Speaking about the co-location of SDUK with Printwear & Promotion Live (see preview on p40), event director Tony Gardner said, ‘Sign & Digital UK 2024 is the first SDUK under our ownership, and we are really looking forward to seeing how the co-located event works. All shows must continue to develop their offering and we believe a co-located event is key to help grow the show, and to attract a new audience into the world of sign-making and large-format digital printing. Visitors will have the chance to explore the latest technology and innovations first-hand, with many of these advancements being showcased in the UK for the first time.’

The exhibition will be complemented by the International Sign Association (ISA-UK) Explains Lounge. Now in its third year, the Lounge will host a series of presentations and panel discussions designed to inform and educate visitors to the show on the latest developments, trends and innovations and how they will impact the large format printing, sign-making and visual communications industry.

Topics include managing your sign business, business advice sessions, daily panel and feature sessions. The Women in Sign and Graphics session focuses on their contributions to the industry, while The Printing Charity will share ways to support mental well-being within the sector.

On the show floor, Hybrid Services, the exclusive UK and Ireland distributor for Mimaki Europe, is introducing three new printers at the event. These are the Mimaki TxF300-75 direct-to-film printer launched in August 2023, the UJV100-160Plus LED UV printer announced in September 2023, which will have its first UK exhibition showing, plus the first showing of the Mimaki UCJV330-160 LED UV integrated printer/cutter. The latter is a 1.6m production machine that Hybrid says offers ‘highly creative capabilities coupled with ultra-low running costs’.

RGB and Oki Europe are teaming up to support motor vehicle number plate printing with a complete ‘business in a box’ solution. They will be featuring the A3+ Oki Pro9542 printer, which includes white toner, and the Oki C650, described as ‘the world’s smallest high performance colour printer’  but still suitable for commercial print.

UK Feather Flags will showcase various products, including a new line of Eco fabric exhibition display solutions that it says demonstrate its commitment to sustainable signage. The company aims to build brand awareness, forge new business relationships, and gain insights into emerging market trends.

Sign Trade Supplies plans to display its range of sustainable aluminium profiles, sign fixings, and components, emphasising value to customers. The stand will also feature an interactive element, adding a ‘fun and engaging dimension for attendees’.

Assured Signage aims to use the show to highlight the potential of digital signage as a new revenue stream for traditional sign-makers and printers. It will present its media player, Sureview Genesis, which is claimed to offer offering exceptional performance and a low cost of ownership. The stand will also feature displays from Papercast, showcasing e-ink displays ideal for outdoor applications.

Roland DG  is taking space at both SDUK and Printwear & Promotion. At the former, it will showcase its new VersaObject MO-240, which replaces the company’s popular LEF2 Series and is designed to enhance direct-to-object printing with new levels of productivity. For those interested in signage, interior design and vehicle wraps, the company will also be showcasing its TrueVIS AP-640 resin printer, plus the popular TrueVis LG-640 UV print and cut device, and the 2.4 x 1.2m VersaObject EU-1000MF flatbed that can handle objects up to 95mm thick. These will be backed by demonstrations of the DG Connect software app.

Brownings, in partnership with Magnwall, plans to showcase novel wireless electrification systems at SDUK 2024. This allows users to mount electrical accessories onto the face of tension fabric systems, eliminating the need for complex wiring. The stand will also feature Brownings’ range, including TexSign tension fabric systems, Flex face products and bespoke snap frames.

BestSub will showcase its latest engraving machine, craft heat presses, Otter DtF system, and a comprehensive selection of craft supplies, materials, and tools.

InkTec had been planning to show a brand new printer, the Jetrix LXa5 flatbed, but the conflict around the Suez Canal has delayed it, so the firm will focus on sustainability, showing how Jetrix printers can be upgraded to move with the times and continue to deliver on their initial investment. The Jetrix LXi8 UV flatbed will be present, sporting a new user interface that improves the nesting and mapping capabilities of the printer to minimise media wastage. There will also be the first showing of the Jetrix XGR320 3.2m UV LED roll printer. Both machines will be printing with GreenGuard Gold accredited inks.

QPS will feature four LED UV printers from ColorJet on its stand – the 49sqm/hr Verve 2513M flatbed, the Verve Mini 1050 x 1650mm compact flatbed, the 2m width Vulcan Hybrid X and the 3.2m Vulcan 3201M which offers at top speed of 76sqm/hr. Collectively these cover a full gamut of wide-format applications from small signage and promotional items to high volume roll substrates, plus rigid materials including ACP, foam, board, flute board, glass, ceramic tiles and wood. QPS will also feature the Nazdar range of inks.

