Discover ‘how to be the difference’... www.makeih.com UNIQUE WORKSHOPS for the Sign & Print Industry THE SIGNAGE BOOTCAMP Product Knowledge & Know-How! SUSTAINABILITY BOOTCAMP Sustainable Business Innovation ON THE FRONTLINE Not Sales But Selling - Join The Elite! www.signlink.co.uk Issue 250 - December 2023 / January 2024
3 NEWS Industry 06 Signmaster ED is the latest subsidiary of PFI Group to enter administration after months of uncertainty Business 08 Kit & Media 10 Environment 12 People 14 SPECIALS Under the Hood: Vivid Easymount Air 18 SWISSQPRINT: Haptic Effects 20 Company Spotlight: Trade embroidery 22 Q&A: Vinny Symes, FASTSIGNS LEEDS 24 Under the Hood: trotec speedy 400 26 Adnams x DB Signs 29 We take a look at how Southwold brewery, Adnams, has been championing signwriting for decades 2024 Predictions 34 FEATURES Neon Signage 37 We explore the magic of neon and highlight the campagning around the misrepresentation of its name Point-of-Sale 43 Wide-format Applications 49 Flatbed Vinyl Cutters 53 Colour Management 57 Apprenticeships 61 CONTENTS Issue 250 December 2023 / January 2024 email: news@signlink.co.uk Issue 250 - December 2023 / January 2024 ISSN 2976-9213 IN THIS ISSUE 37 29 07 14 61 12
Issue 250 - December 2023 / January 2024 4 ISSUE 250 December 2023 / January 2024 email: news@signlink.co.uk signlink signlink signlinkmagazine GHOST SIGN CORNER: Coca-Cola, Freemantle Around the world, there are probably more Coca-Cola ghost signs than any other brand. I have seen them in Bangladesh, Mexico, Scotland, and of course the USA. This one was impossible to miss when I visited Australia in 2013, and its host building was almost certainly a shop or catering establishment where you could once buy a bottle of sugared refreshment. Coca-Cola’s marketing strategy included positioning in signs on locations where the product could be bought, with this type of sign referred to as a ‘privilege’. This particular wall faces north, which, being in the southern hemisphere, means it gets disproportionately more sun. This has faded the bright red paint to a washed-out pink – one of the problems with that colour – but the branding itself endures. Queen Victoria Street, Freemantle, Western Australia Sam Roberts is the editor and publisher of BLAG (Better Letters Magazine) Online: www.bl.ag and www.ghostsigns.co.uk Social Media: @betterletters (instagram) @ghostsigns (X/twitter) Publishing director Page Tuck Sales director Chris Davies Lead contributor Rob Fletcher Contributors Brian Sims, Sam Roberts Contact Editorial: 0117 980 5040 Sales: 0117 960 3255 Production: 0117 980 5041 Accounts: 0117 980 5042 Find us online www.signlink.co.uk Socials All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without the prior consent of the publisher. The views expressed by contributors to Signlink magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher or editorial team and Link Publishing Ltd. takes no responsibility for any errors that may have occurred. The publisher also accepts no responsibility for the advertising content, including any error, omission or inaccuracy therein. Calls may be recorded for training purposes. Link Publishing Ltd. retains the right to publish and re-publish any images or information sent to the publication. Link Publishing Ltd, Unit G, Link House, Britton Gardens, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 1TF Editor Carys Evans carys@linkpublishing.co.uk Online editor David Osgar david@linkpublishing.co.uk Production Shaun Edwards shaun@linkpublishing.co.uk Sales Tim Hall tim@linkpublishing.co.uk Sales Luke Stoneham luke@linkpublishing.co.uk Accounts Kathryn Quinn kat@linkpublishing.co.uk Office therapist Skye MEET THE TEAM Signlink Signlink SignlinkMagazine Printed on Sappi Magno Satin from EBB Paper CBP00015512002182040 With one year drawing to a close and the start of another just around the corner, the signage and graphics industries have been powering on in what continues to be a difficult time for business. Despite current affairs causing a feeling of despair and helplessness amongst many, collaboration, community, and partnership have never been more important in knowing you are not alone. When quizzing a handful of industry members on what they predict the challenges and trends for 2024 will be, some common themes reoccurred. These included the continued need to diversify to remain buoyant and competitive; a surge in customers demanding sustainable solutions; print buyers moving to smaller, more frequent orders; and the integration of augmented technologies in both digital and print signage, to name just a few. (more on P34). So, while it seems the ongoing economic uncertainty looks set to continue, there is also lots to look forward to. From continued investment in new technologies and securing grants and funding, to the development of new innovative products and solutions, I’m sure there will be plenty of positive news for us to report on in 2024! As we round off our final magazine of 2023 and look to the new year ahead, I would like to thank you for your continued support, for sharing your news with us, and for allowing us to continue to share your stories with the industry. EDITOR S NOTE Carys Evans
6 Issue 250 - December 2023 / January 2024 www.signlink.co.uk INDUSTRY / NEWS signlink signlink signlinkmagazine Signmaster latest PFI Group subsidiary to fall Kelso-based Signmaster ED, a subsidiary of Rymack Sign Solutions (trading as PFI Group) has entered administration after months of uncertainty for employees around the future of the company. This news tells of the tumultuous year it’s been for the Group following a series of administrations and an unfair dismissal tribunal having taken place in recent months. Dating as far back as 2017, the Group has been building its portfolio within signage and wide-format print including retail and manufacturing with a number of acquisitions over the years. Despite this, at the time of writing, Futurama, Mardan Products, Sign Plus (comprising of Jasmine and Lofthus), Gardners, and now Signmaster ED have all entered administration. Cestrian Imaging has been purchased by Service Graphics and Kesslers London and Proportion London have been aquired in an MBO. Issues at the Group began surfacing in May this year, as reported by Printweek, when PFI Group chief executive officer Darren McMurray came under fire for the dismissal of five former employees of PFI Group subsidiary Futurama. Following this, Marc Edwards, chief executive officer; William Evans, finance director; David Hurley, operations and