Pace general manager, Neil Tucker, is advising users to stick to manufacturer branded inks

Sign and display firm, Pace, has slammed third-party inks and advised firms to stick to own brand products to ensure long-term consistency, quality of output, and prevent damage to equipment.
 
Recent months have seen a number of sign and display companies report horror stories associated with using some third-party ink brands, which have damaged equipment and led to downtime. It is for this reason that the general manager of Pace, Neil Tucker, says the firm chose Roland DG's own brand ECO-Sol Max inks, stating: "There are other inks available, but we always wanted to use the ink that was designed specifically for use with Roland technology. It would be very easy to buy a cheaper unnamed brand but, you never know what you’re going to get."

The statement by Tucker is part of an ongoing debate raging in the industry, as reputable third-party ink manufacturers—which offer long term warranties on their ink performance—do battle with unscruplous suppliers of sub-standard and sometimes long-term incompatible inks. 

Another facet of the debate sees original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) at logger heads with reputable third-party manufacturers. This is due to the widely held view that OEM inks will always be better in terms of top-end quality, extending the life of printers and, preventing downtime due to maintenance.

Tucker adds: “The four-colour inkset allows us to match colours customers bring in. It’s durable, reliable and has never let us or our customers down.”
 
Pace highlight the odourless ink available from the manufacturer as a key benefit, as it claims the machine can run for up to ten hours a day without it affecting staff well-being.
 
Tucker also praised the 'versatility' of modern print technology, making a targeted investment into a Roland VersaCAMM SP-450i printer/cutter.
 
“It will print anything from paper to banner material, gloss or matt vinyl and magnetic material,” adds Tucker.
 
The Clevedon-based firm is the latest to declare itself  'proud' to be a Roland DG user, part of the manufacturer's promotional blitz for its wide-format machinery.
 
The firm uses the VersaCAMM to create general signage, exhibition branding and banners, with Tucker saying it has, 'helped his business to grow'.

Tucker concludes: “We can turnaround high-quality jobs, quicker. We’ve worked hard to earn a fantastic reputation for service and quality and wouldn’t chance throwing it away by cutting corners.”