issue-125-junejuly-2012

June/July 2012 - No.125

Jumping for Joy!

The fulfilment of Clare's dream

IN THIS ISSUE

WRAPPING IT UP VEHICLE LIVERIES GALORE A SHORT CUT TO PROFIT CLEVER WAYS TO USE CUTTING, ROUTING AND ENGRAVING www.signdirections.co.uk

www.graphicdisplaycommunity.com

www.bsga.co.uk

June/July 2012

signdirections

What’s in this issue…

p10

p32

p44

p50

Projects - Applications in Action

Cover Story - Jump for Joy!

Wrapping it up - Vehicle Liveries

Special Feature – Short cut to Profit

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

14

Supplier News - News from around the industry

18

Equipment & Materials - Some of the newest product releases

features Supplier Spotlight

24 Bringing ideas to life - Sihl Direct opens new UK headquarters

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 September issue, when the special feature will cover digital textile printing

Cover Story

32 Jump for joy! - Clare Newton fulfils a dream 34 Lighting - An 0lympian task and other projects Digital Directions

38 Digital News - The latest digital updates 40 My Way - Worthwhile investments 44 Feature – Vehicle Liveries Wrapping it up - Motormode and others show how’s its done

50

Special Feature – Cutting, Routing and Engraving Short cut to profit – The latest software and hardware options

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

information 26 Going in - The sweet smell of success 28 Tips & Tricks - Fujifilm’s Euromedia Q & A Column 28 A new milestone for Innova - Innova celebrates its l0th Anniverary 30 The Devil's in the detail! - Chris Thomas tackles planning issues 59 Classified - The industry’s marketplace 60 Directory - The Who’s Who of the sign industry

Art Editor Hina Mistry Tel: 07773 319465 e-mail: hinamistry@sky.com

Cover Photography Courtesy of Clare Newton 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 explains why it's good to talk

Sign Directions June/July 2012 | 3

June/July 2012

signdirections

Introduction

setting the

scene These days, it seems, the new buzz-word is service.

Everyone bangs on endlessly about it. And, if the press releases that I receive are to be believed, every single industry supplier regards the provision of ‘excellent service’ to be its number one priority.

Naturally, whenever interviewed, they all assure me that their service is ‘second to none’, although, since I never actually buy anything from them I have no way of knowing whether it is fantastic or abysmal and just have to take it on trust.

I note though, that when I ask them how they define ‘excellent service’ they are often a bit nonplussed.

Hardware suppliers seem to believe that it constitutes ‘installing a machine and ensuring that it is running to optimal effect’ and/or ‘providing on-site operator training’. But surely anyone who shells out many thousands of pounds for a piece of kit has every right to expect that it will work properly and that they will receive some sort of initial induction period? I know that’s the absolute least that I would expect. And by the same token, if there were any problems post installation, I’d also expect someone to sort them out, pretty damn quickly. As far as I’m concerned, this doesn’t constitute providing ‘excellent service’ – this is just part of what the customer believes he is paying for – after all, kit that doesn’t work, or which you have no idea how to operate, isn’t of much use.

Material suppliers also tend to make much of their ‘speedy delivery service’ or ‘large stockholding’, but again, these are part of what a customer is paying for. No point in delivering materials next week, if he needs them to complete a job the following day or telling him that the substrate he requires will have to be specially ordered. That won’t win any business.

No, to my mind providing ‘excellent service’ doesn’t mean simply doing that which could reasonably be expected, but going all out to make the whole purchasing experience a happy and positive one by doing everything possible to ensure that a customer has everything he or she needs, plus some.

Excellent service starts when a customer first contacts a company. If the response is a recorded message inviting the caller to choose from a number of different options, the concept of ‘excellent service’ immediately goes by the board. Similarly, if the first voice he hears sounds bored or disinterested, Sign Directions June/July2012 | 4

the rest of his dealings with the company are likely to be something less than ‘excellent’. Helpful and preferably unbiased advice, when requested, should always be available from someone properly qualified to give it and when a purchase is made, delivery should always take place on the date and at the time specified. It’s taken as read that, after sale, any problems should be speedily resolved and customer feedback should be encouraged so that performance can be further improved in the future. In addition to that, the customer should always be treated with utmost courtesy and made to feel as if he or she really matters. And of course, all of the above should apply regardless of whether he or she is spending £10 or tens of thousand pounds.

This all sounds pretty basic stuff doesn’t it? However, if your experience is anything like mine, you will also have dealt with many companies who don’t seem to care whether you do business with them or not. I don’t believe for a moment that they set out to give this impression. In fact, I believe many are the same companies who honestly believe that their service is ‘second to none’. The problem is that they rarely bother to road-test the customer experience and thus remain blissfully unaware of what really happens, as opposed to what they believe happens.

When I feel that I have received superlative service I always acknowledge the fact with a little note of thanks – I feel honour bound to do this, since I am always very quick off the mark to complain vociferously if all is not entirely up to my high expectations. If you would like to express your gratitude to an industry supplier who has gone over and above the call of duty, I invite you to honour them in the pages of Sign Directions. Similarly, I’d like also like to hear about any dire experiences you’ve had too. I expect to be inundated with your responses, but also sincerely hope that I’ll be awarding a lot more bouquets than brickbats!

Three companies who have certainly recently stepped up to the plate are Agfa, ADS and the Watford-based print company Creative Place, all of whom helped this week’s Cover star, Clare Newton, to realise a long cherished dream.

Read all about it on pages 32-33. 0n page 24, it’s Sihl Direct’s turn to stand in the supplier spotlight, while on page 30, planning guru Chris Thomas explains why arbitrary planning decisions must continue to be challenged. We highlight some of the latest vehicle liveries on pages 44-49, whilst this month’s special feature, a short cut to profitability starts on page 50.

Elsewhere, you’ll find all of our regular news pages and on page 62, Mark Godden explains why an awful lot can by accomplished by just talking.

The next issue of Sign Directions will be published in early September, but between now and then you can keep abreast of all of the industry news, as it breaks, by visiting our sister website at www.graphicdisplay comminity.com And if you are wondering what I’m going to be doing between now and September, I’m going to do my darndest to seek out the sun – watch out Turkey, here I come!

Val Hirst – Editor Email: signdirections@btconnect.com Twitter: @Valthemaghag Web: www.signdirections.co.uk and www.graphicdisplaycommunity.com

Sign Directions June/July 2012 | 5

news

news briefing

Cross Media can make you happy!

Balloons at breakfast time

The brand-new Cross Media 2012 event, which focuses on integrated multi-channel marketing, will take place at the Business Design Centre, London, on 3th-4th September 2012.

When students and staff at Sydenham High School recently held a ‘Big Breakfast and Balloon Race’ to raise money for charity, it asked local sign specialist Creative FX to provide the balloons and to produce a promotional banner.

just over 200 people.

The outdoor event, which formed part of Sydenham High School’s 125th anniversary celebrations, saw 653 girls from the junior and secondary schools, sitting down together to officially break the Guinness World

Prior to the event, Sydenham High girls sold balloons to friends and family in aid of Leukaemia Research, The Bone Cancer Research Charity and Teenage Cancer Trust and, as soon as the record-breaking breakfast

Record for the biggest cereal breakfast, which previously stood at

New venue for Euro Trophex

PTA, which is within walking distance of the city centre, is set on three levels and features an spacious outdoor terrace that provides visitors with stunning views across Amsterdam.

Once again, the exhibition runs over three days and remains unrivalled as Europe’s largest

Sign Directions June/July2012 | 6

trophy, awards and personalisation event.

New exhibitors will include Golden Life from Italy, who manufacture cups, trophies and awards for sporting events around the world, H. Hercules Sports from Cyprus, who is a leading supplier of awards, flags and corporate gifts and the UK company Arbro, who hold several high profile licences, including a Premier League football collection comprising Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal.

For further information visit: www.eurotrophex.com

For further Information visit: www.fxuk.net

Use it or lose it!

The BSGA has warned that ongoing Scottish signmaking activities could be put at grave risk in the future, as the funding for signmaking qualifications and apprenticeship schemes in Scotland is now hanging in the balance.

Hill Media, the organiser of Euro Trophex has announced a change of venue for this year’s show, which is scheduled to take place at the PTA in Amsterdam on 27th-29th October.

was completed, 3,500 balloons were released, providing a spectacular sight in the Sydenham sky and raising over £9,000 for the three designated charities in the process.

David Catanach, Director of the BSGA reports: “Although the Level 2 and Level 3 Signmaking SVQs in Scotland are accredited and available for registrations until 31st December 2012, Cogent, the awarding body, has indicated that they will not be extended further unless Scottish sign companies can provide clear evidence that these qualifications will be required beyond that date.”

The qualifications have historically had very low uptake and thus Cogent, together with PAA\VQ-SET and SQA Accreditation, are unlikely to support them further, unless they can be satisfied that there is still a strong industry demand.

According to David Catanach the importance of this decision cannot be over-emphasised, as both qualifications are embedded within the Modern Apprenticeship framework in Scotland and this will also expire at the end of December 2012, unless the qualifications are extended further.

The qualifications are also due to be reviewed so that they can be brought up to date following a National Occupational Standards review. Funding to support this review could be accessed through the Universal Services funding pot for 2013,but this would require a strong business case, based on actual employer demand.

David concludes: “The bottom line is that Scottish sign companies need to express a definite and robust interest in the SVQs, even if they are not planning apprentice recruitment this year. Only a concerted and spirited level of interest and intent from the industry will help to salvage the situation and once gone, it would be very had to reinstate the qualifications into the programme. To put it bluntly, if not enough interest is shown, the funding goes elsewhere from 1st January 2013!”

Any sign company in Scotland, no matter what size, who wants to retain this funding for the future of signmaking qualifications, should contact either d.catanach@bsga.co.uk or confirm its interest to Daniel.Freckingham@cogentssc.com For further information www.bsga.co.uk

visit:

Supported by the Institute for Direct and Digital Marketing (IDM) and the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), the show will feature senior executives from such leading brands as Microsoft, Expedia, Crew Clothing, Heinz, British Gas, American Express, and Twinings,

who will be sharing their experiences during a varied seminar and workshop programme that is designed to provide visitors with a tightly-focused insight into current and future developments in the delivery of integrated marketing campaigns using multiple platforms.

Pre-registration for the event is now live. For further information visit: www.crossmedialive.com

Appointments Robert Horne Group, a PaperlinX company has made two new key appointments within its Sign & Display division.

A n g u s Whiteman is the Division’s new Sales Director.

Formerly Key Account Director with DHL Express, Angus’ main responsibilities will include driving sales on a both a local and national level, strengthening existing relationships and forging new ones.

Clare Rayment is Customer Services Director. Prior to joining Robert Horne Group, Clare was Sales Operations Director for Thomas Cook. In her new role, she will be responsible for managing the S&D branch network and will implement new strategies and processes to better manage and enhance the customer experience.

Sihl Direct UK has appointed Craig Barker as its new Logistics and Technical Manager. Craig will be based in

the Altrincham UK head office, where he will be responsible for the warehousing and order processing, as well as pre- and post-sales technical support.

Previously a self-employed photographer, Craig has also held several positions at Ilford, where his final role was as a Systems Technologist developing new digital products in the desktop and wide format Ilford product range, as well as handling systems and procedures to help manage the running of the business.

His first task at Sihl Direct is to take over the responsibility of running the warehouse and distribution to supply the UK market quickly and efficiently.

Selectech, the UK-based specialist supplier of ink, media and accessories, has appointed Kate Channon to the newly created position of Customer Services Manager. In her new role, Kate will be responsible for ensuring that Selectech’s customers are fully supported from the moment they place an order through to the successful delivery of their chosen products .

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news

news briefing

What do the Queen and a Mansfieldbased sign company have in common? They both celebrated their Diamond Jubilees this summer!

Craft Signs, which is owned by Graham Simmons and marks its 60th birthday this year, is planning to commemorate the occasion with an exciting rebrand, including a new website.

First established by Roger Dobson, on June 2nd 1952, the same month as the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, Craft Signs has worked with such blue chip brands as Tesco, Toni & Guy, KFC, Pizza Express and ITV and has recently completed a large re-branding project for Oakdale Homes that included signage, window graphics, vehicle graphics, flags and work wear.

Graham Simmonds was originally taken on by Roger Dobson as an apprentice in 1988, and is now the last link to the company’s founder. He purchased Craft Signs in 2002 from the previous owner, Harvey Parrot, when he retired.

Since taking over at Craft Signs, Graham

has implemented an expansion plan that has seen the company acquire Eurosign and DE Signs and establish embroidery and print departments.

Most recently, Craft Signs has added a promotional gift division to its repertoire and Graham is currently working with Neale Lewis of Action Coach in order to improve his own skillset.

Further notable developments this year will include the recruitment of the company’s first apprentice for l0 years and the doubling of its workshop space.

Graham observed: “The industry has changed so much over the last 60 years and even during the time I’ve been working in it, there have been huge advances, such as computerised signmaking. In fact, we were the first company in Nottinghamshire to purchase the groundbreaking equipment from Spandex in the mid 1980s! We’re so proud to be celebrating our Diamond Jubilee at the same time as the Queen and are now looking forward to the next 60 years!”

For further information visit: www.craft-signs@btconnect.com

Icon Prolab signs Dubai Airports Icon Prolab, the Middle East division of Icon, has been awarded a long-term wayfinding consultancy role with Dubai Airports. Initial work started in the autumn of 2011 and the contract is expected to run through to 2014.

This contract win coincides with the

Sign Directions June/July2012 | 8

appointment of Tim Woodstock as Head of Wayfinding for Icon's Middle East team. Tim brings a wealth of international experience to the Icon Prolab team, having previously worked on the Terminal 5 development at Heathrow.

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

showtime DIARY DATES FOR 2012

Craft Signs clocks up 60 years!

Cross Media 3rd-4th September The Business Design Centre, Islington Organiser: The Print Group/Informa Tel: 0207 0177 034 www.informaexhibitions.com 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 2012 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 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

Tecna’s win helps boost the industry Mark Prisk, Minister for Business and Enterprise met with Jonathan Evitt, Managing Director of Tecna Display at the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) at the recent Queens Award Exhibition, which was held at the BIS centre in London and featured Tecna’s T3 graphic display walls.

Commenting on Tecna’s Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Export, Jonathan Evitt, the inventor of the highly versatile T3 system, said: “Not only was it a fantastic honour to be included alongside so many well known brands, the Queen’s Awards Exhibition also provided us with a splendid opportunity to raise the

Jonathan Evitt (left), MD of Tecna Display meeting Mark Prisk, Business Minister.

profile of British manufacturing in the exhibition and display industry and I enjoyed a very constructive and positive discussion with Mark Prisk regarding a number of the issues that the industry is currently facing.”

