Trotec demos synergies between print and laser

A recent workshop at Trotec’s Tortworth showroom demonstrated the synergies between its laser kit, Mimaki hardware, and a selection of substrates from manufacturers such as Drytac and Soyang.

The Print and Cut Workshop Open Day was split into morning and afternoon sessions with attendees welcomed from 9.45am to a bacon sandwich and a coffee before the day got underway.

With the walls filled with creative and eye-catching application examples, from engraved coasters and stationary items to packaging, signage displays, and more, the showroom is filled with ideas and inspiration.

The main showroom area houses a range of Trotec laser technology including the entry-level A3 CO2 machines, the new Speedy 400 CO2 laser, Speedy 300 flexx, and the SpeedMarker 300 MOPA models.

Mimaki’s UJF-3042 mkII e flatbed and UJV100-160 roll-to-roll machines were running all day producing festive-themed products such as baubles, Christmas stickers, and festive packaging. Drytac and Soyang substrates were also utilised to demonstrate how the range of solutions work together seamlessly.

Speaking to Print Monthly at the event, Bryan Jater, sales director for Trotec Laser UK, said: “With the print market, the people that we generally supply to are usually looking for something in addition to what they already do. We’re not supplying lasers to replace traditional cutting methods.

“Traditional substrates are changing all the time and sometimes laser is a better option for some of the new substrates that come into play. So, we’re not replacing, we’re offering a joined technology.”

Jater says, in terms of what the technology is capable of, the only limit is customers’ imagination and the idea behind collaborating for the Open Day came from a desire to offer a thorough demonstration of the entire production process for customers.

 “We want to give people a thorough overview because there will be a lot of people who use our machines that don’t use Mimaki machines but the two have such synergy,” Jater explains. “So we thought let’s try and get Mimaki people looking at lasers, laser people looking at Mimaki, and also bring in some substrate suppliers as well.

“99% of people love Christmas, so we thought let’s make it festive. We wanted to give the place a warm feel and as we’ve got print available to us, we’re making baubles, Christmas stickers, festive packaging, all of those things that are relevant this time of year, and it’s more fun!”

Hybrid Services, Mimaki’s exclusive UK and Ireland distributor has had a technology partnership with Trotec Laser for a couple of years now and the company has a Trotec laser at its own showroom in Crewe.

Commenting on the synergy between the technologies, Andrew Gregory, sales director at Hybrid Services, told Print Monthly at the event: “One of the great things about the crossover between the Trotec lasers and the Mimaki products is that on the small flatbed range, the UJF range, you can print directly onto a number of different substrates such as acrylics and wood that can be lasered.

“Then on our UV roll-to-roll machines, you can put laser-friendly films through, such as a polyester film supplied by Drytac, and that opens up other avenues for either creating decals that are cut on the laser or creating something that is then applied to the substrate such as acrylic and is then cut out.”

Reflecting on the importance of collaboration for events such as Trotec’s Print and Cut Workshop, Gregory adds: “I think it’s really important to recognise the fact that our customers in the UK and Ireland use different technologies and for us as the distributor, it’s really great to showcase the different applications that combining technologies provide to really signpost to commercial print companies the fact that they can go off in different directions.

“So, for us it’s really key to have those types of relationships and it’s great to be able to showcase the applications at events like this.”

Trotec also has showrooms in Edinburgh, Loughborough, Guildford, and Dublin in addition to its Tortworth site and its Boldon head office.

If you have any news, please email carys@linkpublishing.co.uk or join in with the conversation on Twitter and LinkedIn.