Business - Applications

Robert Horne Group and Viscount Signs helped ensure that Southampton-based Powerboat Racing Team VOOMVOOM lasted the distance.  Each November, UK Powerboat Racers from all over the country descend on Coniston Water in Cumbria for the Annual Coniston Records Week, in a bid to set new National and World speed records.

Team VOOMVOOM’s Gareth Williams and Vee Ganjavian had to replace the boat’s vinyl lettering and graphics after every high speed race, and prior to the 2011 event, approached Viscount Signs for  a longer lasting solution. In consultation with materials expert Robert Horne, they recommended Avery HP 700 - a premium quality, flexible, opaque solid colour medium gloss vinyl, offering outstanding durability and outdoor performance even under pressure situations like powerboat racing.

The result: Throttleman Gareth Williams successfully set a new British record for the Inboard Immersed Propeller Monohull at 107.94mph, while Driver Vee Ganjavian set a new National and World Class B Marathon Record at an average speed of 108.07mph. Both finished with the graphics intact.

Rob Shannon, Viscount Signs, comments “I’ve worked with team VOOMVOOM since 2005. By using Avery 700 from Robert Horne the branding on the boat is now lasting the full race season, not just one race. The vinyl is extremely economical. There’s a superb range of colours and application is easy.”

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

[photo shows Hustler boat in action on Coniston Water, Cumbria]

Greenshires, one of the UK’s largest producers of sophisticated marketing materials and supplier of fulfilment solutions, has installed a Digital Information Pre-proofer system that uses two Epson Stylus Pro 9700 printers to provide duplex printing of imposed proofs at sheet sizes up to 44 inches wide.

Installed by specialist reseller Bodoni Systems, the Pre-proofer links the two Epson wide-format printers together both mechanically and electronically so that precise doubled-sided proofs can be printed for subsequent folding and trimming to produce complete paginated proofs and product mock-ups.

The Pre-proofer combines two Epson Stylus Pro printers, either 7700/7900 models for 24-inch width output or 9700/9900 for 44-inch, in a stable platform.  A paper guide links the two printers so that one side and then the reverse can be printed in a single operation. Special duplex paper is used which is available in a range of types and weights. Control and data management are provided by Digital Information’s DI-Plot proofing software, which accepts ROOM (RIP once output many) data in a variety of popular data formats and from a range of prepress workflow systems. It can apply ICC-based colour management independently to both printers for colour-critical applications as necessary.

Peter Tayler, studio manager at Greenshires’ Leicester site, agrees about the Epson quality.  “We already had an Epson Stylus Pro 9900 which we use for Matchprint proofs and so we had confidence in the product quality. When we researched the market there were really only two options but the Pre-proofer was the more up-to-date solution. We particular like the electronic registration concept where a camera reads a registration strip printed on the first side in order to accurately align the printing of the second side, instead of relying on mechanical methods."

He continues, “We have been routinely pre-proofing each job for content, position and imposition checking, for either account handler or direct client sign-off, for years. Previously, we were printing two sheets single-sided and sticking them together, which was very labour-intensive. The Pre-proofer solution is quieter, neater and is saving us a lot of time and therefore labour costs. We’re getting great quality results and there are useful options to trade off print quality against speed of output, which helps as these proofs are often needed urgently. It all helps us to put a much improved product in front of our clients.”

Ian Reid at Bodoni comments, “Although there are other duplex printer offerings on the market, the Digital Information Pre-proofer is the most reliable and professional solution we have found, based on the proven reliability of Epson’s Stylus Pro printers.”

Chris Davies, Account Manager, Pro Graphics, at Epson says, “The Pre-proofer installation at Greenshires is a great example of how clever third-party integration and control software, combined with the flexibility and quality of Epson Stylus Pro printers, can enhance productivity and quality in professional production environments to give companies the maximum return on their investment.”

Developed by Digital Information of Zurich, the Pre-proofer is available exclusively through Bodoni Systems in the UK.

The Canon iPF8300 and Canon Glacier media has been used to print an exhibition of Olympic gold medallists. The work is by two renowned UK based photographers, Drew Gardner and Lucinda Marland.  Fourteen images will be showcased at John Lewis, Westfield Stratford City, London which overlooks the Olympic site. The exhibition will run from March 9th until March 20th.

Velmex Distribution, Canon’s biggest UK, wide format printer distributor, used Canon’s 300gsm glacier paper to print the exhibition. Photographer Drew Gardner comments, "The Glacier media gives a very sharp result.  I print all my work on a Canon ImagePROGRAF iPF6300, but as the images needed to be larger, Velmex printed the exhibition on the 44 inch iPF8300.  The results look fantastic - definitely exhibition quality."

The two photographers, Gardner and Marland, have spent the past two years completing an anthology of every living British Olympic gold medalist in an individual sport, 60 years or older in 2012. The pair traveled over 15,000 miles across the UK and as far as the west coast of America to photograph all 14 of the athletes.

Gardner says, "The inspiration for the project came from childhood recollections of ‘Golden Greats’ and wondering where they were now. The project has been incredibly rewarding and so well supported by the athletes and the sponsors."

