SDUK 2017: Day two
With this year’s edition of Sign and Digital UK now in full swing, Harriet Gordon takes a tour of the stands to see how the second day of the show is taking shape.
Wednesday, 29 Mar 2017 17:22 GMT
HP chose not to exhibit any new machinery, opting instead to demonstrate the sheer range of potential applications its tech can offer
As I enter the halls of Sign and Digital UK once again, I am immediately greeted by the familiar smell of solvent in the air and the perpetual whir of countless new machines, all hard at work demonstrating their capabilities to the visitors that are already pouring through the doors of Birmingham’s NEC.
Perhaps the exception that proves the rule, however, is HP. For its 2017 showing, this industry giant has chosen not to exhibit any new machinery, opting instead to demonstrate the sheer range of potential applications its tech can offer. I caught up with Duncan Baker on the HP stand, who confirmed that the “entire point” of the company’s attendance this year was “to showcase just what the machines can do”.
He continues: “Everything you can see on the stand has been designed and printed using HP technology, with the design work taking place on HP’s WallArt Suite.”
With a wide range of solutions on display, including wallcoverings, blinds, and a host of other interior applications, the HP team were also conducting live demonstrations of the online design platform on their stand. Nor were those who came with a targeted interest in HP hardware disappointed: the firm showcased its Latex 1500 (3.2m), 570 (1.62m), 365 (1.62m), as well as the HP Scitex FB750 industrial printer and DesignJet Z6800 photo production printer.
Everything you can see on the stand has been designed and printed using HP technology”
Another company that chose to use the very fabric of its stand as a medium for demonstrating its products was Antalis. In what has to be one of the coolest stand spaces of this year’s event, the firm constructed a 50s diner made completely from materials Antalis supply. From the black and white chequered floor graphics to the lampshades that hang from the ceiling, the entire stand was a tribute to the wide-format roll-to-roll and flatbed media that the company offer, including brands such as Orafol, 3A, and Drytac, as well as Antalis’s own Coala range.
One of the most momentous points of day two was the worldwide launch of Inktec’s new Jetrix LXi8 production printer. As well as a formal cake cutting by chief executive officer Dr Chung, press and visitors alike were treated to a demonstration of the ultra high-speed, extra large flatbed with UV LED, a curing system the firm claims delivers lower overall energy consumption and a longer lifetime. The speed and scale of the machine is undeniably impressive to witness: it has a 3.2 x 2m flatbed and uses a powerful zonal vacuum system with automated pin registration, which Inktec says ensures quick media placement at speeds of up to 197sq m/h.
A definite highlight of the Hybrid Services’ stand was the recently announced Mimaki UJF MkII range of A3 and A2 sized flatbed printers. The company claim that these machines offer next-generation direct-to-object print capabilities and are challenging customers to prove them wrong: the ‘print on anything’ challenge encourages printers to come to Hybrid with their small-format LED UV printing needs, as the company is convinced the UJF MkII will print on anything, better than anything.
John de la Roche, national sales manager at Hybrid Services, explains: “From short-run promotional materials to one-off gifts, Mimaki’s UJF MkII will offer higher quality, lower costs and greater flexibility than comparable machines on the market.
“It could be phone cases, notebooks or small format signage, or, at the other end of the scale, it could be manufacturing components with a serial number on it. We even have people that print medical components or model railway carriages! We have found that these machines are selling very well, particularly the A2.”
A Mimaki favourite was also on display at the Hybrid stand: the JFX200 flatbed LED UV printer was showing visitors what it could do, with an added twist for those for whom ‘big’ just is not big enough. De la Roche continues: “You’ve seen the front half of this machine before, but we’ve now added another bed on the back allowing you to print two 8’ x 4’ sheets. Maximising productivity by using the industry standard (8' x 4') media on its 2.5 x 3.1m bed, the new design reduces loading and unloading time by allowing two boards to be printed.”
A day at the show would not be complete without a quick glance at least at a few vehicles in mid-wrap state. Hexis was certainly one of the most visible of the wrapping contingent, demonstrating its range of Skintac cast wrapping films on a brand new BMW. According to the firm, these multi-layered films contain premium grade long automotive pigments for a long-lasting colour, while the multiple effects and surface finishes were available for all to see on the stand today. And for only the bravest of SDUK visitors, there was the added treat of the Hexis mojito-flavoured energy drink, its fluorescent green colour rivalling even the most vibrant of wrap films.
As the day draws to a close and attendants begin to file out of the NEC, general consensus coming from the exhibitor stands is that the second day of SDUK 2017 has seen a hike visitor numbers, with many companies reporting good sales and quality leads. We will be back tomorrow for the final day of the show, bringing you the most interesting news from this landmark industry event.
The second of our special Sign7News bulletins from Sign and Digital UK 2017
