issue-124-aprilmay-2012

April/May 2012 - No.124

Double Trouble!

Link Signs & Graphics helps to bring the Beatles to life

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

www.bsga.co.uk

April/May 2012

signdirections

What’s in this issue…

p10

p22

p32

p50

Projects - Applications in Action

Innovation - The Mimakification of latex

Cover Story - Double trouble

Special Feature – Material Matters

news 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

features Innovation

22 The Mimakification of latex - Hybrid Services unveils the JV400 LX Special Feature – A question of quality

Sign Directions Hotline: If you would like to contact any of the companies featured in this issue of Sign Directions, please contact us on Tel: 01623 882398 for full company information, or alternatively, e-mail signdirections@btconnect.com for a response by return.

Coming Next: The next issue of Sign Directions will be the June issue, which will include special features on Routing & Engraving and Printwear & Promotions

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

information 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

Publisher/Managing Editor Val Hirst Tel: 01623 882398 e-mail: signdirections@btconnect.com Deputy Editor Mike Connolly Tel: 01737 842410 e-mail: themc@btinternet.com Associate Editor Michael Lyons Tel: 01277 650037 e-mail: mike.lyons@mac.com Contributing Editor Mark Godden Tel: 07717 885325 e-mail: mark.godden@me.com Art Editor Hina Mistry Tel: 07773 319465 e-mail: hinamistry@sky.com

Cover Photography Courtesy of Link Signs & Graphics Head Office & Data Base Management Trinity Creative Ltd. Unit 1B Melrose Nurseries Longland Lane, Farnsfield, Newark Nottingham NG22 8HD Tel: 01623 882398 e-mail: signdirections@btconnect.com Annual Subscription Rates: UK £50 $78 €78 Europe £93 $143 €145 Rest of the World: £114 $178 €178 Agents can claim a l0% discount

Contributors Zinnia Cordell Alicia Fairlie

No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. Editorial photographs supplied courtesy of the companies they feature. The publishers accept no responsibility for any statement made in signed contributions or those reproduced from any other source, nor for claims made in any advertisement. Sign Directions is available to individuals who qualify within the terms of a controlled circulation

62 Last Word - Mark Godden focuses on application

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 3

April/May 2012 Introduction

setting the

scene On the day that it was announced that, technically speaking at least, the UK was slipping into the second part of a double-dip recession and despite our current drought status, the rain relentlessly continued, we had to take our pleasures wherever we could find them.

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?

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 4

signdirections Then 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: signdirections@btconnect.com Twitter: @Valthemaghag Web: www.signdirections.co.uk and www.graphicdisplaycommunity.com

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 5

news briefing

3M and Signs Express support 737 Challenge The Cardiff branch of Signs Express was recently commissioned to wrap a new Audi A1 car that was used to promote the Richard Parks’ 737 Challenge.

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 ultraconformable Controltac Graphic Film IJ380 from 3M. This was printed with eye-catching graphics combining blackand-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

A merger on the horizon

The Horizon Group Directors L to R – Ross Ball, Keith Ball & George Foster

Signmaker Horizon Signs and its sister company, Horizon BSF, the education sector specialist, have merged, together with a number of other divisions to form The Horizon Group in order to more effectively deliver its diverse range of products to its expanding client base.

Working out of a 30,000sq.ft manufacturing facility in

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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.thehorizongroup.co.uk

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 3M graphic solutions, visit: www.3M.co.uk/graphicsolutions and for further information on the competition visit: www.737challenge.com

Digital Print UK date moved Faversham House has announced that Digital Print UK will move forward from its current slot in September 2012 to take place in the autumn of 2013.

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.”

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 printspecific 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,

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

news In Brief Will Tyler, Chief Executive of Octink, has been invited to join the judging 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 Swan Centre, which will include the design and manufacture of directional signage as well as frontof-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 d dolphinsigns.co

Appointments Metamark has appointed Neill Boatman to the role of Territory Sales M a n a g e r covering the south east of the UK.

& 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.

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.

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.

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 appointed Rokus van Iperen as the new President

Mimaki has r e c e n t l y announced that its current Executive VicePresident, Hisayuki Kobayashi, is to become the company’s new President following the retirement of Mikio Noguchi, in late June. .

