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IN THIS ISSUE
THE MIMAKIFICATION OF LATEX HYBRID UNVEILS THE JV400 LX
A QUESTION OF QUALITY YOU KNOW IT MAKES SENSE!
MATERIAL MATTERS THE LATEST RIGID AND FLEXIBLE MEDIA OPTIONS
www.signdirections.co.uk www.graphicdisplaycommunity.com
April/May 2012 - No.124
www.bsga.co.uk
Link Signs & Graphics helpsto bring the Beatles to life
DoubleTrouble!
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 3
April/May 2012
What’s in this issue…
signdirections
4 Setting the Scene - What’s in this issue of Sign Directions
6 News Briefing -Our regular news round-up
10 Projects - The latest application stories
12 Supplier News - News from around the industry
16 Equipment & Materials - Some of the newest product releases
Sign Directions Hotline:If you would like to contact any ofthe companies featured in thisissue of Sign Directions, pleasecontact us on Tel: 01623 882398for full company information, or alternatively, [email protected] for a response by return.
Coming Next:The next issue of Sign Directionswill be the June issue, which willinclude special features on Routing& Engraving and Printwear &Promotions
What’s in this issue…
p22 p32Projects- Applications in Action
Innovation - The Mimakification of latex
Cover Story - Double trouble
news
Innovation
22 The Mimakification of latex - Hybrid Services unveils the JV400 LX
Special Feature – A question of quality
24 Good Design Pays - Val Hirst discovers why quality will out
26 The only way is up!
- David Catanach makes the case for proper pricing
28 Does it print? - Mark Godden looks at digital media
30 Light relief - Mike Hall explains the intricacies of ECA
34 Cover Story - Double Trouble at Madam Tussauds
Digital Directions
34 Digital News - The latest digital updates
36 My Way - Worthwhile investments
40 Sign & Digital UK 2012 Review - Show highlights
44 Sign Awards - The winners!
Special Feature – Signmaking Materials
50 Material Matters – Some of the latest flexible and rigid material choices
features
20 Tips & Tricks - Fujifilm’s Euromedia Q & A Column
48 Go with the Flow - Software under the spotlight
59 Classified - The industry’s marketplace
60 Directory - The Who’s Who of the sign industry
62 Last Word - Mark Godden focuses on application
information
Publisher/Managing EditorVal Hirst Tel: 01623 882398e-mail: [email protected]
Deputy EditorMike Connolly Tel: 01737 842410e-mail: [email protected]
Associate EditorMichael Lyons Tel: 01277 650037e-mail: [email protected]
Contributing Editor Mark Godden Tel: 07717 885325e-mail: [email protected]
Art EditorHina Mistry Tel: 07773 319465e-mail: [email protected]
ContributorsZinnia CordellAlicia Fairlie
Cover PhotographyCourtesy of Link Signs & Graphics
Head Office & Data Base ManagementTrinity Creative Ltd.Unit 1B Melrose NurseriesLongland Lane, Farnsfield, NewarkNottingham NG22 8HD
Tel: 01623 882398e-mail: [email protected]
Annual Subscription Rates:UK £50 $78 €78Europe £93 $143 €145Rest of the World: £114 $178 €178Agents can claim a l0% discount
No part of this publication may be reproduced without the writtenconsent of the publishers. Editorial photographs supplied courtesy ofthe companies they feature. The publishers accept no responsibility forany statement made in signed contributions or those reproduced fromany other source, nor for claims made in any advertisement. SignDirections is available to individuals who qualify within the terms of acontrolled circulation
Special Feature – Material Matters
p50p10
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 4
April/May 2012
Introduction
Fortunately, there was much amusement to be had during the day’s
televised question time debate in the House of Commons, where Jeremy
Hunt, the beleaguered Culture Secretary was defending his relationship
with the Murdochs. Whist Jeremy, displaying all the oleaginous charm that
frequently causes people to mispronounce his surname, vehemently
protested his innocence, claiming that it was all the fault of his special
adviser, it was interesting to study the faces of those sitting behind him.
Cleggy, looking as sick as the proverbial parrot was ruefully facing the
unpalatable fact that his new career as a house husband edges daily
nearer, while the smarmily gormless Boy George was obviously just
waiting for the moment that he could divest himself of his human skin and
reveal the lizard that lurks beneath. (Question to self: Can lizards add up?
Can they read? It explains everything really, doesn’t it?).
At the same time, a whey-faced ‘Call me Dave’ actually threw back his head
in despair at one point, no doubt in order to get a better look at the last
vestiges of hope, as it scampered over the horizon with its arse on fire.
‘Call me Dave’, is only too aware that when the Culture Secretary goes, he’s
the last one in the firing line. Suddenly all that hobnobbing with the
Chipping Sodbury set doesn’t seem like such a good idea after all, does it
Dave?
setting the
sceneOn the day that it was announced that, technically speaking atleast, the UK was slipping into the second part of a double-diprecession and despite our current drought status, the rainrelentlessly continued, we had to take our pleasures whereverwe could find them.
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 5
signdirectionsThen dear old Dennis Skinner shambled to his feet to echo Nadine Dorries’
shrewd observation of the previous day, relating to the arrogance of
Cameron and Osborne and the cost of milk, to proclaim: “When things go
wrong, posh boys blame the servants!” What a wag!
Later, further interest was provided on the opposition benches, as Ed the
Red shrugged off his habitual adenoidal ennui and sprang into life with a
rare display of spirited eloquence, when he accused the Coalition of
‘manufacturing the recession in Downing Street!’ Harriet Harman on his
left, resembled nothing so much as a nervous mother watching her child
stutter his way through his first school nativity play. Never mind that he
only had one line, every fibre of her being was willing him to do it well.
And he did! The nervous expression was quickly superseded by one of
quiet maternal pride.
Meanwhile, on his right, Yvette Cooper, revealing all of the early tell-tale
signs of a stealthy glamover, sporting freshly highlighted hair and a smart
new green jacket, quivered with ill-concealed anticipation, A thought
bubble suspended above her head would probably have read: “ After you
Ed, anyone would look good and when Gok’s work is done, I’m going to be
FAB-U-LOUS!”
Since then of course, there’s been further turmoil, with the local elections
proving disastrous for the Coalition, the booting out of Sarkozy and Greece
more or less stuffing its austerity budget where the sun don’t shine.
But happily, the corresponding jitters of the money markets don’t yet
seem to be influencing the signmakers who flocked to Sign & Digital UK
and who are now eagerly awaiting the installation of the equipment they
so enthusiastically purchased at the show. For edited highlights of the
event, turn to pages 38-45. Many of the show’s visitors were intrigued by
Mimaki’s new JV400 LX printer, which marks the company’s first foray into
latex ink. Hybrid Services, Mimaki’s UK and Ireland Distributor reveal all of
the advantages this can offer on pages 22-23. On pages 24- 31, A question
of quality, looks at the many different ways that quality of lack of it, can
impact, for good and for ill, upon a signmaker’s success and profitability,
while our main feature, Material Matters, which starts on page 50,
highlights some of the latest rigid and flexible material options. And this
month, Mark Godden, following in the footsteps of Phil and Kirsty, declares
that it’s all about Application, Application, Application! while our cover
story showcases Link Signs & Graphics’ work for Blackpool’s swish new
Madame Tussauds. Elsewhere, you’ll find all of our regular news pages.
Our June issue, which is all set to be another bumper edition, will include
two special features, one on routing and engraving and the other covering
printwear and promotions, but between now and its publication we have
the 'joyful prospect of seeing ‘Call me Dave’ squirm as he tries to explain
to the Leveson Inquiry just why he felt it necessary to send so many texts
to Rebekah Brooks.
I don’t know about you, but I can hardly wait!
Val Hirst – Editor
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @Valthemaghag
Web: www.signdirections.co.uk and
www.graphicdisplaycommunity.com
Faversham House hasannounced that Digital Print UKwill move forward from itscurrent slot in September 2012to take place in the autumn of2013.
Explaining that this change follows
extensive consultations with
industry suppliers who are already
facing budget constraints in a Drupa
year, Rudi Blackett, Show Director for
Digital Print UK, said: “The consistent
feedback we’ve received is that there
is a demand for a digital print-
specific show that provides a mix of
advice, demonstrations and working
applications, all in one place, at one
time to provide real business value.
All that’s changing now is the date,
which will also provide us with more
time to model the show to further
suit exhibitor and visitor
requirements, thus ensuring
considerable benefits for
everybody.”
Chris Rushton, Sales Manager for
Digital Print UK, added: “Companies
that had made firm bookings for the
event originally planned for
September 2012 have reconfirmed
their support for the show, which will
build on the successful Sign & Digital
UK formula, which, once again in
2012, was a hugely popular event.”
For further information visit:www.digitalprintuk.net
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 6
news briefing
Digital Print UKdate moved
Signmaker Horizon Signs andits sister company, HorizonBSF, the education sectorspecialist, have merged,together with a number ofother divisions to form TheHorizon Group in order tomore effectively deliver itsdiverse range of products toits expanding client base.
Working out of a 30,000sq.ft
manufacturing facility in
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, the
group now also includes Horizon
PTI, which specialises in transport
sector signage, Horizon
Fabrications, a bespoke
metalwork provider and Horizon
Powder Coating, which offers an
onsite paint finish resource.
For further information visit:visit www.thehorizon-group.co.uk
A merger on the horizon
The Horizon Group Directors L to R – Ross Ball, Keith Ball & George Foster
The Cardiff branch of Signs Expresswas recently commissioned to wrapa new Audi A1 car that was used topromote the Richard Parks’ 737Challenge.
This global ‘first’ race saw Richard
striving to become the first person to
climb the famous seven summits on
each of the world’s continents and
stand on all three poles (the North Pole,
the South Pole and the summit of
Mount Everest) within a seven-month
period, in order to raise a predicted £1
million in support of the Marie Curie
Cancer Care charity.
Amazingly, Richard achieved his
incredible goal in just over six months,
with the fundraising continuing via a
special competition that will run until
midnight on 12th July 2012 with a brand
new Audi A1 donated by Mon Motors
Audi as the winner’s prize
For the vehicle wrap, Signs Express
chose the high-performance and ultra-
conformable Controltac Graphic Film
IJ380 from 3M. This was printed with
eye-catching graphics combining black-
and-white photography with rough
edges and complex typography created
by the fundraiser’s design partner
Limegreentangerine to convey the
Challenge’s message to the public.
Suitable for high-quality screen and
digital printing, the film incorporates
3M’s Controltac Adhesive technology,
which enables vehicle wrappers to
reposition the graphics-applied film at
will, until perfect application is achieved.
Co-owner of Signs Express (Cardiff),
Grant Zehetmayr commented: “As a
keen extreme sports fan and graphic
arts enthusiast, it was a great project in
which to get involved. We have
completed vehicle wraps for other
customers on this scale but never with
such a high profile and for such a
worthwhile cause.”
For further information on 3Mgraphic solutions, visit:www.3M.co.uk/graphicsolutions andfor further information on thecompetition visit:www.737challenge.com
3M and Signs Express support 737 Challenge
Will Tyler, Chief Executive of
Octink, has been invited to join thejudging panel for the Queen’s
Awards for Enterprise, in the
category of Sustainable
Development.
The awards, which are made
annually by HM The Queen,
recognise the highest levels of
excellence demonstrated by UK
businesses in the categories of
Innovation, International Trade and
Sustainable Development.
For further information visit:ww.octink.com
Bowden and Dolphin has won a
major new contract to provide the
signage package for Yardley's SwanCentre, which will include the
design and manufacture of
directional signage as well as front-
of-house signs for the shopping
centre itself
Located on a 100,000 sq. ft site, the
shopping centre comprises 26 retail
units in total, including Tesco Extra,
Costa, Specsavers, and Pets 4 U.
For further information visit:w w w . b o w d e n a n ddolphinsigns.co
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 7
news
Metamark has
appointed NeillBoatman to
the role of
Territory Sales
M a n a g e r
covering the
south east of the UK.
Neill, who has been involved in
the material and media supply
markets for a number of years, is
already a familiar face within the
industry and, since he previously
ran his own company in the
graphics sector, he also knows the
industry from both sides of the
counter.
He joins Metamark at a
particularly busy time in the
company's development and is
looking forward to showing its
large portfolio of products,
together with some exciting new
additions to both established and
new customers.
Canon has
a p p o i n t e d
Rokus vanIperen as the
new President
& CEO of Canon Europe, Middle
East and Africa (EMEA). He
becomes the first European to
lead Canon’s business across the
EMEA region, succeeding
Ryoichi Bamba, who is retiring
after four years in the role and 40
years with Canon.
Rokus Van Iperen previously
served as Chairman & CEO of Océ
N.V., which was acquired by
Canon Inc. in March 2010. He
originally joined Océ N.V. in 1978,
where his key achievements
included the acquisitions and
subsequent integration of the
Siemens Nixdorf Printing Division
and Imagistics Inc. into the Océ
organisation.
Mimaki has
r e c e n t l y
announced that
its current
Executive Vice-
P r e s i d e n t ,
H i s a y u k iKobayashi, is to become the
company’s new President
following the retirement of MikioNoguchi, in late June. .
Appointments
In Brief
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 8
newsnews briefing
showtime
DIA
RY D
ATE
S FO
R 2012 Marketing Week Live 2012
27th-28th JuneGrand Hall, Olympia, London Organiser: Centaure-mail: [email protected]
Viscom France 201225th-27th SeptemberParis Nord VillepinteOrganiser: Reed ExpoTel: +33 1475 66 782e-mail: [email protected]
EcoPrint26th-27th SeptemberThe Station, Potsdamer Platz, BerlinOrganiser: FM BrooksTel: 01372 370821e-mail: [email protected]
Viscom Italy 20124th-6th OctoberFiera Milano, MilanOrganiser: Reed ExpoTel: +39 02 435 170-1e-mail: [email protected]
Sign & Digital Ireland 2012 24th-25th OctoberCitywest Convention Centre, Dublin, IrelandOrganiser: Faversham House GroupTel: 0208 651 7155www.signuk.com
Viscom Germany 201225th-27th OctoberExhibition Centre, FrankfurtOrganiser: Reed ExpoTel: +49 211 90191-219e-mail: [email protected]
If you would like your event to feature on this page,please send full information via e-mail to Val Hirst [email protected]
As part of its ‘Do more. Be More’
awareness-raising poster
campaign, the Territorial Army
(TA) and out-of-home advertising
company Clear Channel
commissioned Prismaflex UK to
install an illuminated poster on
one of the peaks of the Brecon
Beacons mountain range in Wales.
The location for many of the training
exercises carried out by part-time
soldiers, who have served recently in
the British Army in Afghanistan and
Iraq, the Brecon Beacons provided the
TA’s installation team with a plethora
of challenges, not least of which was
the weather!
Primasflex, which is based in
Newhaven, Sussex, selected its largest
standard format for the mountain
posting, a 96-sheet made of mesh and
in total, the installation necessitated
the transportation of three and a half
tonnes of kit up the mountain, Corn
Du, including the poster itself, the
frame and the electrics for the hoped-
for illumination
“This was clearly a big test for the TA
but also for us,” said Prismaflex’s
Managing Director, Tom Weaver. “Our
posters work well on the high street
but we’d never tried to erect one on a
windswept mountain before!”
The intrepid TA team’s first attempt
was confounded by the climate when
a storm made the first peak unsafe for
climbers, let alone poster installers, but
the second attempt worked, even
though weather conditions were still
uncomfortably blustery. Happily,
when the poster was switched on, the
TA’s bold slogan could be seen blazing
away over the foggy peaks.
Tom Weaver commented: “I was
amazed at the skill and commitment
shown by the TA team and, since their
motto is ‘nothing is impossible.’ I was
both pleased and relieved that we
didn’t let them down!”
To watch the installation visit:
h t t p : / /www . a rmy .mod . uk /
join/26838.aspx
For further information on
Prismaflex visit:
www.prismaflex.com
Nothing is impossible!
‘Don’t look down!’ was the
excellent advice that Lisa Metcalfwas given before she and her
fiancé, Ian Moncrief, recently
risked life and limb abseiling from
the top of Bristol’s Premier Inn
hotel, which at 200 ft tall, is one of
the city’s highest hotels. Lisa, who
is Roland DG (UK)’s Marketing
Manger, and Ian, braved the wind
and rain in order to make a
successful descent that raised over
£800.00 for CLIC Sargent, the
children’s cancer charity.
Anyone wishing to make adonation can do so by visitingwww.clicsargent.co.uk
Don’t Look Down!
