Business - Applications

Georgie Moseley, mother of brave Birmingham boy Harry Moseley, will be travelling in style to London today (Thursday 26th July) as she carries the Olympic torch in her son’s honour.

A National Express coach, which has been wrapped in a vinyl with Harry’s face on it, will transport Georgie and her family to Stamford Bridge before she carries the torch through Hammersmith & Fulham.

Harry Moseley died suddenly last October, aged 11, as a result of an inoperable brain tumour and complications following brain surgery. The Sheldon schoolboy’s selfless story touched the hearts of tens of thousands of people across the globe, including many celebrities, as he helped to raise more than £700,000 for Cancer Research UK by selling hand-made bracelets before he passed away.

Harry was nominated to carry the torch by England and Chelsea star John Terry, who was inspired by him after meeting him at an event in 2010. When Harry passed away, his mother Georgie was asked to carry it on his behalf.

Georgie says, “I know that Harry would have loved to have carried the torch himself, but having the National Express coach with his picture on is the next best thing to having him there in person. I wish the coach could hold the torch and take part!”

The coach wrap was designed and installed by Birmingham-based signs and graphics company Hollywood Monster. Managing director Tim Andrews, also a trustee of the HelpHarryHelpOthers charity – set up to continue Harry’s fundraising efforts – will accompany the Moseley family on the coach to London.

Tim comments, “We are very grateful to National Express for use of the coach, which will be seen by millions as it journeys the UK in service. The Olympic torch event will be a memorable occasion for Georgie and everyone that knew Harry. Harry’s face will travel thousands of miles from Birmingham to London, which will help to spread Harry love to a wider audience. Coach wraps are a fantastic way to get your message to new people as it travels across the country and up and down the motorway. If people hadn’t heard of Harry Moseley before they certainly will now!”

Andrew Cleaves, managing director of National Express Coach, adds, "Harry Moseley was an inspiration to the people of Birmingham and beyond and it is our privilege to name a coach in his honour.  As befits such a remarkable young lad, for its very first outing the 'Harry' coach will make an extra-special debut, carrying mum Georgie down to London to carry the Olympic Torch on his behalf."

He concludes, "The coach will then run between Birmingham and London, becoming part of our network, which carries more than 18 million passengers each year."

Hollywood Monster employs around 80 people and works with major companies including Next, Virgin Media, LilyWhites, Ann Summers, Coach, Whistles, HMV, Westfield, Carillion, Morgan Sindall, Lovell Homes, Redrow and Bovis Homes.

For more information, please visit www.hollywoodmonster.co.uk.

Glasgow-based Effective Visual Marketing (EVM) has installed a VUTEk QS series machine in order to meet the demand for large format graphics and direct to substrate signage from its home market of Scotland, as well as other regions further afield.

The printer was purchased earlier this summer and forms part of a much larger ‘investment for growth’ programme at EVM.  The VUTEk joins EVM’s existing array of printers – including HP, Mimaki and Kodak machines – and is already being used to print on a wide variety of flat panel substrates and for soft signage applications, including banners, wraps and flags.

Effective Visual Marketing (EVM) was established in 1991 by entrepreneur and ex-advertising copywriter Paul Fennon.  The company is a well-respected and creatively-driven sign and graphics production house based in the East End of Glasgow where it operates from its own extensive workshops with a highly skilled and ambitious team of technicians and installers.

EVM  provides a wide range of ‘Visual Marketing’ services including large format display graphics, signage, architectural manifestations and bespoke retail POS and furniture.  Customers span many sectors throughout Scotland and the UK including the utilities sector, commercial and residential property, the financial and public sectors and many niche markets including architects, graphic and interior designers.      

Over the years the company has worked with many large national and international organisations including Scottish Power, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, North Lanarkshire Council, CALA Homes, Persimmon, Wood Mackenzie, Cordia and Glasgow City Building, to name just a few.

However, the economic contraction of the last 5 years - particularly in the North of the country - demonstrated the need for some clear strategic thinking for SMEs everywhere - and particularly in the competitive signage and display markets that EVM targets.

EVM’s managing director, Paul Fennon, explains, “We realised very early in the recession that to keep ahead we had to raise our game in terms of quality and environmental credentials.  The company is now British Standard ISO accredited and we’ve invested in capital and training to ensure we continue to grow and come out the other side stronger and leaner than ever.

“This is challenging to achieve in a downturn, but we were convinced that making things happen in the business and being proactive about the future was a better option than sitting around doing nothing and waiting for things to improve. At the time, it was easy to get swept along by the negative sentiment peddled by the national press, but instead we made the decision to invest in training, new staff and technology and expand the business – easy really!”

