16 Dec 2024

Tetenal adds Mutoh printer and Kala laminator to product range

Tetenal UK has extended its product line with the addition of a Mutoh eco-solvent printer and a Kala laminator.

The Mutoh ValueJet 1204 is a compact 51” printer and offers the ideal solution for start ups or those looking to add a new revenue stream to their existing business operations. The printer boasts a small footprint and uses non-aggressive solvents in the CMYK 220ml ‘Eco Ultra’ inks.  Tetenal has bundled the eco-solvent printer with Caldera RIP software and a PC, training, a full set of inks and 12 months warranty.

The Kala Starter 140 solution is a 55” cold laminator.   According to Kala's managing director, Laurent Bouchard, “The Starter is a very appropriate name. Not only is it an entry level machine, but it is also the ‘start’ of what Kala hopes is a new trend: a competitively priced quality machine fully designed and manufactured in Europe.”

Both products are available from Tetenal with immediate effect.

For more information on Mutoh, please visit www.mutoh.be

For more information on Kala, please visit www.kala.fr

For more information on Tetenal, please visit www.tetenaluk.com

Hollywood makeover for Birmingham City Ladies football stars

Birmingham City Ladies football stars are getting a Hollywood makeover again this season after West Midlands-based Hollywood Monster pledged its support.  The signs and graphics company has agreed to sponsor the Blues team's new shirts as they embark on their second campaign in the Football Association's eight-club elite woman's competition.

Birmingham City Ladies will have a new look this season and Jo Potter and Emily Westwood were on hand to unveil the kit at a recent exhibition.  Blues Ladies last season just missed out on the title to arch rivals Arsenal but will hope to clinch the title this time around after strengthening their squad. They now have more England players than any of their rivals and are looking forward to their first ever UEFA Champions League campaign.

They will face top teams including Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton and Liverpool in the FA Women's Super League (FAWSL) which takes place during the summer months.  The first league match at their home ground in Stratford-upon-Avon will be against Everton Ladies on Sunday 18th March.

The aim of the league is to establish and grow the women's game while attracting a wider audience by introducing family friendly activities including keepy-uppy competitions and music entertainment before and after matches. The launch last year of the Women's Super League was the single biggest event to happen in women's football in the UK.

Hollywood Monster has sponsored Birmingham City FC for 20 years and jumped at the chance to extend its sponsorship of the women's team shirts for another year.

Tim Andrews, managing director of Hollywood Monster, comments, "Hollywood Monster is delighted to announce that we are continuing our support of Birmingham City Ladies at what is a very exciting time for women's football.  We really enjoyed following the team last season and they were so unlucky to miss out on the title but we're confident they can go one better this time."

"We'll be supporting the team all the way as they once again take on the elite of women's football in England. We're proud to be associated with the ladies team and we hope that they can bring more silverware back to St Andrew's," he adds.

The FAWSL aims to be family friendly and fans will be able to interact with their favourite players both at matches and online. Fans can visit www.facebook.com/FAWSL or www.fawsl.com throughout the season to have a say in their league and clubs, and to access exciting behind the scenes news and videos from players. The FA is investing a total of £3million over two years in the FAWSL.

For more information on Hollywood Monster, please visit www.hollywoodmonster.co.uk

PaperlinX sells Italian business to Lecta for €45 million

PaperlinX has agreed to sell its Italian business, Polyedra, to Lecta, the European Paper manufacturer, for €45 million.

On the sale, PaperlinX Executive Vice President Dave Allen, comments, “The sale of our Italian business will reduce debt and fund essential restructuring in Europe. The purchase price after transaction costs and repayment of related debt in Italy, is expected to release approximately €13m (A$17m) in net proceeds."

The multi-phase restructuring of PaperlinX’s business was a headline issue in the Interim Results announcement on February 23rd and the company expects savings of A$61m by FY14 from its ongoing restructuring programme.

“We have a profitable UK business and strong market positions around the world and this purchase clearly shows there is value in PaperlinX. However, given the continued uncertainty of world paper markets, aggressive cost reduction is our most important initiative for the next two years. Every 1% reduction in our cost to sales ratio represents some A$40m. We are aiming for a 3% total cost reduction, half of which will be generated from the current plans by FY14,” adds Allen.

