ISSUE 190 MARCH 2020     Sign Update 29

print directly onto the rigid substrate without the need for any special coatings.”   As a business, InkTec Europe says that JETRIX customers are seeing the benefits of improving their printing opportunities and increasing their profitability as they are able to print on a wider variety of rigid medias. In some instances this is leading to more unusual applications, such as a recent project that involved producing wooden table numbers for Giraffe Restaurants. In rather grisly conclusion Ben Woodruff adds, “Talking about unusual, one of our most recent installations has been for a coffin producer, where a graphic is printed onto the wooden lid to add the personal touch to their send off! What can be produced these days is very much down to the imagination and creativity of the designer.” www.inktec-europe.com

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Creativity, speed and versatility from Roland

The ability to diversify while delivering high-quality work across the board is what sets successful sign-makers apart from their competition. The capability to print directly onto a practically unlimited range of substrates, therefore, is a golden business opportunity. UV printing technology offers this material flexibility owing to its chemistry: UV ink sits on the surface of the substrate onto which you're printing rather than permeating it, so   it is compatible with multitudes of substrate s including porous materials and, with a primer, smooth surfaces like glass and metal.   The ink is cured using cool-temperature UV light so can also be used with heat- sensitive roll media and products such as electronics, in addition to rigid boards. Material versatility Rob Goleniowski, Head of Sales – UK & Ireland – Roland DG (UK) Ltd, explains, “An example of the material versatility possible using UV curing is the Roland DG IU-1000F large-format UV-LED flatbed printer. Acrylic, PETG, PVC board, foam board, PC, wood, corrugated polypropylene board, aluminium composite plate, metal and glass, up to 110mm thick and 45kg/sqm in weight, can all be printed directly using this industrial system. UV inks offer high colour density and high adhesion levels for direct-printed applications including signs, exhibition

graphics and backlit displays, but also for interior décor applications, canvas wall art and more. The IU-1000F runs White, Gloss and CMYK inks, and can also print primer to further extend the list of compatible direct-printable substrates.” Direct-to-substrate printing using UV technology can also add an extra dimension to work, in a literal sense. Goleniowski adds, “The Gloss (clear) ink

on several Roland UV solutions can be printed in layers to produce lifelike textures and simulated embossed effects, ideal for adding decorative elements to a print but also for practical purposes such as producing Braille text on signs. Gloss ink can also be used to create matt and gloss finishes for an effective high-end appearance on any kind of output.”

The new Roland VersaUV S-Series machine has reduced manufacturing times by three- quarters for Sign Shed