Drytac won’t have a stand of its own, but its products will feature on Epson, Hybrid Services and Roland’s stands, as well as that of exclusive distribution partner Premier Paper Group. While Premier will display a selection of Drytac materials and can advise about the full range, Epson will feature SpotOn Floor 200 and ReTac Textures Sand wallcovering films, while Hybrid will be printing Polar Chrome reflective PET, Polar Choice White film and Visiprint films. Roland’s stand will show ReTac ChalkMate, which yields a blackboard-type finish.

Another first will be the debut of the SC-V1000 A4 flatbed printer from Epson. This is an entry-level flatbed printer aimed at small businesses in the promotional goods industry. Described as highly compact and affordable, V1000 can print directly on a wide range of substrates with a thickness of up to 70mm, including acrylics, polycarbonates, PVC, aluminium, metal, polyester, foamboard, styrene, wood and stone, making it suitable for creating promotional and personalised items.

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Unlike adhesive-based films, KernowJet Kling utilises a speciality coating that mimics the properties of traditional window cling without the need for adhesives. This is said to ensure easy application and removal, making it ideal for temporary signage, promotional displays, and decorative applications.

Arnoud Mekenkamp, European and Asian channel manager at Kernow Coatings commented, ‘With its advanced coating and superior performance, KernowJet Kling offers a game-changing solution for businesses and individuals seeking high-quality window film options.’

The product offers PVC-free composition being made from polypropylene, providing an environmentally friendly alternative to PVC-based window films, reducing environmental impact without compromising on quality according to the company.

Other claimed benefits include a repositionable design allowing for precise placement and hassle-free adjustments. The film’s compatibility with UV and latex wide-format printers allows the product to offer high print quality and vibrant colours. The flexibility of the product, because of its white and clear variants, also means KernowJet Kling can meet a variety of applications and design preferences for the customer.

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Hollywood Monster is the first company to complete an installation using the completely PVC free product from Contra Vision. Tasked with developing signage for the front of the Nottingham Universal Cinema for an upcoming film release, Hollywood Monster used Contra Vision Advance as an aesthetically pleasing and sustainable solution. The new graphics and signage will be used across 11 Universal cinema sites.

The Contra Vision Advance product serves as a lower carbon footprint alternative to PVC signage. With years of research into this product, Hollywood Monster was certain that working with Contra Vision was the best decision for the project.

The company is actively committed to implementing sustainable products and partnering with companies with the same values. The latest product from Contra Vision, used in this application produces less CO2 because of its PET films whilst maintaining durability and affordability. Additionally, with perforated window films, solar heat gain is minimised in buildings such as cinemas, meaning a decrease in air conditioning requirements.

Adam Paget, head of sales of EMEA and APAC at Contra Vision said, ‘We’re excited to work with Hollywood Monster on the launch of our first PVC Free one-way vision film.

Having developed Contra Vision Advance over a number of years, we see its first use as a positive step towards a more sustainable display graphics market.’

Faye Ganderton, internal project delivery manager at Hollywood Monster had this to say about the project, ‘We’re proud to have been selected for this project and look forward to bringing sustainable signage across Universal Cinemas. The result was a combination of beautiful graphics and the innovative new product from Contra Vision.’

Available in two transparencies (30% or 40%), Contra Vision Advance is a product that offers a blend of practical benefits and environmental sustainability for Universal Cinema.

The Contra Vision Advance was supplied to Hollywood Monster by Premier. In addition, Hollywood Monster elected to Carbon Capture its Contra Vision Advance purchases, further enhancing the sustainability of this project.

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The Dimense offering consists of the Dimensor S inkjet printer combined with special media that has the property of foaming when heated, a structured ink to control foaming, and CMYK water-based ink that is safe for use indoors. After printing, the media is heated by the printer’s on-board heater, which causes areas not coated with structure ink to foam up to 1.5 mm thick, realising the planned textured design. This innovative solution enables on-demand output of graphics with a three-dimensional feel.

Dimense has developed an exclusive line of PVC-free media, which is friendly to both the environment and people. Several finishes of media are available, including matte, suede, metallic silver, metallic gold, pearlescent and ‘chameleon’, enabling the production of a wide variety of interior decorations, including wallpaper, as well as point-of-purchase materials. The ‘digitally embossed’ wallpaper can then also be painted for artistic effect.

The materials range also includes textile media ideal for indoor signage such as silicone edge graphics, canvases, roll-up banners and PoP displays. Due to their compliance with safety standards such as AgBB and A+ certification, these media can be used safely in a variety of indoor situations.

