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.’

The post Psycho Peacock adds to its plumage with double Durst installation appeared first on Digital Printer.

3 Sixty serves the retail, visual merchandising, exhibition, event and commercial interiors sectors. Managing director Richard Inkin said, ‘The P5 350 HS gives us huge versatility due to the hybrid capabilities as well as the high speed and quality levels it can achieve. Its handling of some of the more unique materials we use was also a big tick in the box.

‘The incredible performance levels mean we can now work more efficiently throughout the business, as print is only one element of many in getting a job out of the door. Having more time now to cut, collate and pack the jobs has given us more flexibility in the way we work. The P5 speed levels mean that we will not need to run anywhere near the high speeds it can achieve and still increase our capacity by more than 30% without the extra costs that we would think we would have incurred. Print is about manufacturing a high quality product from start to finish, not just how quickly you can print it.

‘The flexibility of the machine allows us now to go after more business across all sectors we work in – retail, events and the exhibitions sectors to name a few. We know that our clients will see the benefits of our investments which have only been possible with their support of both our customers and our suppliers. Durst was brilliant, along with Compass Business Finance, in putting the deal in place and therefore helping us to focus and drive forward. 2024 has exciting opportunities for everyone but also if we are all honest, a degree of uncertainty, so investment in the right type of equipment is key. We are sure we have made the right decision.’

Mr Inkin also explained that the business aims to make ‘significant’ investments ever two or three years, in order to have up-to-date technology and to maximise environmental performance with regards to inks, material developments and reducing power consumption.

‘Having looked at the offerings available through partners we already have and other manufacturers, we decided to go with Durst because of the technology in the machine and we were confident in continuing a strong and long-term relationship,’ he concluded.

The post Durst P5 hybrid expands capacity and scope for 3 Sixty appeared first on Digital Printer.

Following a review of the printer market, a visit to Fespa where the Kudu was launched and a demonstration at SwissQprint’s UK showroom, the Bingley, West Yorkshire-based business installed the two printers in November 2023 at its head office. The two machines occupy the same area as the previous large inkjet flatbed that they replaced.

‘I am a nervous buyer, yet I can honestly say this is the first time that an investment has exceeded my expectations,” said Jonathan Haggas, Valley’s managing director. ‘From their easy install to their intuitive use and exceptional print quality, our Kudus are having a huge impact – we are really, really pleased!’

Since installing the two Kudus, Valley is also benefiting from their lower running costs and small ecological footprint. Consuming 2.2kW per machine, energy use is reduced, yielding savings of over £100 per day compared to the one printer the Kudus replaced. The printers offer roll-to-roll and dual roll capabilities, up to 304 sqm/hr output, and combination of six colours, plus white and varnish.

The post Kudus make The Valley happy appeared first on Digital Printer.

The new machine is said to offer ‘unprecedented’ levels of productivity, precision and safety. It features a new drive technology and carbon fibre beam design that enable acceleration of up to 2.74G and cutting speeds up to 168m/min in order to address the challenges of continuous high volume multi-batch production.

The carbon fibre beam also provided ‘unparalleled’ stiffness and consistency in applying 50kg downforce. Complemented by a toolhead camera, this is claimed to bring accuracy and repeatability to the highest industry standards.

Safety features include Kongsberg Smartzone, a proximity-driven dual-zone system designed to achieve safety and efficiency. This is supported by LED lighting to convey  machine status in a highly visible manner. Uptime is helped via new self-diagnostics and remote operator alerts, while a productive operator experience is delivered via a touchscreen running the IPC 3.0 interface.

‘Engineered with our deep understanding of corrugated and display converters’ needs for precision, the Kongsberg Ultimate promises to redefine standards and usher in a new era of productivity and innovation, delivering a fast return on investment for convertors of corrugated board,’ said Kongsberg PCS president and CEO Stuart Fox. ‘Enhancing operations and providing a significant competitive advantage, the platform sets a new industry benchmark and is set to drive the future of corrugated production for years to come.

‘With corrugated converters around the world under increasing pressure to produce better, faster, safer and more efficiently to meet the demands of the global market, we have underlined our commitment to deliver a solution that has been engineered for precision and built for productivity,’ he added.

