A vibrant Twitter feed, regularly updated blog and installation showcase on the company's website, frequent networking sessions and a willingness to work with local design agencies as a trusted supplier has seen business increase consistently and the company's reputation remain strong. "Having a strong online presence is important," says Jones, "It ensures we're perceived as a professional operation from the outset, which when organisations are pitching for business, can be the difference between receiving a phone call or not."
Being creatively led (as the name suggests), Create Signs has a hard won reputation for delivering striking installations. Within the education sector the company is starting to stretch its legs with an upsurge in interest from newly formed academies seeking to market their curriculum to young students and provide an engaging and sophisticated backdrop to their studies. Recent new business for Create has included an impressive 6m wide typographical work for Redland Green School that featured workflow the company has gained following its investment in a Mimaki CJV30-160 printer / cutter.
Speed, service and control
Spending considerable sums of money each month buying in print, the purchase of their own wide format system came about following a visit to Sign & Digital UK 2011. "The Mimaki enables us to turn jobs around quicker, provide better customer service and ensures we're in control of how we manage our jobs," states Fogg. "We did consider alternative printer / cutters but we're very pleased with the CJV30 - and we're making substantial savings now it's installed."
The 1.6m wide integrated printer / cutter was purchased through authorised Mimaki reseller, Graphic Printing Technologies and Fogg is complimentary of the service received from both GPT, and UK distributor for Mimaki; Hybrid Services. "The support from both companies has been really knowledgeable and helpful. We were new to running a wide format printer so all the advice we've received has made a difference."
Not that you'd know Create Signs had only had its own digital print capability for a few months if you looked at the Redland School work. The Bristol based school approached the company looking for a visual means of reflecting its ethos of positivity and inclusivity in order to inspire pupils in their day to day life. The colourful word clouds and vinyl graphics were designed by new recruit and junior graphic designer at Create, Calum Bradley before being printed and cut on the CJV30 and applied to room and hall walls throughout the school - including one area of the striking installation which spans three floors of the atrium in the main building.
Thinking out of the box
Redland Green School’s 6m wide typographical installation is actually a print and cut jobThe technique used by Create for this job is echoed in another substantial contract for public space decoration - at Weston town hall. Winning part of an estimated £25m contract, Create Signs delivered window and wall manifestation in both public and office space but what is interesting is how they thought out of the box to strictly adhere to the colour scheme used for paint on the walls, pillars and fixtures around the building. Rather than trying to match the shades with stock coloured vinyl, Create opted to reproduce the work in printed form and use the Mimaki's accurate contour cutting to plot around the outline. The end result is a perfectly matched colour scheme that still exudes the clean lines of self adhesive coloured vinyl.
Lamont added in full colour print on etched vinyl for large expanses of window manifestation, married to matching printed vinyl as it continued around the walls, delivering a seamless, colourful and practical job that enlivened a space used by both the general public and council workers.
Bradley's appointment as junior designer came about following Jones's determination to ensure something was done about halting the likely skill exodus in the sign industry. By employing young minds and instilling industry skills, she was confident that in time, the industry would remain in safe hands, but her first attempts at recruitment were disappointing. "The poor attention to detail and overall quality of applicants from the government's apprenticeship scheme left me downhearted, but Calum approached us independently and fitted the bill perfectly," she said. Bradley is a graphic design graduate who specialises in typography and is now enjoying being trained in digital printing, graphics application and general sign production.
It's not just recruiting and working with the right people that are important to the team at Create - doing it the right way is at the heart of their way of working too. Be it the way the company manufactures its products - "We've always been quality led and we'll encourage our customers to invest more to get a better, long lasting sign" says Lamont - or its commitment to sustainability in an often demanding marketplace, the team go about things in the same way.
Environmental credentials
Creative use of materials and digital print are hallmarks of the company"If you think about it, you can do it," Jones put it simply. "We're more and more required to show our environmental credentials, so Hybrid's Let's Do More cartridge recycling scheme has a knock on effect for our customers too." Clearly understanding of the underlying message of the rebate linked waste management programme, Jones is keen to promote how lots of little things can add up to a big difference. "We've even gone as far as putting skylights into the ceiling above our design space," she says, "and its cut our electric lighting down a noticeable amount."
On the outside - Create Signs is a savvy, design led sign maker, but delve a little deeper and you'll find a company that's not just capable and committed to providing a better product but committed to how they go about it too.
Follow them on Twitter for an unique take on life in the sign industry @createsignsuk, take a look at some of their impressive installations on their website at www.create-signs.co.uk or give them a call on 0044 (0) 1934 853 888.
Potential of the VersaUV LEF-12 desktop UV-inkjet printer from Roland DG a winner.
VersaUV LEF-12Instead of battening down the hatches and weathering recent economic storms, UK based ALD Print has fought back by diversifying its print business with the recession-busting VersaUV LEF-12 desktop UV-inkjet printer from Roland DG.
Established as a graphic design company in Sheffield 22 years ago, ALD responded to the recession in the 90s by expanding into commercial print and digital sign printing, having spotted that people were making healthy returns. Further growth since then has seen ALD evolve into a comprehensive print supplier, with screen, four-colour litho and digital technology all in house.
Featuring an Advanced Eight-Channel Print Head and New Eco-Sol Max2 Inks
Roland XR-640 Pro 4 164-Inch SolJet Pro4 XR-640 Combines High-Speed Performance, Exceptional Image Quality, Integrated Contour Cutting and Specialty Inks, Including New Light Black
Roland DG Corporation, the leading worldwide provider of wide-format inkjet printers and printer/cutters for professional durable graphics, has announced the SolJet Pro4 XR-640; the industry’s most advanced printer/cutter to date.