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 7

news

news briefing

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 hopedfor 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: http://www.army.mod.uk/ join/26838.aspx For further information on Prismaflex visit: www.prismaflex.com

DIARY DATES FOR 2012

Nothing is impossible! showtime Marketing Week Live 2012 27th-28th June Grand Hall, Olympia, London Organiser: Centaur e-mail: marketing@marketingweeklive.co.uk www.marketingweeklive.co.uk Viscom France 2012 25th-27th September Paris Nord Villepinte Organiser: Reed Expo Tel: +33 1475 66 782 e-mail: viscom@reedexpo.fr www.viscomshows.com EcoPrint 26th-27th September The Station, Potsdamer Platz, Berlin Organiser: FM Brooks Tel: 01372 370821 e-mail: katharina-thies@mackbrooks.com www.ecoprintshow.com Viscom Italy 2012 4th-6th October Fiera Milano, Milan Organiser: Reed Expo Tel: +39 02 435 170-1 e-mail: viscomitalia@reedexpo.it www.viscomshows.com Sign & Digital Ireland 2012 24th-25th October Citywest Convention Centre, Dublin, Ireland Organiser: Faversham House Group Tel: 0208 651 7155 www.signuk.com Viscom Germany 2012 25th-27th October Exhibition Centre, Frankfurt Organiser: Reed Expo Tel: +49 211 90191-219 e-mail: info@viscom-messe.com www.viscomshows.com If you would like your event to feature on this page, please send full information via e-mail to Val Hirst at signdirections@btconnect.com

Don’t Look Down!

‘Don’t look down!’ was the excellent advice that Lisa Metcalf was 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

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 8

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 a donation can do so by visiting www.clicsargent.co.uk

Lisa descends the Premier Inn to raise money for CLIC

Lisa and Iain descend the Premier Inn

new projects

INSA | London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games | University of Salford | Boodies | Salford City Stadium

new

projects

Photo courtesy of Ian Cox Renowned UK artist INSA, who has been producing his unique artwork for more than ten years, commissioned BAF Graphics to digitally print and install fabric-backed wallcovering in order to showcase his onenight installation entitled ‘Self Reflection is

greater than Self Projection’. The exhibition, which draws on familiar INSA themes, such as society’s twin obsessions with money and image, was held in London's Shoreditch area and featured 160m2 of wall covered in Digimura 2.1 Smooth and 60m2 of Aslan floor

vinyl with anti-slip laminate. The entire printing and installation process was carried out by BAF and documented from start to finish.

For further information visit: www.baf.co.uk

Icon worked closely with Adidas to deliver the launch of Team GB's athletes’ kit for the forthcoming London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games at a star-studded event held at the Tower of London.

Icon constructed a temporary structure in the grounds of the Tower, which had a seating capacity of 250. In addition, there was a 12-metre catwalk/stage. The kit, designed for Adidas by Stella McCartney,

Sign Directions April / May2012 | 10

was modelled by Team GB athletes, including Jessica Ennis and Phillips Idowu, who showed it off in dramatic fashion with state of the art, laser mapped projection bringing the stage set to life, whilst video content featuring some of the athletes provided a dramatic backdrop for on-stage performances.

For further information visit: www.icon-world.com

The ground floor of the University of Salford’s unique digital learning, teaching and research space, which opened last October at Salford’s MediaCityUK, is now dominated by a digital interactive showcase that includes a formal presentation space and ten interactive touch tables designed to engage visitors. The central feature is a high-resolution display wall made up from 120 Christie MicroTiles, which are able to display images of 9600-3840 resolution.

The building is home to 1500 students and staff, offering both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in all aspects of radio, TV, computer games, and digital media production, as well as providing research facilities.

Boodles, one of the UK’s most highly respected jewellers, with stores located throughout the UK, recently commissioned Paul Turner Displays, with whom it has a longstanding relationship, to produce its new season shop fronts and internal displays. Whilst ensuring that installation provided for a seamless transition between the new spring look and the

The entrance area of the new building itself is known as ‘The Egg’, and is described as ‘a publicly accessible digital interactive showcase for visitors and students’. It has been designed as a flexible space where resources can be deployed in different ways, with cameras and PC’s installed for motion tracking.

The Centre prepared the original technical design for Virtual Environments at the University of Salford and Electrosonic was awarded the contract to engineer and install the complete system.

The MicroTiles wall has initially been installed as a 15 x 8 array; however in future, the tiles may be redeployed to achieve projectspecific layouts.

For further information visit: www.christiedigital.eu

previous Christmas theme, Paul Turner Displays also had to produce each display, which had to be individually crafted in order to fit the varying window sizes within the different Boodles’ stores, so that they could be easily assembled by store staff, For further information visit: www. paulturnerdisplays.co.uk

Following its earlier successful branding of the new Premiere Grandstand at Fontwell Park Racecourse in West Sussex, Sign 2000 was again nominated by leading land regeneration and construction contractor Buckingham Group to manufacture and install signage at the newly developed Salford City Stadium. Home to Super League rugby team the Salford Reds, the stadium was built on a brown field site and incorporates a banqueting and conference suite and seating for 12,000 spectators.

