Issue 251 - February / March 2024 www.signlink.co.uk ISE celebrates 20 years ▲ Integrated Systems Europe recently celebrated its 20th exhibition Page 18 ARC-UK doubles turnover ARC-UK Technologies has doubled its turnover over the past three years Page 12 Sportswear Pro 2024 We find out what to expect from the inaugural Sportswear Pro this March Page 30 Hollywood Monster We talk with director Andy McKenzie about the company’s operations Page 34 Finance & Funding We look at some of the funding sign companies have obtained and how Page 40 Epson uses renewable energy Epson Group has now switched to 100% renewable energy at all of its sites Page 26
3 NEWS Industry 06 HP's Mike Boyle gives us his trends and predictions for large-format print in 2024 Business 12 digital 18 applications 20 Kit & Media 24 Environment 26 events 30 SPECIALS Under the Hood: hp latex 630 32 Company Spotlight: hollywood monster 34 Under the Hood: swissqprint impala 4 38 finance & funding 40 industry tips 43 Adventures in signwriting 44 Sign Painters have been sharing their passion since 1975 through Letterheads meets sign and Digital UK 2024 46 women in sign 49 FEATURES digital & interactive signage 53 etching & engraving 59 We look at the latest developments and advice for those seeking to purchase this kit wall & floor graphics 63 textile & garment printing 67 CONTENTS Issue 251 February / March 2024 email: news@signlink.co.uk Issue 251 - February / March 2024 ISSN 2976-9213 IN THIS ISSUE 49 34 06 14 63 24 30
Issue 251 - February / March 2024 4 ISSUE 251 February / March 2024 email: news@signlink.co.uk signlink signlink signlinkmagazine GHOST SIGN CORNER: Shepherds Hall, Bath Bath is a city of national, and likely international, importance when it comes to ghost signs and its status as a world heritage site means that very little has been done in terms of development that would otherwise obliterate these fading relics. One example is Shepherds Hall. It was painted in the late 1920s when The Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds took over this building as their permanent lodge. They continued to meet here until relatively recently, and the organisation is still active as Shepherds Friendly, providing a variety of financial services as a mutual society. The blocked and shaded lettering is nothing special, and quite crudely executed in places, but what sets this sign apart are the pictorial elements. The pair of shepherd’s crooks that flank the building’s name add an artistic twist to the wall, and provide a simple visual representation of the building’s use. The sign is one of over 160 documented in the detailed book Ghost Signs of Bath by Andrew Swift and Kirsten Elliott. 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 Hello and welcome to SignLink February/ March! In this issue, we have plenty for you to sit back and enjoy from deep dives under the hoods of HP Latex and swissQprint machinery (P32 and P38), to a look back at how sign painters have been sharing their skills and passion since 1975 in our Sign Painting Corner column with Sam Roberts (P28). At the end of 2023 we paid a visit to Hollywood Monster’s HQ where we talked about all things sustainability, maintaining and nurturing customer relationships, and reducing bottlenecks in finishing (P20). We speak with three female business owners to find out what it was like to take the leap from employee to running the ship in our Women in Sign special for International Women’s Day this March 8th (P49); and we explore some of the funding sign companies have secured, helping them to accelerate and move into new areas on P40. Co-locating with Printwear & Promotion Live! for the first time, find out what you can expect to see at Sign & Digital UK this month on P46; and you can also read all about the recently wrapped Integrated Systems Europe exhibition in Barcelona which celebrated its 20th edition this year on P14. We’ll be sharing our coverage of the event over on our Sign7 YouTube video channel so keep your eyes peeled! I hope you enjoy this issue and please do get in touch with any news you have to share. EDITOR S NOTE Carys Evans Princes Street, Bath, UK
6 Issue 251 - February / March 2024 www.signlink.co.uk INDUSTRY / NEWS signlink signlink signlinkmagazine Peach Fuzz announced as the Pantone colour of 2024 The Color of the Year has become a yearly tradition from Pantone, with this year’s choice marking the 25th anniversary of the programme. Pantone is the industry-recognised colour authority and provider of colour language standards for the design and print communities. This year’s chosen colour is PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz which Pantone describes as “a velvety gentle peach whose all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body, and soul”. Previous colours of the year include Viva Magenta 18-1750, Classic Blue 19-4052, and Living Coral 16-1546. Peach Fuzz has been affiliated with the feeling of tactility, luxury, and warmth – all elements of interior design, home décor, hair and beauty, and packaging, in which the colour can be found in a variety of uses. Pantone says that the colour was chosen due to the current need for nurturing, empathy, and compassion in the world. Leatrice Eiseman, executive director at Pantone Color Institute, comments: “A cozy peach hue softly nestled between pink and orange, PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz brings belonging, inspires recalibration, and an opportunity for nurturing, conjuring up an air of calm, offering us a space to be, feel, and heal and to flourish from whether spending time with others or taking the time to enjoy a moment by ourselves.” Pantone’s colour of 2024 is Peach Fuzz. Image: PhotoIris2021 Whitespace Group, a company involved in live events, exhibitions, and brand experiences, has encouraged companies to join the Ban the Box campaign which calls on UK employers to remove obstacles for ex-offenders. Ban the Box asks for employers to remove the tick box asking about unspent criminal convictions from job application forms and to publicly commit to considering applicants’ skills, experience, and ability to do the job before asking about criminal convictions. To date, more than 145 employers with a combined workforce of about 918,000 have signed up to the campaign, including the entire Civil Service, Boots, and Ricoh. The Ban the Box campaign is run by Business in the Community (BITC), a business network comprised of purposeful leaders committed to changing businesses and