T’Go Creative, a design-led full service agency based in Perthshire, have introduced the ‘future of print and cut’ to their growing business.
From humble beginnings in 2007 as a sole trader from a converted garage, the business was initially filling a gap in the market as a freelance design business. Fast forward nine years and the heavily evolved agency have just taken delivery of Roland’s latest technology, the TrueVIS VG-640.
The path was a long and winding road for owner Gary Paterson. Starting in the industry as a pre-press designer for a local printer, and then poached by another local but more modern setup, Gary worked his way around the print and design sector before deciding on a solo venture.
“My experience is quite varied, having worked with 2 colour presses and 4 colour litho machines. I witnessed a shift towards a more digital focus, and subsequently worked with a Canon production press and 36” printer. When the right time to move on came, I purchased a Xerox and Canon IPF8100 and left to start up on my own.
Having seen, first hand, the constant emergence of new technology, I have always been open to the print opportunities these would offer. However, as a start-up, budget and space are initially limited.”
Gary, a father of two, saw his time free up once his children started in school, so looked to grow the business. It soon became clear that whilst the Canon had never failed him, it was certainly limiting the business’ potential.
The initial solution, as is often the way, was to outsource. However, as designers first and foremost, the lack of quality control soon took its toll on T’Go Creative.
“We’ve worked with several signage and large format printers over the years but started to see varied results in quality. It became clear that to further develop the business, a new printer would be a major requirement; allowing us to do more in-house, control quality and offer a faster turnaround whilst increasing profits.”
Enter Roland…
Through years of research, Gary concluded that a Roland was always going to be his first choice. Limited on space, the integrated print and cut that the Roland VersaCAMM range is famous for seemed the perfect option.
However, a day’s visit to Sign and Digital UK 2016 introduced Gary to the self-proclaimed “future of print and cut”, Roland’s newly launched TrueVIS range.
The Roland TrueVIS offers a complete evolution of their best-selling VersaCAMM technology.
Incorporating brand new inks, available in 500cc pouches, new print head technology, a new cutting carriage and many new user features, the TrueVIS doesn’t just take a step into the future, it leaps and jumps.
The new TrueVIS ink, offering a major improvement for eco-solvent technology, also delivers a wider colour gamut, richer solids and better gradations while meeting strict environmental standards and fitting neatly into reusable holders for clean usage and reduced waste. This leads to the dramatic visual evolution of the TrueVIS.
Visually, it’s Roland’s most impressive printer to date, concealing the inks to offer a streamlined exterior, along with the LED lighting, illuminating the print carriage and maintenance area for ease of use, changing colour to reflect the print status.
The new print head and cutting technology ultimately enhances the end product, offering quality, efficiency and consistency.
The TrueVIS series also serves up a treasure trove of user benefits, from the LED lighting to a new Bluetooth-enabled Roland mobile panel allowing for remote operation.
Roland have also included their new VersaWorks Dual RIP software, natively supporting both PostScript and PDF files for improved file reproduction when transparencies are used.
Following their Sign and Digital introduction to the VG, T’Go Creative consulted with Roland reseller, printMAX.
“printMAX were really knowledgeable about the product, and helped a great deal with the direction of the purchase. We were also able to speak to a printMAX customer on their Sign UK stand which was great! Speaking to someone using a Roland in a production environment offered hugely valuable advice.”
The Roland VG enables T’Go Creative to offer many of the products they had previously outsourced, along with offering new product opportunities, at a cheaper cost and higher quality.
“The Roland allows us to take on many jobs we simply couldn’t have said yes to previously, and of course allows us to control the quality. As designers, we are quite picky and although a client may not notice a slight colour difference, we do, so for us to be able to send out a perfect product, well that means it’s been a worthwhile investment. We’re putting the VG-640 to good use by launching in-house production of bespoke wallpaper. Being able to enter this growing and increasingly popular market is all thanks to the Roland, our partnered decorating firm cannot believe the quality and scratch resistance of the prints.”
Following successful installation and training from printMAX, owner Gary Paterson has gotten to grips with the full potential of the Roland VG-640, his overall conclusion of his new purchase, “the new machine is a fantastic bit of kit. It produces excellent work and is simply one of the best investments I have ever made.
My thanks to printMAX for pointing me in the right direction, I’ll be returning for my next investment for sure.”