The signage covered the exterior of the stadium and the back wall of the reception area. The main ID branding comprised a host of builtup fascia and halo-lit letters together with supplementary four metre-wide club brand logos and low-level club shop, ticket office and entrance signage. Main brand

logos and larger text were delivered in two stages, with a first-fix structural steelwork with stud rods installed by Sign 2000 prior to installation of a plasterboard wall covering by the principal contractor. This preparatory work was carried out to support the signage that was superimposed onto the façade cladding featuring a special finish.

For further information visit www.sign2000.co.uk

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news briefing Supplier News

W&Co is on the move

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

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

UK POS flies the flag

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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.

Following its win last year of the Silver Award, Antalis McNaughton has achieved the Gold Award in the RoSPA Occupational 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.

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 Purex fume extraction systems, including the Purex Captivair Max system, which is compatible with all of the popular makes of printer.

For further information visit: www.ukpos.com

The sale is subject to the usual regulatory approvals and a final value audit.

For further information visit: www.paperlinx.com

In Brief

For further information visit: www.antalis-mcnaughton.co.uk

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.

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.”

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.”

For further information visit: www.digiprintsupplies.com

The Warwickshire-based Industrial Adhesive Solutions (Indasol) has acquired Avanti Tapes in 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 information visit:www.indasol.co.uk Following an agreement made between Reklamide AB, the manufacturers of the RollsRoller Flatbed Applicator, Spandex Group has 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 and www.spandex.co.uk.

news Metamark launches e-Brick app Metamark’s hefty ‘Brick’ SignVinyl and Speciality Materials swatch now has a somewhat lighterweight cousin, which Metamark refers to as the eBrick.

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

A smart expansion

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

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 13

news

news briefing Supplier News

Queen’s Award for Tecna Tecna Display has won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade in respect of T3, its advanced modular display system.

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.

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 media and material new introductions. The company’s classleading 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

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 14

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, cofounder 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.

order to maintain this level of customer the service company has r e c e n t l y to relocated larger distribution premises that are better able to accommodate its larger inventory and increased handle 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.

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, ondemand applications, including individual business cards, labels, ID tags, and esignatures.

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.

Metamark issues new price guides Metamark has introduced its new Digital Media and SignVinyl Product and Price Guides, which reveal that the company’s remain structures pricing unchanged.

EFI on the acquisition trail

Both guides are available free of contacting by change sales@metamark.co.uk or by calling Metamark’s sales desk on 0845 3455645

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

news briefing Equipment & Material

Super squeegees Two new Avery FleXtreme ‘micro-squeegees’ are the latest additions to the professional Avery Tools range from Avery Dennison.

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.

Another hang-up William Smith is now supplying HP PVC-Free Wall Paper, which provides signmakers with a high quality, odour free alternative to vinyl for use in short or long-term interior decorative and display applications.

traditional PVC-based products.

colour vibrant Offering 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

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.

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 16

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.

For further information visit: www.williamsmith.co.uk

Available in boxes of 25 per quality, they are available from Avery Dennison Graphics and Reflective Solutions distributors throughout Europe.

information further For visit:www.europe.averygraphics .com

news Dome, sweet dome!

Doming has become one of the most widely used technologies through which sign manufacturers can introduce a vital new revenue stream by extending their core the include to activities production of nameplates, labels, badges and decals as well as a host of garment and accessory decoration 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 high-quality producing of 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, polycarbonate, polystyrene, 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

Magnetic appeal

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 visit www.graphtecgb.co.uk

With materials constantly evolving to suit the demands of ever more adventurous applications, there is an even greater need for precision, especially in the area of vehicle 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 Vehicle Metamark’s pairs, Magnets will appeal to busy wrap-stars everywhere.

For further information visit: www.metamark.co.uk

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 17

news briefing Equipment & Material

news

Stylos points the way

A perfect finish

Cheshire West and Chester Council recently specified Stylos fingerposts from William Smith for use along a 3KM length of an old railway corridor to create a traffic-free route and to link up with the existing Chester Millennium 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.

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.

Components can now be new whole a given dimension without any investment in equipment, thanks to a new service from BPD Manufacturing.

In addition, William Smith can create a range of bespoke features, such as

For further information visit: www.williamsmith.co.uk

With 20 years’ experience in the quality application of spray textured, gloss, satin, 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. Antigraffiti and fire-retardant options are also available.

