Established in 2006, Print 2 Media has expanded its offering into other areas, picking up a range of new customers in the process, particularly in the education sector, helped by the launch of its school-focused division, The School Sign Shop. Offering everything from school playground signage to wall murals, The School Sign Shop now works with education settings across Cornwall and the UK.

Most recently, Mousehole School, Penzance, was the recipient of graphics including three large maps; one of the area local to the school that highlighted nearby landmarks, another a UK map showing sites of interest and importance, and the third a world map with postcard pictures of famous sights. A fourth graphic was a timeline detailing major historic events.

For this project, Print 2 Media selected Drytac Polar Grip, a white polymeric self-adhesive vinyl, used in schools before, which offers adhesion to any surface including metal, plastic, wood, glass, and brick. Print 2 Media purchased the film and accompanying laminate from Premier Paper Group, the exclusive Drytac distributor in the UK and Ireland.

Print 2 Media printed all graphics in house using its Canon Océ Colorado 1640 and SwissQPrint Nyala 4, while its specialist team installed the pieces on site at the school.

‘School customers are always the best,’ Print 2 Media founder Glenn Wrigley said. ‘The teachers are so enthusiastic and happy to have such a useful teaching aid and the children certainly let us know their thoughts. They are always so positive and take real pride in their new wall murals. We have been working with Drytac materials for over five years now and are always pleased with the end result.’

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Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the latest developments in signage and speak with experts about how new products and options can help their businesses grow.

Drytac products will be present at Mimaki’s booth, where visitors can see Drytac’s ViziPrint Clear, ViziPrint Deco +, Polar Chrome and both Retac Canvas and Retac Linen being run on Mimaki machinery.

Drytac’s Polar Dynamic Sand will be featured on the Vanguard Digital Printing Systems and Durst Group stand. Elsewhere, Fujifilm will be using Drytac’s Viziprint Impress Clear as part of its live product demonstrations on its booth, while Epson America will showcase the qualities of Polar Grip Air.

Attendees can also visit the Mutoh America stand to view live demonstrations of Drytac’s ReTac Smooth throughout the event. ReTac Smooth will also feature on the swissQprint America stand alongside ReTac Textures Woodgrain.

In addition, Drytac partner HP will demonstrate both Viziprint Impress Clear and SpotOn Clear on its printing machinery.

Glen Fitzgerald, director of sales for the Americas at Drytac commented, ‘The ISA Sign Expo is a highly important event on our US calendar. Running our products on machines from several manufacturers will showcase the flexibility and adaptability of Drytac solutions, as well as the overall quality of these products.’

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Over the years, Sign & Digital UK has stood as the epitome of innovation and inspiration for the visual communications sector, and Premier was excited to be part of it, with a track record of past successful shows. Premier returned in 2024 with another eye catching, engaging exhibition stand. 

Premier introduced the ‘Display Royale’ and ‘Signage HQ,’ which hosted a variety of materials from their display graphics product range. The ‘Ice Bar’ for example, was adorned in Premier’s premium range of aluminium composite, eTEC ACM 3D, in the striking brushed silver finish. In addition, the backdrop for the iconic Aston Martin DB5 on Premier’s stand, was printed on Drytac Polar Blockout, an opaque printable block out film, suitable for solvent, latex and UV inks.  

The demonstration tables and windows were made of clear 5mm and opaque 5mm Plexiglas which allowed space for graphics to be applied and removed. The use of cast acrylic material helped to showcase the products’ high gloss finish, as well as favoured functionalities such as being lighter and stronger than glass. Premier’s overhead signage was produced using Foamalux Light, a foam board with a surface for direct mounting. It’s lightweight too which makes it easier to handle and hang than many other display materials.  

For visitors’ eyes only, casino tables had been produced especially for the merchant’s stand, using Ultraboard; the UK manufactured honeycomb board. Naturally, printed samples of eTEC ACM, E-Opaque board and Diplast, took the form of poker chips and playing cards. The stand also boasted a stylish lounge area, which provided a perfect backdrop for networking and socialising and of course, the promotional giveaways made a return. 

‘We don’t just attend Sign & Digital UK; we embrace a mission to redefine the norms of the sign and display market,’ said Brad Goldsmith, marketing manager at Premier. ‘Our presence at the show is not just about products; it’s about pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation. We’re creating a spectacle that leaves an indelible mark on the industry.’ 

The three-day event started on a Sunday for the first time which ensured accessibility for businesses to come and witness the latest products without compromising valuable business time. Another first for show was that it was co-hosted with the Printwear and Promotion show in the neighbouring hall, which allowed the free flow of visitors to experience both exhibitions with the same ticket. 

The merging of the two exhibitions provided Premier with the perfect platform to showcase some of the bespoke bags and packaging solutions from sister company WBC (Wine Box Company). A dedicated zone was created on the stand to display a collection of printed, fabric bags, whilst hampers, wine boxes and void fill were displayed in the Ice Bar.   