lives. Whitespace says the initiative creates a fair chance for ex-offenders to compete for jobs and brings down the £18bn a year cost of reoffending. The campaign is encouraging UK employers to remove obstacles for ex-offenders By David Osgar Companies encourage others to ‘Ban the Box’ FESPA prepares for events this March FESPA has begun the countdown to its four co-located events taking place in Amsterdam, the Netherlands this March. With over 425 companies exhibiting the exhibition will be split into four co-located events: FESPA Global Print Expo, European Sign Expo, Personalisation Experience, and Sportswear Pro, all of which will take place at the RAI Amsterdam from March 19th to 22nd. FESPA has confirmed the inclusion of suppliers from textile, screen, and wide-format print such as Agfa, Brother, Colorjet India, Liyu International, Mimaki, Roland, Epson, and swissQprint. The exhibition will also see the return of the Personalisation Experience which had a large presence at last year’s show in Munich. In Addition, the inaugural Sportswear Pro will enable visitors to see solutions for direct-to-garment, direct-tofilm, embroidery, and heat transfer printing. FESPA has also given a positive look ahead for signage solutions at live events as it has confirmed this year’s European Sign Expo has already increased in size compared to last year with over 85 confirmed suppliers. Michael Ryan, head of FESPA Global Print Expo, says: “With the inclusion of signage, personalisation solutions, and technologies for sportswear production, visitors can immerse themselves in an abundance of creative and commercial opportunities that are directly relevant to their business.” FESPA was founded in 1962 in order to support the screen, digital, and textile print communities Nominees for The Sign & Wrap Awards have been announced after collecting nominations in the latter part of 2023. Taking place on Monday February 26th, the event is well placed alongside Printwear & Promotion Live! and Sign & Digital UK. Companies shortlisted at this year’s awards include many new entrants such as Blaze Signs, NES Solutions, Sign Reload, and Peach Design. Nominees for the Industry Champion award are Nicola Langston of DMA Signs; Patrick McGowan of Off the Wall Creative; Roy Cheesman of Reade Signs; and Matt Rutlidge of Signs Express. The Under 30 Employees Category has shortlisted Apogee Print, Ellis Signs, Goodwin & Goodwin, Graffiti Design, Off the Wall Creative, and Peach Design. This year’s nominees for the Young Signmaker Award are Cartner McDonald from Off The Wall Creative, Chloe Huckle from Peach Design, Dillon Hollinger from Sign Reload, and Jonny Bentley from TCB Designs. The Sign & Wrap Awards have shortlisted print, signage, and wrapping specialists By David Osgar Shortlist announced for awards
INDUSTRY / NEWS signlink signlink signlinkmagazine 8 Issue 251 - February / March 2024 www.signlink.co.uk HP's Trends and Predictions for large-format print in 2024 Against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty and fluctuating customer demand, print business leaders face a number of challenges in 2024. However, the large-format printing market continues to grow at a steady rate, with technology adoption and new application innovations powering progress. We see several trends that, if approached in the right way, represent opportunities for print service providers (PSPs) to truly thrive in the year ahead. Automating Workflows With 80% of businesses worldwide automating processes, automation is increasingly important as organisations continue to navigate macro issues such as labour shortages. Automation also boosts the speed print firms can operate at, improves the accuracy of projects, and identifies errors - enabling PSPs to find new ways to streamline operations. Whilst the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) is still emerging in the large-format sector, in the medium to long term, firms that have already implemented a highly automated infrastructure will be the ones most likely to benefit from AI-influenced advances in the future, such as predictive maintenance. Profitability Research shows that 85% of PSP customers now demand sustainable products and practices. For this reason, water-based and odourless inks will be sought after, allowing print professionals to say yes to a wider range of jobs, including sensitive indoor environments. The fact more than one in five printers sold in the large-format market is an HP Latex device, is proof that this trend is already well underway. Although progress has been made, the industry must continue to find alternatives to materials such as PVC by investing in new media and research to discover and elevate sustainable solutions. Greater focus will also be placed on the energy efficiency of printers, as well as extending the lifespan of hardware through easy recycling options when a device reaches end of life. Print and Protect Remote working prompted a rise in the volume and variety of malware attacks over the last four years. In an increasingly connected world, businesses will remain vulnerable. This is particularly true for small and medium sized businesses that have lower budgets and a lack of dedicated IT support. There is an opportunity to redesign and rebuild a digital ecosystem of tools that help businesses securely manage their end-point devices and data. Printers are often a forgotten endpoint, giving hackers a way into a network. However, with more security-conscious solutions on the market, like HP’s Wolf Security-enabled DesignJet range, SMEs will begin to turn the tide on cyber criminals. Personalisation Brands are seeking ways to differentiate themselves from competitors, while end consumers have shown appetite for personalised or ‘limited edition’ products and experiences. According to research by Sparks & Honey, the expected value of the personalised items market will reach $201bn (£158bn) by 2026, up 49% from 2021. Meanwhile, 70% of shoppers are willing to pay at least 10% more for customised or unique products. HP recently released a trends report which highlights that the digitally printed wallpaper market is predicted to grow at an annual rate of 23.6% until 2025, reaching a total value of $10.4bn (£8.2bn). With the right technology, print firms will be the enablers of this growing trend, and become trusted partners for brands. At a hardware level, firms will need digital print technology capable of handling a range of specifications, delivering short runs, and accommodating fast turnarounds. However, the ecosystem around the device will become even more key in 2024, ranging from the software firms are embedding to manage operations, to ensuring staff are upskilled to harness the latest tools coming to market. Transforming our World Print businesses have been evolving year on year, and turbulence in recent years has only accelerated the pace of change. Large-format print providers are displaying resilience and creativity, and the industry will continue to thrive this year in a more connected, automated, sustainable, and secure environment. Mike Boyle, Global Head of Large Format Go-To-Market at HP From automation and sustainability to personalisation and design, Mike Boyle, Global Head of Large Format Go-To-Market at HP tells us what he thinks the trends will be for large-format in 2024