A cunning combination 3M has combined the 3M Scotchcal Graphic Film Series IJ40 with the new Scotchcal Overlaminate 8019/8020 to provide a highly competitive integrated graphics solution. This latest offering again demonstrates 3M’s ability to meet a wide range of customer needs, including high performance products at an accessible 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 pressuresensitive adhesive, with or without 3M Comply air release technology.

The majority of films feature a grey, pigmented adhesive that offers for power hiding excellent applications requiring this particular enhancement. performance Scotchcal Over-laminate 8019/8020 is

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 18

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 solventbased piezo inkjet printing systems and are covered by the 3M MCS (Matched Component System) appropriate for Warranty 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, visit www.3M.co.uk/graphic solutions

Using specialist computerised equipment, BPD has the further capability to create any RAL or Pantone colour, or colourmatch 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.buildingproduct design.com

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 19

information

Tips and Tricks Q We’ve been asked to provide some exterior floor graphics for one of our regular customers.

The graphics are going to be placed on concrete outside of a busy shopping area so must be hard wearing and have the ability to be easily removed and then replaced every so often. Do you have any suggestions?

Jezebel Signs, Northallerton

A

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

In its latest advice column, Fujifilm’s Euromedia experts advise on the suitability of floor graphics for placement onto concrete

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 the Euromedia range of products visit: www.euromedia-eu.com

Lighting

The future is bright Perspex Distribution Limited has added the full range of SloanLED products to complement its extensive range of Perspex cast acrylic and thermoplastic sheets, thus enabling signmakers, specifiers and designers to purchase both LED products and specialist Perspex sheets from 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

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 20

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 or further information on SloanLED products visit www.perspex.co.uk.

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 21

innovation

The Mimakification of Latex The product that caused the biggest buzz at the recent FESPA and Sign & Digital UK exhibitions was undoubtedly Mimaki’s new JV400 LX wide format printer, which uses Mimaki’s new latex ink to take digital printing to a whole new level. Val Hirst reports When HP first introduced the concept of latex ink back in 2008, it heralded a new era of more environmentally friendly printed signs and graphics, which, nevertheless, still retained all of the well-documented advantages of solvent inks, in terms of a rich and vibrant colour gamut and long term 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.

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 22

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

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 Hybrid Services’ specialist reseller network. For further information or to arrange a demonstration visit: www.hybridservices. co.uk

Filling the white space 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’.

In marketing speak, ‘white space’ defines a condition where needs are not met by currently available products. White space sometimes only becomes obvious when a new product first generates a demand for its logical successor - HP’s latex ink is an example. No sooner was it introduced, than the market began to ask: ‘where’s the white ink?” The answer comes in the shape of Mimaki’s new JV400 LX series printer and the sevencolour, white included, latex inkset 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 curedout. 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!

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 23

special feature

A question of quality Mark Godden’s piece on quality for his Last Word slot in the March issue provoked so much response that it seems that he unwittingly touched a nerve. Val Hirst reports When Mark Godden penned his piece for last month’s issue, he obviously tapped into a conundrum that is taxing many signmakers at present – namely how to uphold quality during this challenging economic climate, when often, it seems, it’s the company that quotes the lowest price who waltzes away with the project, even though that might mean using inappropriate materials and/or installation techniques.

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.

“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 the thing it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot - it can't be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better.”

John Ruskin 1819 –1900

Good design pays Originally formed in the spring of 2009, Onthecase, the supplier of high quality modular Showcases, is owned and managed by Jamie Wood, who as the former Managing Director of Wood & Wood Signs, a company renowned for its stylishly understated signage schemes, and Signsystems, a leading provider of modular sign systems, has clocked up an impressive 30 years of management experience within the sign industry.

It is logical therefore, to suppose that when it comes to signage, he knows what he is talking about. Jamie has

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 24

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

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.

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

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.

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

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 | 25

special feature

The only way is up!

As the current Director of the BSGA and as someone who also has handson experience of the supply side of the sign industry, David Catanach explains why he feels that when it comes to quality, there’s only one way 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:

William A Foster, Igniting the Spirit at Work: Daily Reflections

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.

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 | 26

Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.

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 www.bsga.co.uk

visit:

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 27

special feature

Does it print?

There’s a lot of white material in the world and some of it can be used in modern wide format printers, but as any number of expensively crashed printheads and odd looking output attest, just because a material can be loaded into an inkjet printer, doesn’t mean it should be. Mark Godden discovers how print quality can be assured When I interviewed Mike Stuart, Marketing Director of Metamark, he espoused the view that in order to achieve what everyone agrees is an optimum result a deliberate approach in materials formulation is required, together with some idea of what the desired end-state should looks like. He said: “Now that there’s an established appetite for printing on widely differing substrates, to deliver widely differing results, it’s more important than ever to have a base case 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

The bitterness of poor quality remains long after low pricing is forgotten Anonymous

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 28

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 wide-ranging 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 ‘overengineering’ 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 underperform.