For further information www.tecnadisplay.com.

visit:

new projects

Selfridges | Riviera Hotel | National Grid | Wales Millennium Centre | National Maritime Museum

new

projects

Selfridges, the London department store, called on BAF Graphics' technical expertise to help it effectively depict its ‘Big British Bang’ campaign in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, which will run throughout the summer and involve a wide range of events.

The BAF Graphics team delivered photographic quality prints produced on high

Two of the National Grid's Leicestershire-based buildings have recently enjoyed a revamp that has provided employees with a much more inspiring working environment.

Workplace enhancement specialists, Penacom, used a wide variety of images to create various themes in different parts of the

revamp.

In order to guarantee the best possible effects, Coral used Lintec Graphic Film's Vitrocolour(r) nonPVC process colour film, an optically clear polyester window film, which, unlike PVC material, doesn't stretch or shrink, thus making it much easier to fit and remove whenever the graphics

Cardiff-based Morgan Signs has completed the installation of an impressive 24 screen video wall for the lobby of the prestigious Wales Millennium Centre, the first point of call for the two million visitors who pass through the centre each year.

performance substrates to effectively convey the theme of the campaign, with each window portraying a typically British scene that has been creatively re-invented to provide an amusing twist.

BAF Graphics initially produced huge window wraps on blockout vinyl that were designed as 'teasers' in order to cover the stunning 3D graphics hidden behind them. These were

The Saudi based Dhiafah Group, owner of Weymouth’s newly renovated Riviera Hotel, commissioned Weymouthbased Swift Signs to provide new signage for every area of the Art Deco bulding and its extensive grounds.. The scheme thus included everything, from the bespoke room numbers and the all important health and safety signs, to the refurbishment of the

Sign Directions June/July 2012 | 10

offices, while also keeping faith with the Grid's corporate identity.

Coral Design & Display was then commissioned to print and apply the window graphics, to effectively transform the offices' bogstandard glass partitions into the miniature works of art that are a particularly attractive and appealing feature of the buildings'

further complemented by multiple in-store graphic promotions. For the window displays themselves BAF used its Océ Arizona printers to print onto foamboard, to produce largescale cut-outs that were then finished by hand painting the raw edges in order to produce the desired 3D effect.

For further information visit: www.baf.co.uk hotel’s instantly recognisable, electric blue neon corporate identity sign, which has now been lovingly restored to its former glory.

Due to the hotel’s age and proximity to the salt air environment, Swift Signs usd high quality, durable plastics and modern composites, all of which were printed, painted or computer cut to create crisp, contemporary looking signage that perfectly complements the building’s clean lines, whilst also providing guests with easily legible information and directions.

For further information www.swiftsigns.co.uk

The 24 screens, laid out in a 12 x 2 format, have been split in to seven 'zones' of differing arrangements.

The system architecture was technically challenging due to the scale of the video wall and the need for multiple videos and rich content zones to run simultaneously. The wall also needs to display full screen content across the entire wall.

Accordingly, Morgan Signs opted to use one, custom designed, high

need to be refreshed. The graphics were output using a CMYK ink set, plus an inline white ink, to enable the production of mirror images on both sides of the glass, whilst at the same time, enabling a degree of translucency so that ambient light can filter through.

For further information visit: www.lintecgraphicfilms.com

specification hardware controller with a single licence of Signagelive, a cloud based system that is capable of streaming a wide variety of HD media, including video, live news and ticketing information.

This can easily be further customised and updated to provide guests with timely, relevant and directional event information, as well as live broadcasts from within the centre itself. The displays also provide a powerful promotional platform for partner and sponsor messages and helps to positively enhance the whole visitor experience.

For further information visit: www.morgan-signs.co.uk

Praxis London has installed a series of graphic displays to mark the opening of an exhibition at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. Entitled River: Power, Pageantry and the Thames, it was was opened to coincide with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and shows how the Thames has been used for royal processions throughout the centuries.

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

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new projects

Benito’s Hat Mexican Kitchen | ChildLine

Sign 2000 has completed new branding for the flagship Benito’s Hat Mexican Kitchen restaurant in the Kings Cross area of London.

Sign 2000 worked closely with Cada Design, who created a stand-out colour palette using the signature Benito’s Hat colours of orange, green and a brown simulated wood colour, featuring the Volkswagen Taxi Marque.

Signage consisted of a main fascia, various interior graphics, a central pivot-swivel double-sided menu displaying alternative meal

This summer BT launches ‘BT ArtBox’ in support of ChildLine, a public art exhibition that will see Britain’s iconic red phone box transformed by some of the world’s most creative talent.

Amongst the 80 famous participants is experimental artist, Denis Masi, who, in collaboration with sign and display specialist Creative FX, transformed a classic K6 telephone kiosk into a graphic work of art. After being displayed for the public at St Giles Circus, it will go under the hammer at Sotheby’s auction in the National Portrait Gallery to raise money for ChildLine.

Creative FX applied vinyl printed with stark black and white photography, overlaid with a textured vinyl to provide a rustic-looking exterior frame. It

Sign Directions June/July 2012 | 12

offerings and a bespoke ceilingmounted headlight main feature unit incorporating number plates.

The materials used included conventional powder-coated aluminium, acrylic, vinyl and LED illumination For further information visit: www.sign2000.co.uk

also applied the thoughtprovoking words, ‘Recognisable, Reliable, Real, Renewable’ on the four corners of the box, and ‘Decisions, Dreams and Desires’ round the bottom to produce a strikingly eerie effect.

For further information visit: www.fxuk.net

news

news briefing Supplier News

Success despite the sunshine! shows this year, especially the new Mimaki JV400 latex printer. We brought together representatives from Mimaki, Epson, Agfa, Canon, Wasatch and Shiraz to help answer questions and demonstrate the fantastic new technology that is now on offer.”

Despite the unusually clement weather at the end of May, Graphic Printing Technologies (GPT) still managed to attract more than 30 customers to its three open days.

GPT General Manager, Stuart Cole explained: “We wanted to give our customers the chance to have a closer look at some of the new printers that were launched at the

As well as the award-winning Mimaki JV-400 160 latex printer, visitors were also able to see Mimaki’s new UJF 3042HG UV cure printer with its ultra wide 150mm bed depth and to assess the flexibility and capability of GPT’s complete low cost dye-sublimation solution which combines the Mimaki TPC-1000 printer with the new Secabo Heat Press range.

GPT also presented UV cure print

solutions from Agfa, aqueous printers from Canon and Epson, and RIPs for use with both Mac and PC platforms from Shiraz, Wasatch and Onyx. The Mimaki CG cutter, an EasyMount laminator and a KeenCut bench trimmer rounded off the equipment on display and visitors were also invited to examine GPT’s broad range of media, which is held in stock for rapid delivery. This offering includes the complete Amari roll feed media range, together with products from Sihl, Intelicoat, and GPT’s own White Box brand.

Further open days are planned for later this year.

For further information visit: www.g-p-t.co.uk

ArtSystems raises its game ArtSystems has passed another milestone in its on-going quality of programme accreditations. management Having held the ISO 9001:2008 accreditation in respect of its sales and delivery processes since the 1990s, the company recently took the decision to review and extend the scope of the accreditation to include its

New signing for KPMF Kay Premium Marking Films (KPMF), the South Wales-based manufacturer of quality self adhesive products, has formed a partnership with All Print Supplies, which was established in 1984 and has offices in Slough and Rotherham.

All Print will offer a next day delivery

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service for KPMF’s K70000 range of cast vinyls, which provide a 10-12 year outdoor life. The range features a high gloss 50µ cast PVC face film that is highly conformable and dimensionally stable, as well as being 'shrink-free'.

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

PaperlinX has announced a number of initiatives that will deliver a 35 percent reduction in its corporate costs during the next fiscal year, which begins on July 1st.

Accordingly, the company will disband its global Marketing and HR functions and operate these functions within its regional structure to reduce corporate overheads. Thus, its Milton Keynes Corporate office will close and Group CEO Toby Marchant and the remaining global functions, primarily finance, will relocate to the company’s Brackmills site in Northampton.

the full scope of the Art Systems’ ISO 9001 accreditation.

Dave Allen, Executive Vice President, PaperlinX commented: “Our Strategic Review is delivering a clear plan for long term recovery and this latest move signals our commitment to reducing overheads and building a business that can deliver a sustainably profitable future.”

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

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

technical services operations.

The new processes were implemented Quality ArtSystems' the by Management Team lead by Operations Director Simon Cooksey, and despite the challenges involved in devising a manageable set of processes to cover all the necessary customer and supplier interactions the new process passed on first inspection and now forms part of

PaperlinX lowers corporate costs

news

news briefing Supplier News

SignTec on the move SignTec, a leading supplier of general and flexible-face signage solutions to the trade, has moved to a modern manufacturing facility in the centre of Milton Keynes.

Frequently referred to as ‘the sign industry’s best kept secret’, the company is renowned for the quality of its manufacturing capabilities, workmanship, skilled highly reliability on delivery and the confidentiality and discretion it provides to some of the UK’s largest sign companies engaged in major ID roll-out programmes where these considerations are paramount.

Whilst SignTec’s core activity is in the provision of flexible-face signs based on warranted substrates and patented sign-tensioning systems, investment in state-of-the-art production equipment has enabled diversification into other areas of

In direct response to customer demand for a tool to make the materials selection and specifying processes simpler and faster, Robert Horne Group’s Sign & Display division has introduced a new applications and materials guide.

The guide, which details over 350 products, is spilt into seven tabbed sections covering paper and display, graphic and carton board, plastics, self adhesives, LED solutions and signage, tapes and fixings, packaging, LEDs and digital consumables.

sign manufacturing, including folded trays, sign fascias, double- and single-sided sign cases and general sign fabrication.

Key production machinery installed at the new facility includes a four metre-wide Durma press brake coupled to a complementary Durma guillotine, a RolsRoller Flatbed Applicator, AXYZ 6010 CNC router and digital printing and cutting systems from Mimaki.

Make a date with Avery

Graphics and Reflective Solutions at its Graphics Centre in Alphenaan-den-Rijn, The Netherlands.

Car wrapping at all skill levels is the topic of a full programme of practical workshops offered this autumn by Avery Dennison

The new schedule offers three full twoday advanced car wrapping workshops, and two one-day workshops, all of which are led by experts..

The

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

programmes include lunch and refreshment breaks and all participants receive a complete Avery Toolbelt, and a certificate of participation. For further information and to book online visit: www.europe.avery `graphics.com

Applelec expansion on course Applelec has recently completed the first stage of a self-financed 2700 sq.ft expansion to its Bradford head office.

The expansion, which covers three floors, includes a new showroom on the second floor, which will open later this summer. Floor one is devoted to LED Light Sheet production and features a relocated LED antistatic assembly room that provides increased floor space. The former LED Light Sheet assembly

Sign Directions June/July2012 | 16

New product guide includes applications

Each section contains product data sheets, detailing the key features, technical capabilities and service options across the range, and, for the first time, the guide also features a comprehensive range of applications.

It is available to customers through Robert Horne’s local branch network and will shortly also be available as an e-book that can be downloaded from the company’s website.

For further information visit: www.roberthorne group.co.uk.

room is currently being refurbished to accommodate a programming and development area for LED Light Sheet projects that incorporate dmx sequencing for dimmable and colour changing panels.

Last month, Applelec announced the opening of a second factory that provides 8000 sq.ft of manufacturing space in Leeds.

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

news

news briefing Equipment & Material

SAS introduces Polylite been extensively trialled both in the UK and the USA and the results have been very encouraging, with customer feedback revealing that they have performed better than competitive products

Self Adhesive Supplies (SAS), part of the Amari Plastics family, has extended its product portfolio with the recent addition of the Polylite range of polycarbonate films.

The company has traditionally offered the market leading brand of 3M adhesives and adhesive tapes, such as 3M‘s 467MP and 468MP, acrylic based adhesives tapes, which are sold in sheets and used extensively in conjunction with polycarbonate films, thus, the introduction of the Polylite range further complements this offering. .

Manufactured in Asia to the tightest specification and control by a division of the former leading distributor of Lexan Polycarbonate films in South East Asia, Polylite is now established with many of the leading brands and is also a development partner of 3M in Asia.

Polylite polycarbonate films have

Sign Directions June/July2012 | 18

The films, which can be either screen or digitally printed, are available in sheet sizes of 610 x 915mm or 915 x 1220mm or on 1220mm wide reels measuring from 125 micron to 1mm.

They are stocked in two grades, Gloss/Gloss. or Velvet/Matt However, other grades, such as Matt/Gloss or Gloss/Velvet are also available, together with speciality grades, such as Flame Retardant or Black Flame, upon request.

In addition, through its parent company Amari Plastics, SAS also has access to stock ranges of complementary products, such as Staufen Rigid PVC, ViPrint Graphic Polypropylene sheets and the MACtac range of self adhesive vinyl a providing thus sheets, comprehensive product offering to signmakers and digital print companies.

The Polylite product is now available direct from the SAS warehouse in Reading for next day delivery.

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

Interactive displays Since setting up as a display solutions provider eight years ago, Eurostand Display has cultivated a reputation for continuously adding innovative and value-added products to its portfolio and thus widening the markets into which its trade-only customers can develop their businesses.

The latest product to be rolled out by the Essex-based company looks all set to continue this tradition. The new Centro iPadDisplay family of secure tablet computer enclosures has been designed specifically to unleash the massive capabilities of tablet computer interactivity across a whole range of display applications.

In particular, Centro iPadDisplays have been created to work seamlessly within Eurostand Display’s flagship Centro modular display solution, and perfectly house all models of Apple’s iPad within a secure, protective and robust unit.

The design of the housing means that the system is highly adaptable, enabling it to rotate a full 360 degrees. In addition, the surface mount versions of Centro also tilt 90 degrees. Thus with a little inspiration, countless combinations of display configurations are possible.

The system mounts securely to any surface with a suitably-sized fixing hole, while, with an easily-attached

universal vesa fitting in place, iPadDisplays can also be fixed to an upright Centro column at a height to suit any application. iPadDisplays enable 3G, Wifi and where connectivity Bluetooth available, and feature apertures for Apple dock connectors, camera and speakers.

Eurostand Display’s latest product is made in Britain from high grade, durable materials that provide high security and feature a clean, uncluttered profile that facilitates unhindered access to the powerful,

finger-swipe interactivity that modern tablets facilitate.

