After ArtSystems recently secured a deal to lead the distribution of Vanguard Europe products across the UK and Ireland, LFR spoke with the specialist systems distributor and service provider to find out more about the agreement and how it will benefit customers.
ArtSystems announced its new partnership with Vanguard Europe, a subsidiary of Vanguard Digital Printing Systems Corp., in January, with its portfolio of UV flatbed printers now available in the UK and Ireland. through ArtSystems’ network of partners.
Vanguard is part of the Durst Group, having been acquired by the printing heavyweight just over two years ago. The business now operates out of Kraftwerk, the incubator for Durst start-ups and spin-offs, and as such has the technological backing of one of the leading manufacturers in the print industry, not to mention the expertise of its resellers, distributors and other partners.
With Vanguard aiming to build on its initial success and become a leader in the digital flatbed and UV production entry- and mid-level markets, John Draycott, Marketing Manager at ArtSystems, said the large team of experienced engineers at ArtSystems, coupled with its reputation for being incredibly responsive, makes it the perfect partner for Vanguard in the UK.
“We have 16 field engineers covering the UK, as well as a dedicated support desk team of six people, while all our engineers are trained and certified by the manufacturer,” John said. “This not only ensures excellent local support during the purchasing stage, but also after the machine has been installed, helping customers get the best out of their new printers for years to come.”
Since the Vanguard Europe business was established in late 2021, more than 40 installations of digital flatbed systems have already taken place across Europe, while the company has been seeking further growth opportunities in the signage, decoration, corporate industrial and packaging sectors.
Teaming up with ArtSystems to establish a greater presence in the UK and Ireland forms a key part of its growth strategy. Fabian Sottsas, Chief of Staff at Durst and also Managing Director of Vanguard Europe, explained: “We have had an extremely strong start and have organically grown the business thanks to a solid relationship between our core staff, distributors and resellers.
“With unlimited passion at the forefront of global technology, we are working to grow business together with customers. We are providing true digital flatbed and UV production printers from a company in the Durst Group that are designed in the US and assembled in Europe.”
Products currently available in the Vanguard Europe portfolio range from the VR5D-E, an industrial flatbed printer with a printing area of up to 50” x 99” and a top speed of almost 650sq ft/hr. The machine also features seven-picolitre drop size and precise drop placement, as well as UV-LED curing technology.
Also from Vanguard Europe is the VR6D-HS, which has a top speed of up to 1,280sq ft/hr and a print area of 50” x 99”, as well as a high precision encoder strip for accurate drop placement. Meanwhile, the VK300D-HS model has a larger print area of 62” x 125” and faster top speed of 3,400sq ft/hr, supported by a four-picolitre drop size. Vanguard Europe has products for all the markets it serves covering the industrial UV flatbed and roll-to-roll printers’ spectrum with high-performance needs.
Customers in the UK and Ireland now have direct access to these machines through ArtSystems and its specialist partners, namely Diatec, Papergraphics, Pyramid Display Materials and SEDO – Large Format Solutions, all of which were appointed as distribution partners when the deal was made public earlier in the year.
Diatec has responsibility for the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland markets, while Papergraphics, Pyramid Display Materials and SEDO – Large Format Solutions will have responsibility for England, Wales and Scotland.
John Draycott said this wide-reaching network of knowledgeable and local partners will support users of Vanguard Europe machines, which are relatively new to the UK and Irish market, in the long run.