The purchase of the VUTEk QS was very much part of this strategy and EVM researched its product investment options extensively.  Paul Fennon says, “It took us two to three years to make the decision about choosing the right super wide flatbed which also gave us the flexibility to run roll to roll.  We travelled hundreds of miles to look at everything that was out there and investigated every viable printer from every major manufacturer prior to settling on the VUTEk."

“Speed, quality and engineering were the drivers for our decision.  We chose the VUTEk because of its reputation and service support and the fact it’s beautifully engineered, robust and delivers speed and quality.  It ticks all the boxes as far as we’re concerned.
“Our home market in Scotland is fairly small so we need to be able to respond quickly to a wide variety of customer requirements and materials to suit a wide range of needs. For customers further afield, we need the speed and the capacity to get work through as quickly as possible. The VUTEk allows us to do all of this.”

The VUTEk was supplied by PaperlinX Digital Solutions, part of the Robert Horne Group, and Paul cannot commend them highly enough:  “The service and back up we have received from PaperlinX Digital Solutions is top class.  We have a great relationship with the guys at both PaperlinX Digital Solutions and Robert Horne so it made sense to align the machine purchase with the support we get on substrate selection, profiling and a robust supply chain. The overall package set against the total lifetime cost of ownership was perfect for us.  It will enable us to achieve our aim of growing the business as rapidly as possible, whilst consolidating our position as a high quality, low cost producer.”

EVM is using VUTEk’s Series 2 inks in its new machine, backed up with the EFI RIP software. “As EFI is the owner of VUTEk, we have a fully integrated package. The inks and the RIP have been specifically designed for the machine which means the whole printing process is seamless,” adds Paul.

EVM has already put the VUTEk machine to good use.  “We used the VUTEk to print specially designed digital wallpaper for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games headquarters in Glasgow. The wallpaper depicts the Hampden Park stands in the ‘Stadium Room’ at Glasgow 2014 and looks absolutely amazing!” says Paul, “It was a joy to produce since the UV cured process the VUTEk utilises requires no post lamination of the wall paper.”

EVM also produced graphic hoardings for the World Rugby Sevens event for Glasgow City Building, which was recently held in Glasgow. The speed of the VUTEk enabled the company to RIP and print 60 metres of hoarding in less than a day - half the time it would have previously taken.

Paul Fennon concludes, “Last year EVM had its best year ever and this year looks even better. Managing in difficult circumstances calls for tough decisions and a clear vision of how you want the future to look like - not how someone else predicts it’s going to be.”

“The implementation of the VUTEk technology has been very successful.  It meets all of our needs in terms of speed, quality and flexibility. Our older printing machines are fast becoming coat hangers!”

For more information on EVM, please visit www.evm.co.uk

[photos show Paul Fennon, managing director of EVM, with his VUTEk machine (above) and a picture of the Hampden Park wallpaper in the 'Stadium Room' at Glasgow 2014 which was created on the printer (below)]

Floor-to-ceiling, life-like graphics produced on HP Latex Printing Technologies are helping visitors dive into the world of dinosaurs at an exciting new exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), Canada.

The exhibition creates a view of the world during the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods through the use of scientific fossil evidence. The details are accurately brought to life with more than 100 print panels covering approximately 10,000 square feet with rich colours and a size that lives up to the incredible grandeur of the dinosaur age. The longest single mural within the exhibit is more than 100 feet long. Regardless of where a visitor stands within the exhibition, the effect is an overall feeling of being transported to a lost world.

To transform the distant past into realistic life-sized colour images for its new Ultimate Dinosaurs: Giants from Gondwana exhibition, the museum turned to Beyond Digital Imaging, a print service provider (PSP) from Markham, Ontario.

The ROM’s key criteria for a PSP extended beyond getting the best image quality and cost. The ROM also needed a product that would easily come off the walls, without damaging them, after the exhibition ends. The ROM also considered sustainability and environmental impact when making their choice.

“The success of Ultimate Dinosaurs: Giants from Gondwana depended on creating a captivating lost world for our visitors that would entertain and educate people of all ages,” says Dave Hollands, head, Design, Royal Ontario Museum. “Working with Beyond Digital Imaging and their use of HP Latex Printing Technology was an easy choice for us as we knew they could deliver astonishing graphics that were durable and faithfully showcase our enormous, scientifically accurate, mural art. We also are always on the lookout for products that are odourless and environmentally friendly. We’d definitely look to specify using latex printing in future RFPs.”

Technology plays an ever increasing role in the way the ROM’s galleries and specimens tell stories. Creating an authentic experience using large-scale visuals at 1200dpi is unique in this scale of an exhibit and was integral to the exhibition’s impact.

