Hardware

ARC-UK says it is on a mission to quadruple turnover in the next two years and has invested in further Océ Arizona technology from Canon to drive growth in the retail sector.

The purchase of the Océ Arizona 460 GT comes as part of a £2 million investment in the UK business following continued growth in its large format colour business which has become very well established over the last six years.

“This is the second Arizona we have installed in the last 18 months, joining an Arizona 480 XT to increase our production capacity as we continue to win new business and diversify our offering in retail,” said John Snell, Managing Director, ARC-UK. “Our escalation plans in the UK have already seen us increase headcount from 26 to 100 in an 18 month period, as well as expand into new 14,000ft2 premises in central London.

“The capabilities of Arizona technology are, in my mind, unsurpassed, particularly in the production of high quality display graphics where customers are increasingly requesting decorative elements such as white ink and varnishing. Also having the roll-feed option on both machines enhances their capability and enables us to be more versatile with medias for our clients,” added Snell.

ARC-UK has flourished from a £3 million business in early 2013 to a £10 million operation today through both acquisition and organic growth. The company anticipates a similar increase again over the next two years.

“Previously, ARC has been well recognised internationally for producing monochrome technical documents for the AEC, financial and legal sectors, but now is the time to really show what we can do with colour,” added Snell. “Established clients in the retail sector like to see new suppliers coming into the market with fresh ideas and that is what we are doing. A recent project saw our installation teams erecting a 23 x 10m wall, printed on an Arizona, overnight at the Bullring shopping centre in Birmingham; quite an eye catcher!”

“We did look at other machines for our display graphics work, however, I have been a fan of Arizona technology since I took delivery of my first one more than five years ago. It’s no surprise that I opted for the technology that has never let me down to date, hence why we are already considering further investments in Arizona technology in 2015,” said Snell.

The Océ Arizona 460 GT – part of the award winning Océ Arizona range of wide format printers – produces near-photographic image quality on both rigid and flexible media up to 1.25m x 2.5m. With six independent ink channels and Océ VariaDot imaging technology, it offers varnish capabilities with spot and flood gloss effects and white ink to print on coloured media at up to 32.8m² per hour.

“As well as robust and reliable equipment, Canon is also able to offer unrivalled service and support,” said Snell. “During a period of rapid business growth this is something we need to rely on and thankfully we have a technology partner in Canon that we know is always on hand.”

Duncan Smith, Wide Format Printing Group Director, Canon UK, said: “ARC-UK ran one of the busiest Arizonas in the country, so it’s great to see that when an increase in capacity was needed they again turned to Canon for a solution. The growth this company has seen is astounding and it’s great to be part of that success story.”

Leading design and production house, Echo Studios, is the latest company to invest in the Fujifilm Acuity Advance Select UV flatbed printer. The printer is already helping to nurture the company's ambition to branch out into different markets.

Echo Studios first saw the Fujifilm Acuity Advance Select UV at FESPA Digital 2014. Creative Director, Dan Johnson, explains: "We went to the show to look at a different machine and almost stumbled on the Acuity Advance. As soon as we saw the device and the fantastic quality and range of applications it can deliver, we were ready to buy on the spot."

Established in 1994 as an art working studio, Echo has been a production house for the past 18 years specialising in the luxury brands market as well as the high end museum and exhibition sector. The company's recent relocation to a 25,000 sq ft. facility in Surbiton, South West London, means it is now able to offer a full service of creative design and art-working, print production and installation. Since the Acuity Advance Select UV was installed at the end of July, the benefits the printer has delivered have already become apparent. Dan Johnson continues: "The Acuity Advance delivers incredible quality print, and allows us to produce applications we weren't able to create previously. The spot UV varnish means we can now print prototypes of exceptional quality, whilst the device's accurate drop placement gives us scope to produce much more detailed layered prints."

Dan concludes: "We've already had great feedback from existing clients, and have actually won new business that we previously wouldn't have pitched for – all because of the Acuity Advance Select. I don't know what we ever did without it."

At 3.2m wide with dual-roll capability and blistering throughput speeds, the HP Latex 3000 represents a major step up in productivity for sign and graphics companies. Today, this high-volume workhorse takes pride of place in Perfect Colours's ever-broadening portfolio of machinery after the reseller's latest agreement with manufacturer HP.

The HP Latex 3000 has received its due share of attention since its launch at FESPA 2013, as much for its superb image definition as its racing output speed. Its six-colour ink-set, embedded spectrophotometer and latex optimiser combine with a 12pl droplet size to produce fine-quality graphics which stand up easily to the close inspection expected from indoor applications – including the high-margin interior décor and wallpaper work currently gaining traction in the industry.

This sort of job can expect to print at 77sq m/hour, while banner and other exterior work can attain 120sq m/hour, creating efficiency for businesses looking to satisfy large volumes, whether versioned or as a long run. The Latex 3000 can reach a maximum speed of 180sq m/hour but, notably, can process two 1.6m rolls at once, providing efficiency and therefore profitability regardless of media width.

Particularly important for British wide-format houses, the Latex 3000 scores at both ends of the viable production spectrum. Although lamination can be applied immediately after printing, many users skip this step thanks to its excellent scratch resistance, which compares like-for-like with hard solvent on PVC banner or self-adhesive vinyl. However, it also performs superbly on heat-sensitive materials and textiles, with an optional ink collector providing access to untapped markets via new substrates, such as unlined mesh, scrim, voile or flag.

"It makes total sense for Perfect Colours to provide the Latex 3000, not only for our ever-expanding base of HP Latex users in the UK but also those hungry for a high-productivity alternative in roll-to-roll," comments Jon Telling, sales director for the award-winning reseller. "In line with our other recent portfolio additions and our dedication to service, we're confident that Perfect Colours now provides the most comprehensive range of graphics production options in the country."