Two types of housing are available for maximum flexibility: one which covers the iPad’s home button for static content control and a version that enables access to the button for a fully interactive user experience.

When iPadDisplay holders are incorporated into a Centro-based solution, it opens up whole new dimensions in display, including the provision of intuitive wayfinding, cutting edge interpretation boards, educational presentations, schedules,

itineraries and menus. In fact, brand new dimensions and experiences can be delivered at the point of interaction.

Centro is a contemporary modular display system that can be adapted to suit projects of any size or budget. Its flexibility and elegance enables the system to be used for a wide range of different applications, including tradeshows, conferences, showrooms and retail displays.

For further information visit: www.eurostanddisplay.com

Sign Directions June/July 2012 | 19

news briefing Equipment & Material

news

Displays with eye-appeal Get in at ground level Although floor graphics have been around for quite a while now and have proven to be a very effective way of attracting attention, they are possibly the least used form of digital media.

UK POS supplies a wide range of display units that can be used by retailers to provide real impact to their products during this difficult economic climate and to help them maximise sales.

The range includes a variety of clear acrylic stackable display units, including bridges, blocks, tubs and support stands. Tub dispensers and five-sided cubes, which are suitable for smaller products, come in a range

of heights and are a great counter top alternative to impulse bins.

Dispensing trays, which also come in a variety of sizes, can keep shelf stacking neat and tidy, or alternatively, can be used as counter top solutions for items such as toiletries. Finally the slim line, clear acrylic book support system is perfect for displaying bestsellers.

For further information visit: www.ukpos.com

Let’s hear it for StreetRap

In fact, according Metamark, floor graphics generally tend to be ordered by the larger print producers in response to requests from specifiers and end-users, such as supermarkets, who use floor graphics as part of their advertising promotions. This is a shame, as floor graphics represent an easy cross-sell for most sign and graphic companies, as well as being one that can help to lift the profit ratio on what otherwise might be a marginal job.

Metamark’s recently reformulated MD-FG system comprises a superb, MD-Class printable self adhesive material and a matched laminate, which when used in tandem deliver a punchy, high quality image that easily resists the scuffs and knocks that it

An innovative outdoor floor graphics solution developed by MACtac is available from UK distributor Amari Digital Supplies.

The integrated product combines a face material and complementary protective laminate and can be converted using either screen or digital printing processes.

MACtac StreetRap is a 85-micron matte white PVC film featuring a permanent clear adhesive and a 160gsm PE-coated Kraft liner. It is designed for outdoor pavement and parking lot graphics applied, typically, to pedestrian traffic surfaces, such as concrete and asphalt, as well as providing an ideal medium through which to convey key marketing and safety awareness messages at a host of public buildings.

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inevitably receives. Easily printed and just as easily applied, the MD-FG system enables anyone with a wide format printer and a sturdy laminator to enter a lucrative and relatively uncontested market with real profit potential.

The system works on practically any sound flooring surface and ample data is available, as is first class support for anyone using it. Metamark is making sample packs of the MD-FG system available, free on request.

Simply contact sales@metamark.co.uk for next day delivery.

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

The film can be printed by a choice of solvent, mild solvent, eco-solvent and latex water-based ink technologies. It offers a three-month durability when used in combination with the complementary StreetRap Protect over-laminate.

This is a 125-micron clear matte PVC film providing a satin sandstructure finish to the underlying StreetRap face film that eliminates glare and provides protection against UV fading, abrasion and the ingress of water. The film is selfextinguishing with an approved flammability rating to Class 1 (Spread of Flame) and Class 0 (Fire Propagation) of BS 476 as well as being approved by ASTM Friction Test D-2047 for slip resistance. .

For further information visit: www.amaridigitalsupplies.com

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news briefing Equipment & Material

news

New colours for cars Five new colours for the carbon fibre, matte and brushed metal textures of the Scotchprint Car Wrap Film Series 1080 have now been added by 3M. They comprise gloss white and gloss black, matte dark grey, matte grey aluminium and brushed black metallic to extend the choice of colours available to 17.

Scotchprint Car Wrap Film Series 1080 is designed for solid-colour vehicle detailing, decoration and full wraps. The films come in 60-inch rolls to allow any section of a vehicle to be wrapped without seams and

are removable for up to five years, thus making it easy to change and create new head-turning vehicle markings. With these new colours, 3M is extending the options for vehicle personalisation.

The films provide excellent opacity to hide high-contrast surfaces and offer the same high-quality installation feature available on Controltac Graphic Films with Comply Adhesive supplied by 3M. Millions of glass spheres on top of the adhesive surface minimise the initial contact area of the adhesive, enabling the film to slide and be

repositioned until firm pressure is applied. Furthermore, non-visible airrelease channels in the adhesive ensure fast, easy and bubble-free graphic installations.

3M vehicle wrap films are available from primary distributors William Smith and Spandex.

For further information visit: www.3M.co./uk/graphic solutions

It's a frame-up!

Kala has been appointed as the pan-European, preferred partner (wide format) for IG Wrap’s patent-pending Gallery Wrap system, a tool-free canvas framing solution that is both simple and cost-effective and which is ideal for use by sign and print companies who wish to add value to their printed output.

Typically, gallery wraps are hard to stretch and require a lot of patience,

skill and time, thus making them costly finishing options. However, IG’s Gallery Wrap system is so simple that anyone can now frame canvases speedily and without the need for any special training or tools.

The starter kits offered by Kala include wooden framing bars with adhesive strips, reusable corner clamps, staples, acid-free glue and easy-to-follow instructions. No other elements are required. The system is

available in two framing bar widths, 1¼” and 1¾”, and can be used to create over 500 size canvas different configurations up to a maximum of 60” wide.

For further information on visit please Kala, www.kala.fr

Grafik, a cost effective alternative Available exclusively through the Robert Horne Group; Grafik is a high quality range of cost centred foam competitive boards.

Ideal for use in all graphic applications where print quality and visual impact are critical, Grafik is available in three finishes, Grafik Line, Grafik Mount and Grafik Fix. Suitable for use with both screen and flatbed digital printing, the

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range combines a bright white liner that ensures punchier prints for maximum impact with a white foam core for improved aesthetics and excellent stay flat properties, with low compressibility. The range is also free from CFC gases.

Grafik Line is laminated on both sides with a bright white, ultra smooth coated paper, offers high rigidity and excellent dimensional stability.

Robust and lightweight, Grafik

Mount is designed for mounting and lamination and offers the increased stability and rigidity provided by a lacquered aluminium foil to both sides. In addition, Grafik Fix has a self adhesive film on one side for mounting, markings on the backing sheet that assist measuring and cutting and an easy release liner, preventing tearing, even at low temperatures.

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

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supplier spotlight

Bringing ideas to life Although Sihl might not be the first name to trip off signmakers’ tongues when you ask them to name and rank the UK’s top 10 material suppliers, it is likely that they will have been using the company’s materials, albeit unknowingly, for some considerable time. However all of that is set to change. Val Hirst reports.

Ian Turnbull (left) with Heiner Kayser As befits a company that unapologetically claims to be ‘the world’s number one inkjet media coating company’, Sihl is aiming to create a higher profile for itself.

0riginally established in the UK last year as Sihl Direct, it used the official opening of its new UK headquarters in leafy Altrincham, to explain why, after providing media for many of the major printer manufacturers for some considerable time, it has now decided to take a more direct route to market.

Sihl is part of the Diatec Group, a company that was originally founded in 1970 in Milan by Diego Mosna, and which has since grown significantly, largely through judicious acquisition, its most recent addition being StarCoating AG, which it bought in April of this year.

The Diatec Group’s primary raison d’etre is the application of coating to paper, film and textiles, something that takes place at its specially created factory in Duren, Germany and further sites in France, Switzerland the Netherlands.

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Sihl’s Managing Director Heiner Kayser acknowledges that as a company that has previously majored on supplying its products via a series of 0EM agreements, it has hitherto operated ‘under the radar’ but in recognition of the fact that, in an increasingly competitive materials market, it is now important that all manufacturers establish the individual strengths of their brands, it has set up a number of direct selling operations throughout Europe, of which Sihl Direct UK is the latest.

Heiner Kayser says: “We do, of course, already sell our branded products through a selection of material suppliers within the UK and this will continue, but I think that many sign and digital print companies are unaware of the full scope of our capabilities, which is something we feel we can best rectify by becoming more visible and interacting with the market on a face-to-face level.”

Ian Turnbull, who is directing the UK operation, is quick to point out that customers will still be able to purchase Sihl products through its selected partners, while also having a further opportunity to properly acquaint themselves with the full breadth and depth of the company’s comprehensive media offering. He also confirms that there will be two different price points; one for end users and one for resellers, explaining that: “We have no intention of taking the business that our resellers have already established, but we hope

Sihl Direct reveals its new HQ to the trade press

that as our brand becomes more widely known, their customers will start to request more of our products, which, in turn, will help them to increase their business too.”

The new Altrincham HQ will hold around 20 percent of the company’s product range, which includes inkjet photo papers, banners, roll-up films and imaging papers, thus facilitating quick and speedy delivery, which will also be further assisted by Sihl’s international distribution chain.

A quick flick through the company’s substantial media portfolio quickly confirms that it does indeed offer an almost bewildering array of options, which further underlines its need for a dedicated UK sales office. Ian Turnbull, who cut his teeth at Intelicoat, arguably one of Sihl’s main competitors, has chosen an equally experienced team to help him dispense the right calibre of advice and information to aid customers to make a properly informed choice when ordering products.

In the first instance, potential customers can gain some small idea of what is available by visiting the new Sihl Direct website, which was launched to coincide with the opening of the Altrincham HQ.

Featuring streamlined navigation with up to the minute and easy to access product information, the site also includes company news and case studies as well as an overview on Sihl Direct’s development, and business strategy. In addition, the company is also using the well-worn paths of Facebook and Twitter to further establish its UK presence.

The Sihl brand uses the legend ‘We bring ideas to life’ to explain its ethos and, according to Ian Turnbull this is no idle posturing. He says: “We make fantastic products that work time after time, straight out of the box, which is not a claim that all media manufacturers can make with the same degree of confidence!” Kayser Heiner adds: “Not only that, but we are constantly working to enhance our existing products and to provide new options and through the formation of the closer working relationships that Sihl Direct will help us to make, we believe our research and development departments will be able to come up with even more appropriate and effective media in the future.”

For further information visit: www.sihl-direct.co.uk Twitter: @SihlDirectUK Facebook: www.facebook.com /SihlDirectUK

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going in

The sweet smell of success The RollsRoller Flatbed Applicator distributed in the UK by William Smith has again demonstrated why it has become the most costeffective and accurate method of applying self-adhesive materials, application tapes and digital prints to virtually any commonly used signmaking substrate.

Bedfordshire-based Paramount Imagination & Creation is one of the latest companies to disover how this production workhorse can be used to dramatically increase the speed and quality of output, leading to a fast return on investment and commensurate profitability.

Established over 30 years ago, Paramount Imagination & Creation initially specialised in the design, manufacture and installation of exhibition stands. However the company now focuses on providing high-quality promotional display solutions for fragrance and cosmetic manufacturers, including Duty Free/Travel Retail sector, covering all of the main airport, cruise and ferry termini, in both the UK and Europe.

Today, the company has added to these core activities by undertaking work for clients outside of the fragrance and cosmetics channel, but still within the travel/retail sector. In consequence, its client base has expanded considerably and now includes not only some of the world’s most familiar brands in the quality fragrance and cosmetics market, but also equally high-profile manufacturers of popular confectionery, drinks and associated luxury products.

With Paramount’s clients expecting the highest quality of finished display solutions to accurately reflect and complement the quality of the products they are designed to promote, the company has installed the RollsRoller, using William Smith as the preferred source of supply and technical support, in a move which has

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enabled it to bring all finishing requirements in-house.

According to Paramount’s Managing Director, Mike Stephenson, the results are visually stunning and cost saving in equal proportions. He commented: “We can now produce visuals and graphics to a much higher standard than was previously possible, whilst creating savings in production time of up to 50 percent and thus adding to the overall profitability of our business.”

Paramount’s RollsRoller incorporates an optional illuminated glass bed, which greatly increases the accuracy with which materials, particularly those used for multi-coloured or translucent graphics applications, can be applied, leading to minimal wastage and a much higher quality of finished product.

Mike Stephenson continued: “Although many of the visuals we produce are for short-term promotions lasting for around three weeks, we now apply a protective laminate to all printed material to improve the look and feel of the graphic. The RollsRoller has also enabled us to be much more

creative with our design concepts and to meet the very demanding brand guidelines of our clients, especially those in the fragrance and cosmetics sector where colour-matching, colour fidelity and freedom from scratching, discolouration and other imperfections are critical. The machine also enables us to be 100 percent accurate in the placement of visuals or logos direct onto various substrates, which was not possible with the previous method of finishing. Furthermore, it has helped us to dramatically improve our profitability, which, in the case of one recent job, equated to a 60 percent increase when comparied with what would have been possible when we were outsourcing.”

A typical recent example of how the machine has increased the speed, quality and cost effectiveness of jobs completed at Paramount was a large ‘Burberry Body’ promotion across 21 airports. The company’s Print Studio Manager Jane White explained: “We did the same promotion last year without the Rollsroller, but on this occasion we estimate that the work was completed 30 percent faster and was upwards of 25 percent more cost

effective. There was also significantly less wastage of materials, a noticeable reduction in errors and the finished output was far better than before.”

Mike Stephenson was also equally effusive when describing the quality of the service provided by William Smith, which he described as: “Comprehensively excellent in its delivery, thoroughly professional throughout the planning and installation process and first class in terms of the on-site training provided, which has resulted in the RollsRoller performing to the high standards anticipated and without any problems.”

He concluded: “Since installation, the machine has performed brilliantly, and has been fantastic for our business. So much so, in fact, that we plan to invest in another table in the near future!”

For further information on the RollsRoller visit: www.william smith.co.uk and for information about the services provided by Paramount Imagination & Creation visit: www.paramountimagina tion. co.uk

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information

Tips and Tricks Q A client has asked for a display solution that will allow them to show high quality messaging which can also be re-used at shows and exhibitions. As there is such a wide variety of media that could do the job, could you please give us some guidance on the best one to choose?

Rennie Signs, Glasgow

A

The suitability of advertising display media can be affected by a number of factors, for example, where it is being placed, its purpose and the required lifespan. Once this has been decided, suitable media can be chosen for the application, as well as deciding which type of display unit is required.