Lisa descends the Premier Innto raise money for CLIC
Lisa and Iain descend the Premier Inn
new projects
projectsINSA | London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games | University of Salford | Boodies |
Salford City Stadium
Sign Directions April / May2012 | 10
new
Renowned UK artist INSA, who has beenproducing his unique artwork for more thanten years, commissioned BAF Graphics todigitally print and install fabric-backedwallcovering in order to showcase his one-night installation entitled ‘Self Reflection is
greater than Self Projection’. The exhibition,which draws on familiar INSA themes, such associety’s twin obsessions with money andimage, was held in London's Shoreditch areaand featured 160m2 of wall covered inDigimura 2.1 Smooth and 60m2 of Aslan floor
vinyl with anti-slip laminate. The entireprinting and installation process was carriedout by BAF and documented from start tofinish.
For further information visit:www.baf.co.uk
Icon worked closely withAdidas to deliver the launch ofTeam GB's athletes’ kit for theforthcoming London 2012Olympic and ParalympicGames at a star-studded eventheld at the Tower of London.Icon constructed a temporarystructure in the grounds of theTower, which had a seatingcapacity of 250. In addition,there was a 12-metrecatwalk/stage. The kit, designedfor Adidas by Stella McCartney,
was modelled by Team GBathletes, including Jessica Ennisand Phillips Idowu, whoshowed it off in dramaticfashion with state of the art,laser mapped projectionbringing the stage set to life,whilst video content featuringsome of the athletes provided adramatic backdrop for on-stageperformances.
For further information visit:www.icon-world.com
Photo courtesy of Ian Cox
The ground floor of theUniversity of Salford’s uniquedigital learning, teaching andresearch space, which opened lastOctober at Salford’sMediaCityUK, is now dominatedby a digital interactive showcasethat includes a formalpresentation space and teninteractive touch tables designedto engage visitors. The centralfeature is a high-resolution displaywall made up from 120 ChristieMicroTiles, which are able todisplay images of 9600-3840resolution.
The building is home to 1500students and staff, offering bothundergraduate and postgraduatecourses in all aspects of radio, TV,computer games, and digitalmedia production, as well asproviding research facilities.
The entrance area of the newbuilding itself is known as ‘TheEgg’, and is described as ‘a publiclyaccessible digital interactiveshowcase for visitors andstudents’. It has been designed asa flexible space where resourcescan be deployed in different ways,with cameras and PC’s installed formotion tracking.
The Centre prepared the originaltechnical design for VirtualEnvironments at the University ofSalford and Electrosonic wasawarded the contract to engineerand install the complete system.The MicroTiles wall has initiallybeen installed as a 15 x 8 array;however in future, the tiles may beredeployed to achieve project-specific layouts.
For further information visit:www.christiedigital.eu
Sign Directions April / May 2012 | 11
Boodles, one of the UK’smost highly respected jewellers,with stores located throughoutthe UK, recently commissionedPaul Turner Displays, withwhom it has a longstandingrelationship, to produce its newseason shop fronts and internaldisplays. Whilst ensuring thatinstallation provided for aseamless transition between thenew spring look and the
previous Christmas theme, PaulTurner Displays also had toproduce each display, which hadto be individually crafted in orderto fit the varying window sizeswithin the different Boodles’stores, so that they could beeasily assembled by store staff,
For further information visit: www.paulturnerdisplays.co.uk
Following its earliersuccessful branding of thenew Premiere Grandstandat Fontwell Park Racecoursein West Sussex, Sign 2000was again nominated byleading land regenerationand construction contractorBuckingham Group tomanufacture and installsignage at the newlydeveloped Salford CityStadium. Home to SuperLeague rugby team theSalford Reds, the stadiumwas built on a brown field site andincorporates a banqueting andconference suite and seating for12,000 spectators.
The signage covered the exterior ofthe stadium and the back wall ofthe reception area. The main IDbranding comprised a host of built-up fascia and halo-lit letterstogether with supplementary fourmetre-wide club brand logos andlow-level club shop, ticket officeand entrance signage. Main brand
logos and larger text were deliveredin two stages, with a first-fixstructural steelwork with stud rodsinstalled by Sign 2000 prior toinstallation of a plasterboard wallcovering by the principalcontractor. This preparatory workwas carried out to support thesignage that was superimposedonto the façade cladding featuringa special finish.
For further information visitwww.sign2000.co.uk
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 12
news briefing
Supplier News
In order to maintain its long-term
growth strategy, W&Co Design
Solutions has moved into new,
larger premises located at
Lakeside in Essex.
The purpose built commercial unit,
which has been specially customised
to suit W&Co’s precise requirements,
provides the company with three
times as much warehouse space as its
previous premises and will thus
enable it to increase its stockholding,
which it claims, will also lead to a
reduction of its stock prices. In
addition, the new unit will provide
twice as much production space, plus
1000sq.ft of first floor office space and
a dedicated 400sq.ft. showroom that
will be used to display the company’s
energy efficient displays and signs.
Appropriately, for a company that
majors on its energy efficient and
recyclable products, W& Co has
installed low energy LED lighting
throughout the property, using the
same slim line LED light panels and
LED tubes that it also now offers its
clients.
For further information visit:
www.w-co.co.uk
W&Co is on the move
Following recent calls for a
patriotic economic policy, UK Point
of Sale (UK POS) has thrown its
support behind the campaign
developed by Stoves, which was
launched to encourage UK
businesses to promote and display
the official ‘Made in Britain’ logo
on their products.
The company will thus be adopting the
‘Made in Britain’ logo and displaying it
alongside products which are
manufactured from acrylic and PVC at
its site in Greater Manchester.
For further information visit:
www.ukpos.com
UK POS fliesthe flag
PaperlinX has agreed to sell its
Italian business, Polyedra, to
Lecta, the European Paper
manufacturer, for €45 million.
Commenting on the sale, PaperlinX
Executive Vice President Dave Allen
said: “It 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 earlier this year and
the company expects it to realise
savings of A$61m by FY14.
Dave Allen continued: “We have a
profitable UK business 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 one percent
reduction in our cost to sales ratio
represents some A$40m. We are
aiming for a three percent total cost
reduction, half of which will be
generated from the current plans by
FY14.”
The sale is subject to the usual
regulatory approvals and a final value
audit.
For further information visit:
www.paperlinx.com
PaperlinX sells Polyedra
Following its win last year of
the Silver Award, AntalisMcNaughton has achieved the
Gold Award in the RoSPAOccupational Health and
Safety Awards 2012, for its approach
to the prevention of accidents
and ill health. The Awards
programme is designed to provide
recognition for the winners and to
encourage other organisations to
raise their standards of accident and
ill health prevention.
For further information visit:www.antalis-mcnaughton.co.uk
Digiprint Supplies, the on-line,one-stop shop for spare parts,
accessories, software and tools for all
eco-solvent, solvent and UV digital
wide format printers has now also
become a distributor for Purexfume extraction systems, including
the Purex Captivair Max system,
which is compatible with all of the
popular makes of printer.
For further information visit:www.digiprintsupplies.com
The Warwickshire-basedIndustrial Adhesive Solutions(Indasol) has acquiredAvanti Tapesin a deal that will enable Indasol to
add new products and services to its
extensive range of specialist
industrial adhesives and tape
solutions.
For further informationvisit:www.indasol.co.uk
Following an agreement made
between Reklamide AB, the
manufacturers of the RollsRoller
Flatbed Applicator, Spandex Grouphas been granted international
distribution rights covering fourteen
countries. Thus, Spandex UK has
now been appointed as a further UK
distributor of the RollsRoller
Applicator series, which will also
continue to be available from
William Smith, who has distributed
the RollsRoller for the past seven
years.
For further information visit:www.williamsmith.co.uk andwww.spandex.co.uk.
In Brief
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 13
Powered access provider Smart
Platform Rental has marked its
tenth anniversary of hiring
self-drive truck mounted
cherry pickers with the recent
opening of its third depot in
Manchester.
The 6,700 sq.ft. facility is sited in
Trafford Park which is located only
four minutes from the M60
Manchester Orbital and 15
minutes from the M6, thus offering
easy access to Greater Manchester,
Merseyside, Lancashire and
Cheshire, as well as trans Pennine
routes. It also expands the existing
Smart network; the Sutton
Coldfield branch serving the
Midlands and Hemel Hempstead
depot supplying the south east.
For further information visit:
www.smartplatforms.co.uk
A smart expansion
Metamark’s hefty
‘Brick’ SignVinyl
and Speciality
Materials swatch
now has a
somewhat lighter-
weight cousin,
which Metamark
refers to as the e-
Brick.
This new innovation
takes a useful chunk of the Metamark
Brick’s contents, the four series and
seven series SignVinyl ranges, and packs
it into an intuitive and easy-to-use
iPhone app that makes material colour
selection and specification even easier.
The new app uses the iPhone’s camera
to capture images of anything its user
might want to survey. The captured
images can be saved and subsequently
examined in close detail using a
touch-controlled cursor. The app
dynamically calculates and displays the
closest available Metamark SignVinyl
matches for the image area under the
cursor’s focus.
Captured images and corresponding
selected matches can be saved for
future reference and the entire swatch
can also be browsed without making a
match reference to an image. Full
product data sheets are also stored
within the app and it’s possible to e-mail
Metamark directly from the application.
The app is available free of charge on
Apple’s app store listed under ‘e-Brick’.
For further information visit:
www.metamark.co.uk
Metamark launches e-Brick app
news
news briefing newsSupplier News
Tecna Display has won theQueen’s Award for Enterprise inInternational Trade in respect ofT3, its advanced modular displaysystem.
A strong, lightweight, fast and easy
to build framework, which, when
clad in graphics, can be used to
create exhibition stands, walls and
retail and POS displays, T3 has been
used for many high profile projects
and companies worldwide. In fact,
over the last three years, Tecna has
seen overseas sales of the product
increase by an incredible 92 percent.
Jonathan Evitt, owner of Tecna and
also the designer of the T3 products
commented: “The last three years
have been very challenging for the
display and exhibitions industry, but
we have managed to buck the trend
by developing a high quality product
that stands out in the market place.
The Queen’s Award is a huge honour
and we are absolutely delighted as it
recognises the hard work that we
and our global distributors have put
into the brand.”
For more information visit:www.tecnadisplay.com.
Metamark has introduced itsnew Digital Media and SignVinylProduct and Price Guides, whichreveal that the company’spricing structures remainunchanged.
The new guides continue to detail
the full range of Metamark Digital
Media, as well as its range of
SignVinyl and speciality materials.
Both material ranges have grown
and the new guides also detail the
new material and media
introductions. The company’s class-
leading value, shipping costs and
pricing policies remain unchanged
and Metamark claims that if the
product appears in the price guide,
it’s also in stock and ready to
despatch the day it’s ordered. In
order to
m a i n t a i n
this level of
c u s t o m e r
service the
company has
r e c e n t l y
relocated to
larger distribution
premises that are
better able to
accommodate its
larger inventory and
handle increased
order traffic.
In addition to despatching customer
orders the day they’re placed,
Metamark will also despatch sample
rolls of materials and media the day
they are requested too.
Both guides are available free ofchange by [email protected] or bycalling Metamark’s sales desk on0845 3455645
EFI has acquired NanoPrint, a
miniaturisation company
based in American Samoa.
The company plans to use the
NanoPrint technology to
release a Micro-VUTEk
pocket-printer, driven by a
Fiery Mini-RIP, for the
creation of many unique, on-
demand applications,
including individual business
cards, labels, ID tags, and e-
signatures.
Current CEO Edward Minimi will
step down and CTO Michael
Smolen will take on the role as
the new general manager of EFI
Miniature Printing in American
Samoa.
In a separate announcement, EFI
revealed that it has also acquired
the privately held Metrics
Sistemas de Informacao, a
leader in ERP (MIS) systems for
the printing and packaging
industries in Latin America.
Based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Metrics
has built a base of more than 250
customers in Brazil and Latin
America during the past 14 years.
Now, the company, under the
leadership of Osmar Barbosa, co-
founder and CEO of Metrics, will
become part of EFI's software
applications portfolio. EFI intends
to integrate support and
operation of Metrics into the
existing Business Software
organisation, while continuing to
enhance the product offerings.
While financial terms of these
transactions were not disclosed,
the acquisitions are not expected
to be material to EFI's 2012
results.
For further information visit:
www.efi.com
EFI on theacquisitiontrail
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 14
Queen’s Award for Tecna
Metamark issuesnew price guides
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 16
William Smith is now supplyingHP PVC-Free Wall Paper, whichprovides signmakers with ahigh quality, odour freealternative to vinyl for use inshort or long-term interiordisplay and decorativeapplications.
Offering vibrant colour
reproduction and high definition
details, HP Wall Paper is ideal for
wall murals and other creative
displays with an ultra smooth finish.
The material comes pre-pasted for
easy application, strips off easily and
is easier to dispose of than
traditional PVC-based products.
As well as meeting commercial wall
covering standards, it is also flame
retardant, comes with an HP
warranty for clean removal and has
an indoor durability of up to 20
years, dependent upon location.
HP PVC-Free Wall Paper is available
in 1372mm (54in) x 30.5m (100ft)
rolls and same day despatch is
offered on orders received up to
6.00pm.
For further information visit:www.williamsmith.co.uk
Another hang-up
Two new Avery FleXtreme‘micro-squeegees’ are the latestadditions to the professionalAvery Tools range from AveryDennison.
Developed in close co-operation
with Avery Dennison’s professional
tool applicator network across
Europe, Avery FleXtreme squeegees
are specifically intended for intricate
vinyl graphics applications featuring
very tight, compressed compound
curves and other narrow substrate
indentations.
Supplied in a specially designed
plastic grip that fits easily into the
Avery Toolbelt, the products are
available in two logo-branded
versions, with the blue version being
designed to facilitate film application
in areas of narrow curves and over
the edges of car panels, and to
ensure that the film conforms
appropriately around the edges of
logos and emblems. The red version
is the ideal choice for film application
over narrow, concave parts of a car,
such as the grille, around the
headlights and the weatherseals
around doors and windows.
Available in boxes of 25 per quality,
they are available from Avery
Dennison Graphics and Reflective
Solutions distributors throughout
Europe.
For further informationvisit:www.europe.averygraphics.com
Super squeegees
news briefing
Equipment & Material
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 17
Doming has become one of themost widely used technologiesthrough which sign manufacturerscan introduce a vital new revenuestream by extending their coreactivities to include theproduction of nameplates, labels,badges and decals as well as a hostof garment and accessorydecoration applications.
The highly innovative PolyDrop
doming system, which is now
available in the UK from its recently
appointed exclusive distributor
Graphtec GB and its dealer network,
offers the most cost-effective route to
these potentially lucrative new
markets.
The system, which is manufactured in
Italy by a company with 30-year history
of producing high-quality
polyurethane and epoxy resins central
to the doming process, is supplied
with a start-up kit that includes both
manual and automatic feed functions,
resin dispenser and polyurethane
doming resins and hardeners. The
PolyDrop solution dispenses the
polyurethane resin to a wide range of
substrates commonly used in
signmaking, including ABS, vinyl,
polystyrene, polycarbonate,
aluminium and acrylic, as well as
fabrics such as Lycra, cotton, cotton
mixes and nylon used in the printwear
and promotional products sector.
The Tex Drop application of the
system uses a thermo-adhesive film on
to which an image is printed, cut out
and then domed with a choice of resin,
including a special glitter effect option,
using an industry-standard heat press
that helps accelerate the doming
process. Polyurethane resins are
extremely flexible and provide a high
level of resistance to solvents, abrasion
and UV degradation. They are also
completely safe to handle and
available in different approved grades
for a wide range of interior and exterior
applications.
The resin can be applied using a
choice of either manual or automatic
feed functions. The manual function
enables the creation of, for example,
domed labels in any shape and size in
a particularly intuitive way, while the
automatic function will enable around
1,400 labels to be domed in just one
hour.
The system is extremely easy to
operate and requires no special
training or operator skills. It also
requires only standard signmaking
software and a desktop space to start
the process and to show a fast return
on investment for all users.
For further information visitwww.graphtecgb.co.uk
Dome, sweet dome!
With materials constantlyevolving to suit the demandsof ever more adventurousapplications, there is an evengreater need for precision,especially in the area ofvehicle wrapping.
This is why Metamark has
introduced Vehicle Magnets,
which are designed to hold
printed vehicle graphics in place
whilst they are being applied,
thus making the whole
application process much easier
for the applicator.
The rubber-coated magnets are
43mm in diameter and, with a
60mm handle, they’re easy to
position and remove. Sold in
pairs, Metamark’s Vehicle
Magnets will appeal to busy
wrap-stars everywhere.
For further information visit:www.metamark.co.uk
Magneticappeal
news
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 18
news briefing newsEquipment & Material
Components can now begiven a whole newdimension without anyinvestment in equipment,thanks to a new service fromBPD Manufacturing.