Mr Goldsmith further emphasises Premier’s commitment to supporting the UK industry, stating, ‘Attending events like Sign & Digital UK is our way of giving back to our customers. We believe in the power of collaboration and innovation to drive the industry forward. Our team of experts are always on hand to answer queries and provide tailored advice to address the unique needs of businesses.’ 

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With the ability to precisely process large formats measuring up to 239 x 420mm, it is able to process multiple substrate types and materials up to 50 micrometers (microns). With the AG-4220, users can look forward to maximum precision, reliability and the consistently high performance that characterise Blumer machines.

All work steps such as buffering, cutting, die cutting with counterpressure, separating and banding run fully automatically. It is suitable for medium production volumes as well as for small batches and is the only counter pressure die cutting machine in the world that can process large formats labels up to such dimensions.

Exclusively available through Friedheim in the UK, appointments are now available to test this machine in the Switzerland showroom or visit their stand E30-5 in hall at drupa in May – where Blumer will host more ‘world first’ developments.

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As part of the partnership with The Grand Appeal, the Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity, Roland DG has printed and applied printed artwork, created by designer Emily Twomey, for use within three treatment rooms and the waiting area of the Neurophysiology Department.

Anna Shepherd, deputy director for The Grand Appeal, said, ‘When Roland DG approached us with the offer to makeover spaces in our hospital, we couldn’t have said ‘yes’ faster! Bringing colour and light into the lives of unwell children will make such a difference in what can be dark times.’

It is suggested that individuals spend 80-90% of their time indoors where pollutant levels are said to be higher than those found outside, with this time heightened for those spending time in hospital. This is a situation Roland DG has aimed to address with its TrueVis AP-640. The machine is a water-based resin/latex printer, suitable for indoor applications in sensitive environments such as hospitals and schools. The TrueVis resin inks are Greenguard Gold certified, meaning they meet standards of low chemical emissions. 

The printer also has a concentrated colour pigmentation to allow heavier saturation than conventional resin inks for impact on applications including paper, fabric, canvas, wallpaper, non-PVC materials. Additionally, the True Rich Colour preset is described to take advantage of the high colour saturation of new TrueVis Ink to maximise vibrancy. 

Stephen Davis, marketing director EMEA and managing director for UK and Ireland commented, ‘We understand the importance of colour for children, particularly in aiding those who are unwell or recovering, and we wanted to help make a difference in any way we could. We’re always looking for new opportunities to implement our technology to create real impact, so to be able to give to such a worthwhile cause has been incredibly rewarding.’

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A sister company to Full Circle Events & Exhibitions, Psycho Peacock is based in Salford, Greater Manchester and provides a service from design to installation for graphics in exhibitions, events, retail, museums, construction and visitor attractions. The investments are expected to provide up to six times the previous capacity, with the output from the previous four machines produced by the already installed and profiled P5 350.

Steve Comar, Psycho Peacock’s managing director, commented, ‘This investment gives us the scope and resources to fully deliver on our goals for both graphics and print, across our key sectors, live events, exhibitions and retail for the next three years. We can be assured due to the Durst technology, incredible quality and output metrics, that we can stand by our commitment to continually drive innovation which underpins our values and clients’ needs.’

The Tex iSub production printer is said to have opened up new business opportunities with dye sublimation for Psycho Peacock. The company said the investment in ‘cutting-edge machinery epitomising speed, quality and efficiency’ will ‘revolutionise output.’

Andrew McIntyre, general manager at Psycho Peacock, added, ‘The big thing with the Durst is that it provides the highest print quality, massive extra capacity and flexibility. Dye-sub also enables us to produce sustainable products, using fully recyclable materials, which means waste never goes to landfill. This opens up new business possibilities in a year when we are already beating our own ambitious sales targets.’

‘Delighted’ with Psycho Peacock’s investment into Durst’s technology, Peter Bray, UK and Ireland managing director of Durst Group, said, ‘Offering complete solutions from pixel to output, we continue to lead by innovation and look forward to continuing to help the team fully deliver on their goals. Our technology will help them further with their sustainability goals, commitment to excellence, streamlining logistics and moving towards greater automation.’

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The Jeti Condor RTR5200 is the latest addition to the Jeti high performance line. It is a 5.2m roll-to-roll inkjet printer, making it one of the widest in the market. Agfa claims it ‘sets the standard’ for both speed – at up to 672sqm/hr – and image quality in the roll-to-roll sector.

The Condor prints on a wide variety of flexible substrates, handling up to three rolls simultaneously. It is field-upgradable with light colours and features white and varnish inks for wider application options. The printer also features multiple media handling solutions for large and heavy rolls, and offers an ‘extensive’ range of money-, labour- and space-saving options to automate the end-to-end printing and finishing process.