BUSINESS / NEWS 12 www.signlink.co.uk signlink signlink signlinkmagazine Issue 251 - February / March 2024 MacroArt, a provider of wide-format branding and a part of Moss Global, has continued efforts to bridge the gap for young people looking for new career paths. By partnering with Inspire 2 Ignite, MacroArt is looking to provide mentoring, workshops, and guidance to individuals aiming to enrich their experiences and pave new careers. Inspire 2 Ignite, founded by Alex Hughes, is a local non-profit organisation set up to bridge the gap for NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) youths in the UK looking for employment opportunities. The organisation’s referral programme places young people in industries best suited to their interests and skill sets. Sam Squire, chief executive officer at Inspire 2 Ignite, says: “We are extremely excited about Inspire 2 Ignite and MacroArt aligning. The company works with some of the biggest brands in the world and has incredible humans who care in its team. “I’ve had the privilege of listening to how its culture has helped young people excel from alternative pathways and I believe it’s an ideal organisation to organically refer young people from the community to.” Inspire 2 Ignite boasts 27 champions, three of which are from MacroArt, from across its 22 network partners. The organisation’s unique way of interacting with young people is what led to MacroArt’s interest in Inspire 2 Ignite. Hughes and Squire visited MacroArt in January to talk to people across the business including its Early Career’s Ambassador team. Creating new career paths MacroArt says the partnership is a “natural fit” as it believes in nurturing talent and growing opportunities in print Josero to be unified under Soyang banner Soyang Europe has unified its operations and strengthened its brand through the renaming of Josero to Soyang Hardware. As a manufacturer and distributor of digitally printable wide-format and super wide-format media, Soyang Europe’s acquisition of Josero in May 2022 meant the company was also able to offer wide-format print production hardware. The company has confirmed hardware offerings will remain unchanged and customers will continue to experience the same level of service and knowledge from the team but now under the umbrella of Soyang Europe. At The Print Show 2023, Soyang/Josero announced it had been appointed as an approved reseller of Vivid Laminating Solutions’ VeloBlade range, demonstrating the company’s continued expansion of hardware and services. Other brands offered by the business include Fujifilm, Jetrix, Mimaki, Meevo, and Bubblefree. Soyang Europe’s head office and 70,000sq ft distribution centre is based in Accrington, Lancashire Portugal-based technical coated textile group, Endutex, has expanded its distribution into the UK with the acquisition of Ultraflex Europe. Founded in 1970, Endutex has production facilities in Portugal and Brazil and distribution branches in Spain, Poland, Czech Republic, and Germany. The company focuses on the production of polyurethane, PVC, acrylic, and silicone-coated media products up to five metres wide. This established distribution network along with a diversified product portfolio means that Endutex exports around 85%. Ultraflex Europe was founded in 1995 and has been selling large-format media since this area of print came about. In 2020, the company acquired Mayday Graphic Products and added litho customers and self-adhesive vinyl products to its portfolio. It was Ultraflex’s strong customer base, good market image, and knowledgeable staff and service that attracted Endutex, and the business will be rebranded to Endutex UK. Stock is available at Endutex UK’s 18,000sq ft Cambridgeshire facility as well as from Soyang UK. Endutex expands by acquiring Ultraflex Europe Ultraflex Europe has become a fully owned distributor for Endutex in the UK ARC-UK doubles its turnover in three years ARC-UK Technologies, a provider of digital print and document imaging services based in London and Dartford, has reported its investment in sustainability has led to a £1m investment after doubling its turnover in just three years. The company which provides vinyl displays and retail signage has increased turnover by 56% from £5.9m in 2021 to £9.2m in 2023. In 2022 ARC-UK said it was one of the first print businesses in the UK to work towards having a carbon net zero headquarters by creating a 30,000sq ft multi-million-pound facility in Dartford. The company also worked with property and investment company, Landsec, to form a strategic partnership to reduce carbon emissions and help support the local council’s carbon neutral strategies. In order to do this the two companies worked together to create neutral print production at Landsec’s major retail destinations in Leeds, Dartford, London, Somerset, Hertfordshire, Portsmouth, Oxford, Cardiff, Essex, and West Yorkshire. ARC-UK says it has witnessed rapid business growth in recent years due to its sustainability and print credentials. ARC-UK is the second in the UK to install a Fujifilm Acuity Prime Hybrid LED By Carys Evans By David Osgar By David Osgar