With 20 years’ experience in the
quality application of spray
satin, gloss, textured,
woodgrain and splatter surface
finishes, BPD has recently
expanded its range of 500
standard colours with the
addition of a further 15 new
shades, for application to
plastics including PVC-u, ABS,
GRP, nylon and polyethylene,
metal, wood and glass. The
company delivers a finish that is
colourful yet scratch resistant,
UV stable and guaranteed
weatherproof for 10 years. Anti-
graffiti and fire-retardant
options are also available.
Using specialist computerised
equipment, BPD has the further
capability to create any RAL or
Pantone colour, or colour-
match as required, on orders
from ‘one-off’ prototypes to
large volume batches, coating
the whole unit, or selected faces
or sections as required.
For further information visit:www .bu i l d i ngp r odu c tdesign.com
A perfectfinish
3M has combined the 3MScotchcal Graphic Film Series IJ40with the new Scotchcal Over-laminate 8019/8020 to provide ahighly competitive integratedgraphics solution. This latestoffering again demonstrates 3M’sability to meet a wide range ofcustomer needs, including highperformance products at anaccessible cost.
Scotchcal Graphic Film Series IJ40 is a
five-year polymeric film available in a
gloss or matte finish with either a
permanent or removable pressure-
sensitive adhesive, with or without
3M Comply air release technology.
The majority of films feature a grey,
pigmented adhesive that offers
excellent hiding power for
applications requiring this particular
performance enhancement.
Scotchcal Over-laminate 8019/8020 is
a transparent polymeric laminate
material, also available in either a
gloss or matte format, with a
pressure-sensitive adhesive. Both
films can be converted using solvent-
based piezo inkjet printing systems
and are covered by the 3M MCS
(Matched Component System)
Warranty for appropriate
intermediate applications.
This new integrated graphics solution
can be used for a range of diverse
applications involving flat or gently
curved surfaces, including vehicle
fleet and window graphics, interior
and exterior signage and backlit signs
and displays. The solution is available
from 3M primary distributors William
Smith and Spandex.
For further information, visitw w w . 3 M . c o . u k / g r a p h i c solutions
A cunning combination
Cheshire West and ChesterCouncil recently specified Stylosfingerposts from William Smithfor use along a 3KM length of anold railway corridor to create atraffic-free route and to link upwith the existing ChesterMillennium Greenway.
On this occasion, three-armed Stylos
units were stove enamelled dark
green with white text applied to both
sides of the arms, in order to meet the
regulatory style of Greenway signs, but
a wide choice of styles and colourways
ensures that Stylos fingerposts blend
sympathetically with both urban and
rural environments.
Designed to point in up to eight
different directions, they feature a
concealed internal fixing system,
comprising an inner post into which
the pre-drilled aluminium arms are
slotted and secured into position. This
enables the fingers to be securely set
either at one height or at several
different levels. Available as complete
units or supplied in component form,
Stylos is offered in a range of finishes
including anti-graffiti film.
In addition, William Smith can create a
range of bespoke features, such as
specially designed and manufactured
finial caps, incorporation of special
crests and logos, and specific colour
matches, so that Sylos can be used to
complement other street furniture
and signage.
For further information visit:www.williamsmith.co.uk
Stylos points the way
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 19
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 20
We’ve been asked toprovide some exteriorfloor graphics for one ofour regular customers.
The graphics are going to beplaced on concrete outside of abusy shopping area so must behard wearing and have theability to be easily removed andthen replaced every so often. Doyou have any suggestions?
Jezebel Signs, Northallerton
There are floor graphics
that are suitable for
outdoor usage, typically
concrete and asphalt, but as the
majority of coverings designed for
this purpose would be a permanent
fixture you would need to make sure
that you choose a floor covering that
is short-term, removable and residue
free, in order to ensure that there is
no unwanted adhesive left behind
when you want to change them.
The ideal product to look for is a
dual-purpose vinyl that is suitable for
outdoor usage on rough surfaces,
such as pavement and tarmac, as
this will be more robust and
therefore resistant to scratches and
footsteps. As the graphics are going
to be placed in a high footfall area,
the safest option is to use a non-slip
laminate along with the vinyl. Not
only will the laminate provide the
graphics with non-slip properties
but it will also offer added protection
from dirt and abrasions, thus
providing vibrant results for a longer
time period.
For the best results you also need to
source a high quality white gloss
vinyl that enables you to produce a
high contrast, brilliant print image
that also achieves outstanding
opacity, which counteracts any
show-through of dark surfaces it
may be adhered to.
There are two products in the
Euromedia range that would be
suitable for your customer’s
requirements and which tick all of
the boxes listed above; these are
Street Vinyl and Street Laminate.
Stick to these guidelines (no pun
intended) to ensure you get vibrant,
non-slip floor graphics that your
customer can remove (residue-free)
and update whenever they want.
Good luck!
For further information on theEuromedia range of productsvisit: www.euromedia-eu.com
Q
A
In its latest advice column, Fujifilm’s Euromedia experts advise on thesuitability of floor graphics for placement onto concrete
information
Tips and Tricks
Perspex Distribution Limitedhas added the full range ofSloanLED products tocomplement its extensiverange of Perspex cast acrylicand thermoplastic sheets,thus enabling signmakers,specifiers and designers topurchase both LED productsand specialist Perspex sheetsfrom a single supply source.
In addition to the new range,
Perspex Distribution will also be
providing a free estimate and
layout service, together with
expert advice and support.
“We continue to listen to the
changing requirements within
the sign industry,” explained
Craig Dodson, Director at
Perspex Distribution, “and this
new partnership with SloanLED
will enable our customers to
easily access what we believe to
be the best quality LEDs in the
market. Our expanding range
of specialist Perspex material
for LED use further
demonstrates our continued
focus on providing quality
material for the sign industry.”
Recent product development
includes Perspex Spectrum LED,
developed for signmakers and
designers who are looking to
make an impact with light.
Using white LEDs, Perspex
Spectrum colours have been
specially formulated to give
optimised colour performance
with both transmitted and
reflected light.
Commenting on its decision to
supply Perspex Distribution
Barry Blythe, Sales Director at
SloanLED, said: “We are
delighted to be working
alongside Perspex Distribution
and believe that our SloanLED
products offer the superior
brightness that will be the
perfect complement to their
specialist LED materials.
Perspex Distribution will stock
our full range of LEDs,
combining over 50 years of
product development with the
very best customer support.”
As well as stocking SloanLED
products, Perspex Distribution
supply a complete range of
semi-finished plastics including
Perspex acrylic sheet, extruded
acrylic, rod & tube, Alupanel
aluminium composite, Bencore
composite, Polycarbonate,
APET & PETG, foamed PVC, rigid
PVC and polystyrene.
For a free LED estimate orfurther information onSloanLED products visitwww.perspex.co.uk.
The future is bright
Lighting
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 21
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 22
innovation
When HP first introduced theconcept of latex ink back in 2008, itheralded a new era of moreenvironmentally friendly printedsigns and graphics, which,nevertheless, still retained all ofthe well-documented advantagesof solvent inks, in terms of a richand vibrant colour gamut and longterm outdoor durability.
I can remember being at that
particular press launch and can also
recall the mild scepticism that initially
greeted this new ink technology, but
HP was obviously right on the money,
because since then, the demand for
greener graphics has grown
exponentially. An aqueous resin-based
ink, which has no odour and which
emits no hazardous compounds, thus
eliminating the need for fume
extraction or ventilation equipment,
the demand for latex printing
technology was initially fuelled by the
many leading retailers, who having
nailed their own environmental
colours firmly to the mast, felt duty
bound to insist that their in-store
displays were solvent free. However,
latex printing has since become much
more mainstream, with many other
categories of customer now also
requesting ‘greener graphics’ too. This
trend is reflected in the fact that HP
reputedly sold a substantial number of
latex printers within the UK during the
past year.
Now, Mimaki is all set to further
advance the momentum with the
introduction of its new JV400 LX, a
printer that will help to ensure that
latex printing becomes the default
printing mode for sign and display
companies everywhere.
To learn more and to see the machine
properly in action, I visit Crewe-based
Hybrid Services, Mimaki’s UK and
Ireland distributor, where Sales
Manager John de la Roche and
Marketing Manager Duncan Jefferies
are on hand to discuss the benefits of
latex printing in general and the more
specific charms of the JV400 LX.
According to John de la Roche, the
JV400 LX, which is available in a choice
of two widths, 1.3m and 1.6m, and can
be used in either four or six colour
configurations, offers two very specific
in-built advantages: Firstly, it benefits
from the impeccable pedigree that its
JV status confers and secondly, it offers
a white ink option, something that is
totally new in the world of latex
printing and which significantly
expands the scope of possible
applications.
John explains that the machine also
scores another first, in as much as the
JV400 LX is one of the first of a whole
raft of new Mimaki printers to use a
new style piezo print engine that
employs 320 nozzles per head to
deliver a four picolitre dot size,
together with variable
dot technology to ensure high
quality print. Regular Mimaki users will
also be reassured to know that this
new innovation has been
masterminded by Shinichi Uehara,
General Manager of Mimaki’s Sign and
Graphics Business Unit and the man
who developed the whole JV series of
machines, including the JV3 which is
widely credited as being the machine
that really spearheaded the uptake of
digital printing within the sign
industry. Its ease-of-use benefits, in
terms of being plug and play and
requiring minimal maintenance or
engineer related intervention are thus
safely assured.
“What the new head development
means in practice,” John says, “is that
the printheads use less ink, print
quality remains consistently high and,
unlike thermal printheads, they don’t
need frequent replacement, so waste
is reduced with obvious cost-saving
benefits for users and the
environment”.
In addition, the provision of a second
ink cartridge for each ink colour, which
automatically kicks in when the first
cartridge is empty, means the machine
can be safely left to run unattended
overnight if desired, further improving
productivity. The cartridges
themselves are supplied as 600cc sacks
that fit neatly into Mimaki’s Eco Cases,
which as well as reducing packaging
requirements
and shipping
volumes, also help to
further bolster the machine’s green
credentials
John goes on to say that Mimaki has
ensured that the JV400 LX can be used
in conjunction with the widest
possible selection of materials by
cleverly reducing the traditionally high
curing temperatures required to
provide dry-to-touch latex output that
can immediately be laminated or
packed for despatch. Its new latex ink
is quick drying, and is aided and
abetted by the printer’s three heaters –
pre-print, print and post-print – all of
which run at temperatures of below
60C. These are further complemented
with built-in drying fans, with the
result that the printed output needs
no ‘gassing-off’ time.
Referring to the JV400 LX that currently
takes pride of place in the company’s
demo suite, John confides: “We are
experimenting with lots of different
substrates and are very excited about
some of the effects that we are
achieving on all sorts of unusual
materials.”
John flicks the ‘on’ switch and I witness
the JV400 LX’s fast start-up from cold,
yet another benefit of the lower curing
temperatures that are such a big
feature of the machine, as it begins to
print a vibrant floral pattern onto
The product that caused the biggest buzz atthe recent FESPA and Sign & Digital UKexhibitions was undoubtedly Mimaki’s new JV400LX wide format printer, which uses Mimaki’s newlatex ink to take digital printing to a whole newlevel. Val Hirst reports
The Mimakificationof Latex
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 23
In marketing speak, ‘whitespace’ defines a condition whereneeds are not met by currentlyavailable products. White spacesometimes only becomesobvious when a new productfirst generates a demand for itslogical successor - HP’s latex inkis an example. No sooner was itintroduced, than the marketbegan to ask: ‘where’s the whiteink?” The answer comes in theshape of Mimaki’s new JV400 LXseries printer and the seven-colour, white included, latexinkset it uses.
Mimaki has a huge equity with
legions of very satisfied businesses
operating printers with a JV prefix.
Now, those users have a clearly lit
career path to greener pastures with
Mimaki and to elevated standards of
productivity, ease of use and
outright versatility.
New print hardware often has to
fight its corner behind specmanship
and Top-Gear like 0-60 times. The
new JV400 LX series can do that too,
but it can also engage what to many
will be new tactics to land its
knockout punches. It’s not just a fast
printer, it’s an amazingly productive
one too.
Output that emerges from the JV400
LX series is ready to roll and put in a
box for shipping - it doesn’t smell. It
can be laminated without waiting
for hours - it’s dry and fully cured-
out. It can be applied immediately to
whatever substrate - it’s genuinely
ready-to-use. Being able to use
printed output without waiting
doesn’t erode lead times - it
absolutely flattens them.
With droplet sizes as small as four
pico-litres and a big bag of smarts
controlling ink delivery, quality from
the JV400 LX series is going to satisfy
the closest and most critical scrutiny.
With much lower drying
temperatures than might be
expected, the JV400 LX isn’t exactly
narrowly talented in terms of the
media it can handle either. It uses all
the industry staples, such as vinyl
and then some, such as textiles –
printing with the same ink. It’s a
potent mix of application led
versatility and the means to go after
any and all work that comes its way.
White ink underscores the JV400 LX
series’ versatility even further. It
opens the applications mix to
include a whole class of output that’s
simply off limits to printers without
white ink. Add to that the low-odour
and benign environmental signature
delivered as standard, and the new
Mimaki printer looks as capable of
attracting first time buyers to the JV
fold as it clearly is of retaining
established Mimaki users.
The new JV400 LX series is bristling
with innovation, not least its MCT
system. Mimaki Circulation
Technology keeps the white
pigments in suspension in the ink
without any manual intervention
from the operator. That means great
looking whites - always. The printer
also boasts a failure averting nozzle
recovery function, and who needs
bulk ink when you can have
continuous supply and no
interruptions to production?
It ticks all the right boxes in an
outright specification comparison
but promises much more in the
simple and very practical terms on
which it appeals. Superb, odour free
output with touch-button simplicity.
Output that’s ready to use as soon as
it’s printed. Fewer customer
objections. More application
possibilities.
White space? Consider it filled!
wallpaper in its fastest mode of
18.1sq.m/hr. The highest quality
output can be achieved at speeds of
12-14sq.m/hr.
Duncan Jefferies believes that this
wider choice of media, together with
the white ink, which is available as a
seventh colour when users opt to
use the six colour inkset, will help to
secure the JV400 LX a reputation as
the most versatile all-rounder.
He observes: “It will enable our
customers to deliver high quality
output for use in a wide range of
different applications at high speed,
whilst also satisfying the increasing
demand for ecologically responsible
print. Whatever the application,
whether it’s signs, banners, POP,
exhibition graphics, soft signage –
the JV400 LX can do it all!”
Priced at just under £23,000 for the
JV400-130LX and just below £25,000
for the JV400-160LX, he adds that for
the many sign companies who
originally entered the digital arena
some years ago and who are now
ready to re-invest in equipment, the
Mimaki latex printer also represents
excellent value for money.
From everything I’ve seen so far I
think it could well prove to be the
best investment signmakers will ever
make – will you be one of them?
The Mimaki JV400 LX printer is available through HybridServices’ specialist resellernetwork. For further informationor to arrange a demonstrationvisit: www.hybridservices.co.uk
Here, Mark Godden, who first saw the JV400 LX in action at FESPA in Barcelona, where Mimaki received 150 pre-orders,explains why he believes the machine’s white ink option will help to fill ‘white space’.
Filling the white space
A question of quality
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 24
When Mark Godden penned hispiece for last month’s issue, heobviously tapped into aconundrum that is taxing manysignmakers at present – namelyhow to uphold quality during thischallenging economic climate,when often, it seems, it’s thecompany that quotes the lowestprice who waltzes away with theproject, even though that mightmean using inappropriatematerials and/or installationtechniques.
It’s a curious thing, but ever since I first
came into the sign industry in 1990,
I’ve been struck by the seeming
reluctance of sign companies to realise
a proper profit. In fact, I’d go as far as
to say that in their approach to
business, signmakers go all girly. Whist
companies operating in other
industries proudly boast about how
much money they are making,
signmakers almost seem to vie with
each other to make as little as they
possibly can on every job, no matter
how prestigious or complex it might
be. Instead of going in bullishly with a
price roughly double what they really
expect to make, you can almost see
them standing there clutching their
hands and saying “Ooh no, please
don’t pay me too much – I’m really
rubbish me!”
This has had the disastrous effect of
persuading just about everyone – sign
buyers, main contractors, architects,
designers, specifiers, Uncle Tom
Cobley and all - that good signing can
be easily achieved for a tiny fraction of
the overall cost of any project. And,
during a time of economic restraint
everyone simply expects that the
already low price should be further
reduced, even thoughcosts are still
rising.
By setting such a low benchmark for
themselves over the years, many
signmakers have ruled themselves out
of the quality market, which is fine if
every job is viewed as a ‘one hit
wonder’, but does nothing to foster
on-going client relationships.
So how to redress the balance? David
Catanach, Mark Godden and Mike Hall
offer their suggestions overleaf, whilst
below, author, poet and artist John
Ruskin offers some sound words of
wisdom and Jamie Wood of
Onthecase illustrates why the quality
option is always the best one.