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 on Metamark’s digital materials portfolio, visit: www.metamark.co.uk

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 29

special feature

Light Relief Designed to make LED lighting solutions more affordable the ECA Scheme encourages companies to install an energy efficient method of illumination. However it might not be quite as simple as it seems. Mike Hall examines the intricacies of the scheme These days, we all accept that there is a need for everyone to radically reduce their energy use, both at home and in the workplace. However, in the case of commercial organisations, one of the main obstacles to achieving this is that more energy efficient solutions simply cost more.

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.

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.

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.

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

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 30

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!

You can't fake quality any more than you can fake a good meal William S Burroughs, The Western Lands

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

reduction incentive.

lamps and luminaires. Measurement and file format”.

To be eligible, products must: Or: • Include one or more White solidstate 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:

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

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

IES LM-79-08, “Electrical and Photometric Measurements of SolidState 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 “Selfballasted 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/criteria or contact Mike Hall via e-mail at Mike.hall.uk@gmail.com

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 31

cover story

Double Trouble!

When it came to choosing a signmaker to help it make the celebrities at its new Madam Tussauds waxworks properly impactful, Merlin Entertainments Group kept the search local, selecting the Blackpool based Link Signs & Graphics. Mark Godden reports

Legoland, Alton Towers and The London Eye might not appear to have much in common beyond being very successful public attractions, but they’re in fact all operated by the same company, Merlin Entertainments Group, who also manages Warwick Castle, Chessington World of Adventure, and Sealife Centres, among other attractions in the UK and 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

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 32

demonstrates the expertise in its field.

company’s

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

experience that is made even more entertaining by the creative work provided by LSG’s expertise with Metamark materials.

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 topto-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

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 LSG visit: www.linkssignsand graphics.co.uk For further information on Metamark’s MD3 vinyl visit: www.metamark.co.uk For further information on Madame Tussauds visit: www.madametussauds. com/Blackpool

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 33

digital news

GPT teams up with Secabo The big beastie 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

Super speedy dye-sub printing Mimaki has added volume textile inkjet production to its range of textile printers with the introduction of the Mimaki TX5001800DS, which is capable of printing at up to 150 square meters per hour directly onto pre treated 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

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 34

EFI used the occasion of the recent ISA International Sign Expo to launch its new EFI R3225 printer, a 3.2m roll-toroll, 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 eightlevel 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.

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.

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 sixcolour mode for smooth gradation and better pale colours, or the four-colour mode for higher productivity.

Mimaki’s new Sb300 dye-sublimation ink has been optimised for use with

For further information visit: www.hybridservices.co.uk.

The Mimaki TX500-1800DS is available through Mimaki’s exclusive UK and Irish distributor Hybrid Services.

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

Printers’ colour gamut extended Roland DG’s VersaSTUDIO BN-20 and VersaCAMM VS Series eco-solvent metallic inkjet printer/cutters, now offer a specialised new ink configuration for whitecolour 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 www.rolanddg.co.uk

visit:

Spandex to sell Epson SureColor Spandex has extended its range of print and print finishing equipment with the addition of the EPSON SureColorT SCS30600, 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 www.spandex.com

visit:

Sign Directions April/May 2011 | 35

my way

Worthwhile Investments Companies explain why they chose the equipment they use 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 inhouse 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

First established in 1992, Victoria Litho 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

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 36

helped it to explore expansion options, which lead to Printwell’s acquisition of two Canon inkjet printers, the Canon iPF9000s and iPF8000s, 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 UJV160 flatbed 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

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

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

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

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 and www.roberthorne.co.uk

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.”

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.

l to r: Craig Herd and Andy Wilson

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

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 and www.roberthorne.co.uk

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 37

sign & digital UK 2012 review

“The quality of the visitors this year has been exceptional, with sales being generated from day one…”

“We gained more sales leads during the show than over the past three or four weeks…”

Brett Newman, Technical Director, Roland DG (UK)

Emerson Welsh, Clarity Software, Marketing Manager

“I couldn’t have wished for a better response!”

Graeme Hoole, Director, The Sign Group

“Sign & Digital UK was a great launch pad for Soyang…”

“Everyone who visited our stand had a genuine interest in our products and the solutions we provide…..”

