Hardware - Wide Format Print

Event and retail display graphics specialist Silver Bullet has installed one of the UK’s first Epson SureColor SC-S30600 wide-format inkjet printers at its new walk-in service point in Sandy, Bedfordshire.  The 64-inch (162.6cm), four-colour, roll-fed machine was supplied by Epson reseller Spandex, and joins a Summa plotter and laminator.

Sandy is the first of a network of large-format digital print walk-in centres that Silver Bullet will be rolling out over the coming months and plans to franchise. “It’s always been our ambition to open a chain of print shops and take control of digital print services in-house,” says managing director Matthew Kingsford. “We want the best of both worlds: the ability to produce some fast turnaround, high-quality signage products in-house, while still working with our partners to supply litho and screen print. In addition to servicing major retail clients with European-wide projects, we can now also provide a service to smaller local companies on a walk-in basis.”

The company’s strong focus on customer care has attracted some well-known customers, including energy drinks company Monster Energy. “We produce a lot of event material for Monster Energy, often within tight deadlines,” says Matthew. A recent high-profile event was the Monster Energy rig at the MotoGP in Le Mans in May for which Silver Bullet produced event graphics (to see this in action go to http://youtu.be/p-y2nFVtrmA). “We welcome any brief – the more challenging the better – and like to come up with creative ideas and solutions.”

The company worked closely with one of the UK’s largest suppliers to the sign and display industry, Spandex, to suggest the best equipment to produce quality pop-ups, pull-ups, vehicle livery and large graphics. ““Spandex know our business very well and give us a lot of support. They handle everything, from recommending, installing and integrating the hardware and software to providing full training, after care and consumables supply,” says Matthew. “They strongly recommended the new Epson SureColor SC-S30600 for its versatility, reliability, productivity and quality. These criteria are essential to the walk-in concept.  We often don’t know what the next job is until the customer comes through the door, so we need a printer we can rely on to produce high-quality work, quickly, on a wide range of media.”

“At Spandex we pride ourselves in being able to provide complete solutions that fully meet the application needs of our customers.  This can only be achieved by working closely with leading industry suppliers such as Epson.  As always, we will continue to work closely with our customers to ensure they have the right tools to be effective and profitable, even in the most competitive markets” says Leon Watson, Spandex General Manager UK.

Launched earlier this year, the SureColor SC-S30600 sets a new price/performance ratio in a highly competitive sector, delivering efficient, environmentally-friendly production at the lowest total cost of ownership. Epson has designed the new printer to be fast and easy to set up and use.  Loading heavy media rolls, usually a two-person job, can be handled by one operator with ease thanks to a unique jack device.  Media tensioning, traditionally only accessible from the front of the printer, is controllable from both front and rear, so operators do not waste time going back and forth.  This reduces set-up time and maximises productivity.

Matthew is also impressed by the SureColor’s maximum speed of 29.4 sqm/hour. “Since the printer arrived it’s handled several large runs comfortably and we are producing about 200 sqm a day on average. We have left it running unattended all night on occasions, which shows the confidence we have in the machine. We are really impressed with the SureColor, it scores on all counts and we already planning to buy a second.”

Silver Bullet is a company with huge amounts of energy and ambition. Its creative flair is even reflected in its new shop! They commissioned Frank Louis Allen, a partially sighted progressive artist and designer on the spectrum, has drawn an original abstract design on one wall. “It reflects our fun side,” smiles Matthew.

For more information on Silver Bullet, please visit www.sbsg.co.uk

Sign Solutions SW, a rapidly expanding, Somerset-based print company, has ordered the first Roland SolJet Pro 4 XR-640 machine in Europe from printMAX.

As an existing printMAX / Roland customer, Sign Solutions knew it wanted to upgrade with the new Roland machine.  On the day the new XR-640 model was announced, Kate Murray, director at Sign Solutions SW Ltd, contacted printMAX for further information. She was left' astounded' by the capabilities of the machine and instantly saw the potential to enhance her business.

The previous experience and ongoing relationship with printMAX allowed Kate Murray to trust the advice and solution being given and by the end of the launch day she had placed the order.

Sign Solutions SW currently operates a VS and XJ but has been looking to upgrade in order to keep up with the latest technology. The XR-640 posed the perfect opportunity. By trading in the XJ printer, the XR would operate on a similar level to the VS machine as both use the same Piezo Gold inkjet printheads along with offering the print and cut facility which the XJ had been lacking.

The XR-640 with Light Black Eco-Sol Max2 ink enhances the accuracy of the printing, a key decision making factor in the purchase from Sign Solutions SW. The ability to print more precise gray scaling effects and skin tones using the new inks will enable the company to fulfil the customer’s print requirements at the next level.

