46 www.signlink.co.uk Issue 246 - April / May 2023 also things that can help businesses to work more efficiently. Similarly, performance visibility is something Holdom describes as “key” as it can confirm to the operator and business owners that the printer is doing what it should do, delivering on its objectives, and meeting the needs of the business. The current energy crisis and increased cost of living is causing companies to assess their usage and this will no doubt be a big factor to consider when making significant investments into kit. “Print service providers – large and small – are taking more notice of energy usage as they strive to reduce their carbon footprints,” Holdom says. “Additionally, businesses are aware that they can save on costs by opting for a more energy efficient machine.” Another area that can cost money is ▲ The 3.3m Fujifilm Acuity Ultra Hybrid LED can print on both rigid and flexible substrates inks mean high quality print is achieved consistently. Shaun Holdom, marketing manager of Fujifilm Wide Format Inkjet Systems, says you could consider wide-format technology to be mature with customers more educated than ever about the products available. “They know what they are looking for and they are leading the market offering by expressing their requirements and demands, which is in turn influencing machine design.” Some of these demands, Holdom says, include an enhanced user experience and well-designed machines that offer marginal gains and value for money. He also adds that there is a shift towards multi-functional hybrid machines that are suitable for use in a variety of applications, further demonstrating customers’ needs for printers that deliver on ROI. As mentioned earlier, the world is now moving on from the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and one example of this is the return of events and exhibitions. According to Holdom, this has hugely increased demand for exhibition graphics and the same can be said for the retail sector with physical stores back up and running in full swing. “As shops try to entice customers, there is an increased need for eye-catching posters, shop displays, and QR codes,” Holdom says. Another trend he notes is the need for personalised décor with printed graphics for walls, floors, tabletops, and splashbacks just some of the applications that are being customised and printed on demand. Holdom continues: “For building projects where, for example, town centres ▼ The HP Latex R2000 enabled Woodlodge Products to create a sustainable show stand MARKET TRENDS / WIDE-FORMAT PRINT KIT PT.1 are being regenerated, there is increased demand for mesh and hoarding. Lastly, we’re seeing a shift towards printing on sustainable materials such as paper, polyester, and polypropene. For this, machines that can comfortably deal with handling these new media types, are required; as are compatible inks.” So, what is there to consider when thinking about adding these applications to your offering? Many elements, according to Holdom. He says something that should be explored is the relationship between costs, speed, and quality with businesses advised to find the balance and seek machines that can best meet their needs. Other things to take into account are whether the kit has a well-designed graphic user interface (GUI) with the capability to record information about the jobs. Easy maintenance and minimal downtime are - number of years Rocket Graphics has used CMYUK 10
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