The post Kongsberg aims to conquer corrugated with Ultimate appeared first on Digital Printer.

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.’

The post Marsden Direct reaps rewards of HP Latex buy appeared first on Digital Printer.

The Sheerness, Kent operation specialises in the production of custom printed site hoardings and boards, exhibition graphics, window graphics, banners, posters, and other items. It aims to provide a bespoke on-demand digital printing solution and works with UK print management companies, design agencies, marketing teams and retailers.

JBF Digital managing director Joe Field explained the decision to invest: ‘We needed something to be able to keep up with the orders coming in and this was the direction in the next step of our growth. We also needed to be able to keep up with the competition and stand out from the crowd. Previously we were being out-costed, but with the V7000 we’re now more price competitive and delivering a better quality to our customers.

‘The business was really struggling at times to complete incoming orders. We were running 24 hours a day sometimes and looking to take on extra staff. Now we can take more work on, complete it to a higher quality and offer quicker lead times,’ he added.

The Epson flatbed was recommended to JBF by specialist reseller Perfect Colours. Having two SureColor SC-S80600 roll-fed solvent printers, JBF was familiar with the brand, and felt that the flatbed ‘ticked all the boxes’.

Mr Field expanded, ‘A key benefit is the ability to print directly onto the substrate. Normally we would print on vinyl, laminate, and then fix it to a board. This three-step process could involve up to three people. Now it is a one step, one person process as often the use of UV negates the need to laminate. This saves time and money. It is also more environmentally responsible as there is no need to use vinyl. We can also use eco boards and other more sustainable substrates such as 100% recycled Foamex.

‘Important too for us was the fact the white ink can be laid down in one pass. Normally this was a two-step process and this took more time and the quality was not always as good. When you are using expensive material like acrylic it is important to get it right. We also liked that it had its own red ink. No other flatbed machine prints its own red.’

The post JBF Digital is first with Epson UV flatbed appeared first on Digital Printer.

Founded in 1983, Dominion supplies printed visual marketing materials for local, national and international brands and specialises in large and super-large formats. Along with the Durst flatbed, it has also bought additional in-line welding and eyeleting machine and further in-line, fully automatic sewing machines.

Director Verity Fox said, ‘Investing in our facilities is part of our growth strategy; it will assist us in meeting increased demand for large-format printing solutions, partly driven by the return of the events industry, which has bounced back following its Covid-enforced hiatus. The Durst Rho 2500 offers high speed production and fantastic quality, enabling us to increase our large-format capacity while maintaining the high standards our clients expect. This machine effectively doubles our flatbed production. We have purchased the additional finishing equipment to enable finishing to keep pace with print.

‘The purchase of the additional in-line fully sewing equipment further enhances our tension frame graphic production. The automation significantly reduces the need for complex training and enables operators to produce tension graphics, on a wide range of media, to the highest quality.

‘Following our latest investment, we are better placed than ever to grow our large-format business in a range of sectors, from events and entertainment to retail and construction.’

The post Dominion doubles capacity with Durst in £1 million spend appeared first on Digital Printer.

To ship across the EMEA region coincident with Fespa Global Print Expo (23–26 May 2023), the new machines address a wide range of applications and productivity requirements and can be further configured for specialist applications like wallpaper or high volume (over 50,000sqm/yr) production with minimal operator intervention via jumbo roll support. The specifications for the M3 and M5 maximum output speeds are 111 and 159sqm/hr respectively, with high quality modes at 29 and 40sqm/hr.

Software-unlockable speed boosts will be offered for both models, with an option to access a one-month boost to meet peak production periods as well as to make a permanent upgrade. In addition to optional support for white ink – also field-upgradeable – which Canon says gives unusually high density compared to other inkjet technologies, the FLX Finish+ variable gloss option introduced at Fespa 2022 will be offered, allowing the finish to be varied across different parts of a job. It is not possible to mix white and the variable finish, however.