BUSINESS / NEWS signlink signlink signlinkmagazine 14 www.signlink.co.uk Issue 251 - February / March 2024 PrintClever launches DTG factory PrintClever, a print company based in Swindon, Wiltshire, has reported it is on track for a turnover of £8m after launching a direct-to-garment (DTG) factory in which around 3,000 garments are produced each day. Following investment of around £500,000 into its premises including the purchases of multiple high-end pieces of machinery, the founders are proud of the “incredible journey” they have experienced in expanding the company after its big step into the DTG market. Starting out as a small business operating from a home garage, the business now operates from a large factory which employs 80 members of staff which increased to 130 over the festive period to deal with seasonal demand. Since its expansion, the team has achieved major deals with household names, music corporations, gaming companies as well as a Hollywood film studio. Founder and chief executive officer Ryan Acres, comments: "Back in March 2022, we took a bold step forward into the direct-to-garment industry, buying our first Brother machine. "Fast forward 20 months and we've really made our entrance into the market, becoming one of the UK's largest print-on-demand garment manufacturers. It's been an incredible journey.” The company invested in various folding, embroidery, and pre-treatment machines as well as four Brother GTX Pro Bulks and four Brother GTX600s. PrintClever has experienced a number of challenges over the past eight years Resolute has announced an exclusive partnership with Image Armor to bring its direct-to-film (DTF) inks to the UK and EU. Produced in North America, the Image Armor DTF inks contain no ethylene glycol meaning they are a more environmentally friendly solution. However, quality is said to be maintained with the white ink in particular said to boast “remarkable opacity”. The inks also feature built in anti-clogging technology which ensures both a smoother printing process and reduced head cleans. As a result of the partnership, the Image Armor DTF inks are included in Resolute’s range of preferred inks. “Our commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions to the printing industry has led us to partner with Image Armor,” says Colin Marsh, managing director of Resolute. “Its DTF inks align perfectly with our mission to offer our customers the best, ensuring their prints are not only vibrant but also environmentally conscious.” [L to R] Brian Walker, chief executive officer of Image Armor and Colin Marsh, managing director of Resolute Resolute brings DTF inks to UK and EU with Image Armor Record 2023 for swissQprint UK SwissQprint UK has celebrated a record year within the company as it saw an increase in sales and installations as well as new recruitments in the business. At the start of 2023, swissQprint delivered its first Kudu at MediaCo Group’s manufacturing site in Trafford Park, Manchester. MediaCo selected the machine due to its ten colour channels and CMYKLcLm ink setup. SwissQprint also installed its 100th machine in the UK at Stocksigns in Redhill, England. Investing in an Impala 4, Stocksigns had been using a first-generation Impala since 2010, the 15th swissQprint machine to be installed in the UK at the time. Since the arrival of the award-winning Kudu in swissQprint’s headquarters, the business has reported a ‘raft’ of demonstrations and six machines installed during 2023. In order to support the company’s new level of support and installations three new recruits have also joined the UK team. Yaroslav Kovalev and Kevin Hart, who are based in London and Manchester respectively, have both brought a significant amount of print and technical knowledge to the business in order to help customers with any complex queries. Bringing his experience of art working and design, Simon Payne has also joined the business in the applications team as a print solutions specialist. SwissQprint and the team from Stocksigns in front of their latest swissQprint Impala 4 FASTSIGNS Bolton has helped a family-run bakery chain to broaden its reach nationwide with new branding. Since being founded in Bolton in 1938, Carrs Pasties has expanded with several stores and resellers throughout the Northwest as well as newer locations in Nottingham, Birmingham, and Hereford. The bakery is endorsed by several Northern celebrities and even released a Cheese, Ham, and Chilli Jam pasty in partnership with Aardman studios to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers. FASTSIGNS Bolton assisted the company with several site surveys across the UK to establish the feasibility of the Carrs Pasties brand launching into other parts of the UK. The team designed, manufactured, and installed a full suite of branding solutions including bollard covers, window graphics, sign trays, and custom magnetic packs for pasties warmers. This project landed the Project of the Year Award at the 2023 annual FASTSIGNS convention. The work to increase Carrs’ brand awareness has led to increased sales and customer growth FASTSIGNS Bolton supports bakery By David Osgar By David Osgar
18 www.signlink.co.uk Issue 251 - February / March 2024 DIGITAL / NEWS signlink signlink signlinkmagazine ISE celebrates 20th anniversary Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), an exhibition which features solutions in the sectors of digital signage, content distribution, sound, and education/ muti-technology celebrated its 20th anniversary in Barcelona last month. The show took place between January 30th and February 2nd in Fira Barcelona’s Gran Via venue which is said to be one of the largest and most modern fair venues in Europe. The location consists of eights halls and expanded in 2024 with the construction of a new two-storey building. The venue was designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Toyo Ito and is situated between Barcelona and L’Hospitalet del Llobregat with close proximity to the Barcelona airport and the local public transport network. Celebrating its 20th show, ISE predicted the 2024 exhibition to be its largest and most engaging yet. The show took place across eight halls with organisers hoping to see the highest number of visitors ever recorded at ISE. Features of the show included a 700sq m Drone Arena giving visitors the chance to fly a drone around a specially built obstacle course for the chance to be entered in a special prize draw. The ISE Audio Museum provided visitors with different examples of audio history including Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of The Moon PA. Vistors could also experience a range of tech tours, keynote speakers, and the ISE Time Tunnel which displayed 20 years of technology developments at ISE. Speaking about the show’s reputation for innovation and global solutions ahead of the 2024 event, Mike Blackman, managing director of Integrated Systems Events, said: “With more than 1,200 confirmed exhibitors and the biggest ever show floor space, attendees will have plenty of opportunities to discover groundbreaking