“I’m delighted to be the first customer in Europe to order the XR-640. The high printing speeds allow us a faster production rate without compromising the quality we rely on. The added features in VersaWorks along with the ink modifications will not only enhance our printing but allow for a smoother process. I’m really looking forward to taking delivery of the printer later in the year and am grateful for the advice and dedicated support provided by printMAX,” comments Kate Murray.

printMAX is pleased to have become the first dealer in Europe to sell the new XR-640 and is even happier that the sale will benefit such a loyal customer.  “Kate has been looking for that next level of printing for a while and I believe her wait has been worthwhile. The XR-640 really is a fantastic printer, it’s faster and allows for more accurate printing thanks to the development of the new Eco-Sol Max2 ink. At £19,999 it’s an affordable addition to any commercial print shop,”says Michael Bolton, managing director at printMAX.

The XR-640 is due for delivery in November 2012.

For further information on the Roland SolJet Pro 4 XR-640 or any other Roland product, please visit www.printMAX.co.uk

For more information on Sign Solutions SW Ltd, please visit www.signsolutionssw.com

Italy-based Pixartprinting is in the process of installing seven Durst 10 picoliter UV inkjet printers with fine art quality in what is thought to be the largest worldwide installation of these wide format printers.  The first roll to roll Durst Rho P10 320R machine was installed in May 2012 and the flatbed Rho P10 200 model the month after. Following extensive field testing of these models, another five P10 systems are in the process of being installed including two more roll to roll Rho P10 320R and three flatbed P10 with feeder and stacker system.  All seven machines will be fully operational this autumn.

The new technology with 10 picoliter print heads immediately caught Pixartprinting’s eye so that on May 10th, while the P10 range was being officially launched to the European market at Drupa, the first roll to roll Pho P10 320R was installed in the Quarto D’Altino-based production department and, after just a few weeks, joined by the flatbed P10 200.

Alessandro Tenderini, Pixartprinting's general manager, comments, “The roll to roll is an amazing machine. We are printing on banners and micro-perforated paper with astonishing results. A surprising technology with peerless quality. Many have tried in the past but colour gripping inevitably appeared. Yet Durst succeeded and, I believe, the P10 technology is the change that the digital printing market has been looking for after years of stagnant quality”.

The Rho P10 200 also proved highly satisfactory in Pixartprinting’s tests on all rigid supports offered in the catalogue.  “We were pleasantly surprised by the proactiveness with which Durst is meeting our demands,” explains Matteo Rigamonti, Pixartprinting's president. “Rho P10 200 was not originally designed for industrial production. For the number of processes we manage every day the feeder & stacker system – fitted on the previous Durst flatbeds we’ve installed – is an essential plus for us. The Durst R&D department thus immediately started studying the possibility of integrating automatic loading/unloading on the P10 200 so that we have confirmed the order of other 3 flatbeds that will be installed within November. This is the umpteenth confirmation of the fact that choosing the best technology is not enough. It is important to instil true teamwork with technological partners.”

A few weeks after installation, both the roll to roll and flatbed Rho P10 demonstrated good performance in terms of productivity and speed. Alberto Bassanello, Durst Italy's sales manager, continues, “Pixartprinting always seeks technologies that can keep up with fast-paced rhythms. The new Durst systems were immediately put to the test, working 18 hours a day, 7 days a week. And we are satisfied that, despite the severe evaluation criteria, the customer is enthused.”

Alessandro Tenderini summarises, “As for the potential of these technologies, the Rho P10’s Fine Art resolution is letting us explore new application fields - small packaging, counter displays etc, but also new more niche products that can intrigue customers. For example, we launched a promotion offering cardboard bottle racks, a product that has gained high interest, and this month's novelty are stools made out of cardboard which can be personalised with a wide range of images.

Rigamonti concludes, “Our dreams would come true if Durst could apply P10 technology to the Rho 1000!”

[image shows Pixartprinting's roll-to-roll department]

Mimaki has announced the imminent launch of a new flatbed printer - the UJF-6042 - which offers an A2 print bed, 150mm head height, multiple ink options and exceptionally high print quality of 1800x1800dpi.  Scheduled to be unveiled at Photokina in late September 2012, the new machine is capable of producing photo quality prints utilising 6 colour process, white and clear inks.

An ideal solution for print companies seeking to deliver high quality prints onto rigid substrates, the new printer offers double the bed size of the hugely successful UJF-3042 - as well as an increase in print resolution. Also offering commercial opportunities for companies typically delivering screen print at 60x40 size, the digital advantages are obvious, with photo quality output, zero setup costs and the ability to deliver short print runs.

The Mimaki UJF-6042 incorporates a ball screw type head conveyance mechanism - traditionally found only in very high end flatbed printers - which greatly enhances the accuracy of the ink drop placement onto the substrate. The combination of 1800x1800dpi and variable dot technology means the printer is engineered to deliver highly accurate prints and the A2 bed size allows two facing pages of an A3 photo book to be printed simultaneously. For smaller items, an efficient layout can be created with the use of jigs, ensuring accurate print placement and ease of workflow.

When printing to rigid substrates, Mimaki's proven LH-100 ink incorporates CMYK + white and features vibrant colour and excellent adhesion properties. Additionally, the UJF-6042 can be commissioned with Mimaki's LF-100 flexible ink, available in six colours and white, or the highly stretchy LF-200 ink which enables expansion of up to 200% where applications require this level of flexibility.