Canon EMEA director, Marketing & Innovation, Wide Format Printing Group, Matthew Faulkner demonstrated a range of applications on substrates ranging from pre-printed fluorescent and metallised materials to clear window film and even a mica-coated board. He said that target markets for the new machines included printers looking to expand into the ‘buoyant’ wide-format market driven by the resumption of live events and in-person shopping, as well as established wide-format PSPs who could exploit the ‘expert’ or nice application like the ‘wallpaper factory’ (supported by Fotoba cutting equipment) or printing to corrugated liner for packaging purposes.

Jennifer Kolloczek, European planning, marketing & innovation senior director, Production Print at Canon Europe said, ‘Ever since they burst onto the market, Colorado printers with UVgel ink have set the highest bar for speed, quality and all-round productivity. On top of these business-critical performance criteria, large format graphics providers today want to make smart, environmentally responsible investments in printing solutions that can evolve with them and help them tap into lucrative creative applications, products and growth markets. With its modularity and the addition of an easy-care white ink option, the new Colorado M-series is the growth engine that businesses can rely on to level up their capabilities and turn ideas into reality.’

Pricing was not revealed but was described as being ‘in line’ with that of the existing Colorado 1630 and 1650 models, both of which remain available.

The post Modular new Canon Colorados add white ink appeared first on Digital Printer.

In all, 537 projects were submitted by creatives from 29 countries, 411 projects published and more than 36,500 votes cast on the Antalis Interior Design Award website. The winners were chosen by an international jury made up of high profile figures in the world of design.

Among the winners was a UK entry from Leeds-based print production house Imageco, which won the Special Sustainability Prize. This was awarded for a project for Pie Factory, which wanted an exhibition stand made in the style of a greenhouse using 100% recyclable, closed-cell Xanita fibreboard . The stand has since been reused three times and will eventually be recycled at the end of its life.

Winner in the Public Building category French artist Daniel Buren impressed the jury with his project. An initiative of the Uhoda group, the Liège-Guillemin station in Belgium was illuminated in a vibrant wash of colour. The temporary artwork was deployed across a vast array of glass panels which transformed the shifting light throughout the day.

Inspired by the history and heritage of Agde in the south of France, Nilda Hernandez won the Special Windows Film Prize for Agde’s Mediatheque. She commented, ‘Thanks to Antalis and their Coala products, we created a decorative signage concept which represents a link to land as well as to an aquatic environment.’

Agnès Lafarge, Visual Communication Group marketing manager at Antalis commented, ‘We are very pleased with the success of this third edition. With the Antalis Interior Design Award competition, we support the development of printing technologies and open up possibilities to all professionals in the field of personalised interior design. Large-format printing is a great creative platform and a fantastic opportunity for expression.’

The post Antalis Interior Design Award winners revealed appeared first on Digital Printer.

The 20-year old company produces a lot of European exhibition work and has various retail customers and, having dabbled in fabric printing with UV technologies, has confirmed plans to invest around £400,000 to set up a new dedicated fabric department.

‘You can’t dip your toe into fabric printing, you need to do it properly,’ explained FDP Director Darren Taylor. ‘We see a lot of growth for the business in printed fabrics both from our existing customers and new ones. It will allow us to print on a wider range of substrates and we can pack them smaller, fold them, making it easier to post them out to clients.

‘The Agfa Avinci was the first piece of dye-sub equipment to be installed, closely followed by a calender unit. We’ve purchased new tooling for our two cutting tables, have new sewing machines and now employ two full-time seamstresses with over 40 years of experience between them.’

Already an Agfa customer with an early Anapurna model, FDP’s decision was also influenced by a visit to Leeds-based Northern Flags, which uses three Agfa dye-sub printers. The new fabric capability has meant that Fusion Digital has expanded its workforce and taken on another industrial unit to house the finishing equipment. The running costs of the 40kW calender are in part offset by the efficiency of the printer, which requires only 4kW.

Lower ink costs and usage were also part of a green agenda that included media supplies, which are not sourced from the Far East but more locally in Germany from a fabric manufacturer that plants trees to offset its carbon footprint. 

The post Fusion gets into dye sublimation with Agfa buy appeared first on Digital Printer.