Originally formed in the spring of2009, Onthecase, the supplier ofhigh quality modular Showcases, isowned and managed by JamieWood, who as the former ManagingDirector of Wood & Wood Signs, acompany renowned for its stylishlyunderstated signage schemes, andSignsystems, a leading provider ofmodular sign systems, has clockedup an impressive 30 years ofmanagement experience within thesign industry.
It is logical therefore, to suppose that
when it comes to signage, he knows
what he is talking about. Jamie has
spent a lifetime dealing with brand
owners, designers and specifiers and he
is convinced that when it comes to the
final analysis, customers care more
about value for money than getting a
‘bargain’ especially when that bargain
often comes at a very high price.
To illustrate this philosophy he cites the
example of projects he completed at
the Tate in 2000 and the Wales
Millennium Centre in 2002. He
remembers: “These projects were
completed by my former company
Signsystems, which was acquired by
Allsigns early in 2009. However, I
retained the rights to one of our
bestselling products, the Showcase
range when I set up Onthecase and this
was the system that we used for the
Tate and Millennium Centre signage.
We have also used it more recently for
signage projects at a number of
landmark locations, including Oxford
University, Buckingham Palace, Natural
History Museum, Museum of London,
The London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral and
the Royal Shakespeare Company, to
name but a few.
Jamie continues: “Whilst compiling a
selection of application shots for our
own publicity purposes, we revisited the
Tate and Millenium Centre signs and I’m
Good design pays
Mark Godden’s piece on quality for his Last Word slot in theMarch issue provoked so much response that it seems that heunwittingly touched a nerve. Val Hirst reports
“It's unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little.When you pay too much, you lose a little money - that's all.When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything,because the thing you bought was incapable of doing thething it was bought to do. The common law of businessbalance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot - it can't bedone. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to addsomething for the risk you run, and if you do that you will
have enough to pay for something better.”
John Ruskin 1819 –1900
special feature
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 25
pleased to say that we found them looking as
good as new – the photographs shown here
were taken in January of this year. It is a great
testimony to the product that following
respectively 12 and 10 years of exposure to both
the British climate and the general public, they
are still going strong and continue to be used on
a regular basis, with the graphics being refreshed
whenever necessary.
“I think it shows that its is worth paying a little
more for well designed and engineered products
that will retain their appeal over the long haul.”
These cases in question are constructed from
powder coated aluminium, feature 4mm
toughened glass covers and are top hinged with
gas cylinders for easy opening. Frost proof
security locks are located under the frame, and
the design allows for specially punched holes, so
that the air is free to circulate, thus avoiding any
condensation issues.
Jamie adds that although Onthecase does
provide a trade service, architects and designers,
who appreciate the aesthetic appeal of its
systems as well as their practical attributes and
durability, more often specify its products, as with
Vitrum, a frameless, back lit LED monolith and
wall mounted system which it installed at the
Royal Shakespeare Company. Wall mounted
cases have also recently been specified for
installation at the newly re-furbished Iron Monger
Row Baths in London, which will be opening this
summer. They also seem to appreciate
Onthecase’s capacity for innovation, such as its
new range of solar powered showcases and
bollards, which will be launched shortly.
Jamie explains: ‘Although signmakers often
assume that clients will be frightened by the
higher cost of a quality system, I usually find that
clients just want to get the best all round deal and
while a ‘cheap as chips’ system might be the right
choice for a short term application, something
more robustly constructed is always a better
option when they require longevity.”
He admits that he is sometime frustrated by the
refusal of some sign companies to put their trust
in their own skills. He opines: “Signmakers do,
after all, have a lot more to offer than a simple
product procurement, customisation and
installation service. They are –or they should be -
uniquely placed to advise on every aspect of sign
usage, including design, material selection, safety
issues, running costs and maintenance and this is
part of what clients are, or should be paying for.”
He adds, though, that a select number of sign
companies who share his philosophy who have
achieved great success selling Onthecase
products. These companies include
Greenbarnes, Rivermeade, Westmorland Signs,
Spectrum and Wood & Wood, as well as
Marshalls, a leading street furniture company.
Proof indeed that raising the bar does pay! Jamie
concludes: If all signmakers took a similarly
professional approach, it would help to elevate
the whole industry and signs would eventually
be accorded the level of deference they deserve,
becoming a more important and integral part of
any project rather than just an after thought.”
And what’s the betting that he’s right?
For further information on Onthecase, visit:www.onthecase.com
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 26
The only way is up!As thec u r r e n tDirector ofthe BSGAand assomeonewho alsohas hands-
on experience of the supply side ofthe sign industry, David Catanachexplains why he feels that when itcomes to quality, there’s only oneway to go – up!
The fact is that ‘quality’ makes sound
business sense. If you supply a quality
product and service, the likelihood is
that you will get repeat business and at
a price that not only helps keeps the
margins high, but also keeps you in
business.
It is a simple fact of life - people buy from
people: if you provide something that
doesn’t live up to expectations, you are
unlikely to be given the opportunity to
supply again to a customer who feels
cheated.
By the way, I am not advocating that any
of this is easy. Just claiming you
produce a quality product doesn’t cut it.
The implementation of quality
standards needs to become a ‘lifestyle’.
Otherwise, why do companies such as
Waitrose, British Airways, Mercedes, and
Bang & Olufsen still flourish in a market
that provides competition such as
Netto, Ryan Air, Perodua and Logik?
Buyers aren’t stupid and all have the
ability to match any quality with any
price and we all look at a price to see if
we can get the same thing elsewhere
for less.
There is nothing wrong with comparing
prices from more than one source. If it is
exactly like for like, it will be the quality of
service that determines where you
decide to buy from and whether you go
back again.
A couple of anecdotes illustrate what
I’m on about:
In the first, I was providing technical
support in a pitch for a project that
included a large number of post and
panel signs in the first of a five-phase
project. Having established and satisfied
the client that the materials, fabrication
and installation processes to be used
were of the right quality, would last the
duration and look the business, we
came to the question of costs.
My colleague’s words were: ‘This phase
will cost £35,500 including installation,
but we can do it cheaper if required’.
In the de-brief he explained that he was
worried that the £35k would have
priced him out of this and the other
phases, and if he had to reduce his price,
he could change the specification to
‘materials from other sources’ as they
would ‘do the job just as well’. To me this
approach was so wrong on so many
levels and I still shudder when I think
about it.
He did go back with a lower price, won
the job and used different materials to
those originally specified. However, he
later had to replace about 25 percent of
the signs he produced using the inferior
materials and he wasn’t asked back to
quote for phases two to five.
The sign company that won phases two
to five stuck to the original spec, went
on to do three more sites for the client
and are now that client’s first choice for
providing signs.
In the second case, a customer only had
a limited budget to spend on a sign
above a shop front. To meet the financial
restrictions, the sign company supplied a
framed sign using banner material.
However, it failed to mention that,
because of the materials used, the sign
was only temporary, and would not last
longer than six months at most.
You can probably guess the rest. The
sign failed after just four months.
So, who was at fault? The customer laid
the blame squarely on the signmaker. It
delivered within budget, but failed
totally to explain the pitfalls to the
customer. The arguments rolled on for
months and, needless-to-say, the
customer never placed any business
with that particular signmaker again.
As I said, it’s not easy, but if you build
quality into every aspect of your business
practice - from how you present yourself
and your business, through your
dealings with customers, to the finished
products - your reputation will grow and
so will your business – good luck!
For further information visit:www.bsga.co.uk
special feature
Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of highintention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful
execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.
William A Foster, Igniting the Spirit at Work: Daily Reflections
Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.
Henry Ford, quoted in Elizabeth Dole's
Hearts Touched with Fire
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 27
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 28
Does it print?
When I interviewed Mike Stuart,Marketing Director of Metamark,he espoused the view that in orderto achieve what everyone agrees isan optimum result a deliberateapproach in materials formulationis required, together with someidea of what the desired end-stateshould looks like. He said: “Nowthat there’s an establishedappetite for printing on widelydiffering substrates, to deliverwidely differing results, it’s moreimportant than ever to have a basecase defined for quality overall.”
He went on to add that some of the
materials in Metamark’s portfolio of
digital materials produce results that
bear little physical resemblance to the
data intent that’s input. He said:
“Window films are a good case in
point. There is no base colour, so the
output doesn’t stand comparison or
measure with any standard. It does
however produce very satisfied end
users. Despite the lack of a colour
fidelity reference though, we’d argue
that the whole notion of such
materials being “digital” is something
for critical users to consider.”
The Metamark view is that digital
materials should hold ink in respectable
amounts, dry without complications,
transport without causing mechanical
problems, and be clean enough to
apply. Many apparently don’t fulfill such
basic needs and
require, at best, costly
experimentation in
order to work, and at
worst, the
intervention of a
much more costly
engineer to remedy
printer damage.
However, despite the
w i d e - r a n g i n g
application of digital
print, the substrates
available, are, in some
cases, very narrowly
talented. This
though, Mike
observed is not the
case with Metamark’s
popular MD5. “To get
optimal results, it is
necessary to
reference quality standards and to
tightly qualify the material’s remit. In
order to present a material that works
across the various different ink species,
such as MD5, a degree of ‘over-
engineering’ is necessary.”
Indeed, if the amount of MD5 that is
output at exhibitions is any indication, it
does produce remarkably consistent
results with UV, solvent, eco solvent and
latex inks.
Where materials are concerned, sign
and digital companies have always
tended to gravitate towards the familiar
products they’re used to using and for
which they have a preference. But with
printer hardware developing as quickly
as it is, unless material or media evolves
at a similar pace, it’s likely to under-
perform.
Today’s printers make big demands of
media. Hardware resolution can
produce results that many would
regard as being ‘photo quality’. Lots of
users though, never get to see it
because many materials owe more to
the cut and applied legacy than they do
to the media age introduced by digital
technology. Gamut is taken to describe
the range of colours a total print system
can resolve but, equally, it could be
used to map the overall performance
capability as a composite express. In
order to qualify as being genuinely
digital, material needs to perform in
every respect and not just a limited
subset.
Mike Stuart stated that much of the
effort Metamark focusses on
development is with a view to
delivering results that don’t spring
unpleasant surprises. He said, “It’s not
unreasonable, to expect that, given an
identical set of conditions, identical
results can be produced, even though
the media may be from a different
batch. We appreciate that our
customers don’t have the resources,
time or appetite for endless
experimentation to make things work
as expected, which is why we invest in
developments that ensure each roll is
just the same as the previous one, and
of course, capable of performing
optimally with the latest hardware.”
Not every roll of media or material is
created equal, that much is obvious by
looking at price spreads alone. But then
again, not everything that’s sold as
digital actually justifies the label. That’s
often not so apparent until it’s too late.
Which is why it’s better to trust a brand,
than to trust to luck alone.
For further information onMetamark’s digital materialsportfolio, visit:www.metamark.co.uk
special feature
There’s a lot of white material in the world and some of it can be used in modern wide format printers, but as anynumber of expensively crashed printheads and odd looking output attest, just because a material can be loaded intoan inkjet printer, doesn’t mean it should be. Mark Godden discovers how print quality can be assured
The bitterness of poorquality remains longafter low pricing is
forgotten
Anonymous
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 29
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 30
Light Relief
These days, we all accept thatthere is a need for everyone toradically reduce their energy use,both at home and in theworkplace. However, in the case ofcommercial organisations, one ofthe main obstacles to achievingthis is that more energy efficientsolutions simply cost more.
In recognition of this, the Government
has developed a mechanism to help
businesses overcome this obstacle
through their corporate taxation,
which is why it has enhanced the
capital allowances of the investment a
company makes when it invests in
qualifying energy efficient products
and equipment.
This Enhanced Capital Allowance
Scheme is managed by the Carbon
Trust and HMRC and is intended to
provide a real financial incentive to
encourage companies to invest in the
higher capital cost associated with
energy saving technologies. Amongst
many other categories, this scheme
specifically covers the use of ‘White
LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) in
illuminated signs’.
Investing in E.C.A. compliant signage
can make a real difference financially.
When compared to conventional T8
fluorescent lamps, LEDs can deliver an
energy saving in excess of 80 percent.
When this energy saving is combined
with the government incentive, and
the greatly reduced maintenance cost,
it means that the investment can pay
for itself in less than 12 months.
For example, if a retail chain’s estate of
100 signs, each of which uses 20 x
70watt T8 lamps, run for 10 hours a
day, it will consume over half a million
kilowatts of electricity per year.
However, when these same signs are
retrofitted with an ECA compliant LED
system, energy use reduces to less
than 55,000 kilowatt hours, thus saving
89 percent of the energy expended.
When further coupled with the clear
benefit of reduced maintenance,
typically five years maintenance free
with LED and only 12 months for
fluorescent, this scheme is even more
attractive when retailers are
considering a capital programme of
signage refurbishment.
The sign buyer invests in a new sign
illuminated with White LEDs, or
decides to change the lighting in his
existing sign from, say fluorescent
lamps, to LEDs. That sign will show
on the client’s balance sheet as a
capital asset, which in normal
circumstances would be depreciated
against tax at the rate of 20 percent per
year on a reducing balance basis.
However, under this scheme, the tax
relief on this sign can all be claimed in
the first-year, potentially reducing the
tax liability on the capital asset by as
much as 28 percent. Whilst the
terminology is slightly ambiguous, the
tax relief not only applies to the cost of
the LED system, but could also cover
the cost of transporting the sign to
site, as well as installation and access
equipment.
HMRC are the final arbiters on any
claim, so the services of a good tax
accountant won’t go amiss!
Where then is the catch?
If the right LED system is chosen, there
is no catch and any claim should
proceed with few problems. However,
finding the right LED system is not
easy.
The E.C.A. scheme was initiated, not
only to encourage the use of energy
saving technologies, but also to ensure
that LED manufacturers develop
systems that are highly efficient in
terms of Light output and energy
consumption and display minimal
Lumen depreciation. In order to be
eligible for the scheme, the chosen
LED device has to have a colour
rendering index of at least Ra 60 and,
along with the control gear, it must
comply with the recognised industry
standards. The criteria list is very
specific as to which testing procedures
must be adhered to and a simple
declaration from the manufacturer
that their particular system is
compliant is just not sufficient to make
a viable claim. HMRC have stipulated
that any claims made should be
backed up by the necessary technical
data.
So what can go wrong? Well, a recent
example involved a well-known High
Street clothing retailer. Bank Fashion,
via its nominated signmakers, Astra
Signs and Innovate Signs, made the
decision to switch from conventional
Cold Cathode to LED illumination for
the majority of its estate signage. The
switch was made in order reduce
energy consumption and to take
advantage of the benefits of the E.C.A.
scheme.
Both sign companies showed due
diligence when choosing what
appeared to be a reputable brand of
LED from a recognised industry
supplier, and rightly assumed that if
Designed to make LED lighting solutions more affordable theECA Scheme encourages companies to install an energyefficient method of illumination. However it might not bequite as simple as it seems. Mike Hall examines the intricaciesof the scheme
special feature
You can't fake quality any more than you can fake
a good meal
William S Burroughs, The Western Lands
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 31
that supplier was prepared to declare,
in writing, that its products satisfied all
the necessary criteria, then that would
be sufficient to carry a claim forward
and thus written confirmation was duly
supplied. However, after further
investigation with the Buildings
Research Establishment and HMRC,
Bank Fashion was advised to submit
supporting evidence from its
signmakers’ LED supplier that the
products used complied with the
specified criteria. After much
obfuscation, it became apparent that
the manufacturer concerned was
unable to provide the necessary test
data and to all intents and purposes, the
original written declaration became
meaningless.
Bank Fashion was left to make the
decision to either continue or risk the
possibility that HMRC considered the
claim to be fraudulent, or withdraw
altogether and lose out on the financial
benefits the scheme had to offer. Under
the circumstances it had to decide on
the latter course of action.
In order to avoid this happening it is
essential to deal with a reputable LED
manufacturer. In the case of Bank
Fashion, both Innovate and Astra made
great efforts to quickly understand the
finer details of the requirements of the
ECA scheme and sought to nominate
an alternative LED supplier. This
supplier (Vink Lighting Solutions in
partnership with GE) had at its disposal
far more comprehensive and accurate
test data and a considerably more open
and honest approach when making
claims of compliance.
Bank Fashion, now armed with all the
required supporting evidence, is happy
to proceed with the programme of
converting its signage estate to LED
illumination, confident that it will gain
the benefit of the government’s carbon
reduction incentive.
To be eligible, products must:
• Include one or more White solid-
state LED devices, luminaire and
associated electronic control gear.
• Use electronic control gear that
complies with the following
standards:
• BS EN 61347-2-13:2006 ‘Lamp
control gear. Particular requirements
for d.c. or a.c. supplied electronic
control gear for LED modules”.