innovations at ISE 2024. “In addition, our comprehensive content programme gives a platform to more than 100 of the industry's most innovative representatives." Blackman added that the events' keynotes "impressively demonstrate how AV is shaping our daily lives". With more and more event, marketing, and signage companies providing varied, immersive, and multifunctional live experiences, ISE provided many within the industry with inspiration, new business relationships, and the opportunity to find new ways to integrate different media solutions. The seven extended technology zones included Audio, Content Production & Distribution, Digital Signage and digital out-of-home (DOOH), Lighting and Staging, Multi-Technology, Residential & Smart Building, Unified Communications & Education Technology. Exhibitors at the show included UK-based companies such as NowSignage, BrightSign, and PPDS. Other big brands and businesses included Colorlight, Absen, LG, Samsung, Sony, Vestel, Sharp/NEC, and Canon Europe. Attractions also included Congress Square and the Discovery Zone which featured more than 70 companies showcasing new innovations in technology while the new Plug and Play platform enabled startups, corporations, government agencies, venture capital firms, and universities the chance to connect. The show took place between January 30th and February 2nd in Fira Barcelona’s Gran Via venue By David Osgar The professional AV and systems integration exhibition, took place in Barcelona from January 30th to February 2nd and celebrated its 20th year
19 email: sales@signlink.co.uk Issue 251 - February / March 2024
20 www.signlink.co.uk Issue 251 - February / March 2024 APPLICATIONS / NEWS signlink signlink signlinkmagazine Oregon-based custom leather patches company, The Muddy Merch Co., has spoken of its creative use of Drytac’s MultiTac adhesive to produce bespoke hats. Outsourcing the production of patches to a local laser engraver, owners Kirsty and Greg Barton would glue and stitch on patches in their shop using contact cement or spray on adhesive which was time consuming. To address this the owners decided to use Drytac’s MultiTac permanent, high tack acrylic adhesive. Bespoke hats using Drytac's MultiTac InkTec Europe brands UK Atlantic Rowing Team InkTec has supported the Vibe the Wave rowing team to row across the Atlantic by providing branding for their boat using its latest UV DTF technology. Known as the World’s Toughest Row – Atlantic, the team rowed 3,000 nautical miles from La Gomera to Antigua. The UV technology combines UV-curable ink and special film to produce designs for a variety of substrates such as plastics, metal, board, and more. This enabled the graphics to be easily transferred onto the boat’s hard, smooth surfaces. MacroArt has wrapped a boat belonging to NFL team Kansas City Chiefs. The wrap was in commemoration of the Chiefs’ November clash against the Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt, Germany and MacroArt collaborated with American signage company, bluemedia, to produce the job. After planning that spanned from Kansas City to Pheonix, Arizona, to St. Neots, to Arnhem, Holland, and finally to Frankfurt, the MacroArt international crew of ten drove eight hours to Frankfurt to complete the three-day install. The project involved 1,500sq m of self-adhesive vinyl as well as Kansas City branded flags. MacroArt's touchdown with Kansas City Chiefs Building wrap specialist, Embrace Building Wraps, has recently undertaken a number of big projects that have aligned with its ethics regarding design, creativity, and the environment. One of its most recent installations took place at Merry Hill Shopping Centre near Birmingham where the centre has undergone a major transformation. Embrace wrapped the complex shape of the rear elevation in bright printed graphics for real estate group, Savills. The area needed attention while capital expenditure is considered for the renovation of the area which will hopefully match the exterior cladding installed to the rest of the building. Greg Forster, managing director at Embrace, says: “By working closely with the centre and its architects we have been able to find neat solutions that meet all the requirements entirely. The creative design is so bright, the colours really pop out, and the elevation has been completely transformed.” In August of this year, Embrace worked with furniture retailer IKEA on a printed scaffold banner at Oxford Circus in London. The installation includes a giant-scale representation of IKEA’s iconic IKEA FRAKTA bag which is being used to tee up the opening of the IKEA store next year. Requiring around 1,000 linear metres of scaffold tubes and 2,400sq m of printed PVC-free (Kavalan Sunlight Weldable) scaffold wraps the installation can be seen by around 1.3 million vehicles each month and 121,00 passengers each day. In order to offset the area of the banners Embrace funded the planting of 2,400 trees into its global forest as part of its relationship with Ecologi. The company has recently continued its environmental commitments with the conversion of a 4,000sq m printed building wrap into fuel energy with zero waste. The award-winning building wrap was originally installed in 2020 and covered Smallbrook Queensway SBQ in Birmingham. Since being removed it is the first project to be sent to Embrace’s waste management scheme of ‘waste to energy’ with waste management company, Reconomy. The IKEA project took seven months to complete from initial inception with agencies Mother London and HELO involved Embrace offsets impact of its mammoth projects Manchester-based signage business, Liberty Signs, has worked with Crafthouse Creations and Shadow Productions to fully dress a Puma pop-up shop at the time of the Manchester Half Marathon. The pop-up shop was created in just two days in order to support Puma’s sales and marketing activities during the marathon. In order to support the time-sensitivity and high-profile nature of the project, Liberty used easy to use and remove media products. Using a selection of Innotech products from the company’s vinyl range, including the VistaMAX3100GAE Greyback Air Escape Vinyl, Liberty was able to cover existing graphics with no show-through and air escapes for quick application. Will Smith, managing director of Liberty Signs, says: “The project required external and internal window graphics, floor graphics, wall coverings and other displays and features, including outdoor flags and a fully decorated treadmill. All in all, there were well over 100 items that needed installing, and we successfully delivered the entire pop-up shop in just a two-day timeframe.” Liberty Signs helps Puma pop David Osgar David Osgar Liberty Signs needed to provide over 100 items for the entire pop-up
