The Lightbar printer installed at Complete Studio Graphics
An investment in a roll-to-roll wide format machine fitted with a Lightbar UV curing solution has lead to Complete Studio Graphics making financial and time savings.
The technology was supplied by Colorific and is available as a retro fit. The installation of this new unit has instantly saved the graphics company significant time and production costs in a new system, which costs a fraction of a conventional engine.
Located on-site at London’s ExCel, a sizeable proportion of jobs produced by the company is in the events area, with exhibition participants relying on being able to get their display requirements turned round quickly and at a high quality.
Formerly, with jobs on flexible materials being produced using its solvent-based units, the company was always faced with delays after printing and before laminating because of the risk of outgassing. With the addition of the Lightbar solution, finished jobs are now ready immediately, with no time needed for drying.
‘We needed a machine that would give us a faster way of working but at a low investment price, particularly as this is our first venture into UV curable technology,’ explained Alan Carter, director. ‘But we didn’t want to sacrifice quality or our ability to maintain attractive prices for our clients who know that our sensible rates and fast turnaround don’t compromise the standard of the work we produce.’
As well as producing banners and event graphics, many of the applications created by the company involve large, tiled panels with the emphasis often being on last-minute orders, which need to be supplied and fitted to demanding deadlines. The versatility and ease of use of the technology now gives the company all the benefits and convenience of UV curable production without the heavy investment cost.
Lightbar utilises Colorific’s next generation UV Light inks which give good adhesion, very low odour and scuff and abrasion-free results
‘With Lightbar, we can print work and use it straightaway, which is something that’s impossible with solvent-based production,’ Mr Carter continued. ‘We’re now far more flexible and versatile, and the saving on lamination is a huge saving on time and money. UV-curable technology is the way to go.’
Mr Carter was originally looking at a proprietary flat bed machine with roll-to-roll capabilities as his introduction to UV curable print, but with the bulk of his company’s work being on flexible materials, it made even more sense to invest in a machine with the inexpensive Lightbar unit. Although it can be retro fitted for just £2,500 to an existing chassis that uses Epson DX4 or DX5 print heads, he decided to buy the system as part of a new printer.