Zünd digital cutting solutions have been featured on the Discovery Channel's Innovations with Ed Begley, Jr. The science and technology-focused series dedicated part of its recent episode to Zünd's advanced cutting systems and the range of applications they can be used for.

Introduced by actor Ed Begley Jr and featuring interviews with representatives from Zünd America Inc. and Zünd Systemtechnik AG, the programme travelled from the USA to Switzerland to see how the machines are built and configured for each individual customer for use in a range of industries – from the sign and display and packaging sectors, to the technical textile, fabric and leather markets, to the automotive and aerospace fields. The cutting systems are even used for awnings, windsurfing sails and hot air balloons.

The show's behind-the-scenes approach also demonstrated the ease of use offered by Zünd systems and, importantly, the ability to reconfigure them for new materials and markets thanks to their modular construction. As one interviewee notes, customers often purchase a Zünd cutter with the intention of processing one type of material before realising its potential in new markets.

"Advancements in science and technology continue to revolutionise the way we live," says Robert Sikich, Producer for the series. "We look forward to educating our viewers on these exciting breakthroughs."

Peter Giddings, Sales Director at Zünd UK, adds: "As the programme's narrator said, Zünd is 'literally on the cutting edge', so it's fantastic to bring the technology to a wider audience on Innovations with Ed Begley, Jr."

"We've recently re-opened our St Albans demonstration centre so viewers interested in seeing the Zünd systems featured on the Discovery Channel can see them in the flesh and find out how they can be tailor-made to meet specific needs."

Innovations with Ed Begley, Jr featuring Zünd was first broadcast in the USA on November 19th 2014 and is now available to watch on Zünd UK's Facebook page or in full on YouTube.

For further information or to book visit to Zünd UK's new demonstration suite, please email sales@zund.co.uk or call 01727 833003.

There's an old adage that advocates the use of 'the right tools for the job' and Hybrid Services Ltd, Mimaki's exclusive distributor for the UK and Ireland, is encouraging potential grand format flatbed investors to think a little more creatively by exploring the benefits of pairing the new JFX200 LED UV flatbed printer with selected Mimaki 1.6m solvent, latex or SUV roll-to-roll printers.

The JFX200 delivers a highly desirable combination of quality, speed and value and its flatbed format means that it is ideally suited to the production of rigid display boards, packaging and exhibition panels. Mimaki roll-to-roll printers on the other hand are the perfect tool for producing complementary flexible graphics such as banners, posters and vehicle liveries in high volumes and using a choice of ink types. Combined with each other – and offered at an attractive package price from Hybrid – the solution delivers more than the sum of its parts.

Commenting on the proposition, Stuart Cole, national sales manager – industrial products for Hybrid, says: "Mimaki is in the unique position of being able to offer a solution that delivers all the benefits of each machine with the workflow and software synergies found when dealing with one manufacturer. With both machines running in tandem; production print houses and sign and graphics professionals can meet the wide and varied demands of individual customers with ease, as well as generating new revenue streams."

"The productivity gains of running two machines plus the ability to tap into the state of the art features of two dedicated printing powerhouses should serve our customers perfectly," he continues.

Hybrid's unique package offer provides the opportunity to pair the 8' x 4' flatbed JFX200-2513, which features low running costs, latest LED UV technology and great eco credentials with a choice of selected 1.6m Mimaki solvent, latex or SUV roll-to-roll printers including the brand new JV300, at a saving of up to £5,995 on the normal retail prices of the individual machines when purchased separately.

"With two different types of wide format print technology in their arsenal; professional sign and graphics producers now have the opportunity to expand their business horizons by meeting customer demands ever more effectively, with better productivity and profitability as the ultimate prize," concludes Cole.

More details can be found on the Hybrid Services website: www.hybridservices.co.uk/explore

FastAnt has become the first UK Printer to upgrade to a HP Scitex FB7600 digital flatbed press with the Multi-Functional Varnish system.

FastAnt constitutes one third of the Taylor Bloxham Group and specialises in point of sale, digital print and fulfilment. The upgrade for the HP Scitex FB7600 includes an image quality update which has seen FastAnt's most popular printing mode increase its productivity by nearly 30%. This has introduced the ability to reproduce crystal clear four point text which is ideal for technical specifications and barcodes.

The additional benefit of the software upgrade is the Multi-Functional Varnish system, allowing FastAnt to introduce a number of unique finishes and effects. FastAnt's customers are delighted by the improved quality and further finishes that are now available to them.

A spot varnish can be applied to add unique visual effects or decoration to images. It is cured to produce either a matt, satin or gloss effect on the printed imagery.

The varnish is integrated into the printing process and the 100% accurate registration means there is no requirement for bleed, giving superior results to offline varnish.

Up to five layers of the varnish can be applied to create an embossed effect. This is achieved directly from the press resulting in increased accuracy and efficiency by reducing the amount of handling required post-press.

The upgrade enables the property of the ink to be enhanced by using one of the spare ink channels, combining the varnish with ink drops to create a metallic finish. The spot varnish can be used functionally to create "windows" in the varnish to assist when gluing FSDU's or add protection to the base of units by adding a layer of varnish to provide protection from ground moisture.

FastAnt Managing Director, Matthew Wennington describes the importance of the HP Scitex press and the upgrade to the company:

'Since venturing into point of sales just over three years ago, we have seen the turnover of FastAnt increase in this sector from zero to £4.5m. Along with our retail design studio "Instore", the Scitex has been an important part of this growth and the quality print we are producing from this device will now have the added benefit of varnish and 3D embossing, which is an application our customers are keen to introduce on their products.'

FastAnt are proud to be the first to upgrade their HP Scitex digital press, radically benefiting its efficiency and versatility.