Business - Knowledge

CMYUK is helping its customers get the best from their machines through a series of ‘How to’ tutorials on its new ‘CMYUK Showroom’ channel on You Tube.

The team plans to make around ten videos a month, and the simple instructional films already available include producing short run packing and prototypes, printing i-phone cases and pens, printing pre-cut boards on Mimaki printers, and greyscale printing on a Vutek H2000.

“We wanted to offer our customers a bank of professional tutorials that will enable them to get the most from their equipment, and to diversify into new markets,” explained CMYUK director Robin East.

“The videos we create for our You Tube channel are based on direct feedback and ‘frequently asked questions’ from our demo centre. The customers that visit our demonstration suite ask to see practical applications that are real, relevant and useful for their business so we decided to share these demonstrations with a wider audience by creating a digital learning centre online.

“For example the next video will be on the Zünd G3 cutter XY trimming at speed, which demonstrates the accuracy and efficiency of the cutter enabling common line removal for increased productivity. What this means in effect you can cut up to fifty 750mm x 2m pop-ups in 10 minutes flat.”

Other tutorials in the pipeline for the Zünd G3 are:

• Speed perspex routing including inlaid paths for 3D signage creating niche applications. The wide array of tooling offers finishes up to 50mm in depth for multiple applications, executable on one platform, with the highest precision and quality on each process.
• Processing 16mm ReBoard, typically used in point of sale and exhibition stand applications. Zünd Cut Centre uses the registration marks to calculate the relevant distortion and position for the Thru-cut and the Electric Oscillating Tool 250 can process not only thick touch honeycomb media, but also corrugated packaging medias, Kapa foam type materials and up to 50mm thick foams.
• Reverse head registration crease and cut for corrugated board typically used in point of sale applications. The Zünd reads the registration marks like a standard print and cut process, then automatically mirrors the file to suit. The product is then cut and creased from the reverse without any manual interaction.
• Zünd Cut Centre Software which guides any user through the steps of digital cutting, including Import of jobs and Hotfolders; Cut Queue with barcode scanning, time estimation, filtering, production setup and simultaneous cutting and preparation; Cut Centre with tool ID, timings, blade mileage, material database, auto vacuum adjust, safety features (red or green warnings), visualisation; and Cut Editor with inlays, cut optimisation, common line removal, file editing.

For more information, visit www.cmyuk.com go to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCejfkkXzUbEekxrXBBHdfpQ or go to www.youtube.co.uk and search for CMYUK Showroom.

Perfect Colours says it has become the first adopter of HP's breakthrough PageWide technology. Not only did the UK reseller order the very first unit anywhere in the world, it has also received the first installation in its country of the HP PageWide XL 8000, making it the only post-beta location to date that users can visit to see the machine in action.

Interested parties can book a demonstration at Perfect Colours's London premises by visiting its new, dedicated microsite at www.perfectcolours.com/pagewide. As well as answering a thorough list of questions about this disruptive print technology – which is distinctive for its use of an array of large, single print-heads – users can request a visit to find out if the technology is suitable for their business.

Anticipating significant demand in its core markets of graphics and technical production, Perfect Colours has created a dedicated team to handle the ordering process from customers for print's most disruptive technology. The PageWide Unit, steered by sales director Jon Telling, will lead clients from choosing the right machine to installation, optimisation, training, media management and applications development.

The installation, in early August, took a little under six hours and includes the implementation of HP's on-board SmartStream software, which leverages data and job submission to take full advantage of the speeds achievable using PageWide technology. Customers can therefore service rapid turnaround requirements for a wide variety of applications, including architectural drawings, posters, point-of-sale artwork and other key print-for-pay output variations.

When HP opened up its order process, Perfect Colours's managing director Jason Burroughs was the first in the world to confirm a purchase. "We're confident that PageWide will be a game-changer, which is why we were determined to become an early adopter," comments Burroughs. "We invite our customers and any prospective buyers to come in and find out why."