Mark Mashiter, Managing Director, Soyang Europe

James Carpenter, Managing Director, Dorotape

Business as usual!

“We exceeded our target number of sales leads for the show on the first day!…”

Martin Johns, Market Development Manager, Professional Graphics, Epson

If anyone was worried that Sign & Digital UK 2012 would be overshadowed by the international allure of FESPA in Barcelona in February and Drupa in Dusseldof in May, there was no need. The 25th outing of the UK’s premier sign exhibition was as busy and as bustling as ever. Val Hirst reports.

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 Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 38

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 ecofriendly 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 www.signanddigitaluk.com

visit

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 ValueJet 1638 series, a1650mm dualhead, 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.

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

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, selfadhesives, banners, textiles, wallpapers and speciality media, all of which have been sourced from leading European suppliers.

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 39

sign & digital UK 2012 review

Hybrid Services used the show to debut an array of new Mimaki solutions, 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

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

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 40

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.

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 Nottinghambased graphics provider, John E Wright purchased an Océ Arizona 360 XT 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

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sign & digital UK 2012 review

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, QSet 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

Visitors flocked to the adjoining Digital Print 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

Making its debut at the show, Sihl Direct, 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.

grades, it can be used in conjunction with wood, metal, concrete and fibreglass posts

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.”

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!

HP's stand featured an extensive product 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

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 42

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-ofpurchase displays, soft signage and vehicle graphics.

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 43

sign & digital UK 2012 awards

Sign & Digital UK Awards The second edition of Sign & Digital UK Awards & Networking Event, which took place at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham on the middle evening of the show, was well attended by both nominees 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:

Individual Sign Project of the year, 1-9 Employees 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 the striking and elegant illuminated sign it created for Bristol’s Hush Puppies store 3rd ID Signs & Graphics for its work on the Baskind Pharmacy.

Individual Sign Project of the year, 10+ Employees 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.

Sign Company of the Year award, sponsored by Trade Signs.

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.

Multiple Sign Project of the year, 1-9 Employees Winner: The Grain Sign Company for 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 the multiple signage package that it produced for Bridgewater Place in Leeds

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.

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3rd Sign 2000

Rising Star Award Winner: John Matthews of Sign Vision, 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 Piggotts for its work for the Hong Kong Asolay

2nd Chris McIntosh of Service Graphics.

3rd Image Technique in respect of its signing for the Westfield Stratford City project.

3rd Gemini Katwa of Fusion Print.

Vehicle Wrapping Project of the Year 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 Services.

Reprographic

Wide Format Print 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.

The Green Award sponsored

by DS Smith Recycling Winner: Aggregate Industries combined 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.

Wide Format Printing Company of the Year Winner: Hollywood Monster for its continual innovation and its dedication to providing its customers with the highest levels of service and quality.

2nd Service Graphics for the quality and range of its work.

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 45

cutting, routing and engraving

Our regular round-up of the latest developments in routing and engraving

The return of Pacer Launched at Sign & Digital UK, the latest Pacer-branded highperformance CNC router series is now available from AXYZ International.

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.

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.

The routers will effectively cut and profile, at a feed rate of up to 25m/min,

For further information visit: www.axyz.co.uk

New AXYZ drive system has real bite 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

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 46

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

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 47

software Our pick of the newest software releases

New inspiration from Corel Following 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 MultiCore 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 oneclick screen capture utility and Corel.

Website Creator X6, a new do-it-yourself website creation software

In addition, users also receive 10,000 highquality 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 fullcolour, 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 fullyfunctional trial version, visit www.corel.com/coreldraw.

Clarity does the business plain to see and there is no doubt that this new functionality will directly increase bottom line profitability.”

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.

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.

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-

Richard Gamlin, Clarity”s Managing Director reported: “The response we are receiving on this module is phenomenal as the immediate return on investment is

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 48

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.

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 paperbased 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: www.clarity-software. com/deliveries

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special feature

Material matters With digital printing fast becoming the single most important aspect of the continually changing sign and graphics industry, the choice of materials now available has become commensurately greater. Mike Connolly reviews some of the more innovative new products as well as established favourites that are now part of the modern signmaker’s armoury.

Digital Wallpaper does the Business Pendle Signs & Plastics was nominated by Lend Lease as the signage contractor for the ‘Building Schools for the Future’ projects in the 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

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 50

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

The eco-option A leading supplier of digital printing solutions, Colourgen is now distributing complementary speciality media from Kernow Coatings.

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

A white with the wow factor Brett Martin’s Foamalux White foam PVC sheet, a bright white direct to print substrate that has been specifically developed for the digital print market, featured on the Mimaki stand at FESPA Digital 2012, where it was shown being used in conjunction with the Mimaki 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: visit www.brettmartin.com.