KIT & MEDIA / NEWS 24 www.signlink.co.uk signlink signlink signlinkmagazine Issue 251 - February / March 2024 Simply Beautiful expands with Agfa As a result of increasing demand for dye-sublimation over the past few years, Simply Beautiful Print has invested in an Agfa Avinci CX3200 wide-format printer and a Klieverik Calender unit. Expanding into dye-sublimation production and finishing has seen the company invest over £300,000 including a 2,000sq ft mezzanine floor being added to its East Sussex facility, extending the total space to 6,500sq ft. The first floor now houses the stitching and finishing equipment meaning there is now space for the 3.2m Agfa machine and calender unit on the ground floor. Michael Tyrrell founded Simply Beautiful Print in 2011 from his home office following a career in print which began as a graphic designer in a screen printing business after leaving college. Starting out outsourcing all production, the company has grown to now reside in a facility that houses an Agfa Anapurna H3200i LED UV Printer, an Agfa Avinci CX3200 dye-sublimation printer, an HP 800W Latex printer and a Canon iGAF printer. The portfolio also includes a Kongsberg C64 Edge, Klieverik Calender, Neschen Coldlam laminator, CWT Application Table plus Sewing machine with conveyor line. Commenting on the investment, Tyrell says: “This growth hasn’t come overnight, and we have worked in a few smaller units over the years, including one we shared with an ambulance for a while. But we have grown steady and consistently, monitored the market and outsourced until we had the volume to bring it in-house. “We now have a loyal customer base that trust in us and we have a lot of capacity and are self-contained which is important as it means that we control both the timing and quality for our customers.” Tyrrell’s relationship with Agfa began in 2016 when he visited the manufacturer's headquarters in Mortsel, Belgium and was “blown away” by the size, scale, support, and quality of the technology. Major retailer invests in Vivid technology Major British multinational retailer, NEXT, has invested in a Veloblade Nexus and Zip Core Packaging Suite from Vivid Laminating Technologies. NEXT has approximately 700 stores in its portfolio with around 500 located in the UK and the remaining 200 located across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The brand’s in-house print department needed a new system for its own signage needs with its previous cutting system resulting in extended waiting times for support. As a result, NEXT has now partnered with Vivid and has invested in a Veloblade Nexus and Zip Core Packaging Suite. This technology has enabled the brand to take full control of its in-house production, save time, and benefit from substantial cost savings. Vivid has thanked Ricoh, a reseller of Vivid, for its instrumental role in making the sale possible with Ricoh a long-standing technology partner to NEXT. Over the years, Ricoh has supported the brand with innovative workflow and process improvement in its warehousing and storerooms as well as providing wide-format and cut-sheet print and finishing technology. The new Vivid technology will work alongside Ricoh Latex and UV flatbed technologies within NEXT’s in-house print department. Due to this, the system needed to be operable over three shifts, easy to use, able to cut various materials involving routing, and be reliable. Alongside Vivid’s technical support, the Veloblade Nexus meets all these criteria and enables applications to be easily prototyped and brought to production in just a matter of hours. Stephen Clarke, print services manager at NEXT, comments: “Vivid’s support is truly deserving of a fivestar rating. The company consistently goes above and beyond to ensure we have the best support when operating the Veloblade Nexus and Zip Core Packaging Suite. This level of support is truly invaluable to us.” British retailer NEXT has invested in Vivid’s Veloblade Nexus and Zip Core Packaging Suite for in-house print development By Carys Evans [L to R] James Argent of Agfa and Michael Tyrrell, founder of Simply Beautiful Print in front of the Agfa Avinci CX3200 By Carys Evans
Firstlite LED Systems, a supplier of LED modules to the UK signage industry, has introduced a new product range titled Infinity Neon LED. The products offer a cost-effective and sustainable signage solution for use in locations like restaurants, shops, salons, and homes. Products include plugand-play drivers designed for end-users, facilitating easy fitting without the need for an electrician. The range also includes a wide array of coloured tubing and reels which allows for customisation as well as light control via LED dimmers and controllers. Megan Woodcock, managing director of Firstlite, states: “This versatile and energy-efficient illumination option offers a sleek LED design that adds contemporary elegance to any space. Customers can purchase the Infinity Neon LED signage range by the metre, which reflects Firstlite's commitment to providing a cost-effective and environmentally conscious solution for businesses and homeowners alike.” Firstlite’s LED signs are manufactured using acrylic and an extensive range of products from Firstlite’s sister company, First Fix Plastics, which helps it deliver a onestop-shop signage system. Recently Firstlite added to the current debate regarding LED and traditional glass neon which has been a talking point in the industry due to the advertising and use of the word “neon”. In a blog post on the Firstlite website, Woodcock says: “As a supplier of LED signs, I am broadly in agreement with recent articles about how the naming of some LED products as neon is detrimental to the neon sign industry. Creating true neon signs is a craft, but sadly one that is very much in decline.” Firstlite launches new LED range Firstlite LED Systems has highlighted the environmental and cost benefits of the new LED range of products DMA Signs celebrates UK-first installation DMA Signs is the first company in the UK to have installed the HP Latex 630 DMA Signs was the first company to install the new HP Latex 630 Series purchased from Colyer which launched the Series at The Print Show 2023. Known for creating bespoke and unique signage solutions, DMA