The sale is expected to close within 90 days, subject to regulatory approvals and a final value audit.

Vision Integrated Graphics acquires Point Imaging

US-based Vision Integrated Graphics, a leading full-service marketing solutions provider with locations in the Chicago area, has acquired Point Imaging, a national provider of grand format sign and display imaging and installation services.

Point Imaging President Kevin Huseman will assume the role of Chief Strategy Officer for the combined companies, initially focusing on driving increased business volume in the superwide format area. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. However, the 60,000-square-foot Point Imaging facility and all of its employees will be retained. Following the acquisition, Vision Integrated Graphics now has three locations in the Chicago area and about 235 employees.

“We have been partnering with Point Imaging for about a decade,” said Doug Powell, CEO of Vision Integrated Graphics. “By acquiring them at this time, we have taken a quantum leap in our production mix, adding Point Imaging’s high volume point-of-purchase/point-of-sale/out-of-home capabilities to our streamlined workflow, digital and conventional printing services, web-to-print and cross-media expertise. The acquisition expands our wide format presence beyond our current roll-to-roll capabilities including the ability to print direct to rigid substrates and a more robust array of grand format print options.  With this enhanced service offering, clients of both Vision and Point will benefit from this full range of services provided by a single highly responsive source.  Our expectation is that this acquisition will be quickly integrated due to our long-standing relationship and similar cultures.”

Vision Integrated Graphics has proactively addressed the many changes that have come its way over the past 50 years, including merging the original company, Award/Vision, with Steve Smits’ Alpha Beta Press in 2005.  The combined companies now generate about $40 million in annual revenues.

Vision Integrated Graphics is one of the largest independent users of HP Indigo press technology in the U.S. The acquisition of Point Imaging adds HP Scitex and EFI VUTEk superwide format printers to the company’s robust production platform. “HP will continue to be a strong partner that will contribute to the continued success of our organization as we move forward,” Powell added.

“We are delighted to be officially joining the Vision Integrated Graphics family,” Huseman said. “One of the biggest benefits this will bring to our existing customers and prospects is access to Vision Integrated Graphics’ proprietary web-to-print solution and streamlined workflow. This is an element that has been neglected in the high volume POS/POP and out-of-home markets. By deploying these advanced capabilities, we will further improve our leadership position in the national sign and display market, making doing business with us even easier than ever before.”

Deployment of MyMarketingHub, Vision’s web-to-print solution, in the sign and display graphics market brings a capability that has long been a “missing link” for that market and is a significant business objective for the combined companies for 2012, according to Vision Integrated Graphics President Smits, who added, “MyMarketingHub is a unique customer portal that we have built from the ground up. It is ideally suited to manage the expanded workload and product mix that this acquisition will bring.”

Smits points out that another benefit of this acquisition for both companies and their respective customers is the blend of sales strategies between the two companies.  He says, “Vision Integrated Graphics’ sales force has traditionally been local to Chicago, although with a national reach and clients among several well-known brands. Point Imaging had both a national sales force and national reach with its grand format business. With this acquisition, Vision Integrated Graphics is even more strongly positioned for continued growth and it gives us the ability to more effectively cross-sell our broad array of production services.”

For more information about Vision Integrated Graphics, visit www.VisionPS.com

Perfect Colours scores a UK first by installing HP L28500 printer at Print Designs

Wide format digital print reseller Perfect Colours has won the race to become the first company to install the recently announced HP Designjet L28500 printer in the UK.  The company has installed the new latex solution at Print Designs’ Staffordshire-based premises.

Established in 1999, Print Designs is a full service print agency primarily focused on the wide format sector.  It offers a full gamut of services – from planning and design through to output and installation – and its product portfolio includes internal and external signage, banners, pop ups, display products and vehicle wraps to name a few.

Print Designs invests heavily in new technology to ensure its Acton Gate production facility stays ahead of the game.

