WHEN GRAPHICS services supplier, John E Wright, decided to increase production at its main print facility, it added an HP Scitex FB6100 UV printer to its equipment line-up. The investment will not only increase throughput, it will also help grow the company's existing UV direct print-to-substrate business.

Established in 1998 by Cyrus Norton and Ray Turner in a garage housing just one printer, two computers and a workbench, Digital Factory now operates out of two busy sites totalling 6,500ft2 and employs a staff of 12. The