“It’s no small feat to change the world around us and that’s just what HP Latex Printing Technologies do—both literally and figuratively,” said Mark Lehmann, vice president, Large Format, HP Canada. “Beyond Digital Imaging’s work showcases the dynamic opportunities to create graphics that engage and delight viewers while also focusing on a technology with proven environmental benefits.”

Beyond Digital Imaging considered several key factors to determine the best approach for creating the exhibit graphics:

• Limited timeline to print and install the graphics
• Huge file sizes (up to 10 gigabytes for a wall 16 feet high by 130 feet long)
• Strong emphasis on using a wide colour spectrum
• Preference for an environmentally sustainable print medium

“Choosing the right materials is essential for any job we consider,” said Larry Chan, owner, Beyond Digital Imaging. “When considering the needs of this busy and high-impact exhibit, we knew HP’s Latex Printing Technology was the best choice for three main reasons: quality, durability and environmental sustainability. We’d like to see latex specified in request for proposals; it’s the future of interior commercial design.”

For more information on ROM, please visit www.rom.on.ca.

 

Pizza Express has worked with Quadrant Design to help create a distinctive new interior look for its Sunningdale restaurant with a combination of bespoke digitally printed wallpaper and large format canvas prints. Quadrant needed a high quality print solution, and approached print production company Andpol & Co and its collaborators in large format digital print, Oasis Graphic Co to completely overhaul the interior with an 'iconic' golf theme inspired by Sunningdale's reputation as the epicentre of English golf.

Working in close collaboration, Andpol and Oasis took Quadrant's excellent designs and produced a completely fresh new look for the restaurant. The pre-textured, digitally printed wallpaper featured an elegant Argyle pattern in lilac with black and ivory lozenges, redolent of traditional golfing apparel. A series of two-metre canvas prints in matching colours describing 'concentric circular and linear motifs, reminiscent of the flags, holes and circular striped greens familiar to all golfers' were then hung throughout the restaurant.

Mandy Jackson of Andpol was delighted with the results, and comments, "I chose to work with Oasis on this project as it always surpasses my expectations for high quality prints and service - no matter how big or small the job is. Oasis produced high quality textured wallpapers that will withstand the test of time and delivered top quality canvas prints over 2m wide. The finished piece looks exceptional and this restaurant will now be used as a flagship store for Pizza Express going forward with its upgrades."

[photos show the new 'iconic' interior at Pizza Express Sunningdale]

Graphix Supply World (GSW) will launch its latest product offering to the outdoor advertising industries at Sign Africa, scheduled to take place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg between 22nd and 24th August 2012.  On display in Hall 2, booths P1-P12, show attendees will be able to view the new solution for eye-catching and cost-effective outdoor advertising.

According to GSW, the new 'e-movable' outdoor media is 'a sign of the times'.  LED screen vehicles are becoming an economic and effective mode of advertising, combining modern advertising material and new LED technology. Convenient, cost-effective, flexible advertising with maximum visual impact is one of the reasons that these mobile LED advertising screens are replacing billboards and the like, across the globe.

GSW’s mobile LED advertising vehicles and trailers are easily moved, and can be put anywhere you want and transmit any information required at anytime. It spares the process of assembling and disassembling, and can play both dynamic and static pictures through a visually enticing and modern medium. It is equipped with a receiving card for TV signals, which enables it to receive both the cable networks and the wireless set-top box signal. The mobile LED advertising vehicles and trailers have a wide visual range, and excellent audio and visual performance, which makes the information transmission more effective, and a better return on investment when compared to conventional forms of outdoor advertising.

 

Dimension 8 is enjoying tripled print speeds on wide format graphics following the installation of its new Epson SureColor SC-S30600 in March 2012. Dimension 8 is one of the first UK businesses to have installed the SureColor SC-S30600 printer which was released by Epson in February 2012.

The acquisition of the SC-S30600 is a significant investment, but as Dimension 8's Simon Ridout explains, the benefits are difficult to ignore.  "The big point of differentiation of the SC-S30600 against usual roll fed printers is the speed. The typical print speed we were getting on our existing machines was 5m² per hour. The Epson can comfortably achieve speeds of up to 15m² per hour in production mode and up to 30m² per hour in high speed mode. So this has helped our print capacity and flexibility hugely."

The SC-S30600 uses Epson’s new inkset, UltraChrome GS2, which features a new yellow formulation that is lightfast for longer. It is an odourless, nickel-free range that Epson says requires no special ventilation. Setting up the SC-S30600 is fast and easy thanks to the unique jack mechanism that allows a single operator to change media rolls. Media tensioning controls are placed at both the front and rear reducing set-up time and maximising productivity.

The SC-S30060 is now Dimension 8's flagship wide-format printer and joins two existing wide-format printers working flat out in the print room.