The UJF-6042 sports a number of Mimaki's production print features, including the ability to use automatic primer, the powerful Nozzle Recovery Function and Mimaki Circulation Technology - both designed to ensure a consistently high print quality, and comes supplied with Mimaki's RasterLink 6 RIP software; a fully featured package with intuitive layout functions, powerful spot colour replacement capabilities and the capability to print three layers (colour, white and colour) simultaneously onto transparent substrates.

"The launch of the UJF-6042 by Mimaki at Photokina is an exciting one," says Mike Lewis, industrial products sales manager for Mimaki's UK & Irish distributor, Hybrid Services. "Over and above the ability to run twice the size of media than the UJF-3042, the increase in quality to 1800dpi and a minimum variable dot size of 4 pico litres ensures an extremely high print quality that should impress visitors to the Mimaki stand."

With commercial availability planned for early next year, the Mimaki UJF-6042 will be available through Hybrid's specialist reseller network.  For more information, please visit www.hybridservices.co.uk

As a strong and enthusiastic proponent of producing the most environmentally-aware display applications without compromising colour depth, ESP Technologies Group has invested in a Hollanders HPS ColorBooster XL. The new solution, which was installed during July 2012, means that the Kent-based company can produce a vast range of interior and exterior applications including point-of-sale graphics, flags, banners, plus back-lit and front-lit work onto polyesters and polyester mixes while retaining the brilliant hues and exceptional quality which is uncommon when using many dye sublimation machines.

ESP Technologies Group had already ventured into digital textile printing to complement its existing wide-format production technologies. The need to be able to produce strong and punchy colours is becoming of paramount importance throughout its client base, and the company realised that a specialist, high quality solution was going to be vital.

Having assessed the options available in the 3.2m wide sector, ESP Technologies Group chose the Hollanders HPS ColorBooster XL. The primary reasons were its vibrant and accurate colours, which remain crisp and clear in all lighting conditions, a low cost/square m, a greener work-flow and the fact that this solution has been developed from the ground up as a fully integrated system and not as a modification from an existing platform.

“The potential market for digitally printed textiles is substantial, but being able to address the demand for brilliant colour with the wow factor is vital. Finding the right printing and finishing solution which provides the right quality plus greener throughput without compromise has been essential for us,” states Stephen Hood, managing director of ESP Technologies Group. “It’s a very big step making the transition to dye sublimation, not only because the production processes are different but, also, because of the learning curve in terms of colour management and material handling. Because Hollanders only makes machines for this market sector, it was logical for us to invest in the HPS ColorBooster XL as there were no compromises on the engineering and technology that are incorporated into this system, and support is second to none.”

Hood believes that, with the right engine and dye sublimation inks, demand for more environmentally friendly applications can be realised with powerful colour depth and vibrant, consistent results. “Printing to polyesters and mixes has changed dramatically thanks to improvements in weave and finish of these fabrics, and it’s now easy to produce eye-catching displays that improve on visible impact,” Hood continues. “The Hollanders solution enables us to generate new types of branding application on light-weight materials without compromising on quality. We’ve found the right solution with the HPS ColorBooster XL.”

[photo shows Stephen Hood, managing director of ESP Technologies Group, with his Hollanders ColorBooster XL]

Screenprint (Peterlee) Ltd is a family run business which, as the name suggests, originally focused exclusively on screen printing. The company was set up over thirty years ago, but in 2002 the company decided to expand its range of services and add digital printing to its product portfolio. Screenprint's managing director, Philip Lay, had recognised the need to improve turnaround times in order to stay competitive in the market.

Setting up a digital department has allowed Screenprint to produce a more varied range of work over the last ten years. However, an increase in customer demand to print onto wider substrates for jobs such as exhibition banners led the company to investigate ways in which it could further improve its digital print services. As a result, earlier this year Philip made the decision to invest in a Fujifilm Acuity Advance HD2565W.

“We were looking to make the next step in digital printing,” says Philip. “After assessing the market thoroughly for the most suitable printer for our needs, we decided to go with Fujifilm’s Acuity Advance.”

The Acuity Advance HD2565W is a flatbed machine boasting an ideal combination of near photographic print quality and high productivity, whilst also providing a roll-to-roll option. The ability to print on a wide range of rigid and flexible surfaces, ranging from paper to wood and metal, as well as the option to print white ink, have been extremely beneficial to Screenprint.

“We work with all kinds of substrates in order to produce banners, display boards, signs and graphics for retail and other markets. We have also explored industrial applications. We just did a job printing onto kitchen doors and ceramic tiles as part of the decoration inside a pub, and the option to print directly onto thick substrates with the Acuity made it so much easier.”

The versatility and overall quality of the machine has left Screenprint particularly satisfied with its purchase: “It’s been an excellent return on investment,” enthuses Philip, “and the quality of Fujifilm’s service and support has been brilliant. If we were to invest in another printer, it would definitely be one of Fujifilm’s. In a way, I wish we’d made the investment years ago!”