installation director; David Sharp, commercial director; and Terence Elrick, acting managing director launched an unfair dismissal appeal. This was heard on October 10th at Leeds Employment Tribunal with the hearing finding no evidence of gross misconduct. The future of Signmaster had been in question months before it entered administration with reports of staff not being paid and threats of eviction due to unpaid rent. Sadly, the issues weren’t resolved and FRP Advisory has now been appointed. A source at the company has told SignLink that the administration comes as a huge relief due to “the uncertainty around jobs and wages and the future of what was a very successful business”. The source has described the stress this has caused to employees, particularly in the run-up to Christmas with staff, many of whom have families and young children, not having received wages for over four weeks and with no communication from PFI or Signmaster’s director Darren McMurray. The source said: “Many long-standing employees are now without wages or jobs. No one is taking responsibility for the loss of a great and long-established sign manufacturer. It’s a great loss to the industry, the local rural community in the Scottish Borders, but mostly to the talented and experienced employees who are now jobless.” At the time of writing, PFI Group has not responded to our request for comment. Kelso-based Signmaster is the latest PFI Group subsidiary to enter administration Opportunities, Revealed at FESPA 2024 Taking place on the earlier dates of March 19th to 22nd in the RAI Exhibition Centre, Amsterdam next year, the strapline of FESPA Global Print Expo 2024 is ‘Opportunities, Revealed’. The strapline for the co-located European Sign Expo is ‘Opportunities, Illuminated’, the strapline for the inaugural Sportswear Pro is ‘Opportunities, Created’, and finally the strapline for the Personalisation Experience is ‘Opportunities, Reimagined’. These co-located events promise to showcase a range of solutions for specialty print, sign-making, personalisation, and sports and leisure garment production. “This year, we’re introducing a set of new event straplines which represent a natural progression from the 2023 events where we encouraged visitors to discover ‘New Perspectives’,” says Michael Ryan, head of FESPA Global Print Expo. Exhibitors at the 2024 event will include AGFA, Antalis, DGI/d.gen, EFI, Elitron, Kongsberg, LIYU, Mimaki, swissQprint, and more. Textile suppliers will include MHM, Monti Antonio, and MS printing/JK Group, with two new embroidery suppliers, Tajima and Ricoma, confirmed for the first time. Alongside the exhibitor halls, the events will play host to a full educational conference, a Personalise Make Wear feature as part of Personalisation Experience and Sportswear Pro, the popular Sustainability Spotlight, and the World Wrap Masters competition. FESPA Global Print Expo and its colocated events will take place from March 19th to 22nd in Amsterdam The Advertising Association (AA), which represents agencies, media owners, and tech companies, has formed a new AI (Artificial Intelligence) Taskforce in order to establish ethical safeguards, develop industry guidelines, and ensure transparency and legality in the use of AI in advertising. The Taskforce will work with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) where necessary to ensure that the use of AI in advertising is transparent, decent, honest, legal, and truthful. Stephen Woodford, chief executive officer for the AA, says this new Taskforce comes at a critical time for AI globally. The association has brought together representatives from across its membership to create a coordinated policy approach due to the rapid changes AI is bringing to the world. VCCP London, which offers a range of services including retail experiences, out-of-home (OOH) advertising, and branding/design services has become part of the latest Taskforce in order to help guide the changes happening in the industry. Alex Dalman, managing partner and head of Social & Innovation at VCCP, comments: “We believe that AI can unlock tremendous potential in advertising and marketing, and that generative AI in particular will be an accelerator of human creativity and innovation, but we also believe that it must be used responsibly.” Print and signage might soon be affected more and more by AI By Carys Evans By Carys Evans By David Osgar AI Taskforce created by AA
email: news@signlink.co.uk 7 INDUSTRY / NEWS Issue 250 - December 2023 / January 2024 Editorial: 0117 980 5040 Sales: 0117 960 3255 Between October 1st and October 4th, 2023, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the scrapping of the Manchester leg of the HS2 project to focus money and resources on other transport projects. Stephen Phipson, chief executive of Make UK has described the decision as “deeply frustrating”. HS2 was largely seen as a way of better connecting the North and South divide, which would create better ways for the likes of signage businesses to work throughout the UK and also source materials in a more practical way. Make UK ‘frustrated’ by HS2 Gov decision Positive impact of OOH A report by PwC has revealed that 46% of revenue spent on out-ofhome (OOH) goes back into the local community. The report, commissioned by Outsmart, found that the industry has invested around £1.1bn in public infrastructure, with £411m being contributed in 2021 to services, communities, and employees. This investment includes the installation and maintenance of structures like bus shelters and phone boxes, including those that do not include advertising. Broader economic contribution includes the employment of around 2,000 people and around £202m in rent and revenue being invested and re-circulated into the economy. Following the success of the inaugural Sign Awards in March of this year, the freshly named Sign & Wrap Awards will take place on February 26th, 2024. 50% more sign and graphics companies submitted their entries to this year’s awards before the extended December 8th deadline. The Sign & Wrap Awards will take place on the evening of the second day of SDUK (Monday 26th). This year’s event has expanded to cover new categories in signage as well as vehicle wrapping and architectural film installation. Sign & Wrap Awards sees 50% entry increase Bristol-based 2601 recently helped a local school bring history to life with new graphics with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). The school wanted a timeline that was factually accurate and clearly illustrated the length of time of each era compared to the modern day. Using history books and online photo libraries, 2601 mapped the length of time from 7000BC through to modern day over 32m of wall space and incorporated a 3D chiselled effect. The design needed to illustrate how people lived, what their leaders were like, and what they wore, and Nigel Davies of 2601 explains that it was almost impossible to find stock images that corresponded with these requirements. Instead, the company utilised online digital image generation and found that it could get extremely close to the specification without compromising on quality. 2601 also used AI to generate the copy in a style that tenyear-olds would understand, which Davies describes as 90% perfect with just a bit of tweaking needed for the final text. The graphics were produced using specialist wall vinyl printed on 2601’s HP Latex with Foamex panels over the top printed on a Mimaki flatbed. A world map was also printed on a single piece on the company’s 3.2m Mimaki. The project took six months to plan and design and saw 2601 use AI in the design process AI brings history to life for school Co-locating alongside Printwear & Promotion LIVE! following the purchase of the event by Datateam, Sign & Digital UK (SDUK) will debut its first Sunday date on February 25th. Organisers of the three-day event, traditionally held midweek, say the Sunday date will make the event more accessible for small business owners without losing valuable business time. The co-locating shows will be held from Sunday, February 25th to Tuesday 27th in two halls with a link between them, meaning visitors can easily browse from one event to the next without needing to exit and re-enter through different entrances. Currently listed on the floor plan are names such as Roland DG, Epson UK, Premier Paper, Soyang Europe/Josero, Vivid Laminating Technologies, and Quality Print Services. A popular feature of 2023, the Explains Lounge and Sign Surgery hosted by ISA-UK will return featuring a full programme of presentations and panel discussions presented in a theatre-style setting. Sign & Digital UK will see its 35th edition hosted on a Sunday for the first time due to co-locating with Printwear & Promotion LIVE! Registration for SDUK 2024 now open The Museum of London has asked the public to suggest popular city signage from both past and present to be used in a 2026 exhibition. Titled ‘Hanging Out’ the event will draw from the museum’s own collection and focus on signs from the last 80 years that represent London’s many communities and social diversity. Hanging Out will be a permanent installation planned for the new London Museum which is currently being updated before its 2026 opening. The museum will be open early and close late to reflect London’s 24-hour character and allow school children and the local community to benefit from the space. Desired signs will be a minimum of 50 x 50cm and from venues like (but not limited to) sports venues, cinemas, theatres, cafes, pubs, music venues, and social shops. The installation will be part of the ‘Our Time’ section of the museum which will explore London in living memory. The Museum of London has now closed its London Wall site in preparation for its 2026 relocation Museum of London seeks historic signage By Carys Evans
BUSINESS / NEWS 8 www.signlink.co.uk signlink signlink signlinkmagazine As the year draws to a close, The Sign Group has reflected back over the past year at some of its achievements and business moves from the past 12 months. The team headed to the Visual Merchandising and Display Show in London in April where it exhibited its award-winning Neonplus product. In addition to its signage products, The Sign Group has begun a partnership with CarbonQuota to aid in its journey to become net zero. The summer months saw directors Grey Hoole and Anthony Lowe treat the team to a Mr. Whippy Van as well as a BBQ on an unexpectedly sunny September afternoon. The team also held a coffee morning for Macmillan with staff donations raising £100 which the company matched to make a total of £200. Every year, the business branches out into new fields and launches new products. Each November, the company also offers a 20% discount for orders to be delivered in January. This keeps the team busy over the slower months running up to Christmas and offers savings to new and repeat customers. A standout moment of 2023 was a mammoth job for Ladbrokes Live which was developed in collaboration with Neverland Creative and Taylor Bennett. Measuring in at 3m x 2m, the project incorporated a mix of Neonplus and Neon Flex and was produced for an executive box at the O2 London Arena. Finally, a partnership with the Strategic Growth Programme in recent years has led to an optimised sales strategy, expanded workspace, and additional roles. Reflecting on a year of pride and passion The Sign Group produced this signage for Ladbrokes Live with the finished product placed in an executive box at the O2 London Arena Imageco receives a £45K machinery grant Imageco has a total staff of 28 after recently employing new entry-level employees Leeds-based company, Imageco, has been granted £45,000 by Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) as a result of its hard work in the community. A specialist in wide-format and sustainable print, Imageco has been involved in many large projects over the past year including working with Dr. Martens stores across Europe. The business was also a key player in helping with the rejuvenation of Leeds City Centre 2020 as well as the Leeds United Centenary Collection. Nathan Swinson-Bullough, managing director for the company, comments: “The grant will allow us to further our investment into creating new jobs, growth, and sustainable business development for our company. “We would like to say a massive thank you to the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership for granting us this funding.” MacroArt, a UK-based wide-format print, graphics, and branding specialist, has announced a new acquisition deal with US company, Moss. Moss, which is based in Chicago, Illinois, is a producer of premium graphics, complex structures, and custom installations for brand experiences. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed but the move does highlight Moss' strategy to build more sustainable, high-quality brand experiences for customers. Senior leadership at MacroArt, including managing director Michael Green, will remain the same and Moss will work with the company to expand the portfolios of both businesses. The MacroArt team will report to Moss president and CEO, Jason Popp. MacroArt acquired by US display company Moss Signage manufacturer, Astley, has detailed its recent visit from local cabinet member for Economy, councillor Malcolm Brain along with Craig Harrison from Gateshead Council’s Business, Employment & Skills, Economy, Innovation & Growth team. Astley was identified by the council as a company of interest due to its involvement in recruitment and apprenticeship programmes in Gateshead. Councillor Brain was provided with a comprehensive overview of the company’s operations, recent achievements, as well as its future endeavours. The visit included a tour of the custom-built facility which had just produced the iconic Tyne Bridge Great North Run (GNR) signs for a tenth year. Astley caught the attention of local dignitaries due to its recruitment and apprenticeship programmes The senior teams at MacroArt and Moss will work closely to expand both companies' portfolio Astley welcomes local dignitaries to its HQ Provider of software solutions for branded merchandise businesses, Inktavo, has acquired sign shop management software platform SignTracker. Described as a significant milestone for Inktavo, the acquisition will expand the company’s suite of solutions specifically for the needs of the sign industry. As a result of the acquisition, Inktavo customers can benefit from SignTracker’s powerful management tool that centralises all aspects of sign shop operations such as project tracking, job costing, estimating, and invoicing. By providing a holistic solution, SignTracker simplifies workflow, increases efficiency, and boost productivity. Inktavo will now focus on enhancing SignTracker’s features enabling it to drive innovation and improve the user experience for sign shop owners. Inktavo acquires SignTracker Inktavo says it is committed to providing a seamless transition for existing SignTracker customers By Carys Evans Issue 250 - December 2023 / January 2024
Editorial: 0117 980 5040 Sales: 0117 960 3255 BUSINESS / NEWS email: news@signlink.co.uk 9 Perspex Distribution is celebrating 20 years of business having opened its first branch in Chelmsford, Essex in October 2003. Since then, it has expanded its product range and branch locations and diversified into a range of UK industries such as signage and print, construction, and precision fabrication. Two years after launching, Perspex had expanded to three branches and offered distribution across large areas of the UK. In the years that followed, two additional branches were added with the latest being the Group’s largest branch in Leeds which opened in 2016. This expansion has meant that the company’s five branches across the UK now service a range of new markets such as wide-format print and lighting. The areas Perspex has earned a reputation in over the years include UK manufactured products such as being the UK’s exclusive distributor of Perspex acrylic. Customer service and sustainability are other areas that Perspex has earned a reputation for having developed its range of sustainable materials over the past two decades. Looking to the next 20 years, the company says it will maintain its focus on growing this range as it works closely with manufacturing partners and the wider industry. Perspex was founded in October 2003 with its branch in Chelmsford, Essex Perspex Distribution celebrates 20 years By Carys Evans STAHLS’, a GroupeSTAHL company, which manufactures, develops, and distributes custom heat printing technologies, has acquired software company, Fulfill Engine. A prominent software technology company specialising in order fulfilment, supply chain management, and e-commerce store integration, the acquisition of Fulfill Engine promises to elevate the operation efficiency of sellers and custom garment production centres. Described as a significant milestone for both companies, the acquisition offers a fully automated production solution that vertically integrates the various areas of apparel customisation. According to STAHLS’, the acquisition of Fulfill Engine will create a technologically advanced and globally connected network that caters to automated heat print on demand and third-party logistics. “This acquisition aligns perfectly with our commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions to the apparel customisation industry,” says Carleen Gray, chief executive officer of STAHLS’. “Together, we are poised to simplify and optimise every step of the process, delivering unprecedented efficiency and scalability to our valued customers.” [L to R] Ted Stahl, executive chairman of the board of GroupeSTAHL and Jayson Tompkins, chief executive officer and founder of Fulfill Engine STAHLS’ acquires Fulfill Engine By David Osgar Allen Signs has expanded its workforce during a period of growth with the recruitment of three new team members. Liam Cross joined the team in January as a business administrator apprentice and in the past month, the company has added a further three new employees to the team. Laura Turner has joined as sales and marketing executive whilst Ben Stewardson and Sophie Grant have joined as graphic designers. Turner will manage the internal marketing for Allen Signs and will look after the digital presence with strategic activities to market the business as well as the overall growth plan and business objectives. Alongside this, she will support the sales team. Stewardson and Grant have been brought on board to look after the rapidly increasing requests for design work which will enable Allen Signs to complete jobs more efficiently. Founded in 1965, Allen Signs supplies and installs roller banners, A-frames, flags, window decals, building signage, and more. [L to R] Laura Turner, Ben Stewardson, and Sophie Grant have all recently joined Allen Signs Allen Signs expands team due to growth By David Osgar FaberExposize has announced the expansion of its UK operations, which it says has been done to meet the increasing needs of its clients. The company is a producer of printed fabrics and has won a number of awards within the industry including Wide-Format Printer of the Year (30+ employees) at the UK Graphic Awards. With the acquisition of the 5,000sq ft unit next door, FaberExposize UK will have additional space to increase production capacity where it can integrate efficient workflow and innovative technology. FaberExposize UK expands into new site Dragon Group sponsors anniversary game Dragon Signs and Colour Studios, two businesses under the Dragon Group umbrella, sponsored the Anniversary Game of the University of Bath and Cardiff Metropolitan University. The game took place at The Rec in Bath and marked the University of Bath being granted its Royal Charter on October 25th, 1966. The sponsorship was particularly meaningful as Colour Studios, based in Radstock, has a long relationship with the University of Bath, while Dragon Signs has a link to Cardiff Met due to being based in Wales’ capital city. Crystal Display Systems (CDS), a designer, distributor, and reseller of flat panel displays, has announced the acquisition of Craft Data Limited, a company with a 40-year-long history in the display industry. Via the acquisition, CDS aims to elevate the experience of both companies' clients by combining their resources, knowledge, and passion for the industry. Craft Data was established in the early days of electronic displays becoming the representative/distributor for several Far East manufacturers of flat panel displays and thermal printers. Craft Data acquired by Craft Display Systems Issue 250 - December 2023 / January 2024
KIT & MEDIA / NEWS 10 www.signlink.co.uk signlink signlink signlinkmagazine Supplied by SOS, PDS Print has installed two new machines: a Xenons X-180 hybrid flatbed/ roll-fed wide-format printer and an Almedia B8-2513 digital cutter. With roots in litho production, PDS first entered the wide-format sphere by investing in a solvent-based Roland rollto-roll machine from SOS five years ago which it used to produce posters and banners. This was a success with the machine running 24 hours a day. In need of extra capacity, PDS sought a hybrid machine to enable it to produce direct to materials such as correx, but also to meet demand for roll-fed work. Whilst the cost was low, PDS Print director, Gordon Bryan, says that the quality has remained high with the machine performing “perfectly since day one, no matter what we have thrown at it”. Colour accuracy was a main concern of PDS and the machine has been calibrated to match the output of its other devices. PDS Print director, Gordon Bryan, with the new Xenons X-180 hybrid printer purchased from SOS PDS Print invests in two machines Signbox, a provider of environmental graphics, wayfinding, and interior signage, has invested in a new Nyala 4 flatbed printer from swissQprint. The company was founded in 1985 and has developed a reputation for helping brands through transformations that combine different signage solutions. Signbox has seen success at the likes of the FESPA Awards, the UK Graphic Awards, and the Sign Awards 2023. SwissQprint, a privately owned Swiss manufacturer of large-format printers, has seen a number of installations recently at companies such as Imageco, MacroArt, and Stylographics. Pete Smallwood, sales manager at swissQprint, says: "Our collaboration with Signbox has been fantastic and we are delighted to have been able to meet their very high expectations. “The combination of the Nyala's innovative print capabilities alongside Signbox's focus on constantly pushing boundaries will continue to inspire customers and help bring spaces to life." Signbox decided to make the latest investment due to increased production volumes and a need for a machine that could support the high expectations of its clients. The Nyala 4 gives Signbox the chance to use its nine colour channels, opting for spot orange as one of its selected colours in order to achieve an extended gamut in red and orange tones. Signbox has worked on many workplace fitouts and architectural projects in the UK Signbox invests in Nyala 4 flatbed Manufacturer of recycled paper honeycomb, Dufaylite, has announced the launch of two new 2D Ultra Board products. Ultra Board 2D and 2D white are thinner versions of traditional Ultra Board and are available in 6mm thickness with a traditional brown honeycomb centre or white core. The products have been made to be used for retail displays, signs, and boards to be used on the wall, hanging, or as directional signage. With a standard sheet size of 2440mm x 1220mm its thickness means more sheets can be delivered per pallet making the UK-manufactured product even more sustainable than before. The products will be available to buy through Dufaylite’s exclusive distribution partner Premier Paper Group, which currently stocks, sells, and delivers Dufaylite’s paper honeycomb products across the UK. Brad West, director of Wide Format Media & Business Development at Premier, comments: “The introduction of the 2D Ultra Board is another breakthrough development for our partnership with Dufaylite.” Dufaylite is Carbon Neutral, FSCcertified, and holds an AA BRCGS Global Food Safety Standard Dufaylite introduces 2D Ultra Boards Ultima Displays, a company with 20 years’ experience of providing creative display solutions in Europe has released a new solution for quick and easy event graphics. FASTFRAME is an alternative to roller banners, standard popups, and exhibition stands which can be connected, stacked, and endlessly reconfigured to achieve eye-catching displays. As events and exhibitions can often require quick turnarounds FASTFRAME has been advertised as a more sustainable solution that can be used multiple times. Ultima Displays debuts new FASTFRAME product WisePrint hails “pivotal” Verve 2513 purchase Birmingham-based WisePrint Solutions has revealed that its investment in a ColorJet Verve 2513 flatbed LED UV printer from Quality Print Services (QPS) has allowed it to access more work within the events sector. Purchased in May, the machine has been used to produce everything from tailored event backdrops to customised dancefloors. WisePrint managing director, Vipan Sadhra, highlighted the printer’s ability to print directly onto a wide range of rigid surfaces including wood, glass, leather, and ceramic tiles as a key factor in the decision to invest. UK-based signage and livery company, Allen Signs, is the first business to invest in Fujifilm’s Acuity Prime Hybrid. Released earlier this year, the Hybrid is able to handle both rigid and flexible media and it was the machine’s versatility and economic ink consumption that attracted Allen Signs. Managing director, David Allen, says: “We sought the Acuity Prime Hybrid as an opportunity to explore the Fujifilm brand further. The printer has now allowed us to carry out normal production with minimal issues and excellent quality and ink performance.” Allen Signs invests in Acuity Prime Hybrid Issue 250 - December 2023 / January 2024 Carys Evans David Osgar David Osgar
ENVIRONMENT / NEWS email: news@signlink.co.uk 12 The Sign Group partners with CarbonQuota Leeds-based sign manufacturer, The Sign Group, has begun working with carbon footprint assessment specialist, CarbonQuota, to reduce its carbon emissions. The company, which also owns brands such as Neonplus and WeLoveLeds, first began partnering with CarbonQuota in July where it had a full carbon footprint assessment as part of its journey towards netzero. Keen to demonstrate transparency and to reduce its emissions and in turn support its clients to do the same, The Sign Group wanted an accurate measurement of its carbon emissions from 2021 to 2022. This is to enable the company to identify where it can reduce its environmental impact. The assessment by CarbonQuota found The Sign Group’s total carbon footprint for the reporting year of 2021/2022 to be at 36 tonnes CO2e. The Sign Group’s adoption of 100% renewable energy in 2017 was noted as already having made a significant impact, returning zero contribution to this footprint for electricity. The report provided an overview of the company’s operational carbon footprint, focusing on energy consumption and processes controlled within the facilities, and included 30 initiatives for energy efficiency and carbon reduction. Grey Hoole, managing director of The Sign Group, comments: “Over time we have attempted the somewhat daunting task of reducing our environmental impact, such as switching to 100% renewable energy, recycling the majority of our plastic and aluminium waste, and developing lower energy and more robust signage through our UKCA and British Standards Institute (BSI) certified Neonplus products. “In early 2023, our board and management team felt that it really was time to bite the bullet so to speak. The most logical next step on our sustainability journey was to engage a specialist to accurately measure our operational footprint. It meant we would know exactly where we stood, could transparently report to our customers, and plan ongoing emissions reduction work.” World-first breakthrough in textile recycling Project Re:claim, a joint venture between corporatewear specialists Project Plan B and Salvation Army Trading Company (SATCoL) has unveiled plans for the first commercial-scale, post-consumer recycling plant. SATCoL, which is the trading arm of the Salvation Army charity, has formed a joint venture with Project Plan B having successfully recycled polyester textiles back into raw materials. The new plant will recycle around 2,500 tonnes in its first year of operation and look to increase to 5,000 in year two. The technology creates polyester pellets which have been successfully turned into yarn. Tim Cross, chief executive officer at Project Plan B, says: “Polyester textile recycling is one of the biggest opportunities to reduce the harmful impact of producing garments and this new technology is the first proven commercial scale system that has been designed to cope with the challenges of recycling post-consumer clothing.” The Project Re:claim technology is a thermo mechanical recycling process known as a Thermo Mechanical Extrusion Recycler (TMER) machine. It will recycle polyester garments, and other manufacturing offcut textiles into rPET pellets made from textiles. The exclusive recycling system, developed by Project Plan B, is based on plastic bottle recycling and will help SATCoL at one of its processing centres, which processes around 65,000 tonnes of donated textiles every year. Previously there was no post-consumer polyester recycling scheme with the UK producing over half a million tonnes of polyester textile waste every year (research from WRAP), with only 1% of textiles in the UK being recycled (Ellen MacArthur Foundation). The initiative believes that workwear is a key target area of the project due to the two-year average lifespan of uniforms. Majonne Frost, head of Environment & Sustainability at SATCoL, concludes: “In preparation for full production, we are currently seeking 100% polyester textiles such as used hotel linen or post-event promotional banners.” SATCoL and Project Plan B are calling on businesses and end-users to donate textiles like promotional banners for a new recycling scheme By David Osgar The Sign Group has utilised CarbonQuota to assess its carbon emissions and move closer to its net-zero goals By Carys Evans Issue 250 - December 2023 / January 2024 www.signlink.co.uk
PEOPLE / NEWS 14 Issue 250 - December 2023 / January 2024 www.signlink.co.uk Former senior employee of HP, Nick Hollis, is preparing to row across the Atlantic Ocean as part of the 721 Challenge. Designed to raise awareness of climate change, the 721 Challenge will see Hollis take part in a gruelling test of endurance through a series of extreme trials. These include scaling the seven largest peaks in the world, skiing to both the North and South poles, and rowing over 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean. Hollis worked at HP as both sales and business manager between 2003 and 2012 before leaving to pursue his passion for adventure. Now, HP is sponsoring its former employee’s challenge and has linked Hollis up with long-time HP technology user, PressOn. The company used HP Latex R2000 and HP Latex 3600 printers to produce specialist decals for the boat Hollis will row in with the logos and names of his supporters. HEXIS THE190EVO vinyl was used for the graphics which were laminated with HEXIS PCI90G2. These materials will be recovered by PressOn following Hollis’ rowing challenge to be recycled. Former HP manager to row across the Atlantic Nick Hollis is attempting the gruelling challenge to support the World Land Trust of which he is an ambassador Customer service promotion at Drytac Drytac, an international manufacturer of adhesive-coated products, has announced a new promotion within its UK and Ireland division. Emily Butcher, who has been a customer service advisor with Drytac Europe for the past six years, will be taking on the role of customer service manager for the UK and Ireland. Butcher will take responsibility for overseeing the key relationship with its recently appointed exclusive UK and Ireland distributor, Premier Paper Group. The appointment is effective immediately and will see Butcher help expand and grow Drytac’s range of large-format materials for the print and signage markets. Hayden Kelley, chief executive officer at Drytac, says: “Emily’s unwavering commitment to customers, exceptional industry knowledge and outstanding interpersonal skills have made her a beloved figure among both customers and vendors alike.” A member of the company since November 2017, Butcher served as a customer service advisor with the Drytac Europe business for almost six years. The role saw Butcher work with customers across a range of markets to help them access products and solutions for their businesses. By Carys Evans Drytac says it has every confidence Butcher will excel in her new role as she helps the brand grow FaberExposize UK, a producer of point-of-sale (POS), event, and fabric signage, has recently welcomed Hollie Stothard as its new marketing manager. The business has previously been commended in the industry for its focus on talent and recruitment with many employees winning awards in the industry and rising through the ranks of the company, including the recently promoted Claire Taylforth, now operations director at FaberExposize UK. Originally from Hull, Stothard is a graduate of the University of Salford and started her career in Leeds working in packaging design for FMCG clients before moving into brand, digital, and social media management. Speaking about her new role, Stothard comments: "I'm excited to start a new chapter in my career within the print industry at FaberExposize. It's an exciting time to be joining the business with the expansion of the factory and devising the new marketing strategy that will help towards growing the business even further." Stothard has noted the strong sense of community in the industry as she has been warmly welcomed by everyone she’s met so far. Hollie Stothard joins FaberExposize UK FaberExposize UK has welcomed Hollie Stothard as its new marketing manager Imageco expands with the next generation Imageco, a wide-format print company based in Leeds, has recently expanded its team. The new recruits are Isabel Shanahan, Robert Lee, Calum Maltham, Josh Hargreaves, and Sam Fielding all of whom come from a variety of different backgrounds including hospitality and printing. With experience in 3D design Lee has joined the Imageco senior account management team to support its array of new clients. Shanahan has joined as the company’s latest Junior Mac Operator after recently completing her A-levels and will be working on Imageco’s pre-press work. Shanahan is also hoping to start a part-time degree in graphic design. Maltham has joined the team as a trainee account manager while Hargraves and Fielding will be working as trainee technicians. Nathan Swinson-Bullough, the company’s managing director, comments: “I think it’s incredibly important during this economic period to invest in young talent, especially within the manufacturing sector. Here at Imageco, we don’t think that qualifications are essential to being successful in the wide-format print industry and that sometimes the most talented people come from the least likely of places.” Nathan SwinsonBullough, managing director of Imageco says it is important to invest in young talent By David Osgar By David Osgar By David Osgar
18 Issue 250 - December 2023 / January 2024 www.signlink.co.uk UNDER THE HOOD / VIVID EASYMOUNT AIR EM-A1600SH Adding value is what we are constantly trying to do for our clients, whether they have asked us to make the upgrade or if we have chosen to do so in a bid to secure or enhance a relationship. The problem is that on most occasions, the added value we want to offer comes either as a subcontractor cost or requires some form of capital investment to purchase more equipment. Either way, these options cost more and then you are left with the conundrum of what to do with these costs – pass them on or take them on board yourself? Neither of these options are overly palatable. If your business model involves striving to keep things in-house, the route, if you are committed to adding this elusive extra value, is going to require capital investment. There is an increasing number of manufacturers that are coming to the market with equipment that has been deliberately designed to cover off the issue of costs, but still provide quality machinery. In looking for these manufacturers you can add the value you want and then you are left with a much smaller gap to fill between what it costs and what you can charge. It could be that you reach a breakeven point – Nirvana. Spoilt for Choice So, expanding on this further and with our thoughts turning to laminating, one of the manufacturers well-known in this arena is Vivid Laminating Technologies. The company has a wide range of laminators from models that take up only a small amount of space in an office up to hot laminators with a 2,100mm sheet width. Designed in-house, all the machines come with innovative features and functions, but the costs are not prohibitive and the footprint of even the largest machines is not such that you will not be able to find space for them in your workspace. Added to this, the effectiveness of all the machines Vivid produces is coupled with the use of quality products such as Boss pressure sensitive films meaning the finished product is going to satisfy the most demanding of clients. As an example, the Easymount Air EM-A1600SH has taken on some of the operation issues that are not untypical of laminators, that being the amount and consistency of pressure applied to the applicator roller. Vivid’s solution is to use pneumatic control to apply the required pressure and this has the advantage of being able to apply a very accurate and precise amount of pressure to films and substrates. Furthermore, should you be looking to laminate foam or soft fluted board, the roller can ‘float’ down to get the exact thickness between materials which then can be adjusted to the correct pressure. Taking all the guesswork out of the pressure not only makes the job considerably easier to complete but due to the accuracy of the setting, the production speeds are optimised and then increased. Not only is speed and production volume increased, but you can mount onto Foamex board from 1mm to 30mm in thickness. Previously this might have been a task you would have outsourced. The overall machine has a robust design Vivid has a wide range of laminating machines, one of the latest being the Easymount Air EM-A1600SH. Brian Sims takes a closer look at this machine’s construction and at some of its new features The Easymount Air EM-A1600SH has a pneumatic system that allows the pressure roller to be lowered smoothly to the most delicate substrates Finding Nirvana ▲ Swing-out arms allow for the swift and easy exchange of film and laminate rollers
the time the laminator is in production is at the maximum volume. There is an option of a take-up unit which adds further value to the machine and ease of use, a further option being a Brian Sims Principal Consultant, Metis Print Consultancy, www.metis-uk.eu making the deployment of large pressure rollers possible, which in turn ensures there is an even pressure across the vinyl or film. This ensures each job you run on the EM-A1600SH will be produced to the highest standard. Easymount, Easy Loading The EM-A1600SH has a new system designed to make the laminator even easier to use than in previous models. This model has a cleverly designed system to allow you to swing the laminate and vinyl reels from the machine to allow much easier loading of both. Whilst this might seem a minor change to the model, the amount of downtime this feature creates quite significantly increases the production volumes for the machine. The second upside of this feature is the ease at which the operator can make the change of film and making the machine easy to operate can only bring upsides to production. Along with the large pressure rollers and swing-out arm for the film, there is a release liner take-up system making the whole handling and application of the film or laminate quite an easy process. The operation of the EM-A1600SH is completed via a patented multilingual control panel which is laid out so it can be used with ease. The operation of the machine itself is completed using a foot pedal leaving the operator free with both hands to assist with the substrate or film. Vivid has used trusted features from its stable of laminators in the Easymount EM-A1600SH, a sensible idea meaning this new machine will continue to bring further success. Just one of these is the speed control and reverse mode; which ensure ▼ Large pressure rollers ensure there is an even pressure across the vinyl or film silent running compressor. We all probably know that compressors for smaller equipment can raise noise levels to annoying but not dangerous levels in a print shop. A small, neat maintenance-free silent compressor means the EM-A1600SH sits effectively doing what it does best without affecting the environment in which it is placed. Space Not Needed The Easymount Air EM-A1600SH is like all laminators from Vivid in as much as they are ergonomically designed for use but also with an eye on the space they need to take up. It is quite easy to design equipment which is a delight to use but takes up a lot of valuable space. This machine has a footprint of 2.1 x 0.65m and stands only 1.2m high meaning it can be easily placed in even the busiest of print shops. Should the laminator only need to be used on occasion, it is mounted on rollers making it easy to move and store. To further help with the ability of the EM-A1600SH to quietly fit in and around other equipment, the machine uses 240 volts at 50hertz so it can be moved and powered up without the need for electrical installation. Adding value is sought by both the client and supplier and with equipment such as this laminator it can be accomplished. 19 Issue 250 - December 2023 / January 2024 email: news@signlink.co.uk Laminating Speed (m/min) 10m Max. Width (mm) 1600mm Mounting Thickness (mm) 30mm Roller Diameter (mm) 130mm Film Core (mm) 77mm Statistics ► Not only are speed and production volume increased, but users can mount onto Foamex board from 1mm to 30mm in thickness UNDER THE HOOD / VIVID EASYMOUNT AIR EM-A1600SH
20 Issue 250 - December 2023 / January 2024 www.signlink.co.uk SWISSQPRINT: HAPTIC EFFECTS Haptic effects in printing have increased in demand throughout recent years, and that is likely to continue in 2024. This is driven in part by a shift in the retail signage industry, where businesses are searching for new and innovative ways to attract customers and create unique experiences. Haptics are about delivering an enriched sensory experience. The ability to recreate surface textures, from wood grain to brickwork and leather textures, means the resulting prints not only look like the real thing but also feel like it, offering a truly immersive experience. This fascinating approach to visual representation is reshaping the way we interact with images. A Big Breakthrough While swissQprint has been enabling relief printing for well over a decade, for a long time this feature was often an afterthought as traditional printing methods dominated the industry. However, in the last few years, there has been a breakthrough, and more customers are requesting it as part of their printer's setup. A huge part of that change has been driven by the art and art reproduction markets. The first big advancement with the technology was the ability to reproduce an oil painting, complete with its unique textures. Once that was achieved, the question became how far can this go? Part of why the industry found printing such effects a challenge was that traditional relief printing was often slow due to the layering process. Building up those effects takes time and requires many different layers – sometimes as many as 18. If it was to become a mainstay in the industry, speed would be a crucial factor, especially for braille effects. Building up the Braille Indeed, braille printing is another vital aspect of what swissQprint can do with haptic effects. To create high-quality braille, several factors come into play. The shape, size, and build of each braille dot must be precise. Achieving the right adhesion of braille dots is also crucial, as it directly relates to the substrate and ink properties. It is a meticulous and intricate process, involving many layers with varying levels of lamp power control to ensure the correct curing for each layer. SwissQprint's innovative machines provide helpful features that facilitate this process. Also, they have drastically reduced the time it takes to deliver haptic effects. Previously, it might have taken two or three hours to do a square meter of haptic printing, whereas for today's swissQprint machines, it can be completed in a commercially viable timescale and is opening the creative possibilities to a wide variety of applications. From braille to recreating an oil painting, new capabilities for haptic effects are being discovered on a regular basis. SwissQprint’s regional sales manager Steve Pridham looks at the rise of this and the technologies that are driving it Haptic printing requires a high degree of control and flexibility. Inks, their volume, and curing levels can vary depending on the desired output The Rise of Haptic Effects ▲ Haptic printing can produce various textures, diversifying print styles, as offered by MAP Group UK
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