This month Fujifilm’s Euromedia experts turn their attention to display options

Taking your customers needs into consideration, we would recommend a roll up stand as they are versatile and can be used in a variety of environments. Roll up stands are also easy to transport and have a small footprint, thus providing an impact even if space is limited.

With this in mind, what you need look for is a material that is extremely scratch-resistant and robust, particularly if it is going to be subjected to a lot of mechanical stress and frequent assembly and disassembly.

We would also recommend a material that provides graphics that are rich in contrast, with high strength colours and which has a high opacity in order to maximise the advertising message.

If the displays are to be placed outside, then you would also need to make sure that the media contains the necessary properties to withstand the appropriate weather conditions.

For indoor advertising we would recommend that you choose a media with a matt finish to reflect artificial lighting so that it doesn’t detract from the advertising message. Products such as Euromedia’s RollUp Film Premium manufactured from PVC-free polyester are long-term applications, which provide good stability in the display and have excellent lie-flat properties. A special coating also makes the material extremely robust and protects both the print and unprinted areas on the front and back. This, when used with a

laminate, such as Euromedia Ultra High protection, greatly reduces the potential for curl up and tears.

As your customer has expressed a need to move the displays from one location to another you would also need to select a display unit

A new milestone for Innova

This year marks the 10th Anniversary of Innova Solutions, a company that has made an indelible impression on the UK sign industry through its pioneering research in and development of innovative products based on advanced adhesive technology.

Formed by Glenn Dunleavey and Spencer Kelly, both of whom have

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considerable previous experience in the adhesive tapes and liquid adhesives market, the company was founded on the ethos of taking the hassle and mystery out of purchasing adhesive products through close collaboration with leading UK sign manufacturers in developing and bringing to market a range of bespoke highperformance sign-fixing solutions.

Much of the company’s success is attributable to the quality of its select and highly experienced team of specialists. This is founded on firm friendships and a proven ability to communicate effectively with business partners and suppliers to sustain and develop business, and by diversification into niche markets beyond the company’s core activities in the sign industry, which remains its largest and most profitable sector.

Managing Director, Glenn Dunleavey commented: “Honesty, trust and empathy are key elements of any business foundation, but for a fast-moving company such as ours, they are vital ingredients for future growth.

We are a small team that has to multi-task and this requires total confidence in each member’s

abilities in order to drive forward our business.”

In pioneering and developing the Nova brand, the two founding directors have created an identity that has become synonymous with quality and performance within the company’s active markets.

Furthermore, through both directors’ wide experience of and contacts within these markets the company has fostered partnerships with prominent independent adhesive chemists and consultants in developing new and even more innovative products to meet the challenges of a changing market and the need to address the requirements of new substrates as they emerge.

Sales Director, Spencer Kelly

that is lightweight, but also resilient enough to avoid damage in transit. In order achieve the best results we would also recommend the use of a discreet display unit where all the mechanisms are hidden, such as Euromedia’s RollScreen Ghost, which enables

the print area to be maximised and provides a professional finish.

commented: “It was a brave step to call our company Innova Solutions but it has maintained our impetus on developing new and innovative products for the markets we serve and this has paid dividends. In tough economic times ,such as we are now experiencing, research and development is often the first area of investment to be cut but it is innovation that keeps a company fresh and exciting for its customers.”

dark) materials and one with obvious synergies with Innova Solutions that was already a major supplier of such materials.

In 2009, Glenn and Spencer set up two sister companies in order not to dilute the focus of the parent company. Innova Contracts was established to service a special global market sector with multi-national bases, while NovaDura was incorporated to supply the sign trade with high-performance, high-value and vandal-resistant signage. In 2010, Innova Solutions acquired Kemco Technology, a company dedicated to the development and supply of photo-luminescent (glow-in-the-

For further information on the Euromedia range of products visit: www.euromedia-eu. com

In spite of the recession leading to a levelling off in business, the company has enjoyed exponential growth, with the last two years seeing a doubling in its size and further development as a result of forays into the broader European market that has yielded strong growth potential.

Glenn Dunleavey concluded: “Whilst our business plan did not anticipate the current economic malaise, we have held our ground. We have worked tirelessly to diversify and develop business partnerships, with the benefit of being a relatively small but specialist company enabling us to decide a course of action today and implement it tomorrow.”

For further information visit: www.innovasolutionsonline. com

Proud to be designers and innovators of high-strength bonding tapes, structural adhesives, photoluminescent materials, temporary fixing systems, cleaners and primers for the sign industry

INNOVA 10TH ANNIVERSARY PROMOTIONAL OFFER To celebrate Innova Solutions' 10th Anniversary, we are running a special three-month summer promotion. Buy any new product to the value of £150 from the Innova range and we will send you a £10 Gift Voucher. The promotion ends on Friday 31st August 2012.

For more details please contact Michael Thompson on 01282 867390 or at michael@innovasolutionsonline.com

Sign Directions June/July 2012 | 29

information

The devil’s in the detail!

As all signmakers know, planning is an increasing fraught topic within the industry, with many local planning offices seemingly making up the rules as they go along.

Chris Thomas, formerly Head of Advertisement Control Policy for the Department of Environment and now an independent advertisement control and planning consultant for the BSGA and others, explains why this situation has come about.

In 1948, the civil servants got one thing right.

The first Control of Advertisements Regulations were supposed to be ‘efficient, effective and simple in concept and operation’, which meant that most advertisements, were given automatic approval, leaving the remainder to be controlled by local planning authorities (LPAs) on individual merit. This was sensible, as most advertisements are innocuous and achieve their purpose without causing any detrimental impact to their immediate surrounding environment. Thus, amenity and public safety were the only matters that needed to be considered.

thus, there are policies on everything that could even vaguely be described as planning.

And advertisement control has not escaped the monster’s grasp. Virtually every LDP contains policies on advertisements, which are supposed to serve as guidelines for prospective advertisers, but which increasingly, have become restrictive tools that enable local planners to refuse any advertisement that doesn’t conform to their ideals as expressed in the LDP. I should make it clear that LDP policies are not regulations and thus noncompliance with a LDP policy doesn’t make an advertisement automatically unacceptable. But, in practice, this is often the result and the LPA will simply refuse panning permission on a whim.

However, did the 1948 civil servants envisage that other bureaucrats would add further layers of complication to this simple system? I doubt it. But town halls have to meddle and somehow, advertisement control was swept up into the Local Development Plan (LDP) system, which was originally designed to guide development to the appropriate locations. Each LPA produces its own plan that is subject to various stages of public consultation, plus a final scrutiny by a government appointed planning inspector. It then becomes a statutory document that guides development within the LPA’s area.

Some LDP policies are straightforward and unobjectionable. For example, a policy might just say that advertisements will be considered on individual merit with their impact on the surroundings being the main consideration. But other LDP policies are long and restrictive and it is not uncommon to see policies that state ‘no internally illuminated signs’, ‘no signs above fascia level’ or ‘no plastic signs’ and so on.

Over the years, the LDP system has become an all-encompassing monster, which not only includes guidance on appropriate locations for particular developments, but policy on climate change, educational needs, transport systems, public health provision and, most recently, sustainability and

So, acting on behalf of the BSGA, I wage a constant war and at every stage, LDP policies are scrutinised and objections are made to those who impose undue restriction on advertisers, in an attempt to make the LPA (or ultimately the Government’s Inspector) alter or remove the worst of

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the policies. Happily, in many cases, we succeed, for right is on our side! But battling against planners who still seem to believe that the ideal shopping street resembles something out of a Dickens novel, with customers peering through the multi-paned windows that lie beneath a wooden fascia sign featuring gold copperplate text, is an incredibly tedious task!

The recent publication of the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has gone almost unnoticed, except by wind-farm opponents. This document has replaced virtually all existing national planning policy guidance, including that on advertisement control formerly contained in PPG19. It places a greater emphasis on facilitating sustainable development and therefore on removing the planning hurdles to economic growth. But my experience is that, in terms of advertisement control, LPAs are paying no more than lip service to this new advice.

Whilst we clearly cannot claim that advertisements provide thousands of jobs, it is a fact that most economic activity, particularly that in the service sector, which now accounts for some 70 percent of the UK economy, cannot thrive without appropriate and compelling advertising. By way of illustration let me give you a recent example, which involved a large store located on the periphery of a city shopping centre. The store wanted a higher-level sign to attract shoppers at the bottom end of one of the city’s shopping streets. The sign was refused as being too high, overly conspicuous

and spoiling the street. It is true that the street was historic and within a conservation area, but half of it had been bombed flat and hastily reconstructed to include the erection of a ghastly 1960s concrete multistorey office block. And if that wasn’t bad enough, the whole street, including the building for which the sign was proposed, was once again programmed for demolition and redevelopment! Yet the sign was still refused as the planners decreed that it would ‘spoil’ the street!’ Once again, dogma trumped common sense and economic development.

David Catanach, Director of the BSGA agrees that when it comes to planning issues, we need to remain vigilant, and expresses this view: “Most sign companies wouldn’t give the matter a second thought, until they are forced to take down a brand new sign because it falls foul of the local policy.

But if we aren’t very careful, we will end up with inappropriate and unopposed restrictions that could fundamentally change signmakers’ business goals and force them down less suitable and profitable avenues.”

David also concurs with my view that it is a growing trend for such policies to be drawn up by people who seem to have no regard for their impact on businesses or practical needs, and thus our work continues. To this end, if you have recently come up against any particularly ludicrous rulings, the BSGA would like to know about it. Either email d.catanach@basga.co.uk or enquiries@bsga.co.uk and we’ll do our best to help.

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cover story

she devised a grand plan that involved the creation of the world’s longest photograph, showing images of ordinary Londoners, of all ages, shapes, sizes and occupations, literally jumping for joy.

Jumping for Joy!

When, two years ago, artist, designer and inventor Clare Newton first conceived the idea of creating the world’s longest photograph to coincide with the 2012 London 0lympics, she knew that she would need some expert assistance. Val Hirst reports Like many people, Hackney-based artist Clare Newton felt it was a shame that the only people who can really hope to compete in the 0lympic Games are those who have the opportunity to dedicate their whole lives to practicing their sport. However, as someone who

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primarily lives through her creative impulses, Clare firmly believed that art, if properly harnessed, could be used in a very democratic way to help enhance people’s enjoyment of the 0lympic Games, while also giving them a very real sense of participation. Accordingly,

The project was a two-year long labour of love, with Clare taking more than 100,000 photographers of 5,000 jumpers and then painstakingly weaving each of the individual images together to create a gigantic panoramic photograph measuring just less than one kilometre in length.

She explains: “By jumping, people become the art; the simple movement enabled almost anyone to take part.”

Using a high-speed camera, Clare has captured a dynamic and exciting mix of nationalities, abilities, colours and moods, as well as a highly divergent range of backdrops and environments.

What’s more, the panorama tells its own story about each of the participants and their lives and includes hidden secrets, clues and mysteries that make it such fascinating and compulsive viewing.

But of course, the actual photographs and their manipulation was only part of the story – Clare’s next problem was printing. She says: “I desperately wanted to submit the finished photo to the Guinness Book of Records, as I realised that an award would guarantee good publicity and also ensure that the project received the

widest possible airing.”

As a graphic of this scope and size is obviously beyond the outputting capabilities of a photographer even of Clare’s undoubted ability and stature, she approached Agfa for assistance and was delighted when the company not only agreed to lend her its support, but also introduced her to fellow industry supplier ADS and print company The Creative Place, both of whom were equally happy to sponsor her too.

Peter McCann of ADS observes: “We really appreciated the level of Clare’s creativity and unique approach to this project and her ambition to have it recorded in the Guinness Book of Records, so it was in no way a difficult decision to donate all of the material required.” The company supplied copious quantities of its newly launched own brand banner material, ADS 550 Premium FR Laminated Banner PVC, which as well as providing the high grade surface required to do full justice to Clare’s photography skills, is also durable enough to withstand all future handling and transport requirements.

Taking the ADS material, the Watfordbased Creative Place used its Agfa Anapurna M2050 printer, a high-speed UV curable inkjet system that offers both flatbed and roll-to-roll capabilities, and was supplied by Agfa reseller, Graphic Print Technologies, to output the images, with Agfa donating the 50

litres of ink required. The job took more than 70 hours of printing time, but the final result, which was unfurled at London’s ExCel Exhibition Centre at the beginning of June, was truly a sight for sore eyes.

Tim Light, Marketing Manager for Agfa Graphics, comments, “This has been a really exciting and rewarding project for us; as well as demonstrating the quality of our printers, we have helped to create a fascinating and lasting legacy that is testament to the grit and determination of the people involved.

We are delighted for Clare and her team that they have achieved the dream of producing the world’s longest photograph and also congratulate The Creative Place for putting their own business production on hold in order to deliver this magnificent print, which is one 0lympic legacy that everyone can share as, in future, we hope that it will be used to enliven all sorts of public spaces, such as shopping malls and parklands.”

And of course, it cannot have escaped the minds of any of the companies involved that a project such as this is a fitting illustration of the versatility and creative possibilities of digital printing technologies.

For Clare, the successful completion of the project marks the culmination of her dream – The Guinness Book of Records has officially accredited her for

producing ‘The largest composite photograph’.

The photographic panorama is now moving to London’s South Bank, but Clare is hoping that it will help to fund her new dream – the implementation of a cultural exchange of ideas and experiences between children from less advantaged backgrounds in Barcelona and London, which will see them discovering and recording the disappearing artifacts within their respective cities. In a bid to raise the £75,000 of funding that this new initiative requires, Clare plans to auction off poster-sized reproductions of sections of her masterpiece.

And, as before, she also welcomes any help the industry cares to offer!

For further information contact Clare at e-mail: heritage@equinox partners.co.uk For further information on Agfa visit: ww.agfa.com For further information on ADS visit: www.amaridigitalsupplies.com For further information on The Creative place visit: www.creative place.co.uk

Sign Directions June/July 2012 | 33

lighting

An Olympian task

Light Sheet struts its stuff!

Octink, an award-winning specialist display company, which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, has built a great reputation for first class service by providing its clients with exceptional quality results within challenging deadlines, but further, the company has also placed recycling and sustainability at the heart of everything it does and it is this ethos that has made it one of the UK’s greenest display companies.

So when the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) decided to mark the coming of the Games to the UK with the installation of spectacular eye catching logos in predominant locations across the country, it realised that Octink was the obvious partner.

Accordingly, Octink was commissioned to design, manufacture and install giant Olympic ring logos on either side of the new Air Traffic Control Centre at Birmingham Airport. The challenge was to produce an extremely durable, high quality product to a set budget, whilst also achieving the installation in good time for the spectacular launch event planned for April.