‘It is said that less than 5% of wallpaper printing has been digitised, and this industry is expected to accelerate. There is also a growing need for commercial facilities that provide people with an unforgettable experience, and for offices and living spaces that are uniquely their own, and digital printing solutions will play an increasingly active role in this interior decoration,’ said Tony Miller, president of Roland DG’s global sales and marketing division.

‘Dimense provides a unique and special expression that not only stands out but can also captivate people by producing a company’s vision and history, brand image and story, and product concept. We look forward to leveraging our global sales and support network to bring this great solution to the global interior decorating market,’ he added.

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Offering signage, print and vehicle graphics, the family-run business has been trading for over 23 years, the last 16 of which have seen it using the same manual cutter for its large format work. Growth in business led to a need for a more up-to-date replacement that could both run faster and which would offer a degree of automation.

Researching the options quickly led to Vivid’s VeloBlade Nexus 2516, a 2.5 x 1.6m digital cutting table distributed by Soyang. Director Ross Hughes recalled, ‘I had seen the machine a lot on LinkedIn and always thought it looked like the ideal piece of kit for our business. Once I started looking and spoke to Vivid’s Lewis Evans, the price point for the specification stood out from other machines and further solidified my interest in the machine.

‘After speaking to Lewis during an online demo and at the showroom, I was really impressed by the customer service and attention to detail in making everything as straightforward as possible for their customers. We placed the order within days of seeing the machine at the showroom.’

The purchase was made in December 2023, and the machine was installed at the company’s Hereford site in early January 2024. Mr Hughes said despite the cutter having only been in place a short time, the business has already seen a significant improvement in production.

‘The VeloBlade is already making production faster. The automation of barcode reading means there are fewer touch points. Also, as it is so simple to use, we have been able to train up numerous members of staff on the machine; we don’t have to wait for specific team members to become available to operate it.’

Looking ahead, Mr Hughes is confident that the Nexus will allow the company to expand its offering and move into new markets, with bespoke packaging as one area of interest.

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The agreement will see Ricoh add Albyco’s workforce to its business, complementing existing expertise and capabilities. Albyco’s managing director Jos van Uum will remain in his current role. Albyco customers may expect continued support and an expanded range of solutions as Ricoh integrates Albyco’s capabilities into its portfolio.

Eef de Ridder, vice president graphic communications group, commented, ‘We are seeing growing demand for top-tier finishing capabilities in wide-format and inkjet/toner printing at a commercial scale, and rising interest from clients seeking end-to-end integrated solutions. Albyco’s strong reputation and proven track record in the graphic communications business makes it an excellent addition to the Ricoh family, further strengthening our collective capabilities.’

Jos van Uum, managing director at Albyco, added, ‘We are delighted to join forces with Ricoh and contribute our expertise to a company with a rich tradition of technological advancements and customer-centric solutions. This collaboration presents a tremendous opportunity to leverage synergies, drive innovation and deliver even greater value to our customers. I am pleased that we found in Ricoh the best possible home to support our customers and talented teams in the next phase of their journey.’

Founded in 1994, Albyco has expanded its offering to include its own brand of supplies and machines, including binding, laminating and signage-related equipment. It has a strong presence in the Dutch market for print finishing products, and exports print finishing solutions, machines, and consumables to customers in France, Belgium, Germany, and Sweden. Additionally, it  is the exclusive importer of brands Duplo and GMP for the Netherlands.

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Marsden owns and operates the Expo Service print division, as well as the Marsden Exhibitions events arm and retail marketing provider Luga Baruga. The group operates across the UK, Europe, the US and Asia. Working with a diverse range of clients, it uses print to deliver products and applications across each of its businesses including exhibition and event stand installations, retail experience installations, signage and other large-format printing.

In response to customer pressure for sustainable print, Marsden looked to replace methods and materials that produced waste that would end up in landfill or which entailed high carbon footprints in use. In its wide-format print operations, this led to the 2.5m hybrid HP Latex R2000 Plus, supplied by HP distributor and large-format print specialist Papergraphics. The machine was installed in July 2022.

According to Vinnie White, head of creative for Marsden Exhibitions, ‘The feature that stood out the most for us was the machine’s use of HP Latex inks, which are water-based and much better for the environment. We also like how it can operate as both a flatbed and roll-to-roll, as well as print direct to substrate.

‘Crucially for us, the machine is also capable of handling a wide range of materials, thus allowing us to produce all manner of pieces for clients. Just to name a few, we have been running roll-to-roll media for vinyl wallpaper and banners, rigid media such as foamboard, card and Dibond, glass prints and acrylic prints.’