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special feature

Broadening the colour spectrum Perspex Spectrum LED, the latest cast acrylic material from Perspex Distribution, will enable sign manufacturers to create solutions that are more colourful in concept and more cost-effective and ecofriendly in application.

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.

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.

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.

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

For further information visit: www.perspex.co.uk

A materials extravaganza Grafityp UK offers a comprehensive range of signmaking materials including popular choices from its Grafitack, Graficast, Grafisoft and 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 sevenyear Grafitack TL (Translucent) and Fluorescent (available in four DayGlo colours) are ideal solutions,

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 52

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 chlorinefree 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

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special feature

A plethora of products An extensive range of sign making materials is available from the UK’s leading trade-only supplier William Smith. The range includes premium-grade products from 3M, for which the company is a primary distributor and the largest UK stockist, as well as materials from Arlon, Ritrama and Contra Vision.

and corrugated surfaces, are waterresistant and come with a 12-year durability.

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 premiumgrade 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

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

Window graphics with eye-appeal

Metamark’s new MetaScape Frost produces superb, cut and applied etch-effect graphics, which are now even easier to apply.

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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

Give it a glow!

Better known for its highperformance structural bonding systems used in sign making, Innova Solutions now also supplies printed photo-luminescent signage solutions.

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, photoluminescent 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 photoluminescence technology are selfevident. The material stores energy from ambient light sources and then reemits 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

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special feature

Brilliant posters In spite of the proliferation of electronic outdoor signage, large panel poster advertising remains a major force in this sector of the sign and graphics industry. Leading supplier to this market, Sihl offers the TriSolv multi-purpose range of digitally printable papers.

The TriSolv range comprises multilayered, 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 highperformance 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: info@sihl-direct.co.uk

All change!

To reflect its continual product development and innovation, Fujifilm has re-branded the popular Euromedia range of media to which it has made some important new additions.

Especially suited to Fujifilm’s Uvistar printer, UV Frontlit PE is an ecofriendly 110gsm polyethylene product featuring a satin white lowreflectivity 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.

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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

Add an effect Five different formulations of the latest PERMAfun range of special effect films from MACtac are available from Amari Digital Supplies. All of the materials have been designed for application to flat or gently curved surfaces.

Crystal Gloss is a premium cast vinyl with a highgloss surface and a large concentration of lightrefracting 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 overlaminate 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, www.amaridigitalsupplies.com

visit

Greater creativity A new range of FSC-accredited paper media has been introduced by PaperlinX and is available from its three subsidiary companies, Robert Horne Group, Howard Smith Paper Group and PaperCo.

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.

Called Fabriano, the range has been developed in response to feedback from designers and printers requesting a product that effectively addresses the three

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 www.paperlinxeu.co.uk

visit:

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special feature

Cute but not cuddly!

Under a single brand, 74 new products have been introduced by Antalis McNaughton to accommodate more eco-friendly large-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 PEFCaccredited 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 ultrawhite finish.

For further information visit: www.antalis-mcnaughton.co.uk

Durability to the fore Avery Dennison has responded to the dynamic market in applications for durable, medium-life self-adhesive graphics with enhancements to its inkjet-printable polymeric calendered vinyl ranges, Avery MPI 2000 and Avery MPI 2800.

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.

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.

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.

Newly added to the Avery MPI 2000 series range is a product specially formulated for apolar, low-surfaceenergy substrates like HDPE: Avery MPI 2600 AP. Its combination of a

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 58

For further information visit: www.europe.avery graphics.com.

Multiple choices Amari Plastics, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of materials to the sign trade for over 30 years, has seen significant growth in its sales of cast acrylic over the last two years, following the introduction of the 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

GRAPHICS STUDIO MANAGER. PACKAGE: £25 – 35K.

strategically located at 14 key urban areas around the UK. For further information visit: www.amariplastics.com

PRINTED & CUT VINYL GRAPHICS.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER. CORPORATE SIGNAGE. PACKAGE: BASIC £35 - 45K, BONUS & CAR/CAR ALLOWANCE.

SOUTH.

SOUTH

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER. DIGITAL PRINT/GRAPHICS. PACKAGE: £30 - 35K, COMMISSION & CAR/CAR ALLOWANCE.

MIDLANDS/NORTH.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER. ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHICS. PACKAGE: 30 - 40K, COMMISSION & CAR/CAR ALLOWANCE.

