Media

Neschen will reveal some exciting new additions to its range of digitally-printable textiles - all with the Color Alliance (CA) coating - at this year's Fespa.

Principal among them is 'multitex' - a polyester fabric that may be printed using dye-sub, pigmented water-based, UV-cured or latex inks.

The standardised CA coating provides production safety in large-format inkjet printing.  It significantly reduces the number of colour profiles needed, which simplifies production flows and increases productivity whilst minimising ink usage.  Furthermore, a comprehensive CA workflow guarantees the colour accuracy of the inkjet printing, so that printing service providers, retailers, print buyers and end users get maximum process reliability.

An integral part of Neschen's participation at the show will be to demonstrate the ease with which the latest range of digital wallpapers may be printed, then hung using standard wallpaper adhesives.  Included will be the 'Erfut wallpaper CA' which took the Innovation award at last year's Viscom.  This non-woven wallpaper is free of PVC and softeners.

Demonstrations of  the range of wallpapers will take place within the Demo-Centre on the stand which will also contain a large selection of the company's print media ranging from laminates for UV printing to floor graphics applications to two new films: 'solvoprint easy dot 100' and 'gudy window'.

"The main approach this year is to give visitors a hands-on opportunity to try things out", says Frank Seemann, marketing and communications director of Neschen AG in Bückeburg.  "That is why complete printing processes, which range from selecting the print medium via printing itself to finishing, are the focus.  We set a high value on practically orientated applications."

Repositionable mounting film offers clean removability with no adhesive transfer

At a time when some major suppliers are reducing their range of mounting adhesives, UK-based Madico Graphic Films has once again increased the revenue enhancing opportunities for printers by extending its line of double-sided optically clear mounting films.  Featuring a permanent adhesive on one side and an ‘easy-peel’ adhesive on the other, the latest addition to Madico’s growing portfolio of permanent/removable, optically clear, polyester mounting adhesives brings new benefits to temporary or short-term graphic applications thanks to very low adhesion levels.

As a result of its low-tack attributes, Madico’s new easy-peel offering (product code E-338R C) can be applied and re-applied until correctly positioned, while still ensuring superior optical clarity and perfectly clean removability with no adhesive transfer. This makes the new mounting film perfectly suited to promotional and branded messaging applications, such as exhibition and point-of-sale graphics, window graphics for short-term retail/advertising, and in-house corporate communication or manifestation requirements. In addition, its easy-peel, clean removability makes it ideal for back-lit light box projects and lenticular 3D screens, where use of an inappropriate transfer would make removal impossible and potentially ruin the display surface.

For short-term, temporary applications involving thicker graphics, Madico also supplies a permanent/removable option (product code E-337RC) that offers a stronger level of adhesion.

“Marketers continue to target their audiences with short-term, time-critical messages, be it for special offers, price reductions or other announcements”, says Gary Dixon, International Business Manager at Madico Graphic Films Ltd. “As a result, there is a growing requirement for temporary/removable graphics that uphold brand integrity and image by offering perfect see-through vision and high quality printability.

“Like all of Madico’s permanent/removable mounting films, our latest offering has been designed with simplicity in mind; rather than requiring installation and removal by a qualified team, it can quickly and effortlessly be applied, repositioned and eventually removed by the customer’s own staff”, adds Dixon.

Clean-room manufacturing for optimum, defect-free see-through vision

As with its entire range of substrates, Madico’s latest double-sided permanent/removable mounting film benefits from clean-room manufacture – a key differentiator over some other products on the market. This process delivers defect-free, optical mounting clarity, by ensuring optimal light transmission, low haze and minimal distortion.

Madico’s new E-338RC Permanent/Removable Optically Clear Mounting Adhesive is available in roll widths of 1250mm.

Grafityp are pleased to announce that Chris Hooper from Wrapworx in Devon is the winner of their F1 Driving Experience Competition held at the Sign & Digital UK 2010 Exhibition in Birmingham.

Chris demonstrated a high level of skill in his application technique with an excellent wrap result and was judged by Grafityp training tutor, James Deacon, to be the winner.  Chris took GrafiWrap training in its early days which obviously gave him a great start to develop to the standard of wrapping he now offers.

The F1 Driving Experience day is a fantastic prize, which Chris is sure to enjoy, with the chance to drive several high performance cars including an Ex-Formula one car on the track.

Grafityp would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone that took part in the competition, standards were high.

3A Composites

With the recently completed acquisition of Alcan Composites by Schweiter Technologies, a Swiss company, executives have announced the business now will be known as 3A Composites as it continues to manufacture and sell its product lines for the graphic display, building cladding, furniture, home construction and transportation industries. 3A Composites employs 2,700 employees in 21 locations in Europe, the Americas and Asia

Sales and marketing offices for 3A Composites USA are based in Mooresville, N.C. The company's leading product brands sold in North America, Central America and South America, including the Caribbean, include: Alucobond, Dibond, Fome-Cor, Sintra, Gator, Omni-Flute, Gator-Ply, Syn-Ply, and Luxcell. Manufacturing facilities for these products are located in Benton, KY, Glasgow, KY, and Statesville, NC.

The 3A Composites name is reminiscent of the three powerful company brands which preceded it: Alcan, Alusuisse and Airex.

"Our new business name reflects our organization's unequaled reputation for quality in the industries that we serve," said Brendan Cooper, president, 3A Composites USA. "While our overall business name will change, customers in each of these industries will still be able to rely on our trusted well-established product lines. Our customers will continue to derive high value from the world's leading composite substrates."

"Our highest priority at 3A Composites will continue to be to meet customer needs with value-added products backed by outstanding customer service," said W. Jay Wynne, vice president, sales and marketing, 3A Composites USA. "Although our company name has changed, the familiar names and faces in our customer-focused organization have not. As 3A Composites, we stand ready to meet or exceed our customers' expectations for high-quality products and service."

The blackboard films available on the market up to now could only be used with normal school chalk. But now ASLAN has brought out a self-adhesive blackboard film that can also be written on with liquid chalk markers.

With this new, top-quality film, ASLAN has further expanded its broad range of self-adhesive blackboard films. ASLAN BB 900, a slate-colored blackboard film, is equipped with a special matt, scratch-resistant surface. This means the blackboard can be written on using either liquid chalk markers or conventional chalk, both of which can then be wet-erased. The film is highly resistant to solvents, meaning that even after constant use it is guaranteed not to show any ghostwriting or shadows. Even if it is written on by accident using an inappropriate writing utensil, e.g. a permanent marker, the marks can be removed using household cleaning spirits or another organic solvent. This cleaning will not damage the film's surface.

The above qualities make the film ideal for all applications involving changing inscriptions, such as signs in restaurants, schools, seminar rooms or offices, or as a memoboard at home.

Rounding out ASLAN's line of blackboard films is an iron-containing ferro film, ASLAN FF 400. Applying this film beneath the blackboard film makes the surface magnetic as well. Blackboard films are also available in black and green, or in glossy white to create a whiteboard.

Sihl has launched two new additions to its vinyl and canvas range in the UK.

A 'global first' for the company sees the introduction of Premium Vinyl SA 270 glossy 3585, a permanent self-adhesive vinyl film with a glossy microporous coating.

Simultaneously, Sihl launched its first-ever glossy canvas; Fortuna Artist Canvas 350 glossy 3582, aimed at customers seeking a superior fine art solution.

The new vinyl film, incorporating the group's microporous coating technology, is one of the few self-adhesive, water resistant glossy coating products in the sector and has been developed with an aqueous, acrylate-based permanent adhesive.

"We continue to innovate in the large format media inkjet printing arena. Sihl Premium Vinyl SA270 glossy 3585 is completely compatible with dye-based inks and the latest generation of pigment inks. And with this new coating our customers have access to the first ever water-resistant SA vinyl product suitable for this printing sector," said Sam Iliaifar, area sales manager, Sihl Group UK. "Our new coating ensures an even gloss in both printed and unprinted areas and by avoiding optical brightening agents the film doesn't turn yellow as a result of oxidation. This means pictures retain their original appearance for longer."

Other key features include:

• High color saturation
• Fast drying time
• Indoor and short-term outdoor usage potential
• A range of applications including floor advertising (combined with appropriate laminated films) signs, banners, vehicle advertising, POS materials, decorations and a raft of short-term advertising media.

The new vinyl will, over time, replace the two older adhesive films available in the range; Standard Vinyl SA 240 Glossy 3828 with swellable coating (only suitable for dye inks) and the first generation Classic Vinyl WR SA 280 satin 3634.

The new microporous coated Fortuna Artist Canvas 350 glossy 3582 is Sihl's first high-gloss coated canvas with a 2:1 structure and targets customers looking to create superior fine art products.

"The basic material comprises a robust, dimension-stable polyester/cotton blend, enabling prints to be easily stretched across canvas frames. And thanks to its glossy coating, high color and black densities (that exceed comparative rival products) can be achieved. The color gamut on this new product has been significantly increased, giving prints an exceptionally vibrant edge. The coating is highly flexible, does not break when stretched over frame edges and because it is free of brightening agents the pigment inks remain age-resistant and color-fast," said Iliaifar. "Add to the mix rapid drying times, water resistance plus compatibility with all current printing systems and we are convinced we have a winner with this outstanding product."

Apart from the production of framed works of art, the new canvas is intended primarily for the printing of high-quality photos and images; advertisements for the indoor sector, restaurants, stores, office buildings and private homes.

The canvas can be ordered in standard reel widths and 12 meter lengths.