Octink opted to craft the twometre diameter Olympic Rings from Sign Comp extrusions, which were selected for their lightweight and flexibility.

The choice of illumination product was also of paramount importance, as it was intended that the logos should provide completely homogenous, high impact night time illumination, which would be visible to visitors flying into the airport, as well as those viewing from the ground for miles around.

Octink elected to use the Tetra PowerMAX LED lighting system from GE, a company that has sponsored the Olympics since 2006, for use within the Olympic Rings. This is the same product that was used on the re-lamping of the world-famous Tower Bridge in London.

The installation of the rings on the control tower was always going to be problematic, as it had to be carried out at a height of 135 feet above the airport, in just six days from start to finish. As is so often the case in this country, and, as it inevitably turned out, the job also needed to be completed in extreme weather conditions!

With this being the case and in consideration of the project’s high profile, inherent complications and very definite deadlines, Octink wanted the very best team to help it ensure the unveiling ceremony went without a hitch, which is why it invited Vink Lighting Solutions, the UK and European distributor of GE Lighting LED systems, to provide the lighting design, expert technical back up and advice throughout the installation process. Vink also sought the assistance of Mike Hall Technical Services who it contracted to assist with the co-ordination of the onsite installation.

Happily, all went according to plan

Sign Directions June/July2012 | 34

With British fashion currently receiving unprecedented attention, thanks to a wealth of talented young home grown designers, the eyes of fashion’s elite were firmly fixed on the recent London Fashion Week, so every detail of the shows’ signature venue, the Courtyard Show Space at Somerset House had to be perfect.

Housed within a temporary structure of over 1,500sq.m, the iconic Show Space, which was designed by Charlotte Lurot of London Fashion Week production company Bacchus, features a catwalk with seating for 600 guests, together with dressing, reception and VIP rooms.

and the rings were unveiled at a special VIP event that was attended

by Edwin Moses, the double 400 metres hurdles Olympic champion, and Lee Pearson, the British ninetime para-equestrian champion.

The installation has since attracted widespread national media

coverage and has been roundly commended as a complete success.

For further information visit: www.octink.com and www.vinklightingsolutions. com

Spencer Sunar, of Blueprint Workshop/ Bacchus and Technical Director of London Fashion Week, commented: ”‘Part of the design intent for the Courtyard Show Space required the use of branding in an elegant and seamless way. The choice of lighting, as well as materials and finishes, was critical and so everything that went into the space was carefully chosen to form a cohesive part of the overall design.”

with the LFW logo and the sponsor details were then painted on, using the RAL colour reference 9002, so that they would perfectly match the walls on which they were to be mounted. LED Light Sheet units were secured behind each stencil cut panel and an opal acrylic was used to diffuse the lighting unit’s grid lines. This simple construction delivered a slender panel depth of just 30mm, thus ensuring the illuminated logos were as sleek and discreet as the brief dictated.

In the darkness between shows, 5300k cool white LED Light Sheet shone through the stencilled lettering to illuminate the London Fashion Week logos, which appeared to glow against the identically coloured walls. LED Light Sheet was integrated into the venue’s lighting control system allowing for show control queuing, and when future trends were modelled on the catwalk, the branding was dimmed to prevent interference with the lighting schemes that designated each of the individual designer’s shows.

Applelec’s LED Light Sheet was thus used to create a pair of three metre long illuminated signs featuring the LFW logo

Spencer Sunar concluded: “LED Light Sheet enabled us to use the branding in the Show Space in an effective, controllable and considered way and the feedback from guests, designers and the client has been wholly positive.”

In order to create the logos, three metre folded aluminium panels were stencil cut

For further information www.applelecsign.co.uk

visit:

Sign Directions June/July2012 | 35

special feature - lighting

Shining a light on JCB A permanent exhibition, entitled:The Story of JCB, has recently opened at JCB’s World HQ in Rocester, charting the company’s links to industry.

of which use Bright Green Matrix LED backlighting system for illumination, including the JCB logo, which forms the centrepiece of each display.

The company currently welcomes around 15,000 visitorsa year from all over the world and this figure is expected to rise to 20,000 from 2013 as a result of the exhibition’s development.

Bright Green Matrix is the perfect alternative to fluorescent tubes when lighting displays and graphics as it uses up to 80% less power than more traditional light sources, is maintenance free, straightforward to install and, best of all, dramatically improves the quality of the display that it illuminates.

JCB Chairman, Sir Anthony Bamford, used the occasion of the exhibition’s opening to express his pride at the new customer experience centre’s development and its pivotal role in winning new business, particularly in emerging markets.

The £5 million exhibition covers 2,500m² and includes 14 zones that take the visitor on a journey from the 1820s right up to the present day. Many of the zones have displays, light boxes and plinths, all

Combinations of neutral and cool white LEDs were specified for use in the exhbition’s different zones, while the versatile nature of Bright Green Matrix also enabled it to be used in a wide variety of different applications.

For further information visit: www.brightgreentechno logy.com

Bright Green extends range Flexible LED from Bright Green Direct, the direct ecommerce site owned by Bright Green Technology, has added flexible LED PCB to its stock range.

Often referred to as LED strip or LED tape, flexible LED, which is used for architectural and retail applications such as cabinet, display and accent lighting, is stocked in the most popular variants: warm and cool white, low and high power, as well as red, green and blue. Bright Green

Sign Directions June/July2012 | 36

flexible LED, which has a silicon coating to protect the LEDs from mechanical damage and water, thus ensuring durability and reliable operation, is IP65 rated The minimum quantity is one reel and Bright Green Direct also offers a range of supporting accessories, such as power supplies and connectors.

For further information visit: www.brightgreendirect. com

Sign Directions June/July 2012 | 37

digital news

Get more for your lolly!

The new ColorPainter is here! need very high speed, quality banner printing.

Colourgen has announced the availability of the new Seiko I Infotech (SIIT) ColorPainter H2 series of mild-solvent inkjet printers, which were launched in Japan last October and for which Colourgen is the exclusive UK distributor.

The new ColorPainter H2 series is available in two widths, 104” (the H2104s) and 74” (the H2-74s). Two colour configurations are also available, a four

colour configuration for higher productivity and economy and an eight colour option for better image quality and true grey-scale printing.

Several new innovative printing functions taken from the ColorPainter W-Series are now standard in the H2 series, including Smart Nozzle Mapping, which offers the ability to remap a clogged nozzle instead of having to replace a printhead. As well as Dynamic Dot Printing (DDP) Technology, which enables the printer to jet three different drop sizes per print pass, it can print at maximum printing speed without density loss while maintaining fine graininess even at low printing resolution.”

It has unmatched productivity as it prints images with consistent colour density at a maximum printing speed of 100 m²/h in four colour mode and 50 m²/h in eight colour mode. In fact, the quality in four colour mode at 100sqm per hour is such that it makes the printer a true contender for users who

Colourgen also now supplies Seiko I Infotech’s new low odour, HAPs-free inkset for the ColorPainter W -Series large format eco solvent printers. The new IX ink is better for both the environment and for employee health as SIIT has eliminated HAPs from both the ink chemicals and the pigments.

Seiko I Infotech’s IX inks have been specially formulated for low odour printing, with any residual odour evaporating quickly, thus extending the application range of the ColorPainter W series printers from outdoor applications to the more odour sensitive indoor market, such as signage in grocery shops and small space graphics in trains and lifts.

The IX inks are supplied in ink bags designed for SIIT’s innovative reloadable cartridges, which reduces environmental waste.

The ColorPainter H2 and W-Series printers are available now from authorised Colourgen Business Partners.

To see the printer in action, view a short video at http://bit.ly/LETHbh For further information visit: www.colourgen.com

A double win for Mimaki Mimaki’s advances in print technology have been rewarded with the presentation of two coveted European Digital Press (EDP) Association Awards. The company won the Best Wide Format Textile Printer accolade for the Mimaki TS500-1800, while the Mimaki JV400-LX Series was named the Best Environmental Printing Solution.

The Mimaki TS500-1800 impressed the judges with its breakthrough in price and performance for indirect dye sub printing, together with a print speed of 150m2/h. It provides a powerful

Sign Directions June/July2012 | 38

solution for the fashion/ sportswear, exhibition graphics and retail POS markets, where a combination of speed and high quality are vital components for responding to volume demand. The Mimaki TS500-1800 printer will be available this summer.

The new Mimaki JV400-LX Series is a latex printer featuring a state of the art, environmentally friendly ink and it also received high praise from the EDP Association who were impressed with its new piezo head and the high viscosity of the ink, which means less drying time. The printer also offers a white ink option and lower energy

consumption, making it a worthy winner.

The EDP Association is a not-for-profit organisation that recognises the latest innovations in the digital print industry.

The Association comprises publishers of leading European magazines devoted

to digital printing and associated products. The publications cover 14 countries and reach a combined audience of more than one million graphic arts professionals.

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

This summer, Mimaki’s exclusive distributor, Hybrid Services is ensuring that potential customers will get even more for their money with a special limited time promotion on the CJV30-60 integrated printer/cutter, which will retail at only £5,995.00 until the end of September.

The Mimaki CJV30-60 can be commissioned with over 3.5 litres of ink for just £395.00 when customers invest in the machine, enough to print around 290m2 of full colour output, which equates to an awful lot of banners, posters, key fobs, window graphics, garment transfers and pull ups in anyone's language!

Described by Hybrid Services as being: ‘Faster, better equipped and more creative than any other printer/cutter in its class!’ the 610mm wide print and cut machine is supplied with full versions of Mimaki RasterLink Pro RIP software, FineCut cutting plugin and Simple Studio design application. Easy to operate, the CJV30-60 delivers a high quality result thanks to the latest generation printheads, vibrant long lasting inks, including metallic and white options and powerful cutting capabilities. Until 28th September 2012, Hybrid is offering it at a promotional price through its authorised reseller network.

Offering a wider material choice, thanks to the option of SS21 or ES3 inks, white and metallic ink combination, die cutting capability and with sufficient width to print A1 posters, the Mimaki opens up myriad new product lines for sign and digital print companies.

In addition, Hybrid's Gold warranty for the Mimaki CJV30-60 means a fast callout and response time, should it be required. It is available through Hybrid’s authorised reseller network.

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

Sign Directions June/July 2012 | 39

my way

Worthwhile Investments Companies explain why they chose the equipment they use With a turnover tipping £2.3 million and a staff of 34, it is a company that takes its reputation as a specialist signmaker very seriously.

First established in 1973, the Leedsbased W.A.E Group embraces both modern and traditional sign and graphic techniques, to produce a wide variety of display graphics and signage nationwide for such blue chip companies as National Tyres & Autocare, Royal Mail, Greene King Pub Co and Langtree Group plc, as well providing municipal signage.

So when it was recently commissioned to manufacture and install a new nationwide retail display contract, W.A.E Group knew that it would have to ramp up its production capabilities. Managing Director Paul Austin explained: “We realised that our two existing roll-toroll printers wouldn’t be able to cope with the extra workload and that it was time to invest in a new machine”. And, since the company already own an Agfa :Anapurna XL it knew exactly who to approach.

Paul Austin continued: “We originally

equipment, after receiving promising recommendation.

a

Your Print Solution’s Managing Director, Stephen Brown reports: “Graham at CWE Solutions was very helpful throughout the whole process. We asked quite a lot of general questions, and he consistently gave us incredibly detailed answers.”

When the team at Your Print Solution in High Wycombe was searching for a way to provide its clients with an enhanced customer experience it wanted to ensure that it was using the best equipment for the job. The company, which offers a total of 28 years of experience in the fields of colour reproduction and printing and specialises in the production of large format printing services, including pull-up banners, and backlit graphics, turned to Graham De Kock at CWE Solutions, the reseller of large format printing

Sign Directions June/July 2012 | 40

Steven wanted to use the best technology available to achieve shorter turnaround times and outstanding results for Your Printing Solution’s high profile clients, such as restaurant chain Wimpy, on whose behalf it is constantly searching for ways to provide a more effective service.

In turn, CWE Solutions, which is an HP UK Partner and has previously been named HP Reseller of The Year, was keen to support Steven in providing his business with every obtainable advantage, and after

acquired the :Anapurna so that we could print directly onto the precoated plywood board we use for a number of property development contracts, but, over the years since its installation, we have used it to print onto a whole variety of different substrates and it is still giving sterling service. So when deciding which new wide-format machine we should buy, I was very mindful of the excellent support that we had always received from Agfa.”

Accordingly, W.A.E purchased an Agfa :Jeti 3312 a 3.2m roll-to-roll grand-format printer, which can easily process substrates up to 3.2m in width, thus enabling the company to simultaneously print two rolls side by side. It also offers true 600 dpi

considering the company’s precise needs, it recommended the HP Designjet L26500, which offers increased efficiency and versatility, by enabling users to print onto a wide variety of materials.

Additionally, the machine’s HP latex Ink technology means that the prints leave the printer completely dry, which in an industry where clients value speed just as much as quality, is an indispensable feature.

Your Print Solutions also purchased the GMG Production Suite for which CWE Solutions is the sole UK reseller. This software package enables Your Print Solution to maintain complete consistency between projects that use different printing systems. Your Print Solution, primarily uses the HP Designjet L26500 to create the backlit graphics for Wimpy, and the GMG Rip Software enables the team to colour match these with smaller items, such as the menus

(1200 dpi apparent) resolution, thus maintaining the high print quality that W.A.E.’s retail customers demand, whilst also delivering output at a speed of up to 40sq.m/hr making it one of the lowest cost, high resolution printers currently available.

Paul Austin concluded: “I am absolutely delighted with our purchase, the :Jeti is performing very well and can cope with all of the work we are throwing at it and I know that it will continue to help us take the business into exciting new areas for many years to come.”

For further information visit: www.wae-group.co.uk and www.agfa.com

that are produced using a HP Indigo Digital Press.

CWE Solutions also recommended the GBC Arctic Titan 1064 Laminator, which handles pressure-sensitive film up to 61" wide and also features a cold lamination setting that is ideal for use with materials such as PVC, which are incompatible with the traditional hot lamination process.

“CWE Solutions provided us with a full solution to our large format printing requirements,” concludes Stephen Brown, “And the whole process is so much easier now. Our turnaround times have been slashed dramatically and we have received constant support. I really couldn’t fault the service.”

For further information visit: www.yourprintsolution. co.uk and www.cwesolu tions.co.uk

Sign Directions June/July 2012 | 41

my way

“A good product, at a good price, in good time!” That’s the philosophy behind Asbo Graphics’ remarkable success as a one-stop shop for design and display work.