Perfect Colours will supply the full range of HP PageWide printers, as well as HP SmartStream software, as it becomes available in stages over the coming months. Small quantities of the PageWide XL 5000 can be bought from October 2015, according to HP's latest information, and the XL 4500 and XL 4000 MFPs will be on the market from January 2016. The XL 8000 is available imminently; businesses are advised to lodge their interest as soon as possible due to the anticipation of high demand.

HP's PageWide XL 8000 can reach speeds of up to 30 A1 pages per minute and offers a wealth of productivity features, including in-line stacking, a dual ink supply with hot-swap functionality and rapid time-to-print. The manufacturer says it will set 'a new technical standard' for its class, outshining LED-based rivals.

Spandex has added the HP Latex 300 Series of printers to its product portfolio, closing the circle on a full range of ink options available to its customers, who already benefit from next day delivery on compatible materials.

“The addition of the latex series will help our customers to be even more responsive to their customers’ demands and timeframes,” comments Leon Watson, Spandex UK General Manager. “The latex technology combined with Spandex’s ability to deliver materials next day from leading brands including 3M, Arlon, Avery Dennison, ImagePerfect and Orafol, empowers our customers to create top quality jobs very quickly, which is essential in this competitive market.”

The HP Latex 300 Series has been designed for same day delivery of high quality graphics for both indoor and outdoor applications making it ideal for vehicle wrapping and retail applications. As the prints come out completely dry, sign makers can achieve faster turnaround which increases job throughput by as much as 50%.

Leon continues: “Due to the fast changing nature of instore promotion and how quickly brands want to reflect new offers, the HP Latex 300 Series is an ideal solution for printers working in this space, and perfectly complements our existing product range.”

Jane Rixon, Business Manager, HP Large Format Production Products, concludes: “We are delighted to be working with Spandex as a Business Partner for our Latex 300 Series. Spandex offers such an extensive range of materials that are compatible with the 300 series, and as it is aimed at the vehicle wrapping, retail & interior markets, we are confident that with the experience Spandex has in these areas, sign makers and printers will reap the rewards.”

For more information on the HP Latex 300 Series and any of Spandex’s other products visit: www.spandex.com

Velmex, a leading UK value-added distributor of wide format printing equipment and supplies, has announced an exciting new large format printer trade-in programme for customers wanting to upgrade to the very latest Canon imagePROGRAF graphics printers.

Customers are invited to trade in any qualifying printer and receive the following discounts against the purchase of any of these Canon imagePROGRAF graphics printers.

Promotional product and trade-in amount:
Canon iPF8400SE - £300
Canon iPF8400S - £350
Canon iPF8400 - £500
Canon iPF9400S - £1,000
Canon iPF9400 - £1,000

Any Velmex customer with a working printer* between 24” and 64” wide will be able to take advantage of the offer which is valid with immediate effect until 31st December 2015.  Full terms and conditions can be found here: www.lfptradein.co.uk

On the new trade-in programme, Paul Whitelock, Business Development Manager at Velmex, comments: “The Canon imagePROGRAF range of wide format printers combines incredible performance and productivity with exceptional image quality.  The printers are straightforward to operate and can be used to create stunningly vivid prints up to 60” wide.

“Renowned for their quality and reliability, Canon imagePROGRAF printers are ideal for any colour printing specialist wanting to create and cost-effectively deliver striking output for its end-user customers.”

Backing up this claim is the fact that the Canon imagePROGRAF range has won recognition and several prestigious 'Pick' awards from BLI.  BLI has said that several factors contributed to the success of the range, including the ‘flawless reliable performance’ and ‘outstanding productivity’ of the printers.

For more information, please visit www.lfptradein.co.uk

*All Canon / Oce printers are excluded from this offer without exception

Roland DG has announced details of its new #WithRoland end user competition, in which the company is encouraging businesses to share their Roland DG success stories through a short video to be in with a chance of winning a once-in-a-lifetime prize.

The European social media competition, which will launch on 14th September 2015, will ask end users to produce and submit a short video (6 - 60seconds) explaining how Roland DG has improved their business to be entered into the incredible prize draw.

