Health and safety signage produced by Yorkhire based Sign Shed

30   Sign Update      ISSUE 190 MARCH 2020

      RIGID SUBSTRATES   Feature

Roland printing directly to wood safely for childrens’ toys

The Roland SF-200 printing durable, striking graphics onto plastic

The Roland SF-200 is the world's first desktop flatbed eco-solvent printer for sensitive applications

Stockport-based Floreeda Fabrications is one user to take advantage of this feature. In July 2018, this family company installed a Roland VersaUV S-Series LEJ-640S to help grow its business manufacturing bespoke acrylic POS displays for retail and exhibitions. While it was originally purchased to extend its range to include large-scale work – VersaUV S-Series systems can to direct-print onto flexible or rigid substrates or objects up to 200mm in height and 100kg/sqm in weight – it was soon put to work printing textures. For example, Floreeda Fabrications completed a project for a fashion retailer which included adding a three-dimensional concrete-effect finish to acrylic retail displays. Goleniowski adds, “The IU-1000F and the VersaUV S-Series are both substantial machines, able to print directly to large- scale sign boards and other products; large-format print businesses and sign- makers could utilise its versatility to offer bespoke furniture such as table-tops and interior décor items to their customers. UV printers are also available in compact benchtop models, such as the Roland VersaUV LEF range, which can be used for small-format work like safety signs or decorative display products.” Pretty in Polka Dots, a specialist in custom-printed wooden products based in Kentucky, USA, bought a Roland VersaUV LEF to take control of previously outsourced   work. Its popular products include white painted signs, wood plank picture frames and reclaimed pallet wood signs, all of which are compatible with its Roland VersaUV direct-to-substrate solution. "Lots of shops are offering hand-painted or stencilled signs, but they can't work on a rough surface – we run the wood right through the LEF and our prints come out perfect," explains Owner Ben Laskowski.

says, “The Roland SF-200 is the world's first desktop flatbed eco-solvent printer for sensitive applications, running highly durable inks that meet strict safety standards. This means signage and print businesses can access the medical, healthcare and personal hygiene markets, producing small-format items and products – and even diversifying into children's toys and food containers. Like Roland's UV solutions, the SF-200 eco-solvent printer achieves bold colours and sharp text on a variety of materials.” He concludes, “The ability to print direct- to-substrate can bring ideas to life. For signage businesses looking for the ability to accelerate production of everyday work while having the option of diversifying into new markets, UV and eco-solvent can be very profitable and creative options for their next step.”

Need for speed UV direct-to-substrate printing can also accelerate turnaround speeds on standard materials. The Sign Shed, a Yorkshire health and safety signage specialist, installed a Roland VersaUV S-Series LEC- 330S-F200 in 2018. Previously it had been printing graphics and letters onto vinyl for application onto signage substrates, but its new S-Series removed this step; by printing directly to composite aluminium, rigid plastics, Foamex and Corex The Sign Shed has significantly decreased its processing times. "Our customers want a fast turnaround and the addition of our new machine has reduced manufacturing times by three- quarters," comments Rob Haywood, Director of The Sign Shed. Eco-solvent can be a valid alternative For some applications and environments, eco-solvent technology is a preferred direct-to-substrate option. Goleniowski

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