Consumables

Many textured building surfaces have hitherto proved ‘off-limits’ for promotional signs and graphics because there has never been a graphic film that could effectively be applied to them. Now, however, these frequently bland and architecturally uninteresting surfaces can be dramatically brought to life with eye-catching and photographic-quality graphics following the introduction of 3M™ Scotchcal™ IJ8624/8624ES Graphic Film for Textured Surfaces.

This highly conformable 50-micron cast film has been developed specifically to allow colourful promotional graphics to be applied to moderately textured flat or curved surfaces as diverse as concrete block, brick, tile, poured cement and stucco. The film will conform and mould over indoor and outdoor textured, painted or unpainted surfaces and is sufficiently flexible to wrap around columns. A wide range of textured surfaces, found typically at sports venues, within inner town and city locations and throughout selective retail outlets and public buildings, can now be dramatically transformed to accommodate a wide range of graphics requirements and to thus generate valuable additional revenue streams.

3M IJ8624/8624ES, which includes the dimensionally stable 3M Scotchcal 8524 Luster Overlaminate, can be used to create photographic-quality images in any size, shape or design that can be easily, cleanly and purposely removed by the application of heat at the end of any tactical marketing campaign without any impairment of the underlying substrate and at a much lower cost than conventional painted graphics. The film has a high level of resistance to the effects of weathering, chemicals and other pollutants and provides outstanding hiding power on any substrate colour due to the incorporation of a powerful and application-sensitive grey pigmented adhesive.

The removable white graphic film can be printed using either solvent-based inkjet or electrostatic printing processes and has a predicted outdoor life span of up to six months and a minimum two years’ durability when used internally. 3M IJ8624/8624ES is available from 3M’s primary distributors William Smith and Spandex.

Since its launch five years ago, SEAL Graphics' 80 micron film has always been a popular choice with print finishers and their customers - becoming the company's best-selling substrates within its vinyl and solvent products range.

Now it says it has developed a film that is even easier to apply. The Solvent Eco Vinyl Gloss 100 is a 100 micron white, monomeric vinyl suitable for use with eco-solvent, solvent and UV-curable inks with a gloss finish and a permanent transparent adhesive.

It has been developed for flat surfaces such as exhibition panels in indoor or short- to mid-term outdoor use although its ease-of-use in applications - due to its heavier weight - equally lends itself to easier vehicle wraps.

SEAL Graphics says this new film offers the same outstanding print performance and high quality colour gamut as others in its Solvent Eco Vinyl family and that the same ICC profiles can be used.

 

EFI has announced entry into a manufacturing agreement with Nazdar, wherein Nazdar will produce EFI's VUTEk and Inkware solvent inks, which are renowned for their phenomenal colour quality, fantastic durability and superior printer performance.  Nazdar is a long-time partner of EFI who distributes VUTEk printers and inks to the North American screenprinting market.

"Nazdar has been a trusted partner of EFI for many years, and we are thrilled to be expanding our relationship with a company that has such a deep knowledge of solvent-based digital ink manufacturing," said Scott Schinlever, vice president and general manager of EFI's ink business. "EFI's ink customers will continue to receive superior products and service that they have come to expect over the last two decades, including the most consistent and durable inks that have been developed and optimised for their printing systems. EFI selected Nazdar to be their manufacturing partner due to their commitment to quality, consistency and reliability, which are cornerstones of EFI inks."

Though EFI's VUTEk and Inkware solvent ink will be manufactured by Nazdar, the inks will use current EFI's VUTEk and Inkware formulations, with the same warranty coverage offered, and will be manufactured to the same stringent quality-control requirements. VUTEk superwide inkjet printers provide the best image quality, most vibrant colours and finest consistency when printing with VUTEk and Inkware inks. VUTEk customers can run a multitude of jobs for indoor and outdoor applications with confidence, knowing that EFI has been an industry-leader for twenty years.

Nazdar has been producing inks and coatings since 1922, and for the digital printing industry since 1998, and received word in the year 2000 that their Quality Management System exceeds the International Standard ISO 9001. This is an industry-wide signal that Nazdar has achieved a standard of quality that extends from operations and manufacturing to customer service and product delivery.

"Nazdar is pleased to have this opportunity to expand our relationship with EFI", said Richard Bowles, vice president and general manager of Nazdar's inks and coatings division. "Nazdar can focus on what we do best - manufacturing excellent digital inks to the exacting standards developed by VUTEk and Inkware."

The announcement of the extended partnership between EFI and Nazdar Inks and Coatings comes along with word that EFI expects to cease ink manufacturing at its Meredith, NH facility as part of its ongoing consolidation of its ink business, and will be manufacturing its UV-based and speciality digital inks at EFI's facility in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

 

Hexis, the French vinyl manufacturer, has been granted renewal of their ISO 9001:2000 certification for their quality management system for the design, manufacture, distribution and trading of visual communication media and protective films on its 4 sites in France. Hexis have ISO 9001:2000 approval since 2005.