On the hybrid side, the new Jeti Bronco H3300 builds on the field-tested reliability of the Tauro hardware and software. It is a 3.3m high-end UV LED inkjet printer suitable for printing a variety of sign and display jobs in six colours plus white, with an optional primer. Continuous board feeding enhances its productivity, while independent dual-roll printing allows for the simultaneous printing of differently sized rolls or media. Initially the Bronco will be available with two rows of print heads but it will be field-upgradable to a four-row version.

The latest evolution of the entry-level Anapurna range, which began life over 20 years ago, is the 3.2m hybrid Ciervo, which is pitched as a versatile printer to tackle a wide range of print jobs. The Ciervo is said to bring enhanced print quality and much higher productivity than its predecessor, offering an almost 70% increase in printing speed in production mode. It also features continuous board feeding, enabling efficient throughput of rigid materials, handling up to four boards simultaneously. 

Other members of the Agfa range now get ‘beast’ monikers, with the Onset X3 HS becoming a Grizzly, while the Tauro already had one. Agfa’s ink and industrial printing capabilities are also being highlighted at Fespa, with the decor-focused InterioJet, Alussa leather printer and high speed Inca Orca 1060 single-pass printers for the packaging market.

Arnaud Calleja, vice-president digital printing solutions at Agfa commented, ‘We are thrilled to unveil our transformed and enhanced inkjet printer portfolio, where proven wide-format inkjet technology meets the power of three brand-new beasts. Our overarching ‘powerful by nature’ portfolio theme emphasises that the performance of our printers stems from the way they have been designed. Whatever environment a printing company operates in, whatever its markets or applications, whether seeking high productivity, quality or versatility, there’s an Agfa printer that will deliver impressive results and give their business a boost.’

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The cover, printed on an HP Indigo 7900 on the 300gsm weight of the material, was designed by Gabriel Walsh of Capiche Design. The title poem depicts starlings as dull creatures until light shines upon them and they are transformed from starlings to birds of paradise. Mr Walsh spoke on the importance of a cover that best reflects the poems’ content stating, ‘The iridescent nature of the print substrate beautifully captures this notion, echoing the words of the poet while illustrating the beauty of the starling feathers.’

An Druideog was designed by Mr Walsh for Irish poet Ciarán MacAibhistín. It features a collection of poems which reflect the poet’s life as he approaches his twilight years.

Creative papers manager at Antalis Vicky Weatherington added, ‘Curious Metallics’ white gold was the perfect choice for the cover of An Druideog. It adds an extra dimension to the beautiful, abstract image of a starling that features on the cover. It’s a great example of how choosing the right substrate can help bring a project to life.’

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Fedrigoni reports that the transaction was finalised in late February 2024 through a NewCo incorporated by Fedrigoni to acquire Mohawk’s assets in a sale process initiated by a financial institution, following a period of significant financial distress that affected Mohawk in recent months. The transaction entirely cleared the new company from existing indebtedness, allowing it to preserve the majority of existing jobs, industrial activities and customer relationships. 

Founded in 1931, Mohawk is a family-owned company that produces well-known speciality papers for designers, brands and printers and which has ‘strongly innovated’ in the fields of digital printing and sustainability. Shared of core values ‘such as solid know-how and a focus on innovation and environmental impact reduction’ led to the acquisition of the firm, which has become part of the Fedrigoni Special Papers division and represents an important aspect of the group’s overseas growth strategy.

‘We will now be able to produce and distribute to customers a wide range of Fedrigoni high value-added papers directly in North America, and expand access to Mohawk speciality papers internationally,’ said Marco Nespolo, CEO at Fedrigoni Group.

The acquisition is Fedrigoni’s third this year, following SharpEnd in the UK and Arjowiggins China. Mr Nespolo further commented, ‘We will thus increasingly support the strategies of our customers who favour near-shoring models in place of the traditional global purchasing-oriented approach, to reduce their environmental impact and minimise the risks of supply chain disruption’.

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The material featured included Infotech’s VistaMax PVC-free Permanent White Matt Greyback Vinyl, Vistaflex premium frontlit PVC Banner, Envirotech PVC-free banner, Vertex backlit display textile, polyester canvas and adhesive wall fabric, plus Imagetech polypropylene non-tear outdoor poster film, supporting a range of potential applications.

‘This collaboration pack featuring a selection of Innotech’s media range printed on Epson’s SC-R5000 showcases the compatibility between materials and machines and the wide array of print possibilities,’ commented Kieran Dallow, Innotech marketing manager. He added, ‘We see Epson as a leader in large format printing sector, and their resin printer has certainly impressed us.’

Tom Owers, product manager for commercial imaging at Epson UK, said, ‘The relationship between media products and printers is critical and one that is particularly important for our customers looking to deliver a broad range of high-quality applications. Innotech’s products work really well with the SC-R5000, and they have produced some excellent samples.’

Innotech has some swatches remaining after the show; interested parties should get in touch with Mr Dallow.

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