SOUTH

PROJECT MANAGER. PACKAGE: BASIC £25 - 30K

SIGNAGE & DIGITAL PRINT

NORTH WEST

MARKETING EXECUTIVE. PACKAGE: BASIC £20 – 30K.

SIGNAGE & DIGITAL PRINT

.NORTH WEST.

PROJECT MANAGER. PACKAGE: BASIC £30 – 35K

CORPORATE SIGNAGE.

SOUTH WEST.

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER PACKAGE: BASIC: £35 – 40K.

.CORPORATE SIGNAGE

.SOUTH EAST.

ACCOUNT MANAGER. EXHIBITION DESIGN & BUILD. PACKAGE: BASIC £40, COMMISSION & CAR/CAR ALLOWANCE

SOUTH.

ESTIMATOR. PACKAGE: £25 – 30K

NORTH

CORPORATE SIGNAGE.

To find out more about any of these, or the numerous other vacancies we are currently handling, contact us now on 01275 855 105 or forward us a copy of your C.V. to: info@pyramidresourcing.com

Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 59

sign directory

DIGITAL PRINT SYSTEMS

LED SPECIALISTS

FLAT CUT LETTERS

MANUFACTURERS OF MAGNETIC MATERIALS

FLEXIBLE FACE SIGNS

MATERIAL SUPPLIERS

PERSPEX DISTRIBUTION LTD • Perspex® cast & extruded acrylic • Bencore® Composite • Polycarbonate • APET & PETG • Alupanel® Aluminium Composite • Foamed PVC • Rigid PVC • Polystyrene • Rod & Tube • Adhesives Full stock holding capability, bespoke colour matching and a cut-to-size service available plus standard next day delivery.

For immediate response please contact your regional sales and service centre.

North - Blackburn T. 01254 272800 Midlands - Tamworth T. 01827 263900 South - Chelmsford T. 01245 232800 www.perspex.co.uk

SIGN MAKING SUPPLIERS

Sign Directions March 2012 | 60

signdirectory The Sign Industry's Who's Who

MOULDED/FLAT-CUT LETTERS

SCREEN PRINTING

HUMPHREYS SIGNS LTD. Unit 6, Spencer Trading Estate Denbigh, N. Wales LL16 5TQ Tel: 01745 814066 Fax: 01745 815374 Email: sales@humphreyssigns.co.uk Web: www.humphreys-signs.co.uk Trade Printers for over 30 years.

Estate Agents board specialists.

Printing on Correx, PVC Vinyl, Magnetics, as well as digital printing.

Large or small runs.

CNC ROUTERS & CUTTERS

SIGNMAKERS

PROLICHT UK LIMITED 14, Spire Green Centre Flex Meadow, Pinnacles West Harlow, Essex CM19 5TR

ATA Engineering Processes Complete Routing Solutions

CNC Routers

Router Cutters

Router Cutters

BUTTERFIELD SIGNS LTD. 174 Sunbridge Road, Bradford West Yorkshire BD1 2RZ Tel: 01274 722244 Fax: 01274 848998 Email: general@butterfieldsigns.co.uk Web: www.butterfieldsigns.co.uk General signmaker offering Project Management and Sign Design.

Specialist in Neon, Illuminated Signs and Maintenance.

Tel 01442 264411 • Fax 01442 231383

Tel: 0844 412 2230 Fax: 0844 412 2231 Email: ukhelp@prolicht.com Web: www.prolicht.com Europe’s leading Corporate Identity Sign Designers and Manufacturers.

At ProLicht corporate design is turned into reality. Our commitment starts at the design and development stage and continues through prototyping, production, project management & installation throughout Europe. Contact our UK office for advice and assistance.

Email sales@ataeng.com

SIGN SYSTEMS

BENSON SIGNS 96 - 98 Great Howard Street Liverpool L3 7AX Tel: 0151 298 1567 Fax: 0151 298 1568 Email: info@benson-signs.co.uk Web: www.benson-signs.co.uk Design and manufacture of all types of signs, combining traditional skills with the latest technology, providing pub, hotel and retail sectors with a full installation and maintenance service, now incorporating wide format full colour printing on banners and signs as well as electronic digital displays and directory systems.

Nationwide Service.

Sign Directions March 2012 | 61

the last word This month, Mark Godden explains why the signmaker’s new mantra should be:

Application, Application, Application!

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 of summarising the market potential for digital output.The very same digital output that any of you reading could produce if you happen to have a wide-format inkjet printer somewhere on the premises.

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.

atmospheric than flock wallpaper.

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.

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.”

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 Sign Directions April/May 2012 | 62

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.

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 coffinwrap, 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 mark.godden@me.com