• Use BS EN 62384:2006, “D.C. or
A.C. supplied electronic control
gear for LED modules Performance
requirements”.
• Be CE Marked.
All products must:
Have a luminaire efficacy (i.e lighting
efficiency) that is greater than, or equal
to 46 Lumens per Circuit Watt after 100
hours of continuous operation. The
electrical power consumed (in circuit
watts) is defined as the total power
consumed by the whole lighting unit
from main circuit connection point to
‘LED module’, including losses in the
power supply and constant current
source, and losses due to the effects of
temperature. It is not the ‘rated
wattage’ of the LED chip.
Have a colour rendering index that is at
least Ra 60.
Have a standby power not exceeding
1 Watt when fitted with an automatic
dimming or switching circuit. If the
product is not fitted with an automatic
switching or dimming circuit, the
product must not consume power
when it is switched off.
Have a power factor that is greater
than, or equal to, 0.7 at all levels
of product light output.
Required test procedures:
BS EN 13032-1:2004, “Light and
lighting. Measurement and
presentation of photometric data of
lamps and luminaires. Measurement
and file format”.
Or:
IES LM-79-08, “Electrical and
Photometric Measurements of Solid-
State Lighting Products”.
All products must be tested in
accordance with the procedures laid
down in one of the following and be
able to provide a light output (in
lumens) after 6000 hours of
continuous operation that is not less
than 90 percent of their initial light
output (in lumens). Test results carried
out on the LED chip in isolation are
NOT acceptable.
Testing must be conducted on the
complete product (i.e. solid state LED
device(s), luminaire and associated
electronic control gear) and under
normal operating conditions.
Measurements of the reduction in
product light output with time shall be
made according to the methods in
either IEC/PAS 62612:2009 “Self-
ballasted LED-lamps for general
lighting services - Performance
requirements”, or IES LM-80-08,
“Measuring Lumen Maintenance of
LED Light Sources”.
For the avoidance of doubt, test data
should be presented to zero decimal
places. As an example, an efficacy of 45
lumens per circuit watt for a display
lighting unit would be deemed to
be a fail.
Scope of Claim:
Expenditure on the provision of plant
and machinery can include not only
the actual costs of buying the
equipment, but also other direct costs,
such as the transport of the equipment
to site, and some of the direct costs of
installation. Clarity on the eligibility of
direct costs is available from HMRC.
Further information; visit:www.etl.decc.gov.uk/etl/criteriaor contact Mike Hall via e-mail [email protected]
cover story
Legoland, Alton Towers and TheLondon Eye might not appear tohave much in common beyondbeing very successful publicattractions, but they’re in fact alloperated by the same company,Merlin Entertainments Group,who also manages WarwickCastle, Chessington World ofAdventure, and Sealife Centres,among other attractions in the UKand overseas.
Merlin’s success has propelled it to
the point where it is now the largest
attractions operator in Europe, and
the second largest in the world. With
over fifteen thousand employees and
real passion for its brands, the
success of its attractions
demonstrates the company’s
expertise in its field.
Among other attractions to recently
enter its portfolio are Blackpool’s
iconic Tower, and what was, until
recently, Louis Tussauds’ Waxworks.
Blackpool Council acquired these
assets, and others, from Leisure Parcs
recently and now, together with
Merlin, is intent upon using them to
achieve Blackpool’s ambition of
becoming a thoroughly regenerated
international holiday and business
destination.
Ambition’s alter ego is investment
and the Council has secured
significant funding in pursuit of its
goals. It estimates that its plans will
DoubleTrouble!
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 32
When it came to choosing a signmaker to help it makethe celebrities at its new Madam Tussauds waxworksproperly impactful, Merlin Entertainments Group keptthe search local, selecting the Blackpool based LinkSigns & Graphics. Mark Godden reports
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 33
result in tempting as many as
800,000 additional visitors to the
town every year, all of whom will take
home great reviews, collectively
spend up to £55M and yet be all the
richer for the experience.
Plans for the Tower include an ‘Eye’
branded experience and a 4D cinema
at what’s now the Tower’s
observation level and, coming gently
back to street level again, Merlin
intends rebranding Louis Tussauds
Waxworks into the UK’s second
Madame Tussauds, thus extending
the reach of the London based
brand, which Merlin also operates.
Its plans for the waxworks are no less
ambitious than those it’s applying to
the Tower. In what amounts to a top-
to-bottom rebranding and relaunch,
Merlin is moving the attraction out of
the traditional and into the
interactive age.
So it speaks realms for the talents of
Link Signs and Graphics, or LSG as it
is more commonly known, that it was
selected to provide a significant
contribution not only to the new
attraction’s signing, but also to the
creation and installation of its
ambient exhibit graphics too. LSG
regards itself as a signmaker, but it is,
in fact, much more, as the versatility
of its digital output amply testifies.
The ambient graphics Blackpool’s
Madame Tussauds. employs
contribute powerfully to the overall
experience visitors will be buying
when they visit the attraction. The
models themselves engage the
visitor on one level, the ambience on
quite another. The whole experience
is the product of expert design and
the desired outcome is a memorable
visit that people will want to repeat,
thus building the brand’s reputation
and underlining its pulling-power.
LSG’s work amounts to a set building
exercise on a scale that befits the
importance of the venue. Working
with its operator’s designers, LSG
was required to produce flawless
digital output to decorate the scenes’
flats. The printed and laminated
output, which amounted to about a
thousand linear metres, was
produced on Metamark MD3 digital
vinyl, and was applied directly to the
flats’ prepared surfaces. In common
with other MD Class media,
Metamark’s MD3 is highly regarded
for both its ink appetite and
resolution holding ability and it
clearly produced a command
performance when used in concert
with LSG’s Mimaki JV-33 printer,
which output the entire print run.
The printed MD3 flats recreate real
world resonances in which the
models’ specialiites are well known.
For example, Ben Fogel’s model
perches on an exposed rock-face
rendered by LSG on the scene’s flats
and continuing onto the floor. Alan
Carr is surrounded by all his chatty
self’s familiar scenery together with
Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall and
many other instantly recognisable
faces who are all part of an
experience that is made even more
entertaining by the creative work
provided by LSG’s expertise with
Metamark materials.
Given the size of the print run and
the fact some panel matching was
inevitable, one of LSG’s production
challenges was ensuring total
consistency from one abutting panel
to another. The Metamark MD3
played its part well in this respect
with LSG’s application team and
Merlin’s designers, ensuring that
panel overlaps were carefully
managed and expertly fitted. The
result is uniform expanses of colour,
even where the design is swept in
density over a run of many metres.
Every element in a programme the
size of the Madame Tussauds project
plays a role in delivering the whole,
undiluted experience. Luckily, in LSG,
the project found a company where
quality is cultural, and talent readily
available. Digital print in the hands of
LSG has proven itself equal to the job
of transforming an attraction and
bringing it into an age where the
participation and involvement of the
visitor is key.
For further information on LSGvisit: www.linkssignsandgraphics.co.uk
For further information onMetamark’s MD3 vinyl visit:www.metamark.co.uk
For further information onMadame Tussauds visit:w w w . m a d a m e t u s s a u d s .com/Blackpool
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 34
Graphic Printing Technologies
(GPT) is now selling Secabo’s range
of heat presses, which complement
Mimaki’s range of dye-sublimation
textile printers.
Secabo develops high quality devices
and machines for signmakers, which
range from vinyl cutters to heat
presses. Its seven heat presses provide
a simple, cost-effective solution for all
common heat transfer methods and
objects and include the TC 5 and TC 7
clam presses and the TS 7 swing away
heat press, The TC C, which is made for
use with caps and hats, the TC M for
use with mugs and other round items
and the TC D 7, a pneumatic double
plate heat press for professional use.
For large-scale applications, the TC 10
offers a much larger working area.
GPT will offer the Secabo heat presses
together with Mimaki dye-sublimation
printers that use heat to transfer dye
onto a broad range of materials,
including plastic, paper and fabric. The
Mimaki TPC-1000 is an integrated
printer/cutter designed to produce a
range of apparel, including uniforms,
workwear, T-shirts, swimsuits and
virtually any type of clothing that
requires additional text or graphics. The
Mimaki TPC-1000 is based on Mimaki’s
market-leading CJV printer/cutter and
delivers a cost-effective integrated
solution for creating unique designs on
a range of apparel.
For further information visit:
www.g-p-t.co.uk
GPT teams up with Secabo
EFI used the occasion of the
recent ISA International Sign
Expo to launch its new EFI
R3225 printer, a 3.2m roll-to-
roll, entry-level production
machine that uses UV curable
inks to provide high image
quality, low total cost of
ownership, and access to a
wide range of flexible
substrates.
The EFI R3225 provides eight-
level variable drop grayscale
heads for superior quality
images, optimised ink usage, and
can be used in conjunction with
a wide range of substrates across
countless applications, including
POP, banners, signage, fleet
graphics, exhibition graphics and
more.
Deemed by EFI too be an
‘environmentally friendly’ printer,
it produces minimal VOC levels,
while also reducing energy
expenditure and thus provides
an alternative to latex printers for
those looking for a greener
printing solution, while also
upgrading their businesses to
drive expansion and profitability.
Priced at an affordable $160,000,
and backed by the EFI pedigree,
the EFI R3225 is designed to
deliver high quality output, with
the minimum of hassle when it
comes to daily operation and
routine maintenance. Other
enhanced features and benefits
include print speeds up to 900
sq.ft/hr along with many
automated features to help
further maximise productivity.
For further information visit:
www.efi.com
The bigbeastie
Super speedy dye-sub printingMimaki has added volume textileinkjet production to its range oftextile printers with theintroduction of the Mimaki TX500-1800DS, which is capable ofprinting at up to 150 squaremeters per hour directly onto pretreated polyester fabrics.
With summer availability anticipated,
the TX500-1800DS, when used
together with Mimaki’s new Sb300
sublimation ink, delivers enhanced
capabilities and productivity to the
textile, apparel and soft signage
markets by eliminating the need to
print to transfer papers. In common
with the recently released and equally
effective TX500-1800DsSB printer,
which prints onto transfer paper, it
uses newly developed printheads that
make it 150 percent faster in four
colour mode than more conventional
models.
A built-in heater accelerates the drying
time of printed fabric, which while
improving overall quality and
productivity, also eliminates rework
caused by excessive ink set-off and a
mist absorption filter prevents
problems caused by ink mists and
enhances the stability of print
operations. Further, the Mimaki
degassing module (MDM-20)
eliminates any gasses or bubbles that
occur in inks during the printing
process, thus decreasing the likelihood
of nozzle blockage and improving the
accuracy of ink dot placement. In
addition, this module also facilitates
the use of undegassed bottled inks
instead of conventional degassed ink
packs, thus reducing ink costs.
Mimaki’s new Sb300 dye-sublimation
ink has been optimised for use with
both direct and paper transfer dye
sublimation printing and offers an
affordable price, together with fast
drying and brilliant colours. Two ink
configurations can be selected at the
time of printer installation: the six-
colour mode for smooth gradation and
better pale colours, or the four-colour
mode for higher productivity.
The Mimaki TX500-1800DS is available
through Mimaki’s exclusive UK and
Irish distributor Hybrid Services.
For further information visit:www.hybridservices.co.uk.
digital news
Roland DG’s VersaSTUDIO BN-20 andVersaCAMM VS Series eco-solvent metallicinkjet printer/cutters, now offer aspecialised new ink configuration for white-colour printing applications.
This new configuration is available in five colours,
cyan, magenta, yellow, black and white for the
BN-20 and seven colours, cyan, magenta, yellow,
black, light cyan, light magenta and double white
for the VS Series. Users can choose the ink
configuration that best suits their business needs
at the time of purchase.
The BN-20 is a 20” wide compact Eco- Solvent
inkjet printer/cutter, which is ideal for the
production of small volume graphics, including
labels, apparel, window graphics and signage on
a wide variety of media, such as transparent film.
The VS Series Eco-Solvent inkjet printer/cutters
are available in four different widths: 30”, 42”, 54”
and 64” and, when used in conjunction with
transparent film and the new high-opacity white
ink configuration, can be used to produce a wide
variety of high-quality applications, such as
window displays, labels, decals or small
production packaging prototypes. The new white
ink configuration increases speed by 200 percent
for standard white colour printing, while
combination of a dedicated dryer and blower
vastly increases productivity, and ensures efficient
drying of the white ink even in high opacity
mode.
For precision printing, ‘TIFF Merge’ function,
which sends and prints a process-colour data file
and a white-colour data file at the same time, thus
preventing any gap between the two files, has
been added to both the VersaSTUDIO BN-20 and
the VS Series.
For further information visit:www.rolanddg.co.uk
Printers’ colour gamut extended
Spandex has extended its range of print
and print finishing equipment with the
addition of the EPSON SureColorT SC-
S30600, an affordable wide format printer
that is built for high production runs and
enables users to produce high quality,
long-lasting, durable and photo-realistic
prints for an increased range of indoor and
outdoor graphic applications.
Designed from the ground up, the printer
incorporates Epson´s latest technology, such as
the MicroPiezo TFP printhead and the new
UltraChrome GS2 ink technology, developed
exclusively by Epson and set to deliver a new
level of colour quality, production performance
and durability.
For further information visit:
www.spandex.com
Spandex to sell Epson SureColor
Sign Directions April/May 2011 | 35
First established in 1985,
Printwell (UK) has grown from a
corporate stationery and print
management business into a
comprehensive solutions
company with an annual turnover
in excess of £4 million. Offering
more than just a print
management service, it aims to
work with its clients in order to
reduce costs and develop added
value services, which is why it has
continued to invest in new
technology and develop its in-
house manufacturing capability.
Printwell originally provided a full
range of traditional litho print and
finishing services, but as
increasingly, clients were looking
to source a wider diversity of print,
including wide format digital, from
a single supplier, it decided to
substantially expand its wide
format division, whilst also looking
for ways to reduce operational
costs and improve its efficiency
overall.
To this end, it enlisted the help of
its long standing supplier partner
Robert Horne Group, who
helped it to explore expansion
options, which lead to Printwell’s
acquisition of two Canon inkjet
printers, the Canon iPF9000s andiPF8000s, which use eight colours
to deliver very high print quality,
together with two Easymount
finishing machines, the
EM1200sh and EM1600sh.
This new technology opened up a
host of new opportunities and
revenue streams and enabled
Printwell to produce POS and
display work as well as digitally
printed work for regular clients
and, after further consultations
with Robert Horne, Printwell also
invested in a Mimaki UJV160flatbed printer, in order to keep
pace with its growing volume of
business.
John Smith, Printwell’s
Commercial Manager, explained:
“We saw the potential for the wide
format division to grow and the
Mimaki machine has enabled us to
realise this, firstly by reducing the
requirement to mount paper onto
board, as it prints directly onto
substrates and secondly, by
opening up new revenue streams,
such as external sale boards, shop
fittings, window graphics, general
signage and exhibition work.”
The increase in the company’s
digital workload is substantiated
by the fact that whilst the
Canon/Easymount printing
combination accounted for just
one percent of its turnover, the
introduction of the Mimaki UJV160
will help to increase this to an
anticipated five percent during the
current fiscal year, rising to over 12
percent within the next two to
three fiscal years.
Robert Horne has also provided
Printwell with a press room
consultancy service that has
helped it to reduce its litho press
costs by 12 percent overall by
purchasing its inks, chemicals and
sundries from Robert Horne’s Total
Print Supplies (TPS) division, which
also supplies consumables for
Printwell’s three Heidelberg
Presses. In addition, Robert Horne
is currently helping Printwell to
reduce current paper costs and is
also helping Printwell’s sales and
customer service teams to keep
abreast of the constantly evolving
world of print.
In conclusion, John Smith
observed: “Robert Horne’s
technical know-how has enabled
us to significantly reduce
expenditure and to move into new
areas, and to pass on the savings
that have been realized to both
our existing and new client base –
we are delighted with the services
they offer.”
For further information visit:www.printwell.co.uk andwww.roberthorne.co.uk
First established in 1992, VictoriaLitho is a family run business that
originally built itself an enviable
reputation as a quality map printer,
but has more recently expanded into
the POP sector too. Based in west
London, the company, which boasts
a turnover of £3 million and employs
a staff of 18, has recently acquired an
Agfa :Anapurna M2540 FB flatbed
printer, which forms part of its £1.25
million investment in new plant and
equipment. Managing Director
Andy Wilson explained that having
previously engaged in litho printing,
he was initially hesitant to invest in
digital technology, saying: “I wasn’t
convinced that inkjet could match
the quality achievable from a litho
press, especially when producing
the high spec print required for POP
material.”
However, Andy was shrewd enough
to recognise that in order to grow his
business during these difficult and
ultra-competitive times, he needed
overcome his qualms and happily,
once he had seen the :Anapurna
M2540 FB being put through its
paces, he began to change his mind.