When the contest concludes on 26th October 2015, one lucky winner will get their hands on the grand prize: a once-in-a-lifetime trip for two to Japan - home of Roland DG - with return flights, private transfers, 7 nights in a luxury five star hotel, themed tours around Tokyo and Kyoto and a trip to the Roland DG HQ all included.

In addition to this, Roland DG is also offering five runner-ups the opportunity to win either a weekend trip to a popular European destination or an iPad Air 2s.  

“This contest provides a fun and creative platform for our customers to tell the world what they’ve been able to achieve with Roland DG technology,” said Gillian Montanaro, Head of Marketing, EMEA at Roland DG.  “We’re excited about giving away some incredible prizes and learning more about the vital role Roland DG equipment has played in helping users maximise their business success.”

It’s easy to enter the contest

Customers can simply record their story using any device (phone, camera or laptop) and then upload the video file or submit a link to their video on YouTube, Instagram or Vine.  Roland DG is not looking for video experts; the contest will be judged on enthusiasm, creativity and the imaginative story it tells. You can enter up to 5 times.

Any Roland DG user is eligible to enter the #WithRoland contest between the 14 September and 26 October, 2015.  To view the contest terms and conditions, or to submit an online entry form that includes a link to your video, please visit: http://www.withroland.eu/language_selection.php.

For more information, please visit www.rolanddg.com / www.rolanddg.co.uk.

i-Sub Digital is celebrating a decade as a leading supplier of wide-format print equipment to the UK industry, ahead of moving to new, larger premises.

Established in 2005 by Andy Spreag and two other founder directors, i-Sub Digital originally worked out of premises in Lutterworth, Leicestershire with its sister company i-Sub Ltd before moving to larger premises in Kettering, Northamptonshire in 2009.   

Over the past ten years i-Sub Digital has experienced continued growth, expanding its employee numbers and client list constantly. As a supplier of the full range of large-format printers from Mimaki and Agfa, finishing equipment from Zünd and Vivid, plus a range of consumables from Metamark and Soyang, i-Sub Digital ensures its portfolio comprises only the highest quality, market-leading solutions.  

Andy Spreag, Director of i-Sub Digital, comments: "We have been partners with Mimaki via their UK distributor Hybrid Services, Zünd and Agfa from day one, which is a strong testament to the quality of the products they offer. It has enabled us to enjoy continuous growth while working with our many longstanding clients to facilitate their equipment investments in the latest technology as our suppliers launch new machines and increase their corresponding quality and production speeds."  

The recent launch of the exclusive Digi-Foil product, a digital foiling system for the creation of packaging prototypes, personalised products and security markings, has seen i-Sub Digital expand its customer base to include design agencies and packaging businesses – as well as to help existing wide-format print customers diversify into valuable new markets.

"This year is an important one for i-Sub Digital – ten years is definitely an anniversary to celebrate," says Andy Spreag. "We have demonstrated that new ideas, keeping up with new technology and meeting the market's needs are essential to success, along with ensuring our clients are supported properly which by default creates strong long-term relationships."

The pace of the past few years has been such that i-Sub Digital – together with its sister company i-Sub Ltd, a specialist in wide-format solutions for dye-sublimation and direct-to-textile printing – will be moving to larger premises later this year. While remaining centrally located in Kettering, the new facility is three times the size of the existing i-Sub site, accommodating a large selection of i-Sub's wide-format print, digital finishing and small-footprint packaging solutions available for customer demonstrations.

"Moving to new headquarters three times the size of our current premises to accommodate our need for space across the business is concrete proof of how hard the i-Sub team has worked over the last ten years to get us to the position we are now in," adds Andy Spreag. "I'd like to thank our loyal customers, some of whom have been with us since our beginnings in 2005, and of course our suppliers and staff who have also been paramount to our success."

For more information, please email i-Sub Digital at info@i-subdigital.com or call +44 (0)1536 415511.