Hardware - Print Finishing

Tyne & Wear-based Radecal Machine Sales & Service has partnered with Aristo in a deal to supply Aristo’s high-precision cutting tables to the UK market.

Founded in 1862, Aristo is a German-based manufacturer of multi-functional flatbed cutters for super-accurate CAD/CAM processing of all non-metallic substances, rigid or flexible.  Radecal will be distributing Aristo’s ARISTOMAT range of cutters throughout the UK.

“The new partnership with Aristo will enable us to offer our clients a greater range of precision cutting systems at extremely competitive pricing," comments Chris Economides, managing director of Radecal.  "These large format cutters are sturdy and robust in their construction and quick, precise and reliable in their work. Their ergonomic design and uninhibited access from all sides provides optimal workflow efficiency and a powerful vacuum technology guarantees process security."

The ARISTOMAT cutters are available in work area formats from 950mmx1300mm up to a monster 5200mmx5180mm.  Chris Economides adds, “Regardless of material, size and application, there is an ARISTOMAT cutting solution to meet every requirement.”

With the easy to use CutterControlPanel software, the ARISTOMAT cutters are controlled from a PC. An additional mobile control pad allows navigating or setting of the origin at any position on the cutter. Multifunctional tool heads change their integrated tools automatically and they can be combined with further tool modules allowing the cutting of a huge variety of materials.

Radecal will be demonstrating the machines at Sign & Digital UK 2012 on stand H30.

For more information on Radecal, please visit www.radecalmachinesales.com

Solent Sewing & Welding has introduced two new solutions for finishing digital textiles that provide a high quality result quickly, consistently and efficiently.

Texsew Pro

Texsew Pro has been specially modified in Solent's Portsmouth workshop to provide the ideal low budget solution for finishing non-weldable textiles. It is a high performance, versatile, lockstitch sewing machine for textiles as well as hems and pockets on banners at speeds up to 20 metres per minute. 

Texsew Pro is also ideal for sewing the latex strip on digitally printed fabrics which are to be used in a frame system.  Special feet and guides are also supplied and the machine has a maximum sewing speed of 5,500spm.

Other features include:

• Integrated DC motor with excellent speed control.
• Reduced energy consumption. Central lubrication (no oil sump).
• Auto thread trimmer, footlift and start and end tack.
• Rotary hook. Standard sewing foot.
• Complete on stand with castors and table top.

Miller Weldmaster's Impulse Extreme™

Impulse technology with the use of Extreme Seam Tape™ welds overlap joins, hems and pockets on PVC, PE, acrylic and digital textiles along with many others. It also creates the strongest awnings, shade coverings, and marine product seams in the industry.

• As well as welding acrylic to clear PVC, the Impulse Extreme can weld longer than the throat of the machine allowing you to easily weld wide format materials
• Incorporating effective thermo impulse sealing technology with precision controlled welding parameters, it creates the best looking and strongest seams - the material will tear before the weld does!
• Ergonomically designed for easy use and 1 person operation to improve efficiency.
• This simplistic design applies pressure and pulses heat to the seam area throughout the heating element, holds the seam area under pressure while allowing the seam area to cool through a liquid cooled process and then releases, allowing the operator to move on to the next seam area.
• Operation is made simple with the front fabric trough, rear table and alignment guides and the user-friendly touch screen allows settings to be stored for your most commonly used fabrics.
• The optional auto or semi-auto pocket folding device means a perfect pocket every time
• Weld lengths available are 3m and 5m, however, the machine has open ends so is not restricted by the weld length.

Solent provides a comprehensive range of finishing solutions for the wide format printer including the market leading Miller Weldmaster range of heat welders for the higher volume banner printer and Bannersew, a new low cost / high speed solution for sewing banners.

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

[photo shows Miller Weldmaster's Impulse Extreme]

ArtSystems and Summa will be showcasing the productivity and staying power of the Summa range on stand L30 at Sign & Digital UK 2012.  A comprehensive selection of Summa products will be on show - from the groundbreaking Summa F Series and the unique DC4SX to the entry level Summa D60.

Visitors will get the chance to see the breadth of solutions available with on-going demonstrations and applications experts on hand to answer users' questions.

Andrew Edwards, Sign & Display Divisional Manager at ArtSystems, comments, "We are continuing the theme of the Marathon that launched our 24-hour trial of the recent F Series. Though we put the F Series to the test on that occasion, the truth is that all Summa products are designed and built for intensive production level output. Sign & Digital UK gives us another opportunity to show the wide range of print finishing applications that the Summa range is more than capable of tackling."

For more information on the Summa range of cutters, please visit www.artsystems.co.uk.

[photo shows Summa F Series cutter]

MicroGraphics Colour Imaging has announced that it will soon be taking delivery of a 3m x 2m VHF ActivePro digital cutting table with installation scheduled for March.  This will be the first VHF ActivePro cutting table installed in the UK to feature VHF's new-generation Multi Cutting Head.

The VHF ActivePro has an impressive range of capabilities including a very high powered router, oscillating tangental cutter, creasing unit and bevel cutting.  Working alongside MicroGraphics’ existing machines, an Arizona 350GT flat bed printer, Mimaki JV33 and Canon roll-feed printers, the ActivePro will enable MicroGraphics to radically diversify the range of services offered to clients.

MicroGraphics Director Mike Ormond says,  “MicroGraphics has an extremely varied client base and produce a diverse range of large format output. It has always been our policy to invest in machines that offer great flexibility and allow us to adapt to client requests. The VHF ActivePro fits this criteria perfectly, it has the capability to handle a variety of materials including card, ACM, acrylic, aluminium and even wood. This flexibility, combined with a 160mm tool height and engraving functions, makes the machine a perfect fit for our needs."

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

Zünd is presenting its new S3 line of cutters on stand P10 at FESPA 2012. Following the introduction of G3 in 2008, Zünd Cut Center Software in 2010, and the fully automatic Board Handling System in 2011, Zünd continues its string of new releases at Fespa.

S3 – ground-breaking and super fast

With a revolutionary direct-drive system, the S3 is built for speed. The new cutter excels with unprecedented price/performance as well as exceptional productivity.  S3 is capable of processing a wide range of materials, including textiles, vinyls, films, thinner plastics, and cardboard, with the modularity and quality typical of Zünd.

The S3 features smaller, space-saving footprints and ultra-fast Z- and T-axis control. Altogether, the characteristics of the S3 make it the perfect all-round cutting system whose capabilities can be extended even further with creasing tools and a 300W router insert.  Zund Cut Center, Zünd’s multiple award-winning design-to-cut software suite, completes the new S3 cutter line.

Efficient processing of textile rolls up to 3m wide, routing of softer aluminum, and 3D routing of materials up to 50mm thick can all be seen at the Zünd Stand P10 at Fespa Digital in Barcelona. In addition, several monitors will be showing various unique features of the Zünd Cut Center software.

Zünd Fespa 2012 - highlights at a glance:

• S3 – the latest Zünd cutter generation
• Zünd Board Handling System – fully automated, unattended digital cutting
• Zünd Cut Center Software – digital cutting has never been easier
• Center-winder roll-off unit – simple handling, flawless advancing of extra-wide, printed roll materials
• Twin Cutting – cutting with two blades simultaneously
• 3D routing – producing 3-dimensional designs
• Efficient routing of aluminum

 

One of the enduring headaches of the small to medium UK banner printer is finding a professional finishing solution for banners that does not involve all the problems of handheld welders or taping.

New for 2012, Solent Sewing has launched a range of sewing machines that have been specially modified in the company's Portsmouth workshop to provide the ideal low budget solution for perimeter finishing - including special folders for hems and pockets.

In addition there is an optional puller feed mounted behind the sewing head to help guide work and assist fabric feeding on larger banners.

Two options are available, the Bannersew Pro and Bannersew Eco:

Solent Bannersew Pro

A high performance 1 or 2 needle lockstitch sewing machine for sewing hems and pockets on banners at speeds up to 18 metres per minute. The Bannersew Pro also has auto sewing functions for faster production and easier handling.

The Bannersew Pro twin needle version will sew on both edges of a hem to sew completely flat and offer the extra security of a second row of stitching. It is also ideal for sewing reinforcement webbing or Velcro. The single needle version will sew the edge of the fold.

• Max sewing speed 3000 spm
• Fully automatic lubrication for low maintenance
• Large capacity hook(s)
• Custom hemming tool

The special labour saving benefits of the Bannersew Pro include an automatic thread trimmer, automatic tacking to secure stitching at seam start and end and an automatic footlift.

The Bannersew Pro comes complete on stand with castors, table and electronic motor for speed control and needle positioning.

Solent Bannersew Eco

A medium performance solution for perimeter sewing of banners with guides available for hems and pockets - also available as single or twin needle.

• Speeds up to 10 metres per minute.
• Max sewing speed 1800spm
• Semi-automatic lubrication
• Manual tacking by lever to secure stitching at seam start and end
• Manual footlift by knee lever
• Large capacity sewing hooks
• Custom hemming tool

Complete on stand with castors, table and electronic motor for speed control and needle positioning. Optional puller feed mounted behind sewing head to help guide work and assist fabric feeding on large banners.

One of the first Bannersews customers - Gordon MacDonald of Digital Sign Services, is pleased with the solutions and comments, "We often don't have much time to finish our work so when I need to sew, I need to sew better, faster. With more and more fabrics required by specific jobs, Solent have supplied the ideal solutions over a range of machines."

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