He said: “I was really impressed with
the level of detail the machine
achieved when printing a map –
even the smallest type was crisply
rendered and completely legible
and the white ink option further
extends our ability to provide the
exceptional quality photo realistic
reproduction that our POP clients
rightly demand.” The company’s
Technical Director, Craig Herd
added: ”An added bonus was that
we already know Agfa and its
:Apogee workflow, which we use to
drive all our prepress systems, can
also be used to drive the :Anapurna
as well. This means that if any
problems should arise, we are
dealing with just one company
whose service and support we know
and trust.”
Sign Directions April/May 2012 |36
my way
Worthwhile InvestmentsCompanies explain whythey chose theequipment they use
A high-speed flatbed, UV-curable
inkjet printer especially designed for
use by commercial and display
printers, photo shops and sign
shops, the :Anapurna M2540 FB
offers exceptional value for money.
Using Agfa's bed-design, which uses
vacuum that is divided into two
table zones of four different
compartments to ensure extremely
accurate and reliable dot placement,
it employs :Anapurna UV inks in a
CMYK, Lc, Lm + white configuration,
which dry faster and produce a
wider colour gamut, thus facilitating
the use of a bigger variety of
materials. The inks are also proven to
offer great adhesion properties and
high durability giving longer lasting
images that are suitable for outdoor
use.
Due to the accuracy of the flatbed,
pre- and post white can be printed in
a separate run, with use of the full
head, to print onto darker substrates
or transparent media, as well as
backlit and front-lit materials. It can
even be used as a spot colour to
highlight certain areas of an image.
The :Anapurna M2540 FB joins an
equipment line-up which includes
Victoria Litho’s two other new
acquisitions, a wide-format finishing
table and a KBA 162A five-colour
press with dedicated UV coater,
enabling it to provide customers
with a complete one-stop-shop for
all of their large format print and POP
material.
Andy continued: “We had been
losing out on jobs where customers
required varying quantities of POP
print using the same origination, but
now we can provide any quantity or
level of customisation that is needed,
using whichever machine is most
appropriate. I now feel very
confident that the level and
consistency of the print quality
provided by the Anapurna is such
that our customers are unaware of
which machine has been used to
print which job. This enhanced
facility hopefully will enable us to
further expand our business and the
scope of our operation, because if
there’s one thing I have learned it’s
that no successful business can ever
afford to stand still!”
He concluded “Our next step is to
plan an open day to show our
customers exactly what we can do
with our new technology, and we
are keeping our fingers crossed that
they will be impressed enough for us
to fund the purchase of a second
Anapurna in the very near future!”
For further information visit:www.printwell.co.uk andwww.roberthorne.co.uk
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 37
l to r: Craig Herd and Andy Wilson
sign & digital UK 2012 review
With unofficial figures revealing that
around 6,200 visitors passed through
the event over its three day duration,
Sign & Digital UK 2012 provided
exhibitors with a perfect launch-pad for
their latest products and innovations.
And while the current economic
forecasts remain gloomy, it seems that
signmakers and digital print companies
aren’t letting talk of a double-dip
recession dampen their optimism, with
many industry suppliers gleefully
reporting that the focus was firmly on
buying, with many visitors using the
show as an opportunity to make their
final purchasing decisions.
As usual, in addition to the 140 odd
exhibitors, the show also featured a
variety of ancillary events, including the
evergreen Adobe and Corel Theatres
and The Signmakers’ Workshop, all of
which attracted their usual enthusiastic
support. In addition, there were two
new features; the Green Trail, which was
specially designed to highlight eco-
friendly products and Café 25, which in
keeping with the show’s 25th
anniversary theme, provided visitors
with the opportunity to view some of
the groundbreaking equipment that
has been introduced during the last
quarter of a century, together with a
selection of photographs that provided
an effective 25-year timeline of the
event’s history.
Next year, Sign & Digital UK 2013 will
once again take place in Halls 3 and 3A
at at the NEC on 30th April – 2nd May.
For further information visitwww.signanddigitaluk.com
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 38
Business as usual!
If anyone was worried that Sign & Digital UK 2012 would be overshadowedby the international allure of FESPA in Barcelona in February and Drupa inDusseldof in May, there was no need. The 25th outing of the UK’s premiersign exhibition was as busy and as bustling as ever. Val Hirst reports.
“The quality of the visitors this year has beenexceptional, with sales being generated fromday one…” Brett Newman, Technical Director, Roland DG (UK)
“I couldn’t have wished for a better response!” Graeme Hoole, Director, The Sign Group
“Sign & Digital UK was a greatlaunch pad for Soyang…”Mark Mashiter, Managing Director,Soyang Europe
“We exceeded our target number of salesleads for the show on the first day!…”Martin Johns, Market Development Manager,
Professional Graphics, Epson
“We gained more sales leads during the showthan over the past three or four weeks…” Emerson Welsh, Clarity Software, Marketing Manager
“Everyone who visited our stand had a genuineinterest in our products and the solutions weprovide…..” James Carpenter, Managing Director, Dorotape
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 39
Exhibitors included Colourgen, who, despite
not having its own stand, felt that this year’s
event was one of its most successful. Melanie
Enser, Colourgen’s Product Marketing Manager
observed: “Since Mutoh, for whom we are the
UK distributor, and several of our key reseller
partners had their own stands, we felt our time
and energy was better served in supporting
them. And, I must say, the strategy served us
well.”
Mutoh used the show to demonstrate that the
much publicised re-alignment of its
manufacturing processes has resulted in an
ability to deliver exciting new products quickly,
as epitomised by its new range of ValueJet
printers, which cover just about every aspect of
wide format printing. The range includes the
Mutoh ValueJet 1638 series, a1650mm dual-
head, high speed, four-colour printer, which
prints at speeds of 36sqm/h with a resolution of
720 x 720 dpi. The standard printer in this range
uses Mutoh Eco Ultra CMYK inks, one of the
gentlest eco-solvent inks currently available,
while the textile version of the printer (1638W)
uses Mutoh’s water-based disperse dye inks to
deliver production speeds of up to 65sqm/h for
dye sublimation applications.
In total, Colourgen’s reseller partners took 10
orders for ValueJet printers and Kona cutters
and four for Kala Starter laminators, with orders
for the Seiko ColorPainter H2 and W-Series and
the Kala Arkane and Mistral laminators hotly
anticipated to follow.
Antalis McNaughton used the event to
unveil its new Coala range of commodity,
speciality and environmentally-friendly large
format printing products. The range, which
comprises 20 products for use with aqueous
ink and 54 for use with solvent, UV and latex
ink, includes a broad range of papers, self-
adhesives, banners, textiles, wallpapers and
speciality media, all of which have been
sourced from leading European suppliers.
sign & digital UK 2012 review
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 40
Roland DG UK pioneered a radical
new look stand which took the form
of a welcoming and informal café, a
move it claims, paid dividends.
Forming the centre of a hub of
Roland dealers, the Roland Café
welcomed literally hundreds of
visitors, providing free refreshments
to those who signed up to the
Roland Forum community. They also
had the opportunity to chat to
Jayson Godridge of Freestyle
Designs, Fraser Moore of Compass
Graphics and Pete Colman of
Classic Lines Plus Signs, three happy
Roland users, who shared their
experiences of using Roland
machines to enhance their
businesses.
The company also used the show to
introduce the new double white ink
configuration option available with
the VersaCAMM VS and to promote
its RolandCare warranties.
There was much excitement on the
Océ stand when the Nottingham-
based graphics provider, John EWright purchased an Océ Arizona 360XT printer at the show. Now part of the
Canon Group, Océ provided live
demonstrations using its latest Océ
Arizona 318 GL printer, which was
unveiled in February, the Océ Arizona
360 GT and the Océ ColorWave 600
poster printer. Other stand attractions
included the new ONYX Thrive
workflow software, a scalable print
production solution based on Adobe
PDF Print Engine technology and
cutting systems from Zund UK
Hybrid Services used the show to
debut an array of new Mimakisolutions, with the Mimaki JV400 latex
printer range taking pride of place on
its stand. Hybrid’s National Sales
Manager, John de la Roche
commented: “Our resellers have taken
multiple orders and we are delighted!”
Other stand highlights included
Mimaki’s latest addition to its dye
sublimation printer range, the Mimaki
TS34-1800A and a new variant of
Mimaki’s LED UV flatbed.
The company also hosted a number of
stand attractions, one of which, The
Spot the Ball competition, saw winner
Laura Hutchings, of Silk Screen
Advertising, taking home a football
jersey signed by Man United legends
Arthur Albiston and Lou Macari who
helped Hybrid to celebrate the
exhibition’s 25th anniversary.
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 41
sign & digital UK 2012 review
HP's stand featured an extensiveproduct line-up, whilst also offering
visitors an exclusive at-show £1000 or
€1250 'golden ticket' cashback
promotion The tickets were on offer to
the first 50 customers to confirm
orders of the HP Designjet L28500 and
HP Designjet L26500 Printers and
according to HP’s Phil Oakley, demand
far outstripped supply! Both printers
are ideal for the production of indoor
and outdoor signage, such as point-of-
purchase displays, soft signage and
vehicle graphics.
Newcomer Kongcrete showed a
brand new,Canadian developed
product, which it believes, is set to
revolutionise the sign sector. Q-Set
offers signmakers a new way of
installing sign posts, which, unlike the
more usual concrete option, doesn’t
require water, sets in three minutes
,and is extremely easy to use!
Comprising a two part composite that
is water resistant, thus protecting the
post from deterioration at its most
vulnerable point under the ground, Q-
Set is a light-weight product that
expands and sets to 50 percent of its
full strength in just three minutes, and
is completely set within two hours,
significantly reducing installation time.
Supplied in three sizes, small, medium
and large and in a choice of two
grades, it can be used in conjunction
with wood, metal, concrete and
fibreglass posts
Visitors flocked to the adjoining DigitalPrint Innovations and InkEtc stands,to see the brand new InkTec Jetrix
2030FRK flatbed printer, which was
actually purchased by Quantum
Technologies on the first day of the
show. In addition to six colour printing
(CMYK LC LM) the 2030FRK printer also
offers primer and white options to
facilitate high quality printing onto
traditionally difficult substrates, such as
brushed metal, glass and other
specialist materials. Visitors were
particularly attracted to the robust build
quality of the machine and the density
of the white ink, which was shown
being printed onto black and coloured
Forex. However, DPI’s runaway stand
best seller was undoubtedly the
EasyRack, a cost effective media storage
and handling system available in seven
different widths, which neatly holds up
to 24 rolls of material, together with
application tapes. DPI’s Stewart Ball
claimed to have sold 12 units during the
three days of the show, with many
more orders in the pipeline!
Making its debut at the show, SihlDirect, attracted visitors with its
eye-catching graphics, which
represented the company’s
extensive range of media for use
with just about every signmaking
printing application, including
posters, banners, backlit,
photobase, canvas and wallpapers.
Ian Turnbull, Operations Director
for Sihl Direct UK reported: “We
were busy all three days, which
gave us the opportunity we
needed to establish our own brand
and to let everyone know that our
extensive manufacturing, testing
and quality control capability
means that we have the broadest
range of products for use with just
about all the leading printers on
the market.”
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 42
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 43
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 44
sign & digital UK 2012 awards
The second edition of Sign & DigitalUK Awards & Networking Event,which took place at the NationalMotorcycle Museum, Birminghamon the middle evening of the show,was well attended by bothnominees and the industry at large.
A drinks reception was followed by a
three course dinner, before up and
coming comedian Seann Walsh treated
the assembled audience to a range of
wickedly funny observations on
modern life before announcing the
winners of the 10 awards, as follows:
Winner: Allen Signs for its dramatic
sign for the newly independent
Chameleon Print shop premises, which
features an eye-catching Chameleon
projecting sign, that uses LED
illumination to produce a colour
changing eye.
2nd Signs Express (Leeds) for thestriking and elegant illuminated sign it
created for Bristol’s Hush Puppies store
3rd ID Signs & Graphics for its work
on the Baskind Pharmacy.
Winner: Signbox in respect of its
signage for global investment solutions
firm Blackrock, which uses both natural
materials and technological signage to
skillfully represent the two approaches
to investing, the ‘intuitive’ and ‘scientific’.
2nd Piggotts for its GAP Signage
project.
3rd Amber & Green in respect of its
IBM Southbank Refurbishment Project.
Winner: The Grain Sign Companyfor the package of fun signs it created
for Longleat Safari Park, which perfectly
suited the style of the attraction whilst
also harmonising with theoutdoor
environment.
2nd Create Signs for its work at Mshed
Museum, Bristol.
3rd Signs Express (Leeds) for themultiple signage package that it
produced for Bridgewater Place in
Leeds
Sign & Digital UK Awards
Individual Sign Project of the year, 1-9 Employees
Individual Sign Project of the year, 10+ Employees
Multiple Sign Project of the year, 1-9 Employees
Winner: Graffiti Design in respect for
its sign package for the ‘American
Express Community Stadium’, including
external identity and internal and
external wayfinding signs, plus the full
gamut of internal signs and graphics.
2nd Piggotts for its work for the Hong
Kong Asolay
3rd Image Technique in respect of its
signing for the Westfield Stratford City
project.
Multiple Sign Project of the year, 1-9 employees
Winner: John Matthews of SignVision, who against all the odds
has seen his business grow
throughout the recession, to the
extent that he has had to move
into larger premises!
2nd Chris McIntosh of ServiceGraphics.
3rd Gemini Katwa of FusionPrint.
Rising StarAward
Winner: Signbox beat the
economic downturn by investing
in its in-house printing facilities,
which enabled it to successfully
diversify into new markets
leading to a tremendously
successful 2011 with strong
retained profits and a 10 percent
increase in staff numbers.
2nd Graffiti Design.
3rd Sign 2000
Sign Companyof the Yearaward,sponsored byTrade Signs.
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 45
Winner: Raccoon’s faultless work for
the prestigious Gumball 3000 event,
which required it to create numerous
unique car wraps, captured the award
for the second year running.
2nd Wrap Kings
3rd Principle ReprographicServices.
Vehicle Wrapping Project of the Year
Winner: Signbox, who combined
the perfect blend of materials,
creativity, expression and precision to
produce knock-out signs and
graphics for Expedia,
2nd Service Graphics for its work at
the National Museum of Scotland.
3rd Hollywood Monster was
honoured for its gigantic banner
display at Westfield Shopping Centre.
Wide Format Print Project of the Year
Winner: Aggregate Industriescombined excellent craftsmanship with
the use of natural stone to produce
classical looking signage.
2nd The Grain Sign Company in
respect of its sandblasted cedarwood
signs.
The Green Award sponsoredby DS Smith Recycling
Winner: Hollywood Monster for itscontinual innovation and its
dedication to providing its customers
with the highest levels of service and
quality.
2nd Service Graphics for the qualityand range of its work.
Wide Format Printing Companyof the Year
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 46
cutting, routing and engraving
Launched at Sign & Digital UK, thelatest Pacer-branded high-performance CNC router series isnow available from AXYZInternational.
Supplied in a choice of three sizes,
1524 x 2438, 1524 x 3048 and 2159 x
3048mm, to meet different production
requirements and the most popular
sheet formats, the machines embody
all of the attributes of earlier systems
sold under the Pacer power brand in
terms of strength of build, ease of use,
quality of cut and optimum reliability.
They also represent an ideal upgrade
path for owners of these systems now
requiring a higher performance and
higher productivity
solution but at a very
realistic price.
Key design features
include a heavy-duty
solid steel base and
gantry with a substrate
clearance capability of
150mm (expandable up to 400mm),
helical rack and pinion drive system
with direct-drive servomotors and ball
screw control on the Z-axis for
smoother and backlash-free motion
and the latest seven-segment A2MC
machine controller with Ethernet
connectivity and 4Gb onboard
memory. These are supplemented
with a wide range of optional
additional production tools, including
a seven- or 21-station automatic tool
change system, twin or triple cutting
heads, the latest AXYZ AVS Camera
Registration System and a misting unit.
The routers will effectively cut and
profile, at a feed rate of up to 25m/min,
virtually all materials commonly in use
in the sign industry. These include all
non-ferrous metals, plastics and their
derivatives, solid and particle wood
substrates, aluminium composite
materials and laminates.
For further information visit:www.axyz.co.uk
The return of Pacer
AXYZ International has introduced
a new helical rack and pinion drive
system as an optional production
enhancement for all AXYZ Series
machines. Installation of this
powerful new tooling device will, it
is claimed, greatly reduce wear by
comparison with conventional
rack and pinion drive systems,
significantly increase feed rates
and lead to smoother, quieter and
more accurate cutting in the most
demanding applications likely to
be encountered.