It is also a philosophy that Asbo sees reflected in its latest investment, the VersaSTUDIO BN-20 desktop printer/cutter from Roland DG. A cost-effective, compact and productive machine, the VersaStudio BN-20 is helping Jordan Watret, owner of Loughborough-based Asbo Graphics, to turn the highly creative design work he produces for customers into premium-value finished articles.

The versatile Roland VersaStudio BN20 is a complete desktop production studio that combines high-quality, vivid and durable print with integrated precision cutting and comes bundled with all the necessary software. Its ability to print metallic ink enables Jordan to produce graphics and displays with added “Wow!” factor, quickly and easily, while also ensuring that he maintains full control over the production and the profit margin on almost every job he wins.

In fact, the VersaStudio BN-20 has been so successful that it has helped make the desktop in Jordan’s home office the most profitable space per square inch in the entire business!

He opines: “The integrated print and cut functionality of the VersaStudio BN-20 is just one of the features that help us to achieve a bigger bang for our customers’ buck. It’s a highly efficient way of working, which keeps our service competitive, and it is more cost-effective than investing in separate printing and cutting devices, not to mention the amount of space it saves.

“I often get asked for custom labels using the metallic ink which I can charge a premium for, but which doesn’t require any costly set up.

Take, for example, my entry in the Roland Creative Awards, a 30th birthday bespoke bottle label using metallic ink. My customers love this

Sign Directions June/July2012 | 42

sort of thing. It’s not the core of my business, but it’s nice to be able to offer something that your competitors can’t and make a decent margin on it.”

Jordan started his career in print typesetting, before moving in to design and taking an in-house graphic designer position at a traditional litho printer. This combination of manufacturing experience and design expertise means that Asbo can add real value by engineering solutions that make clients’ budgets go as far as possible, something that is all the more achievable with innovative production hardware like the VersaStudio BN-20.

Asbo Graphics’ machine was supplied by Revolution Transfers, a Roland Authorised Dealer. It is Jordan’s first Roland machine and he is already reaping the benefits of the improved print quality and reliability that comes with using Roland’s specially formulated Eco-Sol Max inks.

Eco-Sol Max inks are the most costeffective solution. I value my customers too much to risk giving them print work that is anything less than perfect. It’s a competitive market place, but by giving them stunning prints time and time again, I’m doing everything I can do to ensure they keep coming back!”

nearly every day and never misses a beat”

Asbo Graphics provides a wide range of graphic design and display services, including, flyers, booklets, brochures, posters, banners, vehicle graphics, logo designs, bespoke labels and branding solutions. And Jordan feels confident that the company can handle any job that comes its way, nothing is too big or too small. He says: Whatever the job, the Roland VersaStudio BN-20, can do it all. It runs for 10 hours solidly

“The demand is already there,” says Jordan. “It’s just a case of finding the space!”

Jordan will soon be looking for a faster and wider Roland machine and is considering the purchase of the VersaCAMM VS-540, as his business goes from strength to strength.

Anapurna in the very near future!”

Further information on Asbo Graphics visit: www.asbographics.co.uk and for information on Roland visit: www.rolanddg.co.uk

He says: “You should never have to repeat a job, it should be right first time. That’s why, in the long-term,

Sign Directions June/July 2012 | 43

feature - vehicle liveries

Vehicle graphics remain as popular as ever. Here we meet some companies who have taken an individual approach to their projects.

Wrapping it up For many people, their choice of car is a legitimate form of selfexpression, a way of reflecting their personality, whether through the generic make and model, or through the personal touches they add. Since the rock ’n’ roll days of 1950’s America, many car owners have made a big thing out of customisation, to enhance the looks of their ‘ride’.

In fact, if those 50s teenagers had been able to access the wide variety of materials and equipment available now, there may well have been a lot less swinging in the sixties!

It was in the US that Gary Clark, cofounder and Managing Director of MotorMode, learned the trade that was to lead to the hugely successful

company that is responsible for creating some of the most imaginative and technically brilliant vehicle graphics found anywhere in the world.

Gary observes: “Customisation, no matter how small, helps people sell vehicles. So while I was in the US, way back in 1980, I learned how to apply stripes to the sides of cars, trucks and coaches, which both funded my time in the States and also provided me with the inspiration I needed to help start MotorMode when I arrived back in the UK. And, in fact, an area of the MotorMode storage shelves is filled with these stripes, which are still occasionally requested – well, they’re not called ‘go faster stripes’ for nothing!”

Gary continues: “Since fitting vehicle graphics is a very specialist skill, we have

always preferred to take on people we can train ourselves and I’ve also put together a separate sales team to go out to car dealerships, fleet managers and marketing agencies to develop relationships. This has been key to us receiving word-of-mouth referrals from manufacturers and end users and often the TV and film industries too.”

The digital revolution made an early impact on the whole area of the vehicle graphics market and Gary was quick to identify the potential. He says: “We’ve always tried to be the first company to use the latest technology and over the years we have used just about every machine there has been. Initially we took on a Gerber Edge and then digital printers from Rastergraphics, which expanded our capabilities and took us to a new level.”

The company’s most recent acquisition was two Seiko ColorPainter H-74S solvent printers from Colourgen. Liz Clark, Director at MotorMode, who ran the selection process explains: “What we needed was a combination of versatility, quality and reliability to replace a couple of printers that had been quite unreliable, and the Seikos have proved to be worth their weight in gold, giving us exactly what we ask of them.”

She continues: “They really do give us excellent quality prints on a broad

Sign Directions June/July2012 | 44

range of media and substrates and, as a lot of our work involves striking images that demand accurate colour reproduction, the Colorpainters have been well and truly tested, but the output is never anything less than spectacular.”

The eight-colour ColorPainter H-74S printers uses eight, super-wide, piezo inkjet heads to deliver consistently high image quality and density at speeds of up to 55 sqm/h, making the machines approximately one and a half to two times faster than competitive printers in the same price/width class.

To complement the two Seikos, MotorMode also purchased a Seal Aquaseal AS1600 liquid laminator that helps it add even more durability and vibrancy to the finished output.

As well as stripes and full vehicle graphics, a vital part of MotorMode’s business is the development of safety labels, chrome badges and injection moulded products, in the form of the manufacturers’ badges that are fitted to the vehicles and that are often customised for specific models. The Seiko is used to print the badges’ graphic elements, which are cut out and then applied by hand to the badge once it has been through the injection moulding process. Liz reports: “This is an excellent example of the flexibility of the Seikos. The actual finished

image is very small, but we can produce hundreds of very high quality labels and images in one go, which is both economical and time saving.”

One of the first jobs the ColorPainters had to deliver was a contract to wrap the vans of Water for Work, a water cooler company, which needed a half wrap, which featured a darker blue at the front that faded into the white of the actual vans.

The Seiko handled this gradation with ease, much to the customer’s delight.

The scope of projects that MotorMode works on is very varied, but however complex and challenging the brief, its motto is ‘Bring it on!”

This is probably why it remains the to-go-to company for the Top Gear producers whenever they need something special, for example, the ‘Godzilla’ car used in the Top Gear Live event. For this job, Motormode’s Head Designer Jon Dawson created a design that involved turning the car into Godzilla rather than simply applying a Godzilla image to the car.

In fact, the Godzilla project is typical of MotorMode’s attitude to new, exciting and seemingly improbable work. Liz says: “The Seikos offer so many advantages; for example we are able to match colours quickly and cost effectively, which is why when we

were approached by Kate Eyre, a London-based landscape designer who wanted to wrap her vehicles with a very specific pink, we knew that the Seiko could do it and now Kate’s vehicles receive appreciative glances and comments when they travel around London from job to job.”

Liz adds: “The Seikos’ ability to match skin tones perfectly has also enabled us to win more business, such as producing the wraps for a fleet of vans that depicted the characters from the Narnia film, as well as work for various cosmetic companies.”

Gary Clark concludes, “We are very confident in what we can deliver as a company. We know that we have the skills and resources to design and fit anything our customers ask for and in the Seiko ColorPainters, we have printers that can produce high quality, vibrant graphics, consistently, quickly and efficiently. We are delighted with both the printers and the support we’ve received from Colourgen and look forward to delivering more projects that make people stop, point and stare at our work – in a good way, of course!”

For further information www.motormode.com www.colourgen.com

visit: and

Sign Directions June/July 2012 | 45

feature - vehicle liveries

More than skin deep Thanks to the arrival of the signmaker’s Everest, wrapping, there’s more than an element of skill involved in vehicle livery applications and, very often, a few surprises are encountered during the process that may give even the most experienced practitioner reason to step back from the job and think again.

Mark Tinworth of Wiltshire based Utopia Design very recently faced such an encounter. The job in question involved a mobile exhibition vehicle that needed a livery exchange to properly reflect the trade of its new operators, 1st Choice Stairlifts and to enable it to be used as an exhibition on the move, capable of taking the company’s products wherever needed, while also effectively promoting the brand.

Sign Directions June/July2012 | 46

A clean application surface is critical if the applied wrap is to last, or indeed reflect quality standards in general, but when he had finally removed all evidence of its previous owners’ trades, Mark was confronted with an application surface that was far from ideal.

The vehicle’s flanks were a patchwork of strongly contrasting colour. Some of it was provided by previously applied paint, some by patches of filler covering the inevitable battle rash that such vehicles incur. Accordingly, Mark realised that there were two potential courses of action he could pursue. He could either ask the client to undertake extensive, budget-busting bodywork in order to make the vehicle’s surface suitable for the application of the wrap, or, he could get creative and achieve the desired effect for his customer, but at considerably less cost.

Unsurprisingly, he chose the latter option!

The first thing Mark had to do was to obscure the evidence of the vehicle’s hard life and to create a clean field for the application of the design graphics and colour-ways. So a job that would normally have been done with the application of a lot of paint and foundation work was thus accomplished by the use of Metamark’s MD5-B. Metamark MD5-B looks exactly like Metamark’s flagship polymeric digital vinyl from the print side, but from the adhesive face, it’s a different animal entirely. The solvent acrylic adhesive features a special inclusion that makes it practically opaque and so when applied, even to very strongly coloured substrates, the under-colour doesn’t show through.

Once all of the body damage and previous paint layers were safely hidden away under an allencompassing layer of Metamark MD5-B, Mark then turned his attention to the application of the design layers of the livery. Firstly, he applied copious amounts of Metamark’s 4 Series in flame red, which contrasted nicely with the crisp white of the MD5-B. Next, the application of cut and applied graphics in Metamark M7 provided the lettering and other detailing, thus completing the livery’s dominant theme.

For the digital graphics, Mark turned to Metamark MD5-A, a new material

featuring Metamark’s MetaScape adhesive system that makes application faster, less error prone and easier, thanks to the provision of channels that assist the evacuation of air from under the graphic. This new material proved to be a revelation in terms of its ease of use to Mark and his team at Utopia, and the results work beautifully with the overall design.

The vehicle’s interior display space was subject to substantially the same treatment and, taken as a whole, the vehicle demonstrates a remarkable transformation, which was undertaken

in much less time and with significantly less cost to the client than if traditional bodywork practices had been employed.

Set up in 1999, Utopia Design has witnessed the effects on its target markets that advances in materials technology have made possible over the years. The company is diversified in its output but clearly focused in its intent and, on this occasion used its innate creativity to provide a novel solution to a challenging problem at a cost that kept everyone involved happy. As for the vehicle, you can hardly miss it!

“We found the Metamark MD5-A in particular very easy to work with,” reports Mark, adding: “It made application much faster and we’ll certainly be calling upon its ‘magic’ qualities for further liveries in the future!”

For further information visit: www.utopiadesignuk.com and wwwmetamark.co.uk

Sign Directions June/July 2012 | 47

feature - vehicle liveries

Winning the Suzuki speed challenge 3M is supporting the Crescent Suzuki World Superbike team with its high-performance Controltac Graphic Film Series IJ380, which is being applied to the team’s 2012 race bikes by Authorised Vehicle Wrapper Sign Language.

After finalising team sponsorships and designing and approving the livery for the 2012 season, Crescent Suzuki had a very short timeframe in which to prepare its GSXR 1000 race bikes for the first meeting in Philip Island, Australia.

Crescent Suzuki Managing Director, Paul Denning commented: ‘Sign Language not only met our challenging schedule but also delivered a visually stunning result.’

The three-dimensional conformability of Controltac Graphic Film IJ380 helped Sign Language wrap the challenging contours and angles of the bike’s fairing and seat unit, achieving a high-quality application on every panel. Tobin Jenkins Sign Language’s Managing Director explained: “A race bike presents extreme challenges for all aspects of vehicle wrapping, from design to application.

The result we achieved with items such as the precision one-piece belly pan wrap, displaying sponsor logos on both sides of the bike, highlights the skills and experience of our design, production and application teams as well as the high performance of the vinyl.’

Graphics are applied to the film via screen or digital printing with Scotchcal

On the road

Over-laminate 8580 from 3M providing a protective gloss finish. Controltac Graphic Film IJ380’s advanced adhesive allows for accurate graphic positioning before being activated by applying pressure and, as Paul Denning observed, vinyl wrapping is the ideal solution for enabling graphics to keep up with modifications, such as the aerodynamic front cowling used at Monza, the fastest circuit on the World Superbike calendar.

He said: “The quick turnaround effectively releases extra time for our aero engineers to perfect the shape of the cowling. Ultimately, Sign Language will have around one day to apply the colours and graphics before we leave for

High performance bike manufacturers and suppliers, Boardman Bikes, commissioned Signs Express (Warwick) to install a stunning vehicle wrap for its new VW Transporter van.

The British bicycle brand, founded by Olympian and world record holding cyclist Chris Boardman and former record holding UK Ironman Alan Ingarfield, provides its customers with a range of mountain, road and hybrid bikes, which are suitable for the everyday enthusiast as well as the

Fast work When your football team wins the UEFA Champions League, it is truly a time for celebration and for Chelsea Football Club, its return home after its last-minute win over Bayern München meant a victory parade through the streets of London.

Vehicle graphics specialists Totally Dynamic selected films from its extensive stocks of Avery Dennison wrapping and marking films, evermindful that time was of the essence.

The Chelsea players returned from Sign Directions June/July2012 | 48

Monza which would have been impossible with conventional paint and stickers.”

Sign Language and 3M will present highperformance vinyl films and carry out live demonstrations with Crescent Suzuki at selected events during the year, showcasing the advantages of wrapping in numerous applications, including all types of race vehicles, as well as commercial fleets, vans and customised cars and bikes.

For further information visit www.wrapyourcurves.co.uk and www.3M.co./uk/graphicsolutions

more serious competitive and elite level racer.