Bureau Veritas, one of the largest quality management system registrars, granted this certification until 2011 after conducting extensive audits of the Hexis quality management processes.

A computerised traceability system ensures consistent quality checks and conformity of materials and products with specifications all along the production chain, from the supplier to the end-user thus guaranteeing coherent quality control throughout.

The company’s biggest asset in its aim of responding to clients’ expectations and to ensure the continued existence of the business is a strict policy of quality assurance for products, services and organisation. Constant improvement of the global performance is an ongoing objective.

The company’s overall policy is based on active listening to clients’ concerns to ensure customer satisfaction through innovative design and product performance. Quality of raw materials and finished products, guaranteed lead-times and high-performance production equipment are the essential ingredients to this objective.

"ISO 9001 is without a doubt the leading international standard for quality management in an industrial business,” comments Michel Mateu, president of Hexis Group. “We are honoured to have earned this certification. But for us ISO 9001 compliance is an on-going process and our quality management, rigorous product traceability and proactive customer service promote continuous improvement within our organisation."

Yvan Aliaga, QA Manager at Hexis, explains how the certification benefits the customer: "Being an ISO 9001 company embraces all aspects of our activity - design, production and sales. Everybody talks about Total Quality Management, but becoming a certified ISO 9001 company means that we are actually up to the challenge. By preparing for the ISO approval we gain a better understanding of our way of operating and of our customers’ concerns and requirements. With our business partners we all working with the same philosophy."

To further build on its market leading position in the inkjet business, Sun Chemical and its parent company, DIC Corporation, have announced the creation of a new single, co-ordinated global structure for the inkjet market under the name SunJet®. This new, unified approach will be showcased at the SunJet products booth, 031-033, Hall 1, at the Shanghai International AD & Sign Technology and Equipment Exhibition from July 7 to July 11.

The new structure will add significant value to its partners and customers and offer a unified product range for graphics and industrial inkjet applications, which will allow the SunJet division to fully leverage both organisations’ technical expertise in pigments, dispersions, polymers and formulation chemistry.  Existing and potential customers will also benefit from a new global co-ordinated sales and support organisation which will combine local communication and service with global innovation and technology leadership.

John Law, Managing Director of the SunJet division of Sun Chemical, said: “Operating as one unit will enable us to offer our customers the full spectrum of inkjet technology through one organisation and reinforce our commitment to quality, service and innovation, whilst maximising support for global projects that require technology from one region and the supply and service of products in another.

“This global approach will enable our customers to receive the highest quality products and technical support irrespective of their location in the world and that of their customers.”

 

Global ink specialist Colorific has announced the launch of its new range of environmentally conscious third-party products. As a high quality, wide gamut alternative to other solvent-based formulations, the Colorific Bio range is 90 percent biodegradable and ISO9001 compliant, are available immediately in the UK and aim to allow print service providers the advantage of being able to offer greener, more cost-effective results.

The Colorific Bio range, which is available in CMYK, plus light cyan, light magenta or orange and green, is formulated for use in the sign and display industry using a combination of biodegradable food-grade solvents and high quality pigments. The ink is classified non-flammable, non-toxic and non-hazardous and doesn’t require any extraction of fumes for compliance with Health and Safety regulations. However, there’s no compromise on quality as the Bio adhesion is excellent on to a wide range of common media.

“It’s important that we recognise how market trends are developing and, put simply, end users want to know that their print service providers are doing their bit to offer an ecological alternative,” says Colm Garvey, Colorific European Sales Director. “Not only can display producers use these inks with confidence, knowing that they have been tested extensively during formulation and production, but they can now pass on the benefits of a greener production method to their customers.”

Colorific Bio produces photo-realistic images onto uncoated materials that don’t rub off or require a separate lamination or coating process to ensure protection, making them especially suitable for outdoor applications. This is complemented by a superb resistance to alcohols, cleaning fluids and scratching. Similarly, full hardware and UV face resistance warranties are offered, and the inks have an extended shelf-life of 18 months.

Colorific inks are available for use with most common solvent and eco-solvent printers. Best-in-class inks are selected on a printer-by-printer basis and, in some cases, are identical to the OEM versions. To carry the Colorific brand label all inks have passed stringent compatibility, reliability and colour gamut testing, meaning that customers know they are using only top quality products in their equipment.

The Bio range of inks is suitable for most solvent-ready printers that use Epson DX3 or DX4 print-head technologies. Colorific inks are available through a number of leading domestic and international print system suppliers, with further dealer appointments pending.

Website: www.colorificink.eu

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