HP today announced that the European large format graphic consumables supplier, ap denmark, is enjoying tremendous success with its new acoustic graphic application.
Benefiting many businesses looking to reduce the affects of noise created in indoor public spaces, the new solution developed by ap denmark, is produced by European Print Service Provider (PSP), Sumopix, using HP Designjet printers and media.
Due to the current worldwide trend in minimalist interior décor and the eradication of soft furnishings, noise levels within many Scandinavian businesses and public places have become a new and expanding health and workplace issue. As such, the new ap denmark acoustic graphic application is being widely adopted by schools, businesses, architecture firms and managers of other public buildings.
Ib Norholm, ap denmark CEO said: “Market interest in this new application is huge, as it’s a great way to solve the problem of sound reduction, while also enabling the production of bespoke graphics and images or branded decoration. The new solution includes HP canvas stretched on wooden frames, HP inks and the images printed on the HP Designjet Z6100 – this complete HP workflow ensures colour and print quality assurance.”
The HP Designjet Z6100 Printer series is available in 42” and 60” models with an embedded spectrophotometer, used to deliver vivid, high-impact prints quickly. The series is ideal for indoor and short-term outdoor banners and large format applications such as posters, photos and fine art prints, drawings, maps and renders.
Used in combination with HP Professional Matte Canvas White, HP Vivera pigment inks provide customers of the new acoustic graphics, with durable prints and long lasting colour.
“The graphics’ acoustic capabilities are provided by a unique foam filling that is inserted into the cavity at the back of the canvas frame. The HP inks are perfect for this product, as they penetrate the microscopic canvas fibres, without blocking the sound from moving through the canvas holes to the noise cushioning behind,” said Norholm.
In addition, a bespoke software system developed by ap denmark enables PSPs like Sumopix and other European print businesses to tile images used for acoustic graphics. At the touch of a button, the system automatically calculates the necessary changes to make to the stretcher bar to ensure no image distortion. Without this software, mounting an image to multiple tiled frames would take between two and four hours to calculate - but with the ap demark solution, this can be completed within minutes.
ap denmark was established in 2008, and has developed a strong customer base of EMEA digital printers. Given the immediacy of digital print, ap denmark places particular emphasis on its speed of delivery – offering a two day service to any country within Scandinavia and two to four days via courier to other worldwide locations. For the acoustic graphic applications, Norholm claims that the Dutch market has been the fastest adopter of the solution, with the rest of mainland Europe now growing rapidly.
Norholm said: “We partner with HP almost exclusively. Maximising the strength of HP products used together, our relationship with HP enables us to attend and participate at their events and trade exhibitions, and communicate the benefits and potential business opportunities of acoustic solutions.
“In Europe today, Sumopix is currently the only producer of this service, and has recently developed a stock image library to enable customers to choose from over five million images. This service has significantly streamlined the process of image selection and location, while also providing access to a huge database of stunning new images, and combined text and image opportunities.”
Together, the combination of HP technology and the expertise of ap denmark and Sumopix is enabling all parties to enjoy a significant and expanding revenue stream for a market that is welcoming the application’s benefits with open arms.
