This years’ Panel Swap Competition winner was announced at Sign & Digital UK – the lucky recipient of a Graphtec Vinyl Cutter was Soyeb Ravat of Ravat Printing.
The winning entry was entitled “The customer is never right – we only say it to sweeten them up” and was a panel created in a 3D form with layers of vinyl inspired by one of Soyebs favourite Art Nouveau artists, Mucha.
“Before I entered the sign and digital print industry I was a fashion designer but needed a change of career. I entered signmaking with support from the Roland academy and the Walsall college which further inspired me to buy my first machine a Roland Versacamm. As for the show, I realised it was a vast resource for a number of reasons, vital and important to the signmaker and printer. The reason for my first visit was broad, from finding equipment and information to new tools and suppliers for fixtures and fitting and other products which will help me with my work or save me time. I heard about the show through my fellow colleagues when I started sign making and printing and knew it was the place to source the right equipment and be inspired.”
Having never won anything like this before, it was a big deal for Soyeb, “I very much appreciate the prize as I was after a vinyl cutter at the show and now use the Graphtec daily to help me with my work. I am grateful for it and it is truly an amazing piece of kit! I would never miss Sign & Digital UK and look forward to the 2012 show as it allows me to soak up information, see current trends in the market, find offers, new technologies to make life easier, work more productive or increase the quality and flow of my work . I feel it keeps me on track with what is happening in the UK sign industry and is a must for the Signmaker and Printer.”
Phil Kneale of Graphtec was on hand to deliver the prize personally alongside Paul from the Sign Makers Workshop at Sign & Digital UK. Paul had this to say about the competition; “Every year the panel swap competition gets harder to judge. We have seen a wealth of creativity in the entries this week and its great to recognize the best of British talent. We wish Soyeb all the best with his new Graphtec cutter for a well deserved win.”