Signs needed a machine that fitted with its creative and customer-first approach. With a growing demand for sustainability DMA also needed an eco-friendly solution due to the increased adoption of eco-friendly prints and GreenGuard inks. Paul Lovelock, director of DMA Signs, says: “It’s great to be the first in the UK to have this machine. The Colyer engineer installed the machine with ease, and it was up and running within the day.” Ricoh Europe has partnered with flatbed and large-format digital inkjet manufacturer, Flora Digital in EMEA. The partnership will focus on expanding Ricoh Europe’s product range to offer responsive and agile large-format systems for the graphics, interior décor, and industrial sectors. According to Eef de Ridder, vice president of Ricoh Europe’s Graphic Communications Group, the partnership is the result of positive feedback from Ricoh’s UV flatbed series as well as continued demand for flexible UV hybrid devices for signage and graphics. The first addition to the portfolio as a result of the new partnership will be a compact flatbed hybrid printer featuring Ricoh printhead technology, ColorGATE RIP software, and ICC profiles. New additions from Ricoh Europe and Flora Digital Purchased from Quality Print Services (QPS), Inspire CNC Manufacturing has installed two new ColorJet Verve Mini LED UV printers. Specialising in novelty vintage street signage for the trade and general public, Inspire CNC was utilising CNC routers, laser cutters, and framing equipment, but only recently made the move to UV printing. These machines can print on a range of materials in thicknesses from 3mm to 22mm including glass, alupanel, MDF, and plywood. “The ColorJet machines have helped us to get a higher volume of product out, so we have been able to take on extra work that we wouldn’t have ordinarily been able to do,” says Andrew Whotton, director of Inspire CNC.” The new machines have increased production for Inspire CNC Manufacturing having only recently moved into UV printing Ricoh and Flora are partnering to bring largeformat hardware to the signage and graphics markets Two new LED UV installs for Inspire CNC Manufacturing Colgraphix UK, a provider of wide-format and digital dye-sublimation solutions, has been announced by Graphtec UK as a certified reseller for Mutoh sign and display flatbed and UV direct-to-object printers. In July 2023 Graphtec was appointed by Mutoh Europe as its UK distributor for its range of printers and consumables. The deal included the distribution of ValueJet machines, XpertJet Pro printers, and the industrial UV-LED flatbed PerformanceJet. Graphtec GB also distributes the award-winning series of direct-to-object UV LED machines including the new XpertJet 1462UF A1+ flatbed printer. ColGraphix UK will be delivering textile solutions as part of its overall offering which will include Mutoh wide-format and direct-to-object printers. ColGraphix UK announced as Graphtec UK Mutoh reseller ColGraphix UK is new to the UK market but has a large customer base of printing solutions By Carys Evans 25 email: news@signlink.co.uk Issue 251 - February / March 2024 KIT & MEDIA / NEWS Editorial: 0117 980 5040 Sales: 0117 960 3255
26 www.signlink.co.uk Issue 251 - February / March 2024 ENVIRONMENT / NEWS email: news@signlink.co.uk Epson commits to renewable electricity Epson has announced that all electricity used at Epson Group sites around the world will now be sourced from renewable sources. Epson says this makes it the first company in the domestic manufacturing industry to complete the transition to renewable electricity at all of its worldwide sites. The switch started in Japan where a number of industrial manufacturers are headquartered. The company committed to the switch in March 2021 and has since initiated the change throughout sites in Japan and then all remaining sites around the world. The Epson Group consumes approximately 876 GWh3 of electricity per year. By sourcing renewables to cover this demand, Epson expects to reduce its yearly carbon dioxide emissions by around 400,000 tonnes. Yasunori Ogawa, global president for Epson, says: “For eight decades, Epson has demonstrated a proactive approach to environmental action. We have maintained the founder's commitment to preserving the cleanliness of nearby Lake Suwa and became the world’s first company to eliminate CFCs [Chlorofluorocarbons] from our manufacturing processes. “Now we have successfully completed the switch to 100% renewable electricity at all Epson Group sites in just two years and ten months since declaring our commitment to doing so in 2021.” Epson Group has now switched to 100% renewable energy at all sites Producer of wide-format and superwide-format graphics, MediaCo, has announced a new solution for outdoor graphics. EnhanceAir Flex Face is a water-based photocatalytic clear coat which can be applied to flex face images to turn them into air purifi ers. The product has come about thanks to MediaCo’s ongoing work with PURETi and Convergent Print Group, which it announced a partnership with in 2023 in order to make retail advertising more ecofriendly. The company says it has already completed out-ofhome (OOH) campaigns using EnhanceAir for Uber Eats, Expedia, and Rolex ahead of the launch of EnhanceAir Flex Face. The pollution that EnhanceAir eliminates are NOx, a harmful indirect greenhouse gas, as well as Volatile Organic compounds (VOCs), which contribute towards smog, and organic surface grime, which often dirty outdoor graphics. MediaCo is offering the top coat to businesses in the UK (terms and conditions apply). MediaCo offers a range of products like POS, building wraps, site hoardings, and fabric graphics MediaCo announces new environmental coating Marsden Direct boosts eco goals Loughborough-headquartered Marsden Direct Group invested in a HP Latex R2000 Plus from Papergraphics in July 2022 and since then has reaped the sustainability rewards of the kit. Within Marsden’s global operations is an Expo Service print division as well as the Marsden Exhibitions events arm and retail marketing provider Luga Baruga. According to the company, a number of its customers which it services across the UK, Europe, the US, and Asia, are increasingly demanding environmentally friendly solutions from Marsden. In response to this, the company decided to replace all in-house production with a sustainable alternative to traditional methods that result in waste going to landfill or high carbon output. This is what led Marsden to invest in the HP