Tuesday, 15 Oct 2019 10:08 GMT

Bowled over with a new makeover

Graphicomm Digital, print and banner manufacturers, recently created 200m sq of wall graphics for New York Thunderbowl bowling alley and entertainment complex in Kettering, UK.

The underwater themed graphic featured images from Pirates of the Caribbean amongst a scene of tropical fish and coral.The graphics were printed on Polar Premium vinyl from Drytac.

Graphicomm Digital was founded in 2000 by commercial director John Hardaker and his wife Janet Hardakerk, and production director Paul Sharpe and his wife Colleen Sharpe.

Thirteen years ago, the company moved on from printing using a more traditional lithographic method, to digital wide-format printing and, according to John they “haven’t looked back”.

Printing and laminating the graphics took two designers four days using a Roland DG VersaCAMM VS-540 inkjet printer/cutter.

This was a one-off, major overhaul of the entertainment complex so the graphics will be in place for a good many years

The graphics now cover two walls measuring around 17m long, and across the front of the bowling alley area – a 21m-long space.

Whilst visitors enjoy their coffee and lunch, they will be treated to the largest graphic of infamous Pirates of the Caribbean character Captain Jack Sparrow printed on a larger than life, 5m-tall drop.

Graphicomm Digital has used Drytac products previously but the bowling alley project was its first time using Drytac Polar.

"It's a great product," says Hardaker. "It prints well and is a lovely material to apply. The matte laminate finish looks and feels nice. We have already used Drytac Polar in two more projects as a result of the Thunderbowl job.

"This was a one-off, major overhaul of the entertainment complex so the graphics will be in place for a good many years."

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