Unlike conventional rack
and pinion drive
systems, the new AXYZ
system operates
through multiple gear
teeth at all times. This
greatly decreases wear
on the system due to
more even distribution
of the load over several
gear teeth and significantly increases
the working life of the system. When
specified as an optional production
feature on AXYZ Series machines, the
helical pinions would normally be
driven by a high-performance
servomotor operating via a precision
planetary gearbox to deliver a rigid and
more powerful drive system with little
or no backlash and enabling much
higher feed rates and more precise
cutting.
For further information visit:
www.axyz.co.uk
New AXYZ drivesystem has real bite
Our regular round-up of the latest developments in routing and engraving
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 47
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 48
software
New inspirationfrom CorelFollowing a high profile London
launch during March, Corel used the
occasion of Sign & Digital UK to
introduce CorelDRAW
Graphics Suite X6, to the
sign industry.
Signmakers who so
enthusiastically attended
the show’s Corel
Workshops, were thus
equally delighted to learn
more about the latest
version of Corel’s flagship
graphics suite, which features a completely
revamped typography engine, inspiring
new colour styles and harmonies, plus
powerful shaping tools.
Designed to open up new creative
possibilities this latest update delivers
improved workflow and performance,
making it even easier for users to work with
leading edge tools and technology to
produce signs and graphics with real verve
and impact, coupled with optimum
productivity.
The new features and numerous
enhancements included in the latest suite,
many of which have been inspired by
customer feedback, include Advanced
OpenType Support, which facilitates the
creation of text with advanced OpenType
typography features, such as contextual
and stylistic alternates, ligatures,
ornaments, swash variants, and more,
while New Custom-built Colour
Harmonies enable users to modify colours
collectively and harmoniously and to
analyse colours and hues to deliver
complementary colour schemes.
New Native 64-bit and Enhanced Multi-
Core Support enable files and images to be
processed up to 50 percent faster than
previously and the New Creative Vector
Shaping tools, Smear, Twirl, Attract and
Repel, facilitate the creation of many
exciting special effects.
Other new features include the New Styles
Engine and Docker, which facilitate simple
yet speedy formatting, the New Corel
Website Creator X6 application that
enables users to build and manage
websites with ease, using the Site Wizard,
templates, drag-and-drop functionality
and seamless integration with XHTML, CSS,
JavaScript, and XML and New Smart
Carver, which can be used to remove
unwanted areas from an image, while
simultaneously maintaining the photo’s
aspect ratio.
Improved Page Layout Capabilities helps
users to create design layouts with ease,
using new and improved Master Layer
functionality, Alignment Guides,
Interactive frames and much more. Finally
the Redesigned Object Properties Docker,
enables designs to be fine tuned and
provides access to the object settings in
one centralised location.
CorelDRAW Graphics X6 comes complete
with Corel PHOTO-PAINT X6, a professional
image-editing application; Corel
PowerTRACE X6, a utility that converts
bitmaps into editable vector graphics amd
Corel CONNECT, a full-screen browser for
searching the suite’s digital content.
It also includes Corel CAPTURE X6, a one-
click screen capture utility and Corel.
Website Creator X6, a new do-it-yourself
website creation software
In addition, users also receive 10,000 high-
quality clipart and images; 1,000 new
professional high-resolution digital photos;
1,000 OpenType fonts, including premium
fonts such as Helvetica; 2,000 vehicle
templates; 350 professionally designed
templates; and 800 frames and patterns.
Corel will continue to enhance the
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6 experience
by making more content and functionality
available throughout the lifecycle for X6
users.
All box versions of CorelDRAW Graphics
Suite X6 include a comprehensive full-
colour, hard cover Guidebook to help both
experienced and novice users to get
started quickly. Alternatively it is available
immediately as an electronic download.
Prices range form £399 plus VAT for the full
version and £179.00 plus VAT for the
upgrade.
For a full list of everything included in
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6 and to
download a free 30-day fully-
functional trial version, visit
www.corel.com/coreldraw.
Clarity does the business
Our pick of the newest software releases
Another of the biggest crowd-pullers
at this year’s Sign & Digital UK show,
was undoubtedly the Clarity
Professional Deliveries Module,
which saves hours in manual
administration for on-site work, such
as fittings, installations,
maintenance, equipment drop-offs
and surveys.
Working in tandem with the Clarity
Software Proof of Delivery iPhone App,
the Deliveries Module creates and
displays all on-site jobs in an Outlook-
style diary view on the office-based Clarity
system, with their real-time status, such as
‘Work In Progress’, or ‘On Hold’, clearly
highlighted using simple colour codes.
Users can thus view their jobs from the
comfort of their own offices, whilst their
fittings team or third party contractors
complete the installation on-site.
Richard Gamlin, Clarity”s Managing
Director reported: “The response we are
receiving on this module is phenomenal
as the immediate return on investment is
plain to see and there is no doubt that
this new functionality will directly
increase bottom line profitability.”
Site teams often arrive back at the office
with a mountain of accumulated job
paperwork, but by using the Deliveries
Module, job information can be recorded
and sent back to the office via 3G or Wi-Fi,
as soon as it is completed, using the
Clarity Proof of Delivery iPhone App.
They can also take pictures, add notes
and track locations using geo-mapping,
and the module also enables them to
obtain an electronic sign-off from
customers directly onto the device, thus
providing traceable evidence of the
precise time and date of a job’s
satisfactory completion. This enables the
job to be invoiced as soon as it is
completed, thus benefiting cash flow and
optimising business profitability.
Richard Gamlin concluded: “Deliveries is
the final piece of a streamlined, cost
reductive electronic business workflow,
which saves hours in needless paper-
based administration and improves
customer service across the industry.”
The Clarity Proof of Delivery iPhone
App is available now from the App
Store and is free to download. A
demo version is included in the App.
An Android version is currently
being developed.
For further information visit:
w w w . c l a r i t y - s o f t w a r e .
com/deliveries
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 49
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 50
special feature
Pendle Signs & Plastics wasnominated by Lend Lease as thesignage contractor for the ‘BuildingSchools for the Future’ projects inthe Burnley and Pendle area.
Over the last three years it has
proposed, designed and produced
internal and external signage schemes
to suit several individual sites, including
the newly built and prestigious 'Super
Schools', including Pendle Vale, Sir John
Thursby, and Hameldon Community
College.
As Michael Meachin of Pendle Signs
recalls: “On numerous projects we were
given the task of recommending an
ingenious way of displaying the
students’ own artwork in the most
dramatic, eye catching and durable way
possible and accordingly, we proposed
the textured wallpaper from Doro
Tapes’ Dorodigital range. One of the
key reasons for choosing this product
was the brightness of the media, as it
enhanced the vivid colours we were
printing. It also provided an excellent
representation of certain elements of
the students’ artwork, which was
scanned and manipulated. The
wallpaper could be simply applied in
the same way as normal wallpaper, was
hard wearing and gave the longevity
that the client required’.
The Super Schools wallpaper projects
have proved very successful for Pendle
Signs and has since generated more
work of a similar nature through
recommendations and referrals and
due to seeing first hand the huge visual
impact it makes.
For further information visit:www.dorotape.co.uk
Materialmatters
Digital Wallpaperdoes the Business
With digital printing fast becoming thesingle most important aspect of thecontinually changing sign and graphicsindustry, the choice of materials nowavailable has become commensuratelygreater. Mike Connolly reviews some ofthe more innovative new products as wellas established favourites that are nowpart of the modern signmaker’s armoury.
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 51
A leading supplier of digitalprinting solutions, Colourgen isnow distributing complementaryspeciality media from KernowCoatings.
The HydroSol range of materials is
distinctly eco-friendly due to its use of
a safer and cleaner water-based
coating and to the absence of any
potentially harmful VOC (volatile
organic compound) content found in
PVC and similar materials. There is,
however, no compromise in
performance, since the media offers
good resistance to the ingress of water
and to abrasion, a high ink absorption
and fast-drying capability and requires
no over-lamination.
The range of media includes a wide
choice of different paper and film
formats, all of which have been tested
extensively for their compatibility with
the market-leading printers supplied
by Colourgen.
For further information visit:www.colourgen.com
The eco-option
Brett Martin’s Foamalux Whitefoam PVC sheet, a bright whitedirect to print substrate that hasbeen specifically developed forthe digital print market, featuredon the Mimaki stand at FESPADigital 2012, where it was shownbeing used in conjunction with theMimaki JFX-1631 flatbed printer.
This demonstration proved so
successful that more than 1,000 visitors
requested a sample of the material to
use on their own machines!
Brett Martin has been innovating the
Foamalux range for over 20 years, and
continues to improve the substrate’s
performance, so that the Foamalux
White version now offers the best
quality reproduction when used in
tandem with digital printers, such as
the Mimaki JFX-1631 plus. Accordingly,
the range of applications that it can be
used for is now as extensive as its
distinctive qualities, which include its
flat, smooth and rigid surface, its
lightweight, high durability and ease of
use.
The quality of print achieved by using
Foamalux White is particularly
impressive, as the substrate minimises
'yellowing' through UV light exposure
and in addition, it can be cut, routed,
scored, folded or bonded, according to
individual requirements.
Foamalux White UV stable foam PVC
sheets are available in a range of
thicknesses from 1-19mm.
For further information visit: visitwww.brettmartin.com.
A white with the wow factor
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 52
special feature
Grafityp UK offers acomprehensive range ofsignmaking materials includingpopular choices from itsGrafitack, Graficast, Grafisoftand Grafiprint series of media.
The Grafitack and Graficast vinyl
ranges include the three-year
Promo, five-year 100, seven-year
200/300 and 10-year series of films,
all of which are suitable for a wide
range of signmaking applications.
For more specialist applications
such as window graphics and
illuminated signs, the seven-year
Grafitack Etched Glass series is
available in six colours.
For high-impact signs, the seven-
year Grafitack TL (Translucent) and
Fluorescent (available in four Day-
Glo colours) are ideal solutions,
while the Grafitack Removable,
which is available in black and
white, is ideal for short-term signs
and displays. The five-year Grafitack
GEF series are eco-friendly films that
are PVC- and 100 percent chlorine-
free materials with a Fire Class 1
rating in compliance with BS 476
(Part7). Available in eight colours,
Grafisoft is ideal for the production
of banners and other soft signage
applications.
Completing the Grafityp UK
signmaking materials portfolio is the
Grafiprint range of digital media.
These materials are available in a
wide range of options for both
short- and long-term applications.
For further information visit:www.grafityp.co.uk
A materials extravaganza
Perspex Spectrum LED, the latestcast acrylic material from PerspexDistribution, will enable signmanufacturers to create solutionsthat are more colourful in conceptand more cost-effective and eco-friendly in application.
Perspex Spectrum colours have been
specially formulated to optimise
colour performance through
transmitted and reflected light using
white LED modules. They will enable
illuminated signs to be seen at their
brilliant and uniform best both at night
and during the day.
LED is fast becoming the dominant
source of light for illuminated signs
due to its cost and environmental
benefits, as well as an ability to ensure
bright and intense colour under all
conditions. To complement Perspex
Spectrum LED, Perspex Distribution is
now stocking a full range of the
popular LED modules from SloanLED
in order to provide an integrated
illuminated signs solution that is
available from a single source of
supply.
Also available from Perspex
Distribution are the new Alupanel
aluminium composite sheets. These
include Alupanel Ultrawhite Digital
that features a brilliant white surface
for perfect printing and Alufoam
panels that incorporate a foamed
white polyurethane core to provide a
30 percent lighter alternative solution
to standard aluminium composite
materials.
For further information visit:www.perspex.co.uk
Broadening the colour spectrum
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 53
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 54
special feature
An extensive range of sign makingmaterials is available from the UK’sleading trade-only supplier WilliamSmith. The range includespremium-grade products from 3M,for which the company is a primarydistributor and the largest UKstockist, as well as materials fromArlon, Ritrama and Contra Vision.
Key products in the range of opaque
films include the 3M Scotchcal 80 and
100 series. Suitable for both indoor and
outdoor applications, Scotchcal 80
comprises economy cast films available
in a choice of 84 colours, including
matte white and black, eight metallic
and 33 Pantone-matched formulations.
Scotchcal 100 is a range of premium-
grade self-coloured films available in
120 standard colours and 50 metallic
formats for application to a wide range
of sign making materials, including
aluminium, GRP, acrylic, glass, steel and
painted substrates. The films are
suitable for applications involving flat
and corrugated surfaces, are water-
resistant and come with a 12-year
durability.
3M Scotchcal IJ8624 Graphic Film for
Textured Surfaces is a unique
conformable cast film specifically
designed to provide clean,
photographic-quality full-colour
imagery for application to moderately
textured flat or curved surfaces as
diverse as brick, breeze-block, tiled and
cement. It has an outdoor durability of
up to six months and an indoor
durability of two years and represents
an inexpensive alternative to painted
signs and graphics.
3M Scotchcal Clear View Graphic Film
8150 has been specifically designed for
architectural, graphic and decorative
applications. It enables a host of special
effects to be achieved and in particular
those involving glass surfaces where
high transparency is required on
unprinted areas.
Also developed for applications
requiring special effects are the 3M
Fasara Glass Decorative, 3M Dusted and
Frosted Crystal, 3M DI-NOC and Ritrama
etched glass-effect films. The range of
special-effect films from William Smith
has also been expanded to include
Contra Vision Performance perforated
films that enable see-through graphics
applied to windows and other glass
surfaces.
For interior wall decoration, the Arlon
DPF 206 and 207 removable films are
ideal solutions, while the Arlon DPF
8000 Engineering Grade film can be
used for a wide range of marking
applications specific to the
transportation, vending and
automotive industries.
For further information visit:www.williamsmith.co.uk
Metamark’s new MetaScape Frostproduces superb, cut and appliedetch-effect graphics, which arenow even easier to apply.
MetaScape Frost comprises the
flawless etch effect facefilm for which
Metamark window effect films are
widely admired, combined with an air
evacuation system and a crystal clear,
humidity resisting adhesive, in order
to facilitate perfectly applied window
graphics. And even though
MetaScape Frost can be cut, weeded
and applied in precisely the same way
as coloured self adhesive vinyl, once it
is applied to a window, the final result
could easily be confused with
mechanically or chemically etched
markings which cost considerably
more.
Etch effect films can be effectively
used to screen areas for privacy while
still admitting light and can also be
used to provide ambient markings
and corporate graphics.
Thanks to the material’s new
MetaScape adhesive system,
application is now even easier and less
error-prone, as any air that’s trapped
during application can be easily
squeegeed to the graphic’s edges.
Metamark is making samples of its
new MetaScape Frost etch effect film
available free-of-charge upon request.
For further information visit:www.metamark.co.uk
Window graphics with eye-appeal
A plethora of products
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 55
Better known for its high-performance structural bondingsystems used in sign making,Innova Solutions now also suppliesprinted photo-luminescent signagesolutions.
The company has introduced its latest
Glowcoat printed photo-luminescent
aluminium signage used primarily in fire
safety and fire action response
situations in buildings, including
emergency escape signage and fire
extinguisher markings. The signs are
constructed using a Class D the
brightest classification available, photo-
luminescent coating along with the
relevant wording and legends and
printed on aluminium and stainless
steel substrates.
Innova Solutions has vigorously
promoted the use of Safety Way
Guidance Systems (SWGS) based on
photo-luminescence technology in the
aftermath of the 9/11 Twin Towers
incident in New York in 2001. SWGS
were cited as a major factor in the safe
evacuation and survival of many of the
people who made it out of the
buildings following the terrorist attack.
The benefits of SWGS based on photo-
luminescence technology are self-
evident. The material stores energy
from ambient light sources and then re-
emits this energy via signage that glows
brightly in the dark. It requires no power
source and therefore incurs no running
costs. It is also completely reliable and
will provide critical directional signage
even under conditions of total blackout
or a smoke-filled environment.
Apart from contributing to public
safety, SWGS also represent a sound
investment for sign manufacturers by
providing a new source of revenue and
enabling greater diversification from
their core activities to create new
business opportunities.
For further information visit:www.innovasolutionsonline.com
Give it a glow!
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 56
special feature
In spite of the proliferation ofelectronic outdoor signage, largepanel poster advertising remains amajor force in this sector of the signand graphics industry. Leadingsupplier to this market, Sihl offersthe TriSolv multi-purpose range ofdigitally printable papers.
The TriSolv range comprises multi-
layered, high-white and water-resistant
papers that have been specially
developed for printing with solvent and
UV-curing inks. The construction of the
papers enables brilliant posters that
reputedly will save up to 30 percent in
ink usage. All of the papers are qualified
for billboard applications, have
effortlessly passed stringent tests
carried out by a major out-of-home
media supplier in accordance with
recognised international standards that
apply to 95 percent of posters used
throughout the world and offer high
scratch resistance and perfect folding
capabilities.
Sihl is a major global producer of high-
performance imaging papers and
specialist media such as photo-quality,
banner-grade, backlit and canvas that
are suitable for use with solvent-based
ink technology. The materials feature a
specially developed coating to enable
their use in a range of outdoor
applications, while for indoor
applications over-lamination is not
required.