Latex R2000 Plus and Vinnie White, head of creative for Marsden Exhibitions says it was the benefits of HP Latex water-based inks that most stood out, along with the machine’s ability to operate both flatbed and roll-to-roll and print direct to substrate. The machine’s ability to handle a wide range of materials also enables Marsden to produce a large variety of work such as wallpaper and banners, as well as printing to rigid materials such as foamboard, card, Dibond, glass, and acrylic. Marsden Direct Group has boosted its environmental offering with investment in a HP Latex R2000 Plus Provider of modular exhibition stands, Tecna UK, has achieved the highest tier accreditation from the Events Services & Suppliers Association (ESSA). Techa UK is the first exhibition stand builder to achieve the Tier 5 accreditation in recognition of its work over several years to move towards net zero. In order to achieve Tier 5, the company needed to meet high standards in 12 different areas of sustainability management and was expected to provide tangible evidence of its dedication to sustainability. The areas covered energy efficiency, waste reduction, and eco-friendly practices. James Longley, managing director of Tecna UK, says: “Due to our modular T3 system and recyclable substrates we can offer fully sustainable exhibition stands and in addition we have been reducing waste in all elements of our business.” Josh Taylor, health and safety manager of ESSA, adds: “Tecna UK’s attainment of Tier 5 within the ESSA Sustainability Accreditation underscores their exceptional dedication to sustainability.” Tecna UK has achieved the highest ESSA sustainability accreditation for its work to move towards net zero Tecna UK achieves accreditation By Carys Evans By David Osgar
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EVENTS / NEWS OPPORTUNITIES, CREATED AT SPORTSWEAR PRO 2024 ▲ Michael Ryan, head of FESPA Global Print Expo and Sportswear Pro What can we expect to see from the inaugural Sportswear Pro exhibition? Sportswear Pro will comprise an exhibition space, which will welcome an array of suppliers showcasing end-to-end manufacturing solutions for sportswear production, and a one-day conference. With the industry-wide trend of increased speed-to-market driving production efficiencies, Sportswear Pro will focus on the key areas of automated and customised manufacturing, from design to finished garments. How does the strapline ‘Opportunities, Created’ reflect what the exhibition will offer? The strapline reflects how the production capabilities in fashion and sportswear are much broader than retailers and manufacturers may realise. At the event, we’re encouraging attendees to explore the many opportunities in garment design, manufacturing, and embellishment, such as the benefits of switching to more sustainable materials and processes, smart wearables as a new product offering, and ‘just-in-time’ production. We’re also offering a platform where visitors can access advice from industry experts and network with like-minded professionals to gain inspiration on the next steps for their business. What has gone into the planning of this exhibition? We planned to launch the inaugural Sportswear Pro in 2020 which was delayed due to Covid19. Since then, we’ve been waiting for the right time to re-launch the event. This year, with consideration of the broader event calendar, we see an excellent opportunity to launch Sportswear Pro and bring a new segment audience to our existing textile client base. Over the past five years, we’ve undertaken extensive research into the market and have been in close liaison with exhibitors and visitors about the needs of the market. With this feedback and in collaboration with industry experts we have planned an event with a carefully curated content plan which best serves the audience. Why is this an event that visitors to the exhibition should visit? Sportswear Pro will be a pivotal platform for garment producers to discover how to capitalise on on-demand production and market trends, including personalisation and sustainability, and convert them into business growth opportunities. The exhibition will welcome suppliers including Aisten Lab Technology, Ara NV, MTC Textile CP., and Ricoma International Corporation who will showcase the latest solutions for every step of the manufacturing process – from design (CAD/CAM and 3D body scanning) to production (CMT [‘cut, make and trim’], bonding and knitting) and decoration (printing, engraving, embroidery and laser appliqué systems). What’s more, visitors can also access a broader calibre of textile solutions within FESPA Global Print Expo. With Sportswear Pro set to be launched in Amsterdam this March running alongside FESPA Global Print Expo, we caught up with Michael Ryan, Head of FESPA Global Print Expo and Sportswear Pro to find out what to expect What are the opportunities for print and sign companies in the sportswear arena? For regular FESPA visitors, Sportswear Pro will add a new event and dimension for visitors with an interest in textile printing, garment decoration, and sportswear. The event will complement our existing textile proposition naturally. Sportswear is a growing sector so the event will offer our existing visitors new business opportunities and an overview of innovative production processes. Anything to add? The event will incorporate a oneday conference programme, welcoming an array of experts including: • Samantha Taylor, Founder of The Good Factory and Krisjanis Ozols, Head of Operations Strategic Partnerships & R&D, Printful, who will discuss near shoring, supply chain resilience and improving agility in manufacturing • James Lawrence-Jones, Consultant and Serena Bonomi, Circular Economy Innovation & Strategy, who will talk about the power and potential of personalisation • Paul Foulkes-Arellano, Founder, Circuthon, who will explore innovations in materials and fabrics for sportswear Finally, visitors will also have the chance to attend our new Personalise Make Wear feature to participate in end-to-end production tours of the latest technologies for personalised and sports-related merchandise, from brands including Brother, Tajima, Klieverick and GreenTex. I look forward to welcoming the readers of SignLink to the Amsterdam RAI this March! For more information on the event and to register, visit: www.sportswearpro.com. 30 www.signlink.co.uk Issue 251 - February / March 2024 signlink signlink signlinkmagazine
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