Following investment in a 3.2m-wide dye-sublimation printer for banner and textile printing, Swanley-based Keyboard Group has this month installed a Zund G3 3XL3200 with 3.6kw router (RM-L) and Automatic Router Changer (ARC). MD Grant Mahoney said he expects it to “halve labour costs; where we had two people working on fabric finishing, now we only need one."
In keeping with this year’s theme ‘Creativity Brought to Life’, the main seminar theatre at Sign and Digital UK will host three industry panel debates this year, and double as a TV studio and base for the organiser to film the demos, workshops and on-stand action during the show (24-26 April, NEC).
In 2017 swissQprint’s Nyala large-format printer was Europe's best-selling printer in its class - UV flatbed/hybrid printers up to 60in wide in the 130,000-500,000 Euro price segment - according to Geneva-based market research institute Infosource. It’s the third time in a row the printer has taken top spot, with the new LED model now having replaced its predecessor.
Signs Express (Farnborough) has new owners in the shape of James Hancock and Malcolm Trounce. The pair, who have already expanded the workforce, hope to use their experience in project and technical support management in the airline industry to drive the business forward.
Fespa has confirmed the line-up of speakers at its Digital Corrugated Experience conference within the upcoming Fespa Global Print Expo 2018 (15 - 18 May, Messe Berlin)
At Fespa 2018 gold sponsor Aleph will present its LaForte Studio Paper 340, a machine designed to fulfill what it sees as a demand for the use of dye-sublimation paper on wider format.
Buckingham based BCQ Group has acquired Hunts (Oxford) Holdings to
create a £15m+ print group. BCQ chairman Richard Knowles and Hunt’s Timon Colegrove shared a long-term respect for each other’s companies and believe the resultant “fit” will benefit both customers and staff and help the enlarged group to prosper.
Lintec Europe will use Fespa 2018 to raise awareness of sustainable manufacturing practices within the graphic, print and visual communication industries. To that end it will show off Re-Pop RE505S Recycled, the company’s first film to be manufactured with a minimum of 80% recycled PET material. The clear, lightweight, dry apply film is aimed at the POS and retail markets for short-term promotional campaigns.
AD Colour has joined the Newtech group for Newtech Sheffield (Sheffield DoubleTree Hilton), 21-22 March, where it will show the OKI ColourPainter E64-S large-format printer. Other new participants include Yoko International, Printlogic and Document XL.
Mimaki will show three new UCJ300 series printer/cutters at Fespa 2018 (15-18 May, Berlin). The UCJV300-75, UCJV300-107 and UCJV300-130 - with print widths of up to 80cm, 109cm, and 136cm respectively - join the UCJV300-160 introduced last September.
ArtSystems will join with Neschen to promote its signage and graphics media via a retro garage themed stand at Sign and Digital UK (NEC, 24-26 April). The displays have been designed to showcase application possibilities for point of sales signage and interior decor.
Image Reports
Supporting the wide-format digital print sector