For further information e-mail:[email protected]
Brilliant posters
To reflect its continual productdevelopment and innovation,Fujifilm has re-branded thepopular Euromedia range ofmedia to which it has made someimportant new additions.
Especially suited to Fujifilm’s Uvistar
printer, UV Frontlit PE is an eco-
friendly 110gsm polyethylene
product featuring a satin white low-
reflectivity surface to enable brilliant
colour printing. The 510gsm Frontlit
Production FR has a smooth white
and low-reflectivity surface offering
similar benefits, with the B1 Fire
Certification of this product making it
ideal for indoor applications.
For banner applications, the range
now includes Project Banner White, a
laminated banner-grade material for
short-term applications and Frontlit
Plus FR, a high-quality PVC-coated
material for long-term indoor and
shorter-term outdoor applications.
Completing the new additions are
BigMesh Backing FR, which is suitable
for wind-load applications and
offering a B1 Fire Certification,
Caramba Mesh Backing FR, a
premium-grade mesh product with
outstanding dimensional stability
and tear resistance and a range of 25
specially selected products from the
expanded Euromedia range for use
with Fujifilm’s new Acuity LED 1600
printer.
For further information visit:www.fujifilm.eu/uk
All change!
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 57
Five different formulations of the latestPERMAfun range of special effect filmsfrom MACtac are available from AmariDigital Supplies. All of the materials havebeen designed for application to flat orgently curved surfaces.
Crystal Gloss is a premium cast vinyl with a high-
gloss surface and a large concentration of light-
refracting additives to enable special effects. It
incorporates a high-performance permanent
clear solvent-based adhesive and white Kraft
liner to ensure stability and to impart a lay flat
quality. The film can be used for both outdoor
and indoor applications.
Brushed Metal is a premium-grade polymeric
vinyl with a fine brushed satin texture. It
incorporates a high-tack permanent clear
solvent-based adhesive and clay coated white
paper liner and can be used for indoor and
outdoor applications. When used as an over-
laminate for the MACtac MACal 9800 Pro series
of films, it will create the appearance of brushed
metal. It can also be used on digital prints to give
them a special texture.
Coarse Grain Wood is of a similar construction
and shares the same application capabilities as
Brushed Metal. It can also be used with MACtac
MACal 9800 Pro films as an over-laminate to give
the appearance of plain wood. Fine Grain Wood
shares the same construction and application
capabilities, as does the Leather option that can
be used to impart the appearance of simulated
leather.
For further information, visitwww.amaridigitalsupplies.com
Add an effect
A new range of FSC-accredited papermedia has been introduced by PaperlinXand is available from its three subsidiarycompanies, Robert Horne Group,Howard Smith Paper Group andPaperCo.
Called Fabriano, the range has been
developed in response to feedback from
designers and printers requesting a product
that effectively addresses the three
most important specification criteria:
choice, availability and competitive pricing.
The products are grouped in four distinct
categories (White, Metallic, Colour and
Translucent) to enable easier identification for
specific printing applications.
Available in weights ranging from 90 to
480gsm, the papers include a choice of 13
primary colours, five of which have
Indigo certification and all of which
(including the White, Translucent
and Metallic formats) have Sapphire
treatment. All of the papers are currently
held in stock.
For further information visit:www.paperlinxeu.co.uk
Greater creativity
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 58
special feature
Avery Dennison has respondedto the dynamic market inapplications for durable,medium-life self-adhesivegraphics with enhancements toits inkjet-printable polymericcalendered vinyl ranges, AveryMPI 2000 and Avery MPI 2800.
New products for popular
applications have been introduced,
and the printed durability of both
ranges is now additionally
warranted for significantly longer
when the films are protected with
their partner Avery DOL
overlaminates.
Newly added to the Avery MPI 2000
series range is a product specially
formulated for apolar, low-surface-
energy substrates like HDPE: Avery
MPI 2600 AP. Its combination of a
flexible, conformable face film and a
high-tack speciality adhesive makes
it an appropriate choice for
application to many of today’s
plastic substrates; and it is available
with Avery Easy Apply and Avery
Easy Apply RS features for speedy,
accurate, bubble-free application.
Avery MPI 2800 series films now
feature two new economical
solutions for shorter-life
applications, Avery MPI 2802
permanent and 2803 removable,
both of which feature a grey
adhesive primer coat for added
opacity, making them suitable for
application over pre-decorated
surfaces.
For further information visit:w w w . e u r o p e . a v e r ygraphics.com.
Durability to the fore
Under a single brand, 74 newproducts have been introduced byAntalis McNaughton toaccommodate more eco-friendlylarge-format printing applications.
The new Coala range of media includes
20 products for water-based and 54 for
solvent-, UV-based and latex printing
applications. The range includes
substrates for both indoor and outdoor
applications embracing a broad
selection of papers, self-adhesive and
banner-grade materials, textiles,
wallpapers and speciality media. In
particular, products have been
developed for the growing latex ink
printing market.
The Coala collection has been sourced
from leading Continental Europe
suppliers and in particular from
Germany and is said to have undergone
a rigorous selection process prior to
inclusion. An important consideration
was the environmental credentials of
these products, resulting in the
adoption of a number of PVC-free films
and textiles and FSC/PEFC-certified
papers.
Other products supplied by this
company for signmaking applications
include: Antacote Lite, a PEFC-
accredited and PIRA-tested alternative
to foamed board materials, Correx, a
fluted polypropylene board material,
SMART-X, a lightweight all-plastic sheet
product offering high UV resistance and
FoamaLite Xpress, a lightweight
foamed PVC material with an ultra-
white finish.
For further information visit:www.antalis-mcnaughton.co.uk
Cute but not cuddly!
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 59
GRAPHICS STUDIO MANAGER. PRINTED & CUT VINYL GRAPHICS. SOUTH.PACKAGE: £25 – 35K.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER. CORPORATE SIGNAGE. SOUTH PACKAGE: BASIC £35 - 45K, BONUS & CAR/CAR ALLOWANCE.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER. DIGITAL PRINT/GRAPHICS. MIDLANDS/NORTH.PACKAGE: £30 - 35K, COMMISSION & CAR/CAR ALLOWANCE.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER. ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHICS. SOUTH PACKAGE: 30 - 40K, COMMISSION & CAR/CAR ALLOWANCE.
PROJECT MANAGER. SIGNAGE & DIGITAL PRINT NORTH WESTPACKAGE: BASIC £25 - 30K
MARKETING EXECUTIVE. SIGNAGE & DIGITAL PRINT .NORTH WEST.PACKAGE: BASIC £20 – 30K.
PROJECT MANAGER. CORPORATE SIGNAGE. SOUTH WEST.PACKAGE: BASIC £30 – 35K
SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER .CORPORATE SIGNAGE .SOUTH EAST.PACKAGE: BASIC: £35 – 40K.
ACCOUNT MANAGER. EXHIBITION DESIGN & BUILD. SOUTH. PACKAGE: BASIC £40, COMMISSION & CAR/CAR ALLOWANCE
ESTIMATOR. CORPORATE SIGNAGE. NORTHPACKAGE: £25 – 30K
To find out more about any of these, or the numerous other vacancies we are currentlyhandling, contact us now on 01275 855 105 or forward us a copy of your C.V. to:
Amari Plastics, one of the UK’sleading suppliers of materials tothe sign trade for over 30 years, hasseen significant growth in its salesof cast acrylic over the last twoyears, following the introduction ofthe Acrycast cast acrylic range.
First introduced in 2010, Acrycast’s sales
have surpassed all expectations, largely
due to the fact that signmakers enjoy
working with this high quality material,
which is available in a wide selection of
colours and a range of different sheet
sizes. To celebrate this success Amari
Plastics is holding a race day promotion
for customers who purchase Acrycast
cast acrylic during the months of May
and June, when any customer who
spends £500 or more in each month,
will automatically be entered into a free
prize draw for a Ferrari race day at
Silverstone in Northamptonshire.
Acrycast is the own brand of the Amari
Plastics Group and is being used to
develop new grades ,such as Acrycast
Super Clear, an optical clear grade of
acylic that is suitable for use as picture
frames, museum casings and in all areas
where a totally clear cast acrylic is
required.
As well as Acrycast, Amari also offers a
full range of products for the signmaker,
such as MACtac marking films, MACtac
IMAGin digitally printable vinyls, foam
PVC, which is available in sheets from
1mm to 30mm thick, sign extrusions,
gear trays, and light boxes, as well as
Dibond aluminium composite sheet,
which is now available in a new range
of two
metre wide gloss colours. In
addition, signmakers can also choose
from products from the Dibond Mirror
range, which includes the newly
launched Anthracite Mirror and the
Dibond Décor range of Woodgrain
finishes, all of which are available from
Amari Plastics’ local branches, which are
strategically located at 14 key urban
areas around the UK.
For further information visit:www.amariplastics.com
Multiplechoices
Sign Directions March 2012 | 60
sign directory
SIGN MAKING SUPPLIERS
MATERIAL SUPPLIERS
FLEXIBLE FACE SIGNS
FLAT CUT LETTERS MANUFACTURERS OFMAGNETIC MATERIALS
LED SPECIALISTSDIGITAL PRINT SYSTEMS
PERSPEX DISTRIBUTION LTD• Perspex® cast & extruded acrylic• Bencore® Composite• Polycarbonate • APET & PETG• Alupanel® Aluminium Composite• Foamed PVC• Rigid PVC • Polystyrene• Rod & Tube • AdhesivesFull stock holding capability, bespoke colour matching and a cut-to-size service available plusstandard next day delivery.For immediate response pleasecontact your regional sales andservice centre.North - BlackburnT. 01254 272800Midlands - TamworthT. 01827 263900South - ChelmsfordT. 01245 232800www.perspex.co.uk
Sign Directions March 2012 | 61
signdirectoryThe Sign Industry's Who's Who
BUTTERFIELD SIGNS LTD.
174 Sunbridge Road, BradfordWest Yorkshire BD1 2RZ
Tel: 01274 722244Fax: 01274 848998Email: [email protected]: www.butterfieldsigns.co.uk
General signmaker offering ProjectManagement and Sign Design.Specialist in Neon, Illuminated Signs and Maintenance.
HUMPHREYS SIGNS LTD.
Unit 6, Spencer Trading EstateDenbigh, N. Wales LL16 5TQ
Tel: 01745 814066Fax: 01745 815374Email: [email protected]: www.humphreys-signs.co.uk
Trade Printers for over 30 years.Estate Agents board specialists.Printing on Correx, PVC Vinyl,Magnetics, as well as digitalprinting.Large or small runs.
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PROLICHT UK LIMITED
14, Spire Green Centre
Flex Meadow, Pinnacles West
Harlow, Essex CM19 5TR
Tel: 0844 412 2230
Fax: 0844 412 2231
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Web: www.prolicht.com
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BENSON SIGNS
96 - 98 Great Howard StreetLiverpool L3 7AX
Tel: 0151 298 1567Fax: 0151 298 1568
Email: [email protected]: www.benson-signs.co.uk
Design and manufacture of all typesof signs, combining traditional skillswith the latest technology,providing pub, hotel and retailsectors with a full installation andmaintenance service, nowincorporating wide format fullcolour printing on banners andsigns as well as electronic digitaldisplays and directory systems.Nationwide Service.
Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 62
the last word
The presentation fairly summarised its
author’s view of how big the established
sign and display market was and the
extent to which it was penetrated. The
thing that got my attention though, was
the view it promoted regarding the size
of the market for decorative output
and the extent to which it had been
realised. The view there was that the
market was a big one, and that it was
barely touched. We’ll be having some of
that, then.
As we all know, unless there’s something
particular that drives a business in the
direction of deep specialisation, there’s
nothing in a sign and display producer’s
charter that says he can’t wander into
adjacent markets. Many already do of
course. Are those who don’t missing a
trick? Probably, is the only sensible
conclusion that I can draw.
So, decorative output, what is it? Let’s
start with something simple - mural-like
applications. Think, for example, of a
restaurant, let’s make it an Indian. There
was a time when all that was available to
the enterprising Indian restaurant owner
to cover his walls was, paint or wallpaper.
If the Indian restaurants I’ve visited are
any indication, it was only one design of
wallpaper and I’m sure you know it in all
of its maroon flocked motif glory.
Today, things are different. Paint and
wallpaper still figure in the range of
possibilities, but now the wallpaper can
be digitally printed. Sadly, I don’t think
any of the industry’s commonly used
hardware is capable of spitting out
maroon flock yet, and, mercifully, it
probably never will be. Beyond that
though, anything is possible. So, with
some digitally printed wallpaper
cladding the premises, diners can be
treated to a view of something
evocative of the Indian continent’s many
charms, something a lot more
atmospheric than flock wallpaper.
The choke point when it comes to
satisfying this apparently latent demand
is, the restaurant owner doesn’t know it’s
possible, and you the signmaker never
get asked for anything like it. Someone
has to make the first move. Increasingly,
the people making the moves seem to
be the printer manufactures and those
who make it all happen for them, the
media producers.
You may have noticed that it’s
becoming increasingly difficult to buy a
printer these days. I’m not thinking so
much about the availability of credit and
funding, more that the manufacturers
have shifted away from marketing
hardware 0 to 60 style. Hardware is
promoted less these days behind a raw
distillation of its performance and more
for the depth of its ability. The word that
everyone is using is “application.”
What the hardware and media
producers are betting on is that the
markets for the stuff they sell can be
grown if the range of applications it
addresses gets bigger too. They hope to
inspire you to get out and sell the output
you can now produce into new markets.
New markets just don’t spring up of
course. They can take years and years to
develop and they tend to belong to a
handful of evangelists in the early stages
of their gestation.
Some of the hardware manufactures are
a little late to the table with this
approach, others having paved the way.
The evidence is there though. Exhibition
stands that would have once been
dripping with pictures of the very
printers that produced them, are now,
instead, bent double under the
examples of all the good and great
things you can actually do with the
hardware beyond what you’d normally
expect to see. So was born the coffin-
wrap, the dinner tray advertisement, and
the printed window manifestation
display.
Application development is now as
legitimate a career as product
development and it represents
manufacturers’ investment in
developing new application possibilities
that, who knows, may just become
the next big thing. This is going to
be pretty exciting.
Printed and applied vinyl can be a useful
and practical proxy for all kinds of long
established conventional materials.
Substituting printed materials for
wallpaper and paint is just a beginning.
Who says radiators have to be plain
white? Garage doors and wheelie bins
have been done, but there’s stacks of
room to grow yet. What about a wall in a
kid’s room with a computer game
theme and some flexible magnetic
parts that can be moved around within
the design?
I’ve always maintained, and always will,
that the fountainhead of demand in the
sign and display industry is creativity.
With that in mind, I’d like to see
hardware manufacturers who’re now
focussing on application expansion, to
also get their shoulders behind
educating and inspiring designers as to
the possibilities that will otherwise
remain latent and unexplored. It’s a fact
that designers, by and large, are only
minimally acquainted with what
today’s hardware and media are capable
of delivering.
Out there somewhere is another
application, which will return to the
industry that pioneers its practices, a
payday as big as the ones we are
currently reaping from window
graphics, wraps or banners. The
technology and science is pretty much
sorted at this point. What’s needed is
focus on market development and it’s
heartening to see investment being
directed in precisely this direction.
We opened this conversation with mural
like applications. Murals put a market at
your disposal that’s as big as all the
boringly papered or blandly painted
walls in the world. That is a lot of square
metres. That is a lot of ink. That is a lot of
media and a lot of printers to handle it
all. Photomurals are starting to appear.
Materials supporting their production
are also available. What’s needed next is
an effort to sell them into the very spaces
they were made to grace.
With the exception of all the bits that
nature has filled in, everything we see
around us has been sold by somebody
and bought by somebody else. As a
species we have a natural appetite for
things that are new, so an audience for
new ideas exists wherever you look for it.
It may not feel like it at times, but the
technology and materials we have
today is not, figuratively, being stretched
at all. It has given a lot, but there’s a lot
there to give still.
Next time you’re contacted by
somebody trying to sell you a printer,
listen carefully. Yes, some of the
conversation will centre on getting
more done in less time and for less
money, but a part of it will also be
concerned with how much more you
can do if you have the right printer,
media and ink working in concert.
The opportunity that’s wrapped up in
growing applications is a big one. How
big a slice of it do you think you could
make your own?
Mark Godden
I very recently got to sit through a presentation by one of the industry’s leading lights in hardware, and they did a very good job ofsummarising the market potential for digital output. The very same digital output that any of you reading could produce if you happento have a wide-format inkjet printer somewhere on the premises.
Application, Application, Application!
This month, Mark Godden explains why the signmaker’s new mantra should be: