Hardware - Print Finishing

Kala has been appointed as the pan-European, preferred partner (wide format) for IG Wrap’s patent-pending Gallery Wrap system.  This tool-free canvas framing solution is both simple and cost-effective and is ideal for print service providers wishing to add value to their printed output.

Typically, gallery wraps are hard to stretch and require a lot of patience, skill and time – thereby making them costly finishing options.  However, the IG Wrap Gallery Wrap system is so simple that anyone can now frame canvases – fast – and without the need for any training or the usages of specialised tools.

The starter kits offered by Kala include wooden framing bars with adhesive strips, reusable corner clamps, staples, acid-free glue and easy-to-follow instructions.  Beyond these items, no other tools are required.  The system is available in two framing bar widths – 1¼” and 1¾” – and can be used to create over 500 different canvas size configurations up to a maximum of 60” wide. 

Laurent Bouchard, managing director of Kala, comments, “We first showed the IG Wrap framing system at Fespa and visitors to our stand were very impressed with the ease of use of the system and with the finished product.  The tension of the finished canvas is impressive and the finished corners are perfect.   Plus, the quality of the solution guarantees the longevity of the finished canvas frame.”

End user pricing starts from around €6 for a 10” x 12” frame (1¼” width).

For more information on Kala, please visit www.kala.fr

[picture below shows IG Wrap kit]

A Zund PN M1200 cutting machine, owned and operated by staff in the graphics department at British Airways (BA), has played a key role in the creation of a special fleet of “Dove” aircraft.  The Dove aircraft livery is part of the BA Great Britons programme, celebrating the best of British talent in the run up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The specially designed Dove livery covers the entire aircraft and the Zund PN M1200 machine was used to cut the stencils required for the spray painted project.

Ensuring that the unique design could be successfully applied to the BA fleet of aircraft was a complex task and was assigned to Phil Purbrick, graphics engineer at BA.  He has worked with Zund machines for 18 years and his skill with the Zund PN M1200 and knowledge of the BA fleet ensured that the design could be successfully converted onto the stencils required for the spray painted project.

“The BA Dove aircraft is definitely one of the most intricate projects that I have been involved with.  Knowing that I could rely on the Zund PN M1200 to perform was really important.  It’s never let me down in all these years,” comments Phil.

British Airways replaced its original Zund plotter with the Zund PN M1200 three years ago.  It had retained its previous model, a Zund P1200, for 15 years.  As Dennis Griffiths, BA’s Fleet Logistics Co-ordinator, explains, “Investing in a Zund cutter makes sound business sense as you get an excellent high quality piece of engineering kit and guaranteed service and support from the team at Zund UK.”

The BA Graphics Department is involved in lots of different projects for departments across British Airways, including both aircraft livery and in-house branding and marketing projects.  The BA Graphics team will be working on another London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic project.  The details are presently being kept secret but BA’s Zund PN M1200 will be playing a key part.

For more information on Zund's range of cutting machines, please visit www.zunduk.com

Wide format printer of the year, Hollywood Monster, bought a Solent /Miller Weldmaster 112 Extreme combined heat welding, eyeleting and cutting, finishing machine.  The purchase enables Hollywood Monster to weld a wide range of materials (including eco friendly) which its previous HF machines was unable to finish.

Hollywood Monster's managing director, Tim Andrews, says, “The new equipment will also eliminate bottlenecks and provide a new cutting resource.  We first saw the 112 Extreme at an American show and since then we always had it in mind to invest at some point in the future. On winning a £1m contract to supply and install a large amount of digital print in London during May & June producing vinyl & PVC dressings/graphics, large format banners and street dressings in Eco friendly materials, we didn’t need to look at anything else; it was obvious it was the right machine for the job and the future direction of the company.”

“It wasn’t just the high quality and tremendous improvement in speed of the welding that convinced us, we were also impressed by the semi automatic cutting, eyeletting, rope inserting and the general increase in efficiency it brings to our business.  More and more eco-friendly materials will replace the current PVC ranges and therefore hot wedge or hot air welds may become the all round preferred route. Also, automated cutting technology for large format banners solves a big issue. We need to get people off their hands and knees on the floor. So all in all, as with most printers, the finishing department has always been a bottleneck and this will give us at least double finishing capacity, an improvement in quality of cutting, allows us to print onto a wider range of materials and generally increase throughput.”

Solent MD Ian Jenkins adds, “While RF welding has been popular in the UK in the past, there is now a general movement in the trade towards the Solent / Miller Weldmaster Hot Air and Hot Wedge welding solutions. Both these systems create very neat, strong seams as the weld takes place within the material, so you get an excellent finish that doesn’t interfere with the printed image. Hot Wedge and Hot Air systems are also fast - coping on average with 20m per minute.  They also require less materials handling and can be 5x faster than RF.  Another big plus is the ability of Hot Air and Hot Wedge to weld recyclable PE at high speed and this is becoming a standard specification for the retail market.”

As well as offering standard finishing systems, Solent / Miller Weldmaster offers customised automated finishing systems, which Ian recognises as a growing trend:  “Miller Weldmaster custom machines are tailored to suit the manufacturer's exact requirements.  They can weld seams, hem, add reinforcements, set eyelets, punch holes or add webbing or keder, then cut to size or rewind to rolls in a fully automated, computer controlled process. These machines improve quality, increase production, are built exactly to a customer’s specific dimensions.”

Vivid Laminating Technologies has unveiled an upgraded Polarsign wide format laminating system at drupa.

The Polarsign is an entry level system that is ideal for sign makers needing to laminate and mount up to 1600mm wide.  It has been designed to be functional, affordable and to provide sign makers with a cost effective finishing solution.  Available in widths of either 1400mm or 1600mm, each width is also available as either a cold or hot lamination option.

The hot systems take just 5 minutes to warm-up and can laminate different substrates up to 60°C. All four models include a Pressure Gauge Handle, Foot Pedal for controlled operation & feature variable speed controls.

Vivid is exhibiting the Polarsign systems, Matrix Auto Feeders and more on stand E61 (Hall 11).

Vista System International has introduced a new, 'smartly designed' Flat Corner Signage family of products via its recently acquired daughter company GreenSquare.

The newly developed Flat Corner Signs offer an attractive solution for both interior and exterior building corner applications. The signs range in size reaching up to 1000mm in width and length on standard products, all while custom sizes are available upon request.

GreenSquare offers a variety of flat modular sign products utilising the unique "GreenSquare Float" design, an attached floating profile designed to allow the sign frames to float a couple of inches from the wall, providing the sign a modern, unique and eye catching look. The GreenSquare system is based on flat sign frames that accept inserts of many materials and widths due to the companies' latest "Smart Insert" technology. Said technology allows the sign professional to efficiently apply most any materials within the 3.2mm thickness, as the inner channels are graded in a way that allows the use of different material and thickness. GreenSquare products can be tweaked and designed to match any need.

Josero has teamed up with Colourgen to add the Kala range of laminators - including the Kala 'Starter' and the Kala 'Mistral' models - to its product portfolio.  Josero demonstrated the Kala Starter Laminator on its stand at Sign and Digital UK in March and took four orders during the show.

On the relationship, Loic Delor, Managing Director of Josero comments, “This strategic partnership with Colourgen really enhances our product range. We are already able to supply our customers with printers, along with the ink and media to go with them; it seemed a logical step to add finishing products. I have known Colourgen for years and both our companies share the same values in partnership and business, so teaming up with them seemed absolutely the right thing to do. The Kala laminators are a big step up from the current Asian produced laminators already available on the market. They are very well finished and extremely competitively priced, and the 2-year warranty also contributes to the products’ credibility. These laminators complement our other products perfectly.”

The Kala laminators are ideally suited to signmakers, photo labs, printers and anyone else who may need low to mid-value finishing. The laminators are designed for ease of use and versatility and are available in varying sizes.

Melanie Enser, Marketing Manager at Colourgen adds, “We’re delighted to be working with Josero.  They have identified a gap in their product range and the Kala laminators will help them provide a full package to their customers.  They are very affordable laminators and are great for someone who is new to the finishing market and others who are looking for high-speed finishing.”

The Kala laminators will be available to view, along with Josero’s other products, at Josero’s demonstration suite in Cambridge.

For further information, please visit www.josero.com