As well as the Canon distributor, Velmex Distribution, the project has been sponsored by the Italian photographic and lighting specialists Manfrotto, and is hosted by The John Lewis Partnership.  The exhibition opens on Friday 9th March 2012, with a press and photo call scheduled for Saturday, 10th March at 10.am

[photo shows David Hemery, winner of the 400m hurdles at the 1968 Summer Olympics, and is authorised for use by Drew Gardner/Lucinda Marland]

Robert Horne Group has helped ensure that Reading-based Glendining Signs is geared for future growth with the recommendation and installation of a new HP Scitex FB500 printer.

Glendining Signs has provided quality signage solutions for over 30 years and has enjoyed continued year on year growth throughout that time.  Continuous investment in its manufacturing facility has always been a key part of Glendining Sign’s strategy for growth. The firm is a major supplier of health and safety signage within the construction industry and has, over the years successfully expanded into other areas, such as the provision of freestanding sign frames and large format print services.

The latest round of investment involved a decision to move to ‘direct to substrate’ UV printing.  Prior to the new installation, signage production was  a time consuming and labour intensive process.  In order to improve on speed and quality of service, the service capacity needed to be increased.

Having worked with Robert Horne Group since 2003, the firm asked them for advice on UV printers. 

As part of its consultative approach, Robert Horne invited the team to its Manchester-based based Digital Suite. Glendining Signs was able to trial the technology using its own files and substrates to experience first-hand the value the HP Scitex FB500 would bring to its operations.  This approach - combined with Robert Horne’s expert knowledge - cemented Glendining’s decision to invest in the HP Scitex FB500.

The HP Scitex FB500 enables one employee to operate the printer to create finished signs, with fewer processes than solvent printers. Running costs are significantly reduced with cheaper inks, no vinyl costs, less labour and a better quality finish.  The new HP printer is helping Glendining Signs to manage its existing work remit as well as allowing the company to expand into new areas of sign making.

Chris Lake, Operations Director at Glendining Signs, comments, “Robert Horne has helped us find the perfect solution.  We will now be able to keep a competitive edge with keen pricing, supreme quality and turnaround, as well as exploring new avenues of business.”

For more information on Glendining Signs, please visit www.glendining.co.uk

For more information on Robert Horne Group, please visit www.roberthorne.co.uk

Oasis Graphic Co has takien its biggest ever team to Barcelona to provide graphics for a record number of stands at the 2012 Mobile World Congress. The congress, which is at the Fira de Barcelona Montjuïc, Barcelona between 27 February and 1 March, is expected to attract more than 60,000 attendees this year.

Oasis and its 18-strong crew is providing bespoke graphics for a large number of stands for a mixture of existing and new companies, including Ubiquisys, HTC, Azimuth, Ericsson and Actix. This year as with previous years, Oasis is adding in an extra level of support to its clients before and at the show – the company is taking a van to the show with a vinyl plotter, spare media, scaffold towers, health and safety gear and any last minute graphics, and can also rely on assistance from its studio in the UK, where graphics can be shipped out next day, or even the same day if necessary. Managing director Simon Osborne and project manager Daniel Kearney will be on-site throughout the congress to support their clients, and will have information on all the company’s products and services.

Oasis Graphic managing director Simon Osborne says: “It's exciting because it's our biggest show of the year. The logistics are complicated, including printing and shipping the graphics, organising travel and accommodation for 18 members of the crew, and planning installations in all stands, all with their own bespoke graphics and separate deadlines. The show is high profile, and it’s complex but exhilarating!”

Oasis has worked at the Mobile World Congress for the past seven years. The show will run from 27 February to 1 March, and installation started on 22 February.

[photo caption: Oasis reaching high for graphics installation at MWC, Barcelona]

Comedian Ava Vidal’s campaign for dance domination at the Let’s Dance for Sport Relief event got a boost this week with some last minute
help from a KIP C7800 digital poster printer.

After an offer from major local supermarkets to provide poster space to support the London comedian in the BBC charity fundraiser, KIP UK arranged for the rapid turnaround of 100 A2 full colour posters in just a few minutes.

“Ava had a PDF file emailed to me and we had the posters printed in around 8 minutes and straight out of the door!” comments Grainger Hill from KIP.
“It’s also a perfect illustration of how instant on-demand digital print works for people.”

The BBC charity fundraiser features a variety of ‘twinkle-toed’ celebrities mimicking famous dance routines in order to raise money for Sport Relief, one
of the UK’s biggest fundraising events.  This year's grand finale event takes place on 17th March and previous winners have included Robert Webb, Rufus Hound and Charlie Baker.

KIP, a global specialist supplier of wide-format digital reprographic systems, just launched the C7800 product, a combined mono & colour high volume production print system offering 600 x 2400 dpi resolution at a constant colour print speed of 325 m2 per hour (288 x A0 posters).

More details about BBC Dance for Sport Relief can be found at http://www.sportrelief.com/whats-on/tv-listings/lets-dance

More details about Ava Vidal can be found at www.avavidal.co.uk

More details about the KIP C7800 can be found at www.c7800.co.uk