Stand B10 includes demos of real world copy shop, sign and textile applications

At this year’s Visual Impact show held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on 19-21 April, the Epson stand B10 will feature not only the very latest in real world copy shop, sign and textile applications and a full suite of sign and display solutions for business, but the company will also launch its new SureColor F2160 direct-to-garment printer.
 
The new SureColor SC-F2160 considerably raises the productivity bar while enhancing output quality and reducing running costs. It is capable of making full colour prints on a range of items including t-shirts, sweatshirts, polo shirts and tote bags. It also incorporates a host of enhancements with easier job set-up, faster loading, and faster printing. The printer also features new print modes for improved imaging with reduced graininess and an enhanced gamut. Ink and print systems have also been enhanced to enable improved reliability with reduced user maintenance. 

The SureColor SC-F2160 provides a complete Epson solution including printer, printhead, ink, and software, meaning the user can be assured that not only have all parts have been designed to work together, but are protected by a comprehensive single-source warranty. Epson will offer the new model complete with on-site service cover that is extendable to three years.

Sitting alongside the new F2160 will be the new SureColor F9360 wide-format textile printer designed to deliver high quality digital dye-sublimation transfers at extremely high speed for a range of textile and apparel applications. This clever 64-inch printer delivers not only delivers outstanding image quality but also production speeds of up to 93 m2/hr. It features an integrated new fabric wiping system coupled with a highly accurate roll-to-roll media support system to handle economical lightweight transfer papers. The SureColor F9360 is also the proud winner of the 2017 SGIA Product of the Year Award in the “Roll-to-Roll Dye Sublimation on Textile” category.
 
The signage and POS graphics demo area on Epson’s Visual Impact stand will showcase the latest in high-speed, high-quality solutions in the market.
 
Kicking off proceedings is the SureColor Solvent 60600 designed for rapid and extremely cost-effective production of durable indoor/outdoor signage. It suits a wide range of applications including displays and POS, shades, screens, banners and vehicle wraps. In conjunction with a cutter it can even be used for label production. It suits medium to high production volumes and can be used with a wide range of media including paper, canvas, film and vinyl.
 
Then there’s its brother, the SureColor Solvent 80600, which boasts PANTONE© coverage exceeding 98%* and is designed to produce durable high-impact, high-value graphics with outstanding image quality. It can be used with a wide range of media including paper, canvas, film and vinyl and is ideal for applications including indoor/outdoor POS and signage, window decorations and back-lit displays, surface finishes, wallpapers, and décor.
 
Both these printers recently won BLI Awards for Wide Format Printers and both incorporate Epson’s latest PrecisionCore printhead and UltraChrome Eco-Solvent ink technology.
 
Epson’s final demo area at the show is dedicated to posters, graphics and technical printing and is admirably represented by the fast SureColor P20070 and extremely flexible SureColor T5200D.
 
If you produce large format saleable photography or commercial POS, then the Epson SureColor Production 20070 is a 64″ (1,626mm) large format printer designed to suit your needs. It offers production speeds of up to 38m2/hr and supports media up to 1.5mm thick. It uses a low cost 10 colour ink set that produces an outstanding gamut and incorporates a special LLk ink for gloss optimisation. Dedicated Photo and Matte Black channels ensure minimum waste and there is an optional precision ATU available for roll-to-roll production.
 
If you produce plans, drawings or low cost posters then the SC-T5200D is the product of choice. It will print an A0 image in as little as 50 seconds with output that dries almost instantly to be water and rub resistant. It is extremely cost-effective to run, with low power and low ink consumption. Designed for business, corporate, educational and government environments, the printer features a small footprint and dual roll loading. It can be ordered with optional high-speed Postscript for drag-n-drop P4P applications as well as a large format scanner for full print, scan, copy, and share functionality.
 
For more information on Epson’s range of wide and large format printers go to: https://www.epson.com.au/prographics/

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We’ve just put up a brand new CorelDRAW step by step tutorial and walkthrough.

Laser Engraving expert Jordan shows you how to set up artwork in CorelDRAW so you can laser engrave your city map using a laser! You can even use this to engrave on furniture and make custom side tables with your favourite city map.

Even astronauts occasionally need to print out important documents, so tech giant HP has provided the International Space Station with a new printer.

On-board the SpaceX 14 rocket which launched last week is the specially built HP Envy ISS, which has been customised to be able to handle paper and manage waste ink in zero gravity.

The tech firm said that while much of the technology built into the printer was off-the-shelf, several tweaks were needed in order to ensure the device would work in the demanding environment of a space station.

Special flame retardant plastics have also been used on parts of the printer, and it has also been specially tuned to be able to print in multiple orientations – meaning it can handle the rotation and zero gravity on the station.

According to HP the crew of the ISS go through two reams of paper a month, with hard copies used for mission critical information such as inventory return trajectories, timelines and personal items such as letters and photos from home.

Alongside printers, HP is also deploying around 120 of its ZBook Workstation computers to the station to support “mission operations”.

The astronauts use the printers on the space station for the same reasons people on Earth use them in offices and at home. The crews print out work documents as well as personal files.

“Letters from home, photographs and training materials are the types of things the crews print,” said Stephen Hunter, NASA Manager. “If you think about how much you print at home, or how much you print in your office environment, the same kind of thing applies in space, except that there are some critical things the crew has to print.”

While the astronauts have ample access to laptop and tablet computers, there are just some things they cannot keep in electronic format only. For example, were the space station to suddenly lose power or if the crew had to evacuate the outpost in an emergency, they could not rely on there being an available digital screen or the time needed to access their procedures. So hard copies are a must.

The rare contingency aside though, there is also the human factor.

“There’s something very human and psychological about the feel of paper,” Hunter explained. “You get things that are very personal to the crew — letters from home, pictures. There are some who have used the printers to make keepsakes to bring home. One crew member used the printers to print out their expedition patch on a special type of paper from their home country and used that as souvenirs.”

The space station’s printing needs put the orbiting outpost into a unique category, said Ronald Stephens, the R&D manager for HP Specialty Printing Systems.

“For the astronauts, the space station is really a combined environment,” he said. “It looks like an enterprise environment, where you have ‘corporate’ NASA on the ground changing procedures and sending up materials to be printed remotely, and we at HP work in those type of environments quite often.”

“It is also clearly an office and laboratory environment. You’ve got astronauts doing research, printing reports, graphs, other engineering and science documents.”

“And then it is also their home — their family sends an email or a photo,” added Stephens. “I think the challenge is that the space station is really a combination of all of the different types of segments that printers go into. It is that all in one.”

Keypoint Intelligence – Buyers Laboratory (BLI), the world’s leading independent evaluator of document imaging hardware and software, has awarded Epson three of its 2018 Inaugural Pick Awards for Outstanding Eco-Solvent 54″/64″ Wide Format Printers. These first-time awards acknowledge the products that gave the best performances in BLI’s rigorous wide format field tests over the previous year.

BLI’s 2018 Wide Format Picks went to the Epson SureColor SC-S40600 for Outstanding Entry-Level CMYK Eco-Solvent/Latex 54″/64″ Printer, the Epson SureColor SC-S60600 for Outstanding High Production CMYK Eco-Solvent/Latex 54″/64″ Printer and the Epson SureColor SC-S80600 for Outstanding Gamut Expansion Eco-Solvent/Latex 54″/64″ Printer.

Epson took home three well-deserved Picks thanks to excellent performances in BLI’s Eco-Solvent/Latex wide format printer field evaluation. “We were impressed with the superior colour accuracy the three Epson 64″ eco-solvent printers were able to achieve,” said Joe Tischner, Keypoint Intelligence – Buyers Lab’s Wide Format & Cut Sheet Production Analyst. “Each Epson SureColor printer delivered the lowest Delta E measurements of all the devices we tested, accuracy that any colour-critical print shop will definitely appreciate.”

For over 50 years, Buyers Lab has been the global document imaging industry’s resource for unbiased and reliable information, test data, and competitive selling tools. What started out as a consumer-based publication about office equipment has become an all-encompassing industry resource. Buyers Lab evolves in tandem with the ever-changing landscape of document imaging solutions, constantly updating our methods, expanding our offerings, and tracking cutting-edge developments. Based on rigorous testing in the lab or in the field, as well as comprehensive analysis in categories such as image quality, usability, and speed, Buyers Lab Wide Format Picks stand alone in the industry and are hard-earned awards.

Ball & Doggett today announced their appointment as an Australian print distributor for Avery Dennison’s digital inkjet and screen print portfolios.

This is key strategic alignment cements Ball & Doggett’s position as a leader in the display and visual sign market. “We are very excited to announce this partnership with Avery Dennison and include their digital range in our media portfolio. Backed by a global company like Avery Dennison ensures we can provide our customers first class products and service which includes direct technical and business support,” said Leigh Hooper, National Manager Display & Visual, Ball & Doggett.

Jordan Leach, Senior Business Manager, Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions, Australia and New Zealand adds: “The strong business relationship that Ball & Doggett has with key customers, the continued investment into this market and the successful history stemming from the previously known K.W.Doggett. Fine Paper business made the decision to continue with Ball & Doggett as a print distributor an easy one. This partnership will see both businesses continue to focus on incremental growth opportunities with the Avery Dennison digital inkjet and screen print portfolios within Australia.”

Ball & Doggett’s core delivery service includes fast and free delivery, national distribution, as well as an extensive range of media and substrates backed by globally recognised brands. Innovation is at the forefront for the company and in 2014 they launched Australia’s first vendor managed inventory system i_CONSIGNMENT, now with more than 400 users. With the strengthening of their partnership with Avery Dennison, they are now offering the i_CONSIGNMENT service to their signage customers, enabling them to have Avery Dennison media in the right place, at the right time.

Ball & Doggett is Australia’s largest distributor of paper, packaging, plastics, inks and wide format media

Memjet (www.memjet.com) and Canon have entered into a long-term, global agreement to cross-license their patents around key segments and applications.  Terms of the agreement remain confidential.

“We are excited and pleased with our agreement with Canon, which validates the value of our technology,” said Len Lauer, CEO of Memjet.  “This agreement showcases the breadth and strength of our intellectual property portfolio of patents.  We will continue to focus on our leadership position in the single pass digital inkjet market through our technology innovation that provides unmatched speed, simplicity and affordability.”

The swissQprint Nyala large format printer is Europe’s best-selling printer in its class for the third time in a row, with the new LED model now having replaced its predecessor.

According to the Geneva-based market research institute Infosource, last year the swissQprint Nyala was Europe’s best-selling printer model in its class: UV flatbed/hybrid printers >60″ (152.4 cm) wide in the EUR 130,000 – 500,000 price segment, compared to all brands surveyed in 2017. This means that Nyala has taken first place for the third time in a row.

Profitable LED solution

The UV inkjet printers manufactured in Switzerland evidently offer a convincing price/performance ratio, especially the latest series using LED technology: Nyala LED was first unveiled at Fespa 2017 and has since replaced the Nyala 2 predecessor model (with conventional UV curing). The LED technology used today features massively reduced power consumption and extends the already wide range of materials and applications thanks to low heat emission. The LED systems also leave a small environmental footprint due to non-polluting components, low power consumption and modest maintenance requirements.

Modularity across the range

The current swissQprint range comprises three models with varying dimensions and productivity: Nyala LED (3.2Å~2 m flatbed, 206 m2/h maximum output), Impala LED (2.5Å~2 m flatbed, 180 m2/h maximum output) and Oryx LED (2.5Å~2 m flatbed, 65 m2/h maximum output). All feature modular design and a free choice of ink configurations, so users can get a printer configured according to their immediate needs while keeping the option of later conversion or expansion. Such a possibility for phased investment can make it easier to get started with digital printing and, as a result, the machine grows with the company. This modularity certainly contributes to success, both for Nyala and for swissQprint.

For more information about The swissQprint Nyala large format printer, please visit Pozitive

Leading machine tool supplier Alfex CNC Australia, which celebrates its 40^th anniversary this year, has announced it will be unveiling the all-new Kern OptiFlex Laser on stand #G14 at the Visual Impact expo in Brisbane next month.

The OptiFlex is Kern’s flagship high-performance laser system, with a HyperDual motion package which Alfex says ‘sets the standard’ for large format laser cutting and engraving machines.

“This new system provides powerful, accurate cutting and engraving with cut acceleration rates up to three times faster than its competitors and work areas of up to 2,000mm x 3,000mm,” says Alfex CNC Business Development Manager, Christian Buhagiar.

“We’ll be showing the 1320 x 2540mm OPF 100 model on the Alfex stand, and demonstrating how its 400 watt laser enables it to cut metal as well as acrylic and plastic substrates, with ease.”

While the OptiFlex is sure to pull the crowds, Buhagiar says it will be just one of the highlights of the Alfex display. The company’s experienced staff will also be showcasing:

• The large-format Epilog Fusion M2 Dual Source Laser engraving and cutting system, which handles both CO2 and Fibre Laser applications and is the perfect choice for cutting and engraving a wide range of materials from wood and bare metal, to acrylic and other engineered plastics.
• The innovative μMETA fiber laser marking workstations from UK-based Lotus Laser, a company well known for its highly affordable, versatile and reliable laser marking and cutting solutions. The μMETA offers superior functionality and performance, and is a versatile, space and energy-saving option for marking most metals and many types of plastic.
• Vision Engravers CNC Routers which are designed for serious production environments. Ideal for large-run jobs, these digitally controlled machines are available in sizes from the 1220mm x 2440mm VR48 model, through 635mm x 635mm 2525 and 635mm x 1270mm 2550 models to the very popular 1624R 400 x 600mm, which offers enormous capabilities in a small footprint. All models also now come with the option of a new oscillating knife which is ideal for semi-rigid materials like foam board, rubber and single-ply cloth.
• The Duets by Gemini^TM range of flexible, high-performance two-ply engraving substrates, which includes products for a wide variety of indoor and outdoor applications including wayfinding, branding, reception, rotary engraving and reverse engraving, and even has flexible options for curved surfaces.

“We are excited to be able to showcase the latest solutions on our stand at Visual Impact, and we’re looking forward to giving visitors an introduction to how we can help them build their business via improved production processes and efficiency,” Buhagiar says.

Alfex CNC will be on Stand #G14 at Visual Impact Brisbane, which will run from 18-21 April at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. Find out more at www.visualconnections.com.au or register online today to skip the queues.

Epson has launched its very first double-sided A3+ printing and A3 copying, scanning and faxing model to the EcoTank range with the new ET-16500 4-in-1 inkjet.

In keeping with the other cartridge-free EcoTank printers in the range, the ET-16500 has been designed to offer a hassle-free and low-cost solution for printing, thanks to an ultra-high-capacity ink tank system, which is filled by high-volume ink bottles.
 
GeneralEpson Australia Bruce Bealby said, “The ET-16500 is a real first as home office and small business users can now enjoy all of the lower lost, low hassle benefits of EcoTank with the addition of double-sided A3+ printing and A3 copying, scanning and faxing.”

Suited to home offices and small businesses, the ET-16500 uses the PrecisonCore printhead and Epson’s genuine pigment ink to produce sharp and clear texts. Designed for business tasks, it offers fax, two 250-sheet front trays for extra capacity, A3+ double-sided printing and fast print speeds of 18ppm1. The addition of the A3 double-sided automatic document feeder (up to 35 pages) makes it effortless to copy, scan and fax multiple page documents. It’s. It’s also easy to use with a 10.9cm touchscreen and Epson’s latest user interface. The ET-16500 is backed by a two-year warranty (upon registration)

Offering an extremely low cost per page, the ET-16500 can print up to an impressive 10,500 pages in black and 11,300 in colour2 from the included ink. With significantly more printing between refills, it presents a cost-effective and efficient solution.
http://www.epson.com.au
With Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct, sending documents to print from smart devices using the Epson iPrint app3 is made simple. It’s even possible to email files from anywhere in the world to the model via Epson Email print3. Providing further connectivity features, it also offers Ethernet, Google Cloud print and Scan-to-Cloud.

The ET-16500 is available now from www.epson.com.au for an RRP of $1599.00 and from all good Epson retailers and resellers across the country.

Key features:
• A3 scan (1,200 dpi), copy and fax, A3+ print
• Refillable high-capacity side ink tank
• Epson genuine ink included: 2x sets
• PrecisionCore printhead
• Print up to 10,500 pages in black and 11,300 in colour1, from the included inks
• Print speeds of 18ppm in black and 10ppm in colour2 
• Fast double-sided printing
• A3 double-sided automatic document feeder (35 pages)
• 10.9cm touch screen
• 2x 250-sheet A3 tray
• Epson warranty up to 3 years (upon registration)
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet
• Print quickly and easily over Wi-Fi from smartphone and tablet PCs with Epson iPrint3
• Epson Connect support (Email Print, Remote Print Driver)3, and + Scan-to-Cloud
• Google Cloud print

Following a 29-year career with Image magazines, owner/publisher Stan Kilpin has announced his retirement.

“It’s been a long, eventful and very satisfying time in which I have met and enjoyed the company of so many industry people and who’s friendship I will long remember”, said Stan. He continued, “From the era of screenprinting with our first magazine, Australasian ScreenPrinter through to the current wide format signage market and our current magazines Digital Image, Textile Image, Sign Gear NZ and the Image Sign Price Guide plus the online publications Image Online Classifieds and Image Online News, I think I have almost seen it all as the industry has progressed. The early days saw us venture in to trade exhibitions with ImageExpo and the industry awards events Australasian Screen Print Awards.

“I could not and did not do it alone and I am so grateful for all the encouragement and support received over the years in achieving this:” continued Stan.

Now it’s time for a renewal and to take the business to the next level which will be ably achieved by the new owners Image Publications with Janet Maitland as publisher.

Janet has been involved with Image Magazine over the past 2 years through the joint venture with Sign Price Cruncher.

Image Magazine and Sign Gear provide a good fit with her strong corporate Sales and Marketing background. Janet is a highly experienced business leader with over 20 years’ experience as a senior level executive and management consultant in a wide range of industries across Australia, Asia and the USA. She has broad ranging business and industry exposure gained from working within major multinational corporations and SMEs.

When it comes to our advertising partners Janet has extensive experience in new product development, marketing and delivering sales results gained through her experience as National Sales and Marketing manager Carrier Corporation, General Manager Sleepmaker Bedding among others.

“I have experience with the sign industry and this combined with extensive sales and marketing experience, I am looking forward to creating and building connections as the publisher of the industry’s leading publications in Image and Sign Gear”, said Janet.

It will be business as usual with the highly experienced editorial and technology team as we build on the strong foundation of Image and Sign Gear. The future is bright and with the new resources available readers and advertisers can be assured of new innovations as the business moves forward into the future.

Stan Kilpin will remain with the business to assist with the handover for the coming months and all contact details remain the same.

Sign Essentials has been appointed the Australian distributor for iECHO flatbed cutting devices. iECHO, has a long history manufacturing flatbed cutting devices for many different industries including garment & textile, advertising & printing, composites, packaging, bags & leather, inflatable products, membrane structure, automobile upholstery, yachts, aviation, wind power, etc..

The flagship product is the iECHO BK3 high precision digital cutting system. This third-generation device can do through cutting, kiss cutting, milling, punching, creasing and marking functions with high speed and high precision. The camera registration system is ideal for popular print/cut operations, particularly when coupled with a UV flatbed printer. The BK3 can be configured with one, two or three cutting heads. Multiple tools can be interchanged between any of the heads.

“The iECHO neatly fills a gap we had in our cutting range” says Sean Strange, General Manager of Sign Essentials. “Our Impact CNC routers and lasers are fantastic for many cutting and engraving applications, but don’t necessarily suit every situation. The BK3 has a great range of tooling including oscillating knives, v-cutters, drag blades, creasing tools, a router spindle and more. When teamed up with iECHO’s camera registration system they open up exciting possibilities!”

The BK3 comes in a number of bed sizes up to 3.0m x 1.7m. For those who need bigger there is also the TK3S series of cutting tables. These come in a number of standard larger sizes and can also be custom-sized to fit any particular application.

Sign Essentials is delighted to be officially releasing the iECHO at Visual Impact in Brisbane and will have a demonstration machine on their stand. Visual Impact is a great opportunity for customers to come and see the BK3 and get an understanding of what it can do for their business. Visual Impact Brisbane takes place from the 19^th – 21^st of April 2018. If you can’t make it to the show, Sign Essentials is happy to arrange demonstrations at their showroom.

For further information you can see the iECHO at www.signessentials.com. You can also contact Sign Essentials on 1300 363 464 or email sales@signessentials.com.

If you want to see the future of the industry, then look no further than the campaigns from 19 Crimes winery. This is brilliant stuff. They really take goof idea and get the best results by combining both print and digital elements to the best of their ability.

Matrix Frame (Leiden, The Netherlands) is pleased to announce the opening of a distribution centre in Australia to service the Pacific Region. Based in Sydney, the centre will now compliment Matrix Frames’ three other distribution centres in The Netherlands, The United States and China.

Established in 2006, Matrix Frame is a pioneer of Silicone Edge Graphics (SEG) and continues to adapt and modify its products to stay at the forefront of the industry. Our aluminium frames and light boxes house eye-catching tension fabric graphics are much more convenient to ship, store, and swap out than traditional prints, which translates to huge savings on shipping costs. Each lightweight aluminium frame is engineered for both flexibility and longevity-easy to assemble, yet able to support countless graphics over its lifetime.

We will be warehousing our full range of products in Australia including seventeen different extrusions, all connectors, its range of LED lighting and the full range of magnetic accessories. Typically supplied in a Natural Anodised finish and black in some profiles, all profiles have the ability to be powder coated for custom colour requirements. We will work with companies across Australia and the Pacific to make big, bold, beautiful, attention-getting statements.  We will help our customers to build state-of-the-art, grand format light boxes with the latest in LED lighting technology, as well as wall-mounted and freestanding frames with silicone-edge fabric graphics.   We pride ourselves on selling premium products at an affordable price while offering excellence in customer service and execution.  Our decision to focus only on Tension Fabric and Silicone Edge Graphic Systems has not only made us experts in this field, but has also made us the largest supplier of SEG systems in the World.

Matrix Frame only sell to trade customers and not to the end client. Trade customers can either purchase the system off Matrix Frame to cut and convert themselves, or Matrix Frame can cut its extrusions to size using state of the art equipment and then deliver the frame to trade customer as a ready to assemble kit.

Launching in Australia at Visual Impact Brisbane (April 19-21), we are now seeking to appoint a network of Distributors and Resellers in Australia and the Pacific region.

Please contact David Cross on +61 466 892 009 or email david.cross@matrixframe.com.au for further information. Alternatively all information including a full range of videos can be found at: www.matrixframe.com.au

Neopost Australia today announced its personal sponsorship of Ryal Harris, Australia’s most successful V8 Ute driver in history.

Speaking at the launch, Karen Kavanagh, Marketing Director at Neopost Australia shared how the sponsorship came about. “Not only is Ryal a super race car driver, he is also the owner of Rad Visuals, a sign and display business located in Queensland. Ryal has been a long standing customer of Neopost, in the past few years investing in HP Latex Printing technology to serve his sign and display business. Give Ryal’s highly successful profile on the race circuit, when the opportunity arose for Neopost to invest as Ryal’s personal sponsor, we jumped at the chance to align Neopost Australia’s award – winning brand, to the award – winning brand of Australia’s most successful UTE driver on the circuit”

“This deal marries so many opportunities together for Neopost, to further enhance and raise its profile amongst our long serving loyal customers in the Australian Print industry”

The partnership makes sense in so many ways for Neopost – Ryal as a business owner is a long serving customer of Neopost, he himself uses the HP Latex print technology to wrap his vehicles and most importantly, the sponsorship deal affords Neopost the opportunity to further extend its VIP program across the print, sign and display customer network – as we roll out a new corporate hospitality program throughout this year’s race series, across the country, exclusively available to Neopost customers. “There is 11 race days on the schedule this year, a Ferrari lap day and skid pan track day – all of which gives Neopost the opportunity to provide key customers and partners in the industry with the opportunity to enjoy the Neopost VIP experience over the race weekend. We have just completed the first in the series at Adelaide, where customers and partners got the opportunity to witness Ryal be first to the chequered flag in 2 of his 3 races. It really is a great experience to witness and be part of’ states Kavanagh.

‘I am delighted that Neopost Australia has chosen to be my 2018 personal sponsor’ states Ryal. This investment will allow me to further invest in my on-track performance to see out what I hope will be my most successful year in my racing career’

Ryal is now the most successful V8 Ute driver in history with over 38 race wins, 11 pole positions, numerous lap records and the first driver in history to win 3 championships in the V8 Ute category.

Neopost Australia is a leading partner to the Australian print industry – supporting almost 15,000 customers across commercial print, sign & display and of course the franchise network. We are the 2018 HP Channel Partner of the year (Large Format) an accolade bestowed to us for the past 4 years in a row.

To see Ryal in action, click here www.supercars.com/news/superutes/harris-wins-maiden-superutes-race/

Graphic Art Mart Pty Ltd is delighted to announce the opening of its eighth location in Sunshine West, Victoria. Located at Factory 2, 177 Fairbairn Road, Sunshine West this new facility will offer customers in Western Melbourne unparalleled access to many of the industry’s favourite products.

Mousa Elsarky, General Manager of Graphic Art Mart, said, “We are excited to have the opportunity to better service customers in Western Melbourne. We recognise the challenge Melbourne customers face when they need quick accessibility to their favourite products. This new site, in addition to our Mount Waverley facility, now offers fast and convenient access to products throughout the metropolitan area. It is our desire to offer Melbourne customers the best of products and the high service levels they deserve.”

Graphic Art Mart has serviced the sign and display market in Australia for more than 45 years – marketing leading industry brands such as Avery Dennison, Roland DG, Arlon, Aslan, Mactac, Chemica, Mimaki, Sihl, CWT and 3M among others. Existing operations in North Rocks New South Wales, Peakhurst New South Wales, Virginia Queensland, Mount Waverley Victoria, Belmont Western Australia, Woolner Northern Territory and Edwardstown South Australia have provided customers with the highest levels of product knowledge, service and support.

Customers can visit the new Sunshine West facility at Factory 2, 177 Fairbairn Road, Sunshine West VIC 3020.

For more information, visit www.gamart.com.au, phone 1300 GAMART (426 278) or contact Tabitha Billinghurst and her team at the Sunshine West location via phone 03 8609 4300, fax 03 8609 4399 or email sunshine@gamart.com.au

Matrix Frame (Leiden, The Netherlands) is pleased to announce that David Cross has commenced in the role of General Manager for Australia. David will head a distribution/sales centre in Australia to service the Pacific Region for trade sales. The centre, based in Sydney, will now compliment Matrix Frames’ three other distribution centres in The Netherlands, The United States and China.

With over 25 years of industry experience, David brings comprehensive industry knowledge and skills to the role having previously worked at Supply One, Claude Neon and the last 16 years at Signcraft. Having had exposure to distribution, project, sales and management roles over this time, David is well equipped for his new role as General Manager in Australia.

David will manage the full Matrix Frame operations here in Australia and be the main point of contact.

Please contact David Cross on +61 466 892 009 or email david.cross@matrixframe.com.au for further information.

Alternatively all information including a full range of videos can be found at: www.matrixframe.com.au

ABOUT DASHING

 

Dashing is an energetic and dynamic business, with exceptional people who believe in delivering outstanding customer service. We have redefined the landscape of print marketing and reframed how brands work in the visual merchandising space. We deliver retail design, a customised platform for retail marketers, the latest in retail engagement technologies and a wide range of production services. Dashing are looking for an experience Industrial Designer that has worked on the development of retail point of sale displays, pop-ups and in-store production.

Reporting to the Chief Customer Officer and Creative Director, the Industrial Designer would be responsible for the following tasks:

• Research of the best solution for the clients’ objectives
• Sketching and renders of concepts
• Examining materials and production costs to determine manufacturing requirements
• Sourcing and Liaising with suppliers
• Working with other members of the design team when required
• Evaluating product safety, appearance, and function to determine if a design is practical
• Prototype management
• Presenting designs and demonstrating prototypes to clients for approval (this is optional)

ABOUT YOU

·       At least 3-4 years of Industrial Design experience, ideally with retail projects

·       Understanding of retail environments would be an advantage

·       Proactive and self-motivated

·       Willing to go above and beyond to deliver the best possible customer experience

·       Capable of planning and problem solving

·       A hustler! Dashing is a busy and growing business, so get up and go is a must.

WHAT YOU’LL GET IN RETURN

·       Be part of a vibrant and smart team

·       Exposure to Dashing events and activities

·       Be part of the Dashing crew with a fantastic company culture

·       An opportunity to develop further skills within a growing business

SO YOU THINK YOU’RE DASHING?

To be considered for this great opportunity, email our CCO Jemma@dashinggroup.com.au

Roland DGA, a leading provider of wide-format inkjet printers, 3D milling machines, and other innovative digital devices, has announced the launch of the world’s first laser foil decorator – the DGSHAPE LD-80. Engineered to enhance a vast array of items with text, logos and graphics using a variety of metallized and holographic foils, the LD-80 makes it easy to personalize and add value to small, off-the-shelf products such as pens, cell phone covers, stationery, and cosmetic accessories.

“While traditional methods typically perform adequately, they don’t allow short runs, and they can overheat the plastics in some cases,” said Matt Anderson, Roland DGA’s Product Manager, 3D Solutions. “This is actually where the LD-80 excels. It’s perfect for shorter runs and, with its focused laser, can transfer even small text and fine details to materials like acrylic, ABS and polycarbonate quickly, reliably and with incredible precision.”

A variety of attractive foils can be used with the LD-80 to create stunning graphic results. Users can choose from a wide selection of gold, silver and other metallized foils, or even holographic foils, to produce a broad range of vivid, eye-catching designs.

The LD-80 comes bundled with a powerful, user-friendly software package that makes product personalization and customization simple. A wide selection of fonts are available, and settings like font size and spacing can be adjusted at the click of a mouse. Vector data can also be imported, including custom designs like illustrations and logos.

“Its small footprint and portability makes the LD-80 ideal for performing on-demand foil decoration just about anywhere,” noted Anderson. “You can place and operate this desktop device in virtually any retail store or kiosk setting, plus it’s easy to transport to special events like street fairs and festivals.”

Compliant with the safest Class 1 International Standard for products equipped with laser devices, the LD-80 incorporates a full-cover design to ensure it can be used safely without laser light being visible outside the unit. It also includes a failsafe design that stops the unit automatically if the cover is opened during operation. The exclusive design of the laser system eliminates dust or gas from being generated, ensuring maintenance-free operation. It also works on ordinary household power, requiring no electrical work for installation.

To learn more about the DGSHAPE LD-80 Laser Foil Decorator, visit https://www.rolanddga.com/products/engraving-machines/ld-80-foil-decorator. For more information on the complete Roland DGA product lineup, visit www.rolanddga.com.

Konica Minolta has shared details of a new line of entry-level colour production presses, the AccurioPress C3080 series, which will replace the C2070 series.

There are two models, the C3070 and the C3080, which can run at 71 A4 ppm and 81 A4 ppm respectively, though they slow down with substrates of 216gsm and heavier. That said, the series comes with improved thick paper support for various media types, such as coated and embossed paper up to 350 gsm. They can hold up to 15,390 sheets. There’s also a new large capacity unit for banners up to 762 mm in length that’s suitable for applications like book covers and three-fold menus.

The standard machines come with a new colour dual scanner that is capable of running at a speed of up to 240 ipm. This has a double-feed detection kit to avoid scanning two sheets at once. There’s a ‘P’ or print-only version that doesn’t have the scanner. The actual imaging system appears to be the same as the previous models with the same toner being used.

This series also includes the IQ-501 module, which automates various colour control settings. These presses will work with the same finishing units as previously availalble though there’s also a new GBC Puncher and a new conveyance unit for improved hybrid decurling

André Statkus, Konica Minolta Europe’s product manager for these presses, explains: “As there is no longer the need for measurement or numerical input, high quality print products are constantly available with fewer manual settings and less human errors. In addition, thanks to real-time monitoring and adjustments during printing, high quality is ensured, contributing to cost reduction through less waste but also improving customer trust.”

These presses can be supplied with Konica Minolta’s latest IC-605 controller and there are also DFEs available from both EFI Fiery and Creo.

Alfex CNC Australia Director George Buhagiar announced earlier this month the expansion of the laser and CNC company’s service department, creating new jobs and facility upgrades to their growing list of customers.

“2017 was a record year of growth for Alfex CNC and we are excited to see this growth continue in 2018. We’ve always been primarily service focused, and to maintain our reputation as having the best machine service we are expanding our service team.“

Alfex CNC was established in 1978 with the primary goal and a strong commitment to not only offer the finest machine tools available at that time but to also back them with some of the best support in the machine tool industry.

Haas Factory Outlet – Australia (A Division of Alfex CNC Australia) is the exclusive Australian distributor for Haas Automation. Today, Haas manufactures four major product lines: vertical machining centers (VMCs), horizontal machining centers (HMCs), CNC lathes and rotary tables, as well as a number of large five-axis and specialty machines. All Haas products are manufactured at the company’s expansive facility in Oxnard, California – the largest, most modern machine tool manufacturing operation in the United States. With around 1,200 Haas machine installations in Australia, it is no wonder that the team of Haas certified service technicians continues to grow.

With this growth and coinciding with our 40 year anniversary, we are pleased to announce the return of Marshall Philp to our Brisbane operation. Philp joined the team in early February as Haas CNC Service Coordinator. Philp previously workedfor Alfex CNC Australia where he became a Haas certified technician at the Haas Automation headquarters in the United States. “Marshall returns to the team with a great deal of experience to improve, strengthen and build our customer service/support efforts in Queensland and interstate”, says George Buhagiar.

“Our investment in our service department is significant and illustrates our commitment to our customers. We are proud to support our customers with their growth and look forward to continuing all of our new and long-term relationships.”

For further information on Alfex CNC Australia, visit www.alfexcnc.com.au

For more information on Haas Factory Outlet – Australia, visit www.haas-australia.com