The eye-catching full colour vehicle wrap installed by Signs Express (Warwick) transformed the plain vehicle into a dynamic moving billboard for both the Boardman brand and its sponsorship of the World Number one and two British triathlete brothers, Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee.

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

Germany to their hero’s welcome the day following the match, which meant that Totally Dynamic had less than 24 hours to complete the job, with Scott Coleman, owner of Totally Dynamic’s north and south London franchises, working through the night with his team to deliver the two fully-wrapped buses in time for the victory parade.

Says Scott: "We had to start wrapping the buses before the game actually started on Saturday as it would have been impossible to have completed the project otherwise and we were all anxiously listening to the Champions League match live on the radio as we

worked, and were absolutely dreading the penalty shoot out at the end!”

But happily, even though the wraps were destined to last only for the duration of the victory parade, Totally Dynamic was able to deliver a finish that

was every bit as professional as that of the Chelsea FC victory that they celebrated!

For further information visit: www.totally-dynamic.co.uk; www.europe.averygraphics.com.

Sign Directions June/July 2012 | 49

special feature – cutting, routing and engraving

A short cut to profit

Ian Williams added: “The sign industry is gradually increasing our turnover, although hitherto it is a part of our business that we have not promoted vigorously. We have, however, produced signage for a number of high-end clients engaged with some prestigious projects and the acquisition of the Graphtec machine is helping fuel this demand.”

Commenting on this particular installation of the FC8000-60 plotter/cutter, Graphtec GB Director Phil Kneale commented: “This

somewhat unusual but, nonetheless, highly interesting application is the type in which Graphtec cutting technology excels. With over 50 years of experience in the plotter/cutter business, we are well positioned to offer the best possible advice and technical support to customers requiring the most appropriate solution for their cutting needs.”

For further information visit: www.graphtecgb.co.uk and www.cerrig-granite.co.uk

Software galore Routing, engraving and cutting continue to be key signmaking disciplines, which also enable the further diversification from traditional signmaking activities into new areas of business that can help to increase and sustain the overall profitability of companies using these technologies. Mike Connolly reports on some interesting applications, as well as providing information on recently introduced product innovations covering both hardware and software developments.

Cutting capabilities set in stone The flagship FC8000-60 plotter/cutter supplied by the exclusive UK distributor Graphtec GB has been used to carry out lettering applied to a series of stone monoliths manufactured at North Wales-based Cerrig-Granite & Slate.

The company is an established familyrun business employing highly skilled craftsmen and offering a wealth of experience in and knowledge of the correct use of stone in commercial and domestic settings. These craftsmen have worked with many of the leading sculptors, artists and architects in completing some of the most prestigious projects involving the use of stone, including the £5.8million Blaenau Sign Directions June/July2012 | 50

Redditch-based software developer Vectric has added new staff to support its software development programme and the recently acquired new business Vector Art 3D.

Ffestiniog Regeneration scheme for which the lettering applied to a series of stone monoliths was created using the Graphtec FC8000-60 machine.

According to Managing Director Ian Williams: “The main reason for purchasing this particular plotter/cutter was to expand our business in indigenous materials and imported granites to make us more competitive on pricing and to help us provide a higher quality of service and improved overall efficiency. A combination of the Flexi 10 software and the FC8000-60 has made our production more efficient, from a reduced PC time when creating drawings and customer specifications,through to higher cutting speeds on larger projects.”

Described as the ‘fastest in class’ plotter/cutter currently available, the FC8000-60 has been designed for companies with higher-than-normal productivity levels and for greater cutting accuracy. The machine offers a maximum speed of 1,485 mm/sec and incorporates Graphtec’s proprietary

ARMS (Advanced Registration Mark System) facility. This uses fourpoint registration, in place of the traditional three, to provide unprecedented accuracy and speed of production, thus greatly enhancing the machine’s capabilities.

The software development programme will focus on two key core products: VCarve Pro and Aspire.

The former is a production CNC routing solution for 2 and 2.5D design and machining, while the latter is the company’s flagship product that includes all of VCarve Pro’s powerful features and ease of use along with a full set of 3D relief modelling and machining features.

New versions of these programs were introduced at the end of last year and have been well received.

The entire software range is available as free ‘Trial’ versions that can be downloaded from the company’s web site. These allow users to test the

capabilities and simplicity of the software before making a decision to purchase. All versions come with sample files that can be cut on a CNC machine. They also have a large selection of tutorial videos that use realistic examples of what each program can achieve.

Acquired by Vectric at the end of last year, Vector Art 3D offers 3D reliefstyle clip art for use with CNC machining software.

This development was a natural extension of the company’s product offerings with many customers already using Vector Art 3D models to enhance their work. The designs can be cut as separate 3D add-ons to a dimensional sign or combined with other models, textures and lettering to make a one-piece model for carving.

For further information visit: www.vectric.com

Sign Directions June/July 2012 | 51

special feature – cutting, routing and engraving

Going for growth A surge in demand for its highperformance CNC routing solutions following the introduction of a new machine controller, the availability of a technically advanced drive system and the AXYZ Vision System (AVS) facility, combined with expansion of its CNCRoutershop division and the launch of a new Pacer CNC router, have been instrumental in sustaining business growth at AXYZ International.

The A2MC machine controller is said to offer the highest possible control capabilities by comparison with any similarly positioned system. It claims to deliver much faster and smoother motion based on S-Curve (Seven Segment Velocity) trajectories, leading

to a significant reduction in ‘bounce’ and vibration caused by sudden acceleration or deceleration often found in other control systems. The controller is fully compatible with all popular CAD/CAM packages, is network-based to enable existing networks of AXYZ router owners to access program transfers and software updates and incorporates a MODBUS facility to enable connectivity with a virtually limitless range of peripheral devices such as the AXYZ ATC (Automatic Tool Change) and AVS (AXYZ Vision System) facilities.

The power behind the AVS emanates from the dedicated software that is fully integrated within the A2MC machine controller. Currently, the primary application for the system is in digital print finishing where the camera is able to instantly recognise conventional registration marks and adjust the machine’s cutting path accordingly to achieve precise alignment with printed shapes. The AVS is compatible with all of the cutting tools used on AXYZ machines, including oscillating, tangential and drag knife systems and enabling a much wider range of materials to be processed.

Introduction of the new helical rack and pinion drive system as an optional production enhancement for all AXYZ routers will, it is claimed, greatly reduce machine 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 other drive systems, the AXYZ solution operates through multiple gear teeth at all times.

This greatly decreases wear as a result of a more even distribution of the load over several gear teeth whilst increasing the working life of the system.

Introduced at this year’s Sign & Digital UK exhibition, the latest Pacer highperformance router from AXYZ International is available in a choice of three sizes to meet different production requirements and to accommodate the most popular sheet material formats.

The solution represents an ideal upgrade path for owners of AXYZ routers now requiring higher performance levels but at a realistic price. It embodies all of the design attributes of earlier Pacer machines but now offers a wider choice of peripheral production devices to further enhance their capabilities.

Set up initially as a support facility for AXYZ machine owners, the AXYZ CNCRoutershop division has now been radically expanded to include other leading brands. Following wider sourcing of additional products from leading quality suppliers in the UK and Continental Europe, the division can accommodate the requirements of virtually any routing and engraving specialist company, regardless of the make of machines installed.

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

The wings of a dove A Zund PN M1200 cutter has played a key role in the creation of a special fleet of ‘Dove’ aircraft that form part of the BA Great Britons programme that has been created to celebrate the best in British talent in the run up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

He commented: “The BA ‘Doves’ aircraft projet wasdefinitely one of the most intricate jobs that I have been involved with, but happily I knew that I could rely on the Zund PN M1200 to cut the mustard, since its never let me down!”

The special ‘Dove’ aircraft design, which features a striking combination of white and gold, was successfully applied to the BA fleet by Phil Purbrick, BA Graphics Engineer, who has worked with Zund machines for 18 years. Using his machine skills and intimate knowledge of the BA fleet, Phil converted the design into stencils that were placed on to the aeroplane

British Airways replaced its original Zund P1200 plotter with the Zund PN M1200 three years ago, after the former had provided it with 15 years of sterling service. Dennis Griffiths, BA’s Fleet Logistics Co-ordinator, who manages the BA Graphics Department, explained: “There was never any question in our minds that we would purchase another Zund as

Sign Directions June/July2012 | 52

prior to spray painting.

we know the machines’ high quality engineering is more than matched with excellent service and support from the team at Zund UK.” The BA Graphics Department is involved in lots of different projects for departments across British Airways, including aircraft livery and in-house branding and marketing projects,

including another London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic job which is currently being kept firmly under wraps, but one thing is certain - BA’s Zund PN M1200 will definitely be playing a key role!

For further infrmation visit: www.zunduk.com.

Sign Directions June/July 2012 | 53

special feature – cutting, routing and engraving

Tooling up

The all-round winner

ProCut CNC Machining Services specialises in processing sheet materials such as acrylic, wood, aluminium, aluminium composites and non-ferrous metals used in the sign, point-of-sale and general engineering industries. The specialised nature of the company’s output relies on the precise tooling provided by Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC).

benefit of an easy-to-use, ‘cut to print’ digital camera registration system on board.

Specialists in large format print production, Graphix Imaging offers its customers a comprehensive range of products and services ranging from practical advice to the complete project management of nationwide retail display campaigns. Printing direct to both roll and rigid media, Graphix Imaging had looked at a number of CNC cutting and routing systems on the market before placing its order for the Tekcel GFX.

Graphix Imaging - one of London’s leading providers of large format graphic solutions, has recently installed a new 3m x 2m Tekcel GFX router/cutter to complement its impressive printing capabilities.

The new Tekcel GFX router/cutter combines the uncompromising CNC routing capabilities necessary to machine all manner of metals, plastics, woods and composites used daily by sign, display and exhibition companies, with the cut/print registration camera and knife-cutting/creasing tools required to contour cut the materials popularly fed through large format digital printers.

Unlike other systems on the market, where either the routing or knifecutting utility is a bolt-on component often requiring manual removal and replacement, the Tekcel GFX fully integrates routing, registration and cutting tools into one comprehensive, Auto Tool Change, high production system. In addition to the ability to switch between the routing, bevelling or folding tools traditionally associated with CNC routers, the Tekcel GFX can be optioned to provide an operator with the choice of oscillating knifecutting, tangential knife-cutting, steered wheel cutting or creasing, all at the touch of a button and all with the

Sign Directions June/July2012 | 54

As Managing Director, Lee Solomon, explained: “During our demonstration of the GFX router at Tekcel’s showrooms in Bristol, we had the opportunity to cut printed vinyl and 10mm thick foamex, 6mm and 12mm acrylic, 18mm MDF and aluminium composite materials. You name it. we cut it! Basically, the GFX did everything we asked of it and we could see its potential for doing so much more. We placed the order there and then.”

As with all the models in the Tekcel router range, the Tekcel GFX has been designed to deliver the precision, productivity and reliability long associated with the Tekcel name and offers it to a much broader audience. In keeping with the Tekcel manufacturing ethos of ‘only the best will do’, the new Tekcel GFX features advanced ballscrew drives on every axis, complete with digital encoded servo motors that deliver smooth, accurate, motion control at speed.

Providing the cutting power for the Tekcel GFX is an equally impressive, 8kw spindle fitted with ceramic bearings and electric fan cooling to ensure a long service life. This versatile motor provides exceptional performance throughout its 6-24000 rpm range. The Tekcel GFX also benefits from automatic tool indexing that can accurately measure the length of each and every cutter, knife blade or tool for precise cutting and creasing depths,

particularly essential for dealing with Point of Sale print work, inlays and folding aluminium composite trays.

According to Tekcel, the introduction of the new Tekcel GFX is a direct response to market research and industry feedback. The convergence of the sign, display, exhibition, shopfitting and print industries through the widespread adoption of large format digital printing has given rise to the need for a comprehensive CNC routing and cutting system that’s capable of machining everything from stainless steel to self-adhesive vinyl and just about anything in between. The new Tekcel GFX is that system.

Other features include fully automated vacuum bed and dust extraction systems. The ‘hole and pocket’ vacuum bed design effectively provides hundreds of suction cups to hold

material in place and can be skimmed to provide an absolutely level surface for accurate routing, cutting and creasing. The underlying aluminium slat profile and manifold system delivers exceptional hold down suction across all areas of the bed. A high pressure dust foot ably assists vacuum extraction systems to remove swarf efficiently when routing and can be easily removed when not required.

The Tekcel router range is available in a range of popular bed sizes all the way up to 4m x 2m as standard. And, in adition, Tekcel CNC Solutions is also capable of delivering custom solutions for companies with specific requirements that fall outside its current model range.

For further informationvisit www.tekcelcnc.co.uk and www.graphiximaging.co.uk

With a very specialised plant list and skill set, the company has a niche market in the manufacture of both high-volume and intricate components used by these industries and it is in such areas that the tooling supplied by ITC demonstrated its outstanding production capabilities. In spite of employing tailored tooling solutions, ProCut was spending an inordinate amount of time handfinishing parts because the cutting tools used previously were incapable of providing the high-quality surface finishes required. The company then decided to trial the Clearcut range of solid carbide cutting tools from ITC and the results were described as ‘remarkable’.

Managing Director Vernon Ralston commented: “As soon as the first job was completed, it was immediately apparent that the ITC tools were more than up to providing the high standard of cutting and finishing required.

Whilst hand-finishing is still a standard practice in the sign industry, in order to eliminate ‘burring’ and to ensure a highly polished finish, we were extremely impressed with how these same qualities were achieved using the ITC tools which eliminated the need for any secondary hand finishing.”

To highlight the diversity of the company’s workload and how the ITC tools had fitted seamlessly into the production environment, Vernon Ralston added: “Recent work has

included the manufacture of illuminated logos for high-end record decks and CD players that, for obvious reasons, had to be finished to a very high standard, while a second job was undertaken on behalf of the Health Lottery and involved the contemporaneous machining of aluminium composite plates at a much faster rate than was hitherto deemed possible.”

Both jobs were completed to the demanding standards required using ITC straight and spiral flute cutters, with the Health Lottery job inherited from a competitive supplier that had been unable to meet these standards, but which were achieved using the highly polished flute geometry of the ITC cutters.

Vernon Ralston concluded: “For the Health Lottery project we machined all tool paths and then took a finishing cut of 0.1mm at high speed, which produced the highly polished finish required, with the ITC cutters removing all material residue from the work envelope and with each of the 20,000 parts delivered beyond the surface quality and accuracy expectations of the customer.”