The HP Designjet L28500 is ideal for high-impact point-of-purchase displays, soft signage, bus shelters, vehicle graphics and more, as it can print on a broad range of materials, including eco-solvent compatible media and low-cost uncoated options.   It produces 1,200-dpi output with outdoor display permanence of up to three years unlaminated or five years laminated for high-quality, long-lasting prints. The output also dries inside the printer, boosting productivity for double-sided print jobs, and allowing immediate finishing or use.

Standing at 2.64m (104in)-wide, the HP Designjet L28500 printer’s green credentials were a key factor in its selection.  The printer was installed in February 2012 and Mark Thompson, director of Print Designs, is delighted with the purchase.  He comments, “The installation of the printer and the support we received from Perfect Colours has been great.  We have already run fabric and a range of papers through the latex machine and are very pleased with the results.”

“We will use the new Latex printer for fabric applications as well as traditional roll ups and self adhesive vinyl,” adds Mark Thompson.

Jason Burroughs, managing director of Perfect Colours, comments, “We’re thrilled to have scored this UK first by installing the HP L28500 at Print Designs’ premises.  The installation process was seamless and the printer is already proving its worth.  We’re confident that this will be the first of many L28500 installations!”

For more information on Print Designs, please visit www.printdesigns.com

For more information on Perfect Colours, please visit www.perfectcolours.com

FASTSIGNS CEO Catherine Monson to star on TV "Undercover Boss" adventure

Since her appointment as CEO of FASTSIGNS International, Inc. in early 2009, Catherine Monson has been on a mission to advance the brand, from that of a sign and banner provider, to a visual ideas company for all kinds of businesses. Her personal and professional journey will unfold on national television as she investigates the inner workings of FASTSIGNS in the CBS hit series "Undercover Boss," Friday, May 4 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. 

“Going undercover allowed me to step into the shoes of our employees and franchise partners to better learn the ins and outs of what makes our company successful, as well as where there is room for improvement. We’ve solidified FASTSIGNS as the top sign and graphics company in the country, but that doesn’t mean we stop looking for ways to evolve and improve,” said Monson. ”This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to share my story and hopefully inspire young women to become leaders in their industries, despite any obstacles they have had in their lives.”

From window shades to vehicle wraps, merchandizing displays to digital signs, FASTSIGNS is in the midst of a branding evolution to educate the marketplace about its wider range of visual marketing solutions. The company meets the visual communication needs of organizations large and small, including manufacturers, distributors, retail, restaurants, financial institutions, hospitals, non-profits and more. Through its wide array of visual and graphic solutions along with project management and installations experience, FASTSIGNS has the ability to brand an entire event, such as a tournament, convention, or fundraiser.

“Our franchise partners and their employees are trained to take a consultative approach to providing comprehensive visual solutions to meet their clients’ communication needs,” said Monson. “We’re not just selling a commodity; we’re helping businesses solve their visual communication challenges. We provide so much more than what many customers expect; we are more than fast and more than signs.  I specifically went undercover to learn what additional training and tools our employees need to fulfill our brand promise.”

Monson’s decision to participate in Undercover Boss fits well with her hands-on leadership style. When she became CEO of the 25-year-old company in 2009, one of the biggest issues the company was facing was a lack of communication between the corporate office and its franchise partners, as well as sales declines due to the “great recession”. Monson immediately embarked on a tour around the country to visit franchise partners and put a plan in place to turn the company around, including creating a sales incentive program. She initiated monthly conference calls with the franchise system to provide updates and answer questions and concerns.

To further develop and motivate the corporate staff, she began holding monthly company meetings to share financial updates and other company news, and to publicly praise team members on their projects and efforts.  

Through her “Undercover Boss” experience, Monson gained valuable insight into key areas of the business that she will continue to fine-tune and improve in the coming months. “This was an eye opening experience that not only impacted my professional life, but my personal life as well,” said Monson. “I have realized that I need to take more time for myself and get back to the things that I really love in order to become a better leader and CEO.” 

Each week, "Undercover Boss" follows a different executive as they leave the comfort of their corner office for an undercover mission to examine the inner workings of their companies. While working alongside their employees, they see the effects their decisions have on others, where the problems lie within their organizations and get an up-close look at both the good and the bad while discovering and rewarding the unsung heroes who make their companies run.