As well as ticking the sustainability box, the R2000 has also brought productivity benefits. ‘[It] is much more efficient than our previous machines, allowing for more work to pass through production, which in turn means we can take on more jobs,’ said Mr White, adding, ‘It also operates at a lower cost, including inks and consumables, while the six-colour ink set-up allows us to produce more vibrant colours, thus opening up even more options for customers.’

The HP printer has also helped Marsden make its modular exhibition stands more sustainable, resulting in the launch of the company’s first completely sustainable exhibition solution.

‘The reason we attribute the new printer to allowing us to close the gap is that previously we used UV solvent inks in conjunction with foamboard for our main product,’ explained Mr White. Thanks to HP Latex Ink, we are now able to provide fully recyclable graphics printed onto card, meaning all parts of the modular exhibition stand can be reused or recycled from flooring, frame, and graphics, eliminating single-use materials.’

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Looking to replace an existing cutting system that often incurred unproductive periods waiting for support, Next was introduced to the Vivid range through Ricoh, whose T7210 UV wide-format flatbed and TF6251 printers with roll-feed were already in use, and which resells the Vivid line of finishing and embellishment equipment.

Ricoh has been a long-standing supplier to Next, supporting it through workflow and process improvement in Next’s warehousing and storeroom functions, in addition to the wide-format and cut-sheet print and finishing technology. To complement the existing installation and to provide a complete production workflow system, Ricoh chose Vivid’s Veloblade Nexus and Zip Core Packaging Suite to work alongside its Latex and UV flatbed printers.

The system had to be operable over three shifts, easy to use, able to cut various materials involving routing and most of all be reliable. These criteria were amply met, according to Next print services manager Steve Clarke, who commented, ‘Vivid’s support is truly deserving of a five-star rating; they consistently go above and beyond to ensure we have the best support when operating the Veloblade Nexus and Zip Core Packaging Suite. This level of support is truly invaluable to us.

‘Since partnering with Vivid, our experience has been nothing short of fantastic. The Zip Core Packaging Suite opens up endless possibilities, and the ability to send a 3D Virtual CAD of a project, rather than creating a physical sample, has saved us an incredible amount of time. The Veloblade Nexus has demonstrated its precision, speed and clean-cut performance, surpassing all our previous experiences with other brands. This has given us the confidence to take full control of in-house production.’

The installation has not only saved time but has been ‘transformative’ in that it has also delivered substantial cost savings and with technical support from Vivid, has allowed applications to easily be prototyped and bought into production in a matter of hours.

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The sixth-generation family-run Dublin sign specialist worked with local Epson supplier digitalprint.ie to bring its production in-house and to expand into new markets.

Managing director Tom Freeney commented, ‘We were originally sign writers but today we are producing digital print, large format print and a lot of vehicle graphics. We were early adopters of digital printers and as their technology has evolved, we have evolved with them, and the business has grown.’

The two Epson systems were chosen to help continue that growth, with local support and confidence in the Epson brand being key factors. The flatbed in particular has opened up new opportunities, as Mr Freeney explained, ‘The flatbed solution is a new technology for us. It is very versatile. We find we are doing some nice niche work which we wouldn’t have previously done or we would have outsourced. It has a wide range of features, features that other machines in its class simply don’t have. It has the ability to print white inline. It prints varnish. It has a wider colour gamut than any other machines we inspected and after printing the same file on a range of printers the Epson was far superior.’

While the roll-fed SC-S80600 was a more familiar type of machine, it too has exceeded expectations, according to Mr Freeney: ‘We hit the ground running with the SC-S80600. It has been very easy to use. The colours are far beyond our expectations and it has been a great success.’

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Hollywood Monster CEO Simon McKenzie commented, ‘As a Birmingham-based business, we were delighted to play our part in the Commonwealth Games last year, supporting our long-standing customer CSM Live, in dressing our great city and helping to showcase everything it has to offer in front of a worldwide audience. Birmingham Festival ‘23 was another great opportunity to promote our vibrant and diverse culture and the communities that live and work here in the West Midlands, and we are honoured to be a part of that.

‘Our team worked tirelessly to provide graphics and designs that were displayed proudly throughout our hometown, with the bold designs and bright colours encouraging the vibrant party atmosphere. The extraordinary success of the Birmingham Festival is a testament to the hard work and dedication of numerous volunteers and partners who contributed to its resounding triumph, and we are thrilled to have played a part in that.’

The event was commissioned and supported by Birmingham City Council, with principal partners Arts Council England and University of Birmingham joining Hollywood Monster as presenting partner. The supplier of print and signage solutions is a big user of EFI Vutek wide-format printers, having installed its 10th unit in 2022.

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