For further information visit: www.itc-ltd.co.uk

Sign Directions June/July 2012 | 55

special feature – cutting, routing and engraving

Modest investment – big rewards

Trotec triumphs

According to Roland DG, for a relatively small capital outlay signmakers can supplement their primary source of income from printed output by engaging with engraving technology to open up additional business opportunities.

Most signmakers have experience in vinyl cutting technology and the learning curve for engraving is similarly simple and fast. Particularly popular applications for engraving machines owned by signmakers include side- or back-lit acrylic manifestations engraved in semi-translucent media to create additional illuminated and special effects and signage created using an increasingly wide range of

different materials, including various metals, plastics and their derivatives, wood and glass.

To further simplify the adoption of engraving technology by signmakers, Roland DG has developed its own Engrave Studio dedicated software that can convert bitmap and JPG images into files for engraving that are

Perfect precision

as easy to understand and navigate as graphics packages from, for example, CorelDRAW and Adobe.

Providing the ideal platform from which to access the potentially lucrative engraving market is the Roland EGX-350 and the slightly larger EGX-400 and 600 machines, as well as the Metaza MPX-90 impact printer for engraving photographs. With the Engrave Studio software, these machines become ‘must have’ production tools that are ideal for single- or batch-production engraving of a host of unique corporate and personal giftware, commemorative

demonstrate these qualities, technical engineers at the company produced a remarkably detailed model of a Spitfire fighter aircraft using an AXYZ router and only minimal mechanical fixing of the many components.

Cut from 10mm clear cast acrylic, the aircraft has a wingspan of 1020mm and incorporates over 60 individual parts, of which in excess of 90 percent were assembled without any glue or mechanical fixings. This was due to the precise cutting capability of the AXYZ router in producing the slotted parts for a perfect ‘push fit’ finish.

Routing and engraving solutions from AXYZ international under the AXYZ, Pacer and CAMTECH

Sign Directions June/July2012 | 56

power brands are renowned for their precise dimensional cutting and finishing capabilities. To

Use of the correct tooling was critical in obtaining the best possible surface finish, with all of the parts cut by superior-quality BELIN tools that are

Leading European supplier of laser cutting systems, mechanical engravers and engraving laminates, Trotec has maintained its marketleading status through further product innovation in all three sectors.

plaques and associated products in addition to interior and exterior signage applications.

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

universally regarded as the best available. These are held in stock for next-day delivery at the dedicated AXYZ parts and service division (www.cncroutershop.com). All of the tools are made from the highestquality Ultra Micro Grain Carbon and shaped and polished specifically to deliver a superior surface finish and longer tool life.

Detailed engraving on the Spitfire model was completed using specially coated engraving tools that provided a clean and clear surface finish, qualities that will be readily appreciated by sign manufacturers and engravers engaged in work involving elaborately decorated or fine-detailed design concepts.

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

Trotec lasers use a highly focussed beam of microwave energy to produce intricately shaped and heavily detailed text and images applied to a wide range of signmaking materials, from vinyl through to rigid plastics and metals. The key benefits of laser technology are that it is a contact-free process with no fixation of the work piece required and with the laser housed in a sealed enclosure for maximum user safety.

Laser cutting will outperform conventional cutting systems in terms of speed and throughput. The machines supplied by Trotec provide optimum precision via integrated cameras that detect printed registration marks and automatically control positioning of the laser to produce incredibly accurate contour cutting, even if the original

template is rotated, expanded or has become distorted.

The company’s Vision range of mechanical engravers is well proven, with the more industrialgrade models providing a dual routing (cutting) and engraving capability. The work piece can be secured to a T-slot table or held in place by a vacuum table on the 2550 VAC model. The supporting Vision software includes a geometric tool library to enable cutting to high tolerances, while for metal or generally faster processing the Vision engraver can be fitted with a range of precision routing spindles of up to 3.25 horsepower.

The range of global-leading materials and engraving laminates from Trotec includes Rowark, IPI and Trotec/Suregrave metal, flexible and rigid laminates, all of which can be cut to size, drilled, bevelled and adhesive-applied to save users time and expense.

For further information www.troteclaser.co.uk

visit:

Print and trim Two Xativa print finishing trimmers that will make ideal partners for the HP Latex range of printers have been introduced by ArtSystems.

The AutoTrim XY is an automatic trimmer designed for the simultaneous cutting on all four sides of sheet and roll media up to a width of 1650mm. It will handle a wide range of media, including photo-quality paper, vinyl, banner-grade, polyester and polycarbonate films and incorporates an optical sensor to detect multiple cut marks and to ensure precise and fast cutting of materials.

Advanced alignment technology guarantees perfect registration and cutting of media and rapid roll loading.

The Textile Super Trim is an electric cutter with an independent rotary blade that can be heated up to 350degreesC and is particularly suited to processing natural and synthetic fabrics via a bidirectional cut. The cutting carriage provides variable speed for different kinds of media. Ideal for soft signage applications, the trimmer is available in a choice of three models in widths of 1650, 2800 and 3400mm.

Both trimmers provide additional print finishing options for output generated on HP Latex printers such as the HP L26500 wide-format platform.

For further information www.artsystems.co.uk

visit:

Sign Directions June/July 2012 | 57

special feature – cutting, routing and engraving 2D, 3D & DIGITAL DESIGN DIRECTOR PACKAGE: NEG (CIRCA £60K)

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

Plotting for success Better known as a manufacturer of market-leading digital printers and print and cut solutions, Mimaki’s heritage is actually in the business of plotter/cutters for which it offers some very compelling machine options via the exclusive UK distributor Hybrid Services.

Having patented digital die-cutting some years ago, Mimaki has introduced a series of plotter/cutters. These commence with two 60cm desktop products (the CG-SL and CG-SR) and progress to the one metre-wide CG100SRII and 1.3 metre-wide 130SRII, the 75cm- the 1.3- and 1.6 metre-wide CGFX and on to the top-of-the-range 1.6 metre-wide CF3 flatbed model. The patented die-cutting facility is available even on the entry-level and commensurately lower-cost desktop plotter/cutters, which also feature Mimaki’s FineCut plug-in software for Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW integration.

The CG-100SRII and 130SRII both incorporate optical eyes for precise media registration and cutting, while the three models in the Mimaki CG-FX series offer the same facility in addition

CREATIVE COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY.

SOUTH EAST

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

to dual cutting strips for simple swapping between conventional kiss cutting and the proprietary die-cutting capability. The two larger machines in the series are frequently partnered with Mimaki’s JV33 outdoor-durable printers for which Hybrid Services offers attractive combination packages when the printer and cutter are purchased together.

DESIGN & ENGINEERING MANAGER. PACKAGE: BASIC 35 - 45K

MIDLANDS/NORTH

SIGNAGE

NORTH

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

NATIONAL.

MARKETING EXECUTIVE. PACKAGE: BASIC £20 – 30K

SIGNAGE & DIGITAL PRINT

PROJECT BUYER. PACKAGE: BASIC £30 – 35K

RETAIL FFE/FIT OUT.

SOUTH EAST

TECHNICAL DESIGNER/CAD. PACKAGE: BASIC: £25 – 30K

RETAIL INTERIORS

SOUTH EAST

NORTH WEST

PROJECT MANAGER. SIGNAGE PACKAGE: BASIC £25 – 30 & CAR/CAR ALLOWANCE

Pinch roll cutters are not the only cutting solutions in the Mimaki portfolio, with the CF2 cutting table providing a choice of flatbed options incorporating tangential and reciprocal cutting heads. Available in three sizes, it again features Mimaki’s optical eye and FineCut software as well as a vacuum bed to provide a seamless print-and-cut workflow solution when used in conjunction with a Mimaki flatbed UVcuring inkjet printer.

SOUTH EAST

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

SOUTH EAST

PRINTED & CUT VINYL GRAPHICS.

SOUTH

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

The top-of-the-range CF3 flatbed, with its routing head and 1.6 x 3.1 metre bed size, can shape printed rigid substrates produced on the similarly sized Mimaki JFXplus LED UV printer.

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

The best gets bigger!

During the past few months, growth at Graphtec GB followed the introduction of the Silhouette CAMEO desktop cutter that has brought vinyl cutting to the masses through a relatively low-cost ‘plug-and-

Sign Directions June/July2012 | 58

play’ solution.

A larger version of the hugely popular Silhouette electronic cutter, the Silhouette CAMEO was introduced as a result of feedback that indicated the market’s need for such a cutter, but one that also offered a raft of production enhancements to accommodate new business opportunities. These included engagement with markets such as the print wear and promotional products sector that would enable vital additional revenue streams to be introduced beyond the sign and graphics

producer’s core activities.

Key features of the Silhouette CAMEO include an increased 12-inch cutting width and an ability to cut much thicker and more complex materials that hitherto would not have been possible with any other comparable desktop plotter/cutter.

The machine also offers an ideal

entry-level cutting solution prior to upgrading to Graphtec GB’s larger and fuller featured CE and flagship FC8000 cutters that are already established as firm favourites in the sign and graphics and digital printing sectors.

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

Sign Directions June/July 2012 | 59

signdirectory

sign directory

The Sign Industry's Who's Who

DIGITAL PRINT SYSTEMS

LED SPECIALISTS

MATERIAL SUPPLIERS

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.

FLAT CUT LETTERS

FLEXIBLE FACE SIGNS

MANUFACTURERS OF MAGNETIC MATERIALS

CNC ROUTERS & CUTTERS

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

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

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Sign Directions June/July 2012 | 60

Sign Directions June/July 2012 | 61

the last word This month, Mark Godden explains that even with all of the technology currently available nothing beats…

Just talking Anyone remember Trust House Forte’s Post House hotel chain? I do. It hails from the era when I was a bag-carrying salesman and I’ll admit to having spent more time enjoying the chain’s hospitality than I’d really care to remember.

I liked, in particular, the Lancaster and Cambridge ones. They were, at the time, prototypes of a new breed, nextgeneration Post Houses. They had ‘executive’ rooms where, for an extra few quid a night, you got to enjoy dark decor, a better TV and an extra stick of shortbread. My enduring memory though, is breakfast time.

new breed of eyewear is likely to become as common a sight as ear buds and mobiles. These glasses, recently announced, superimpose images generated in the digital world, over the scene the wearer observes in the real one. It’s a technology with some very potent possibilities we’re told.

Breakfast on any school day at any Post House was a sea of newspapers being read at tables for one. Apart from the sound of someone rasping a piece of frazzled black pudding off a metal grill, all was silent. Everyone hid behind their papers, said nothing until spoken to, and then beat a hasty retreat, after the Full English to get on the road en route to a customer, and to another Post House at the day’s end.

We’re not evolving as fast as the gadgets that power our lives. It still sits a little uncomfortably with most people to be near someone who is talking hands-free on a mobile. The sight of someone walking down the street or sat nearby who is engaged in an animated one-sided conversation just feels “odd” for the onlooker.

Someone coined the word 'testiculating' to describe the behaviour - waving one’s hands around and spouting bollocks.

It’s different now.

These days, attention is less on newspapers and more on mobile phones, smart phones in particular.

What’s happening on those little screens? Well, e-mail seems a pretty obvious diversion, Facebook too. I expect the BBC news is getting a bit of custom and an appointment diary is probably being consulted by the more diligent. Some might even be making phone calls.

It’s the same story anywhere that you see people gathered and forced to sit down for a little while. Out comes the mobile phone. Those not actively engaging the phone will still be tethered to it via the now ubiquitous little white ear buds that exclude those around the wearer and immerse him or her in music.

Imagine then how we’re going to feel in the presence of those who are receiving visual stimuli that we don’t see. Instead of a sea of papers in the hotel at breakfast, there will be a sea of faces with eyes flicking, apparently unbidden, in a dozen directions at once. And since visual stimulation is more powerful than aural, it will result in people forgetting how to close their mouths, or how to use a knife and fork.

Get one of these cross-eyed Borg-like futurists to speak and the best you can hope for is a slur, mixed with a lot of saliva and partially chewed corn flakes.

What happened to conversation?

Welcome to the wonderful world of augmented reality. Science fiction needs to come up with some pretty big ideas and do so pretty quickly.

Science fact is ahead of it in many respects now and business is not far behind.

If Google and others have their way, a

Given that every red cent that’s spent

Sign Directions June/July2012 | 62

marketing brands is technically in opposition to everything which those said red cents can buy in the name of promotion, all those posters and POS we’ve been producing may now have some new competition. Your ‘phone knows who you are, where you happen to be and more about your tastes and sensitivities than you do - if you let it.

It’s not beyond the technology or its practical application to suppose that McDs isn’t going to flip you an advert for your favourite burger when it’s near lunchtime and you’re near one of its establishments. That is such an incredibly powerful idea, it’s borderline scary. Not sure about you, but I’ll be opting out of everything should I ever get a set of Google-Glasses or whatever they decide to call them.

I start to get a bit nauseous when I consider how things like Twitter might integrate with augmented reality.

Twitter, overlaying an advertising feed with a steady stream of endlessly reiterated crushed-crap might awaken dormant parts of the brain we haven’t used since we painted our bums blue and lived in caves. Zombie-like legions of the ‘particularly susceptible’ might wander the streets doing what the Tweets bid them to do. I can see them now, burdened with dozens of gym memberships or self-install windows.

It’s a bit sad in a way that our species seems so adept at exploiting the downside of technologies that have so much potential upside, sadder still that the only reason we do it, is because there’s a market for it. Back in the day, the space-race gave us Teflon, gave us slippery rockets, gave us nonstick frying pans: end of story. Now, though, communications technology can be bent to so many purposes

there seems no end to it.

I wonder how long it’ll be before Google-Glasses can not only stream content to the wearer, but the wearer sends what he sees back-to-base for processing? Not long, I’ll bet. Some very useful things can be accomplished like that - on the upside…

It’s a fact. Look around you and, with the exception of the bits that nature has filled in, somebody has sold everything you see, hear and smell, to somebody else. Selling now assaults us at every turn and the volume is being turned up at every opportunity technology throws our way.

I’m fascinated by technology in the general sense, but I really have a limited appetite for its gratuitous application. I think business, particularly B2B, needs to be on its guard. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. My primary receptors as a potential customer aren’t going to be tickled by what passes these days for commercial savvy. Give me someone I can talk to.

Let’s then, thank and support those companies out there who still have the good sense to employ a team of sales professionals and let’s welcome their representatives when they call. Let’s thank and support those who take orders using something as primitive as a telephone and who have real people there who know our names, answer our questions and even pass the time of day with us. Let’s thank and support those who’re anything but resisting of technical advances, but who appreciate selling’s oldest maxim people buy people first.

Mark Godden mark.godden@me.com