Business - Applications

 

Well-known not only in its local area around Preston and the north-west of the country, JKN Digital has also become established as a supplier of environmentally-friendly high quality displays and signs throughout the country, often tackling jobs which other companies are not so keen to take on. Increasingly, the business has honed the technologies it uses, with innovative and complex cardboard engineering skills being complemented by UV-curable ink-jet printing and, today, it has also become renowned for its expertise for three-dimensional applications and its successful drive to become a greener solutions’ provider.

JKN Digital was formed in 1988, specialising in the production of all types of signs and displays, and moving forward with the different technologies as they became available. The company’s use during the past few years of wide-format digital ink-jet printers has also evolved from the demand to enhance the types of work which it wanted to output and it was inevitable that a move into UV-curable flat-bed output would follow its previous investments.

As an early adopter of this technology, UV-curable output is now proving to play the major role in JKN’s portfolio of capabilities. But the company has progressed steadily on its upgrade path to make sure that the solution it invests in is the right one for its customers and the varying types of applications which are produced. One of the potential benefits recognised and sought by JKN was the ability to print with white ink, thus enabling it to work with non-white and clear materials as well as more standard substrates used within the display industry. Addressing the need to print direct to many of the substrates applicable to the packaging and point-of-sale markets meant that not only was the white important but, also, as vital was the ability to handle corrugateds and boards as well as more conventional display products.

When a new machine was being considered to increase production capacity, JKN was all too aware that reliability and quality were essential as well as increased environmental awareness. Today there are several wide-format printers available which tick the boxes in many ways, but the company also wanted to make sure it was dealing with a distributor which understood the market thoroughly and offered more than merely a sales service.

As a result, JKN turned to specialist UK distributor CMYUK Digital who not only was able to supply the printer required but was also offering a full technical service to make sure that the machine was able to do exactly what was required of it. Having followed market developments closely before making its next investment, the company opted for an EFI VUTEk QS2000 which, with its six colours and white, has been able to satisfy the versatility, speed and quality demands needed.

Now well-established within the display sector, the EFI VUTEk QS2000 is a 2 m wide, six-colour plus white ink, flat-bed and roll-fed printer which uses UV-curable inks to provide a tough, instant dry finish across virtually all materials. Durability is an essential pre-requisite for JKN Digital for whom many of its applications are for installation in harsh environments. For example, the sea-front in Blackpool is also subjected to salt water as well as fumes and daily grime and a quality, long-life finish is essential when producing signs and displays for locations such as this.

Additionally, for the increasing number of interior jobs now being output on the QS2000, high standards including the clarity of small text were also essential. As a result, JKN needed a machine which could cater for all types of indoor and outdoor applications across a wide range of different materials, both rigid and flexible. Another advantage with this printer’s inks is with its environmental benefits; prints produced on this system do not emit VOCs (volatile organic compounds) or other hazardous emissions, and an increasing number of end customers are now demanding more eco-aware displays and signs.

Typical jobs include back-lit and front-lit graphics, exhibition displays and pop-ups, posters and billboards, vehicle liveries, banners and signs plus specialist window and floor graphics. But of greater importance, and an area which separates JKN out from the competition, lies with the design and production of three-dimensional point-of-sale products. The company has a strong team of cardboard engineering experts who can create and produce a wide range of bespoke ideas for a growing number of end uses. So successful is this side of the business that JKN now produces cleverly folded and die-cut products for a range of end users, including other display producers, using its duo of wide-format Zünd flat-bed cutters and its UV-curable printing processes.

JKN has acknowledged that, today, there has been a noticeable shift away from traditional sign manufacturing processes, such as computer cut vinyl graphics, and this is reflected in the increase in applications where full-colour output is now provided. Also of considerable importance is the additional pressure on all industries to adopt more eco-friendly policies and, with its Greensolutions division, the company now concentrates on manufacturing products which respect the environment.

Managing director of JKN Digital, Peter Nicholls, comments: “The addition of the EFI VUTEk QS2000 has enabled us to enhance our green ethos and broaden the types of applications we can produce whilst making sure that we can maintain our reputation for fast turn-round of high quality, durable jobs. Since the company was formed more than 20 years ago we have seen many changes in the display industry and have gained experience of what we can expect from our digital printing machines.

“We needed to make sure that our latest investment in a flat-bed UV-curable printer was going to perform to the high standards that we expect,” Nicholls continues. “We need to give our customers a cost-effective service, there is no margin for error, and it was vital that the machine we chose would do the job we required from it first time, and every time. We also needed to make sure our printed output matched our cardboard engineering capabilities as well as our environmental principles.”

The EFI VUTEk QS2000 was delivered and installed at JKN Digital twelve months ago. Since day one it has been up and running, proving to be a tough and reliable work-horse which handles the company’s broad print requirements and matches its needs in terms of quality and speed.

Lance Blizzard (MWV Group Technical Process Manager) and Simon Landau (CWE/GMG Technical Director) with the ISO 12647-2 standards print and proof.

 

MWV’s AGI Media, a leading supplier of packaging solutions for the media entertainment industry, announced today that its Slough operation has achieved the FOGRA PSO ISO 12647 print certification, making them the first UK-based company to achieve this standard.

FOGRA UK partner City & West End Solutions oversaw the testing, with Simon Landau of CWE having previously assisted AGI with the provision of the necessary technical consultancy and supply of GMG Colour Management Software.

The FOGRA PSO ISO 12647-2 accreditation is primarily focused on the correct, optimised colour for the printing process.  In order to receive this accreditation, many process modules had to be conducted and carried out correctly such as evaluation and selection of materials, correct colour management , the production of contract proofs, measuring control and visual appraisal under standard viewing conditions.  General Manager, Andy Watts, stated “We pride ourselves on producing premium packaging and have embraced standardisation and critical process control to ensure quality and predictable, consistent and repeatable colour results to help build and protect our  customers’ brands.”

The MWV Group has invested heavily with CWE Solutions in GMG’s Print Control & Rapid Check software for press standardisation and GMG Colour Proof for the production of all their colour accurate contract proof’s.

This new certification complements the ISO 12647-7 (proofing process) for closed  loop colour which the company has already achieved.

AGI Slough’s other existing accreditations include:  ISO 14001 environmental  management system; ISO 9001 NQA quality management standard;  FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft);  and the International Safety Award from the British Safety Council in 2008 for safety procedures and working practices.

Additionally, AGI Slough has chain of custody certification from both the FSC and PEFC, which provides third-party validation of MWV’s sustainable fibre sourcing practices, and helps assure customers and consumers of the company's responsible environmental stewardship.

 

UK printers scooped the top awards in Interior and Textile categories at this year’s FESPA Digital Print Awards, as well as taking second place in the Vehicle Category and receiving a further commendation in the Textile Category.

The competition was open to printers from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa and attracted more than 200 entries, which were evaluated by an independent jury. The winners were announced on the eve of the FESPA Digital 2009 exhibition (12 -14th May 2009) in Amsterdam. One winner and one runner-up were selected for each of the six categories, and an additional 11 entries were commended by the jury.

Derbyshire-based Bonar Floors (now trading as Forbo Flooring Systems*), was singled out in the Textile Category for its innovative floor solutions, created for Milan-based architectural practice Sottsass Associati. The Sottsass Collection project involved producing a range of original designs using Bonar Floors’ flocked flooring - a unique, velvety, minimalist textile floor cladding. The company overcame a number of obstacles, which included adapting the Reggiani Giano machine to meet the requirements needed to create the innovative flooring solution. The two-millimeter-long flock had to be dyed and fixed to its roots, so the design team and colourist research technicians worked with the Reggiani machine experts for 18 months to achieve the desired results. Finally, the machine needed a specially acclimatised chamber, which meant that the entire facility was moved from one part of the factory to another to achieve the optimum operating environment.

Southeast England’s VCG Colourlink triumphed in the Interior Category, beating the competition with its Birmingham Post: Fort Dunlop project for interior architectural practice MMoser Associates and their client BPM Media. VCG Colourlink worked closely with the MMoser Associates’ creative team to develop high impact graphics across a wide range of substrates to radically redesign the client’s open-plan office creating artwork for the walls using a combination of historical, contemporary and abstract images. The key challenge was delivering colour consistency with diverse printed materials, ensuring these complemented the surrounding furniture and fittings, clearly defining the workspace into specific zones. As the client's business was newspaper publishing, a ‘newsprint dot’ theme was used for the images, which were printed onto VCG Colourlink’s trademarked Digital Wallpaper®, using the EFI VUTEk QS2000.

AST Signs Ltd from Manchester and Cumbria was runner-up in the Vehicle Category. Client Eddie Stobart wanted to achieve a new look for its vehicles with maximum visual impact. Printed using several Roland large format printers, the wraps needed to be cost-effective, had to last at least three years and, for the first time, the bumpers also had to be wrapped. The sheer size of the fleet - 1,500 44-tonne articulated units and 2,600 trailers - presented major challenges. Due to time constraints, the company was not able to remove the normal vehicle accessories prior to wrapping, which meant extra care needed to be taken to ensure high quality fitting. The AST Signs Ltd design team had to be very creative to ensure that the fleet's image looked consistent throughout.

The UK’s Glasgow School of Art received a commendation for its Textile Category entry Mackintosh Re-interpreted for client Hunterian Art Gallery/The Monument Trust/GSA. Using the Stork Sapphire/Mimaki TX2, the Glasgow School of Art set out to replicate Mackintosh’s original designs using contemporary processes and substrates to reproduce the aesthetic quality of the originals. Selected archive pieces were carefully studied, colour managed and handled to ensure that initial printouts matched originals. Mackintosh’s designs then had to be re-interpreted by completing unfinished tiles, extracting motifs and colour elements to make up the final 18 x 3 metre repeat lengths of the vertical textile hangings.

Commenting on the UK printers’ success, Nigel Steffens, FESPA CEO, said: “We are extremely pleased with the response that we’ve had from UK printers at this year’s FESPA Digital Print Awards. Overall, the UK had the second highest number of entries and took home the highest number of wins. Last year’s Awards saw UK printers receive five commendations overall, so it’s great to see them raise their game in terms of the quality of their work and creative solutions that they provide their customers. We look forward to seeing this trend continue at the next FESPA Digital Print Awards.”
 

 

Spenaprint and Keyboard Graphics have made UK first with installations of HP Scitex FB7500/TJ8350 and FB950 printers respectively.

Newcastle-upon-Tyne based Spenaprint, until this year known as NSL, has ordered the UK’s first FB7500 and HP Scitex TJ8350 printer as part of its transition from being a screen and litho printer into becoming a more digitally focussed PSP.

“The decision to purchase our new printers was based on our confidence in HP’s technology and the business advantages of transferring work from analogue to digital production,” said Paul Dowell, director, Spenaprint, which came under new management earlier this year.

“Versatility and the ability to meet customers’ requirements are vital for success in this industry. We can produce anything from posters, billboards, POS and POP items to vehicle livery and outdoor signage, using almost any type of media. We can now offer each customer a bespoke service, based on their requirements.”

Designed for screen printers, the six-colour HP Scitex FB7500 can produce up to 105 (1.2 x 2.4m) sheets per hour, while the TJ8350 is one of the fastest wide-format solvent printers available with a top speed of 480m2/hr.

The UK’s first HP Scitex FB950 is meanwhile going to Keyboard Graphics, based in Stansted, Kent, where it will be used to help the company grow into new markets.

“When investigating the POP market it became clear that customers were looking for high-quality print that would enable their items to stand out in crowded marketplaces,” said Grant Mahoney, managing director, Keyboard Graphics. “We decided that we wanted to invest in state-of-the-art technology that would enable us to successfully add value to customers’ applications without compromising upon quality. In our opinion, not many flatbed machines can replicate the print quality of roll-to-roll printing, but during testing we found that the HP Scitex FB950 printer could do just this, and so, we bought one.”

The printer, bought from City & West End Solutions, uses six HP Scitex FB250 UV-curable inks and twelve printheads for output up to 1200 x 600 optimised dpi. The quoted speed is up to 80m2/hr Billboard mode. Mahoney added: “In the past we were restricted by the limited range of media we could print on. Often we had to print on to vinyl that would then be laminated and adhered to board, or outsource work. Our new printer will eliminate this lengthy stage of production, as it can print directly on to a wide variety of rigid media.”

 

HP today announced that Cover-Up Limited, based in Dublin, Ireland, has used its HP Scitex XL1500 Printer to produce a building wrap measuring 4408m2 on behalf of its client JK Signage.

The building wrap has been designed to cover the entire exterior of the Beacon Court development in Dublin whilst construction work is being undertaken. It is expected that the application will be on display for up to two years. The wrap depicts the completed exterior of the building, showing people in meetings, looking out of the windows and standing on balconies.

Cover-Up printed the building wrap on 3.2m wide Vuflex Eash Mesh using HP Scitex Ink for durability. The HP Scitex XL1500 super-wide printer can print at speeds up to 124m2 per hour, which enabled Cover-Up to print the entire building wrap in just seven days. The front and back sections of the building wrap were produced as seven sections which were fixed together using high-frequency welding.

"Initially we were commissioned to produce a wrap to cover the front of the building; however, JK Signage was so pleased with the final result that the project was expanded to cover the entire development," said Anthony Byrne, manager Cover-Up Limited. "We were given a very tight schedule in which to print all the sections of building wrap, so the speed of our HP Scitex XL1500 Printer played a vital role in the success of the project."

Cover-Up, established in 1976, specialises in producing banners, flexible and rigid indoor and outdoor signage, boat cockpit and truck covers, point of sale items and building wraps. In 2008, it purchased its HP Scitex XL1500 to produce high-quality digitally printed items.

"When investigating the printers available on the market we wanted to invest in a machine that would provide us with high-productivity, reliability and optimum print quality and a quick return on investment," said Byrne.

"We looked at some samples produced on the HP Scitex XL1500 Printer and the high standard of print convinced us that this was the right equipment for us. Since installing our HP Scitex XL1500 printer we have noticed a significant improvement in the quality of our digitally printed jobs and have experienced a considerable increase in uptime - benefits we can pass onto our customers."

 

EFI, the world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation, today announced that Hargrove, Inc., the official general contractor for the Presidential Inaugural, produced over 200,000 square feet of the 2009 inauguration graphics using an EFI VUTEk QS3200 3.2 meter superwide format printer.

Hargrove has been a major contractor for every Presidential Inaugural since the 1949 inauguration of Harry Truman. Earl C. Hargrove, company founder, says, "Preparations for every inaugural take place in a very short time frame, but the event takes place on the world stage. The products and services used at all levels must perform at 100%. This unyielding schedule, coupled with extensive and tight security plans, really tested our VUTEk QS3200 and we discovered it runs better the harder you push it."

EFI's VUTEk QS3200, first installed at Hargrove, Inc. in April 2008, was instrumental in producing this year's historic signage. "Our VUTEk was needed to produce presidential caliber graphics within a tight period of time," said Fred Strickland, Hargrove Director of Productions. "We supported a total of 44 events at 34 different venues. The 200,000 square feet of graphics were produced in order to create over 25,000 inaugural items," added Strickland. Various media was used including fabric, vinyl, pressure sensitive and rigid boards to produce stage backdrops, wall murals, carpet, parade float graphics and hundreds of presidential seals. In addition, Pitman, the EFI channel sales partner who sold the unit, provided last minute media delivery throughout weekends, further assisting in this huge effort.

"At the Neighborhood Ball, President and Mrs. Obama had their first dance on a custom-built circular stage with a faux finish applied by local artisans," said Hargrove CEO, Tim McGill. The company also produced its largest Presidential Inaugural Seal ever for the Neighborhood Ball. "Normally, we produce hundreds of inaugural seals ranging from 30 inches to 12 feet," he said. "For the Neighborhood Ball, we produced a wooden, three-dimensional, seal 16-feet in diameter," said McGill.

The VUTEk QS3200 produces exceptionally brilliant images and combines High-Definition Print (HDP) with high production speeds capable of producing 1080dpi images. Four- or six-color imaging and a special seventh channel with white ink offers unlimited applications and new revenue streams. EFI complements this printer with the EFI's Fiery  XF RIP image processing and unique smoothing technologies to create breathtaking imagery.

This demanding output was enabled by the VUTEk QS3200's ability to accommodate substrates up to 126" wide and 2" thick on rigid flatbed or roll-to-roll printing. Tight deadlines are achieved through the less-than a minute changeover time from rigid to roll substrates. This superior printer was awarded the prestigious European Digital Press (EDP) Association Award for Best Superwide Printer of the Year in 2007.

"EFI is proud that our powerful VUTEk UV printer played such a critical role in the inauguration events of President Obama. With EFI, our customers are achieving the highest quality, environmentally conscious print solutions and our robust portfolio of integrated products helps them streamline operations, reduce costs and increase profits," said Chuck Dourlet, vice president of marketing, EFI VUTEk.