LFP - Large-Format-Printing

First Fujifilm Uvistar Pro8 UK installation is a big hit

Tuesday 26. March 2013 - Image Technique boosts outdoor communications business with integration of productive super-wide format printer

“It’s an extraordinarily productive and reliable piece of equipment.” This is the overriding impression James Dawson, managing director of Image Technique, has of Fujifilm’s Uvistar Pro8. His is the first company in the UK to have installed the advanced super-wide format platform, which is particularly suited to the POP and outdoor advertising markets.
Specialising in the design, manufacture and installation of signs, two years ago Image Technique embarked on the production of wide format print and installed a Fujifilm Acuity HS Advance printer. “We used to outsource all print related jobs but then realised that it would be much more cost-effective to manage them in-house,” explains James.
Due to increasing demands from its customers, who mainly operate in the retail and leisure industries, Image Technique needed to raise the bar further with regards to productivity and was on the look-out for a high-end wide format device. James continues: “Today we are asked to deliver more roll-to-roll based volumes with quicker turnaround times, so it was crucial to strengthen our production capabilities.”
After conducting an in-depth analysis of the market, James chose a Fujifilm Uvistar Pro8 on the strength of it striking the perfect balance between quality and productivity. In addition, he was influenced by Fujifilm’s excellent support and technical knowledge, which he had already experienced with the installation of the Acuity HS Advance.
The acquisition of the super-wide format printer has immediately benefitted the company. “The Uvistar Pro8 has significantly reduced our time to market thanks to its advanced features,” James comments. More specifically, he is particularly pleased with the ability of the printer to simultaneously handle two rolls of the same material, which has dramatically improved the company’s efficiency, not to mention his excitement about the vivid colours and high adhesion guaranteed by Fujifilm’s inks.
What’s more, Fujifilm’s strong expertise in colour management has allowed Image Technique to achieve consistent quality across both the Uvistar Pro8 and Acuity HS Advance. This provides the print service provider with increased flexibility and the opportunity to either allocate a job to the most suitable device, or print the same job on both pieces of equipment to maximise productivity.
James wraps up: “Since October 2012, when the Uvistar Pro8 was up and running within our production environment, we have more than doubled our print capacity. We can’t be more positive about the impact of this installation on our business!”
Fujifilm’s Uvistar Pro8 in a nutshell
Uvistar Pro8 is the latest development in Fujifilm’s highly successful series of Uvistar super-wide format printers. One of its major advancements is the inclusion of a complete set of light colours within the ink set, which increases print quality without compromising on print speed. Together with its unique Parallel Drop Size (PDS) technology, this allows the Uvistar Pro8 to produce high definition display POP graphics at speeds in excess of 300m2/hour.
Uvistar Pro8 also features an auto media handling system for rigid media and is able to switch between four and eight colour printing modes. Uvistar is ideal for outdoor applications where the vibrancy of the inks and the versatility of the associated materials, including polyethylene, work extremely well together. In addition, Uvistar Pro8 has been developed in combination with Fujifilm’s Uvijet QN inks, which are able to meet the strict quality requirements typical of indoor applications.