Business - Applications

Graphics of the Americas 2011 (GOA) exhibitors are sharing news about the latest solutions on the show floor at this year's Super-Event with co-located FESPA Americas, ISS Orlando and cr?8 conference. The 36th annual show opens tomorrow in Orlando, FL at the Orange County Convention Center and runs February 24-26, 2011.

George Ryan, GOA President, says, "Our prominent exhibitor line-up continues to impress with the myriad announcements breaking this week and being shown at GOA. Attendees are sure to be impressed with the quality of products being showcased at our exciting, multi-faceted event."

Latest exhibitor news

The latest news from GOA 2011 include, but is not limited to:
          
Enfocus (booth 638) will show the newest versions of its PitStop family of quality control products, and the state-of-the-art Switch automation platform. PitStop Connect --  Enfocus' 2010 breakthrough tool - makes PDF preflight & delivery an easy, hands-off process between designers and production or publishing partners. Customer feedback was instrumental to the recently announced, first update to PitStop Connect, which will be demonstrated at Enfocus booth 638.

EnfocusPitStop Pro - also available for demonstration - has long been recognized for its many PDF editing features and user-friendly design, enabling easy management and customization of presets and tools. Update 1 offers compatibility with the latest Adobe Acrobat X Standard and Pro. It also introduces compatibility with the latest PDF/X-4:2010 and PDF/A ISO standards.
 
Also being shown is the latest update of the company's Switch automation software suite. Among a host of new features, Switch 09 Update 2 adds four completely new configurators - for solutions from Dynagram, Elpical, ColorLogic and Axaio - and updates existing configurators.
 
Morgana Systems (booth 1001) adds a new kind of folder and a new range of creasers at GOA. The Morgana AutoFold Pro represents a new idea in folding, working with any creaser - not just models from the Morgana range - to create a creasing and folding station for digital printers who cannot justify the cost of a fully integrated creaser/folder.
 
The AutoFold Pro is a free-standing unit with a vacuum feed conveyor that can be adjusted to the height of any creaser. It is simply wheeled up to the creaser and, with both machines turned on; the pre-creased sheets are delivered straight into the conveyor for folding. In essence the AutoFold provides a highly efficient creasing and folding station which offers the benefit of the company's 'flying knife' technology to protect digital substrates from the damage that can occur with conventional buckle or knife crease folders.
 
In addition to the AutoFold, Morgana will also show its newly invented range of AutoCreasers, featuring the Morgana blade and matrix creasing system and a new 'PosiFeed' feeding system. This enables the feeder to be piled higher while maintaining consistency and eliminating misfeeds.
 
Intec Printing Solutions (booth 468) launches the DMP420 multimedia printer at GOA. Using a network of authorized partners, Intec printing systems are sold into over 60 countries meeting the tough demands of today's commercial print sector. Now launching into the Americas, Intec believes that the quality, productivity and low cost of ownership of its products will generate a great deal of interest.
 
Producing over 2,000 full color prints per hour, Intec printing systems offer a fast and flexible solution to providing high quality ultra heavy stock printing and combined with variable data and other applications they are designed to meet the toughest customer demands.
 
Complementing the current range is the new DMP420 multi media printer with a revolutionary proprietary feed and delivery system allowing continuous feeding of a wide range of media up to 328 x 1.2 metres and 512gsm. This cost effective and highly productive solution allows customers to print directly onto films, envelopes, synthetic media, polyester, magnetic paper and impressively, because of the media length you can produce six or eight page brochures.
 
Spiral Binding James Burn (booth 539) introduces the new Koilmatic Table-Top Electric Automatic Coil Inserter & Crimper at GOA. It is an affordable fully electric table-top automatic coil inserter designed with the digital print market in mind. Features include easy set up with no tools or shop air to run. The Koilmatic will bind up to 450 books per hour in sizes from 8mm to 20mm on 8-1/2" or 11" binding edge. No tools are required for setup & changeover and a user friendly LCD screen guides the operator through setup and operation. The Koilmatic inserter uses the same patented technology as James Burn CB30QS Inserter.
 
Coastal (booth 1741) shows at GOA 2011 its new Digi-Trans No Weed Laser Transfer Paper. This product was created specifically to leave ZERO BACKGROUND in the space around designs. This revolutionary transfer is a single step, self-weeding paper that will only transfer the toner to the garment alone. This makes the image appear as if it were screen-printed directly onto the textile. Digi-Trans is an ideal paper for white and light-colored fabrics.
 
Digi-Trans No Weed transfer paper eliminates the need to trim around an image before transferring and is great for full color logos or artwork. Digi-Trans runs in both oil and oil-free laser copiers and printers. Digi-Trans works well on cotton, cotton/poly blends, polyester and more.
 
Orbus Exhibit & Display Group (booth 531) recently introduced The Vector Frame back wall series product line. The Vector Frame series provides exhibitors with clean, easy-to-assemble back wall displays. Vector Frame back walls feature extrusion frames and tension fabric graphics, which can be single or double-sided. Using a system of locking extrusions, the Vector Frame assembles quickly and easily with a few turns of the provided alan key. The fabric graphics feature clear, silicone beading sewn throughout the edges, which simply push into the groves of the assembled extrusion frame.  Available in a variety of sizes, both square and rectangle shape, the Vector Frame series works well in tabletop setting, as a banner or as a complete back wall system.  All Vector Frame products pack into a hard molded case for easy transportation and storage; lighting is optional. 
 
Tamerica Products, Inc. - TPI (booth 1101) is showing its newest OfficePro Binding Series and the Economy Binding Series at GOA 2011. The OfficePro Series features three different machines for comb, wire, and coil binding.  All three have push-button punching and fully disengageable pins for flexible punching options, plus a self-centering paper guide for an easy punching setup.  The Economy Binding Series in turn offers low-cost yet high-value options for budget-conscious customers.  These all-manual machines also come in plastic comb, 3:1 pitch twin-loop wire, and 4:1 pitch coil formats.

Following discussions with a local charity, Your Sign Company took on the challenge of preparing a variety of vehicles for the 8000kms rally to the Sahara desert.
 
With a number of business men and women involved not only was the brief to "race up" the vehicles, but also to promote the rally and the many businesses involved. With the rally not due to commence until September, the cars can currently be seen touring around the country, as well as attending various shows and shopping centres.
 
The range of cars was diverse and included a £150,000 Bentley GTC, a Range Rover Sport, a Monster truck and a number of 4x4 vehicles. All the vehicles were fully or part wrapped in Your Sign Company's purpose-designed Cambridgeshire premises.
 
"It was great have such a diverse range of vehicles coming through the doors to really test our ability" comments Nick Dowell, Director.  "The rally raises funds for a great cause and as well as all of the vehicle livery, we also supplied a mountain of exhibition displays for the charity dinner event held in early February"
 
Details of the rally can be found at www.sahararally.net

In business, delivering a winning performance and stealing the show typically requires an extra edge over competitors, something that Bruno Schmitz, co-owner of Belgium-based Schmitz Digital Printing sprl, knows all about.

Created in 1988 as a producer of traditional signs, Schmitz has developed into one of the country's foremost suppliers of digitally produced indoor and outdoor large-format graphics across a host of applications for the domestic market, as well as in France and Luxembourg.

This achievement can be attributed to the company's continual investment in new equipment and steady expansion at its original facilities in Ciney. Other factors include a genuine and enthusiastic desire to limit the impact of its operations on the environment; a commitment promoted by Schmitz under its 'Green Attitude' slogan.

Schmitz's eco-responsible attitude was formally recognised last year when the company became Europe's first large format digital print business to receive the coveted Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)(1) certification, a management tool for companies and organisations to evaluate, report and improve their environmental performance.

For Bruno Schmitz, achieving the EMAS accreditation was based in no small measure on the company's installation last summer of a HP Scitex LX800 Printer. Running water-based HP Latex Inks, the LX800 offers an increased print width of 3.2m and was acquired by Schmitz as the business sought to upgrade its existing but smaller, HP Scitex LX600 Printer(2).

"Being awarded the EMAS certification required our business to undertake a range of different environmentally responsible methods and practices over a long period of time, but it goes without saying that the HP Scitex LX800 proved pivotal to seeing us make the grade," said Schmitz.

"The LX800 is key to our ability - and indeed our increasing need - to offer customers improved application versatility by printing to a broader spectrum of media," he added. "The fact that we can undertake a virtually limitless array of projects, while still achieving exceptionally good print quality at high production speeds is testament to the fact that the LX800 can uphold its green credentials without compromising in other key areas."

As was the case with the company's HP LX600 printer, the LX800 at Schmitz enables the production team to output printed graphics for use in working environments where odour is a concern, including hospitals or restaurants(3).

The LX800 also eliminates the need for special ventilation(4) at the company's own 2000m2 print facility. Moreover, according to Schmitz, its ability to produce wider prints, delivers added value in terms of responding to the business' needs, as well as to those of its customers.

"Investing in HP Latex Inks technology in 2009 was absolutely the right move for our company and we were keen to be among the first to employ this technology when it was introduced. Beyond the performance attributes, it is aligned to our Green Attitude ethos and significantly strengthened our case for achieving the EMAS certification," added Schmitz. "When the larger LX800 was launched, we were immediately interested, as the increase in width from 2.6m to 3.2m allows us to ramp up production throughput while affording us greater flexibility."

Having installed the LX800 for only a couple of weeks, Schmitz soon had the opportunity to put the printer through its paces on a project commissioned by the organisers of Belgium's renowned Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur (FIFF).

The company subsequently produced a stunning visual communications package for the 25th edition of the FIFF - every aspect was printed using HP Latex Printing Technologies. This included a 50 x 1.6m banner containing 100 large format prints of iconic French-speaking film industry figures, which adorned the exterior of one of the central marquees during the festival.

"As well as the exterior photographs, we also produced a number of gloss, panel-backed re-prints that we affixed to the interior of the same marquee," explained Schmitz. "The HP water-based latex inks really made a difference here, thanks to their odour-free(3) attributes. Upholding the integrity of the original images to ensure as faithful a reproduction as possible, was paramount. Also, despite using two different substrates, it was also vital that we maintained colour consistency and print quality across the whole series of prints."

Having produced the FIFF project on time and to the complete satisfaction of the client, Schmitz acknowledges that the speed of the LX800 played an important role in making sure production ran smoothly. "As is frequently the case with certain jobs we manage, 80 percent of artwork is provided by the client early on, but it's the other 20 percent that can typically arrive at the 11th hour and sometimes leave precious little time to deliver everything on time," he continued. "The same scenario was true of this particular project, but the impressive speed of the LX800 meant that we were not hamstrung from a time perspective and were easily able to complete the job to deadline with even a little time to spare."

As well as the series of interior and exterior large format photographs, the FIFF project saw Schmitz print around 100 large format flags and banners to promote the event. Measuring 80 x 250cm and 100 x 300cm these were hung throughout Namur's streets to ensure ample branding presence was provided in advance of and during the film festival. To further grab the attention of both visitors and the city's inhabitants Schmitz was also commissioned to decorate a fleet of more than a dozen official FIFF vehicles with full-colour event graphics. This entailed producing around 40m2 of self-adhesive vinyl on the HP Scitex LX800 Printer, the result of which, Schmitz confirms, captivated the some 30,000-strong crowd of spectators and added an additional head-turning element throughout the eight-day long celebration of Francophonic cinema.

As the curtain fell on the festival, Schmitz acknowledges the leading role played by his most recent digital print acquisition. "We were delighted with the stunning visual quality of the entire printed visual communications package, as was the client, who was keen to source a supplier who could handle a range of different graphic applications for the festival's 25th edition," he said.  "Although this obviously put us in the frame from the outset, the fact that we would be using solutions that are designed for the environment, definitely clinched the deal on this one."

Challenge

• Print wider images while maintaining high speed production with and high output quality
• Undertake print for major film festival, faithfully reproducing iconic photographs by upholding integrity of the original artwork

Solution

• HP Scitex LX800 Printer
• HP Latex Inks

Results

• Stunning package of attention-grabbing graphics, delivered on time and to client satisfaction
• Achieved client objective of utilising solutions designed for the environment, achieved

 

(1) EMAS is a management tool for companies and organisations to evaluate, report and improve their environmental performance. Companies can cut costs by reducing consumption of resources, such as energy and water and by minimising the use and waste of materials. EMAS came into force in 1995. Today, more than 5,200 organisations, covering over 7,500 sites, are registered with EMAS. The scheme has recently been revised to reduce costs and bureaucracy, for example by the use of tools like EMASeasy, and to enable organisations located outside the EU to participate.

(2) Formerly known as the HP Designjet L65500 Printer.

(3) Printers using HP Latex Inks use internal heaters to dry and cure the latex polymer film. Some Substrates may have an inherent odour.

(4)  Special ventilation is not required to meet US OSHA requirements on occupational exposure to VOCs from HP Latex Inks. Special ventilation equipment installation is at the discretion of the customer-no specific HP recommendation is intended. Customers should consult state and local requirements and regulations.
 

A 1,000-strong fleet of vans used by workers carrying out essential repairs and maintenance to homes across the UK has been given a brand-new look - with a little help from a major West Midlands signs company.

Lovell Respond - the response and planned maintenance business of national affordable housing specialist Lovell - commissioned Birmingham-based Hollywood Monster to re-brand 1,000 vans at key depots in Wales, Scotland, and throughout England. 

The vans, property of Connaught Partnerships when it went into administration in September, were transferred to Lovell as a part of the company’s acquisition of an interest in the majority of Connaught Partnerships’ contracts and related assets.

The Connaught branding has now been removed and replaced with Lovell and Lovell Respond branding – a major exercise for Hollywood Monster’s team. The company committed 10 fitters to work on the contract for two months, completing around 100 vehicles per week.

Hollywood Monster managing director Tim Andrews said:  “This was the biggest contract of its type for us and I am pleased that we have been able to efficiently deliver the support Lovell Respond needed to ensure that essential maintenance work has been able to continue without interruption.

“It has been a massive challenge to rebrand 1,000 vehicles in a relatively short space of time at locations as far afield as Scotland, Wales, Plymouth and Norwich. As each of the new Lovell contracts began, we had to react immediately. The project has involved mass planning for the company and all departments have been pulling together to ensure the job is perfect.  Our client has been impressed with our communication and fast turnaround and we are determined to ensure this high level of service continues.”

The venture also includes a re-brand of numerous office buildings in the form of exterior branding signage and interior reception signage.

Lovell managing director Stewart Davenport said: “Keeping the workforce on the road and able to deliver vital maintenance services for our customers has been our priority. The support we received from Hollywood Monster has been superb and we are delighted with the new-look fleet.” Lovell has its national head office in Tamworth, Staffordshire, while the company’s Midlands regional office is in Birmingham.

As the largest graphics solutions business in the West Midlands region, Hollywood Monster’s skilled craftsmen provide clients all over the UK with a range of graphics and digitally printed products – from an A4 sign board to the largest building wrap or structure. We are experts in consultancy, project management and planning, offering a bespoke service from supply only to a fully experienced, safe and insured installation service.

Hollywood Monster services a variety of industries across the UK including:  industrial, commercial and residential construction & development; retail; professional services; exhibition; event and stadium; museum & theatrical. Hollywood Monster was created in August 2009 with the coming together of sister companies Hollywood Signs and Monster Digital. Employing in excess of 55 people, the 30,000 sq ft premises is situated in the centre of the UK, providing an excellent distribution centre to the rest of the UK, complemented by sales offices in Birmingham and London.

Photo caption: Tim Andrews, managing director of Hollywood Monster, and Stewart Davenport (in mirror), managing director of Lovell, display the newly rebranded maintenance vans.

Avery Dennison, in conjunction with Mutoh America, will offer ten car wrap training sessions around North America in 2011 as part of its Car Wrap Training Program. Master installer Justin Pate will teach the classes using Avery Dennison's vehicle wrap materials, MPI 1005 Supercast Easy Apply RS, with Avery DOL overlaminates.

"We had an exceptional response to our joint vehicle wrap training program with Mutoh in 2010," said Paul Roba. "We're building on that success and tailoring this year's program to serve the needs of the growing wrap business."

Justin Pate, a globally recognised graphic installer, will teach all of the wrap classes utilising Avery MPI 1005 Easy Apply RS, a popular choice with installers because it is easy to use and quick to install with excellent printability.

"Over my 15-year career, I have wrapped more than 2,500 vehicles," said Pate. "I developed my Universal Graphics Installation System (UGIS) as a result of that experience. UGIS is a fluid, easy-to-learn installation system that reduces mistakes and ensures quality, resulting in significantly lower install times."

The Avery / Mutoh Car Wrap Training Program is designed to provide wrap installers with an in-depth understanding of graphic installation techniques to gain a competitive advantage in the vehicle wrap industry.

As a sponsor of the 2011 Car Wrap Training Program, Mutoh will provide printed graphics with their Mutoh ValueJet 1614-64. This printer is the "Wrapper's Choice" for speed, size and quality. It includes the i2: Intelligent Interweaving Print Technique, a dot control system that virtually eliminates banding and increases quality of output.

The workshop consists of two days of training and an optional third day for a wrap certification test. Training sessions will focus on all of the critical steps needed to improve the quality and speed of car wrap installations. Class sizes will be maintained at a maximum of 15 students to allow for more one on one teaching. The subjects that will be covered include:

• Tools
• Properties of the film
• Removals
• Cleaning
• UGIS: Universal Graphic Installation System
• Layout/Key Panel
• Registration
• Problem Solving
• Hardware Removals
• Post Install Tips

Participants of the class will receive an NT Cutter A-551P knife, Avery Toolkit including print media and laminate, and a Martor safety box.

Car Wrap Training Sessions will be held:

• March 3-5, Dallas, TX
• Sign Warehouse, 2614 Texoma Drive, Denison, Texas 75020
• March 7-9, Orlando, FL (Location to be announced)
• May 2-4, Los Angeles, CA
• May 5-7, Phoenix, AZ
• July 28-30, New York, NY
• August 1-3, Atlanta, GA
• September 8-10, Toronto, ON, Canada
• September 12-14, Dallas, TX
• October 27-29, Chicago, IL
• October 31-November 2, Seattle, WA

 

Arlon and Mutoh America team up for the third year in a row to sponsor the Graphics of the Americas Vehicle Wrap Centre that will be featured at the GOA tradeshow in Orlando, FL on February 24 - 26, 2011. Arlon will be featuring DPF 6000XRP, a 2-mil cast film with X-scape technology which will be used for vehicle wrap demonstrations throughout the show. These free instructional demos will be running each day of the show to educate end-users on the proper techniques and tools needed to complete a profitable vehicle wrap. The demonstration times for February 24th and 25th will be 11AM, 1PM and 4PM and February 26th the sessions will be at 11AM and 1PM.

All graphics will be printed on Mutoh Americas ValueJet 1614-64" printer and it will also be exhibited in the wrap centre booth along with Mutoh's ValueJet 1304-54" printer and Kona 65" plotter.

"Arlon is very excited to be able to take part in the Graphics of the Americas Vehicle Wrap Center and partner up with Mutoh once again," said Phil LaFata, VP of Marketing and International Sales, Arlon. "This year's wrap demonstrations will be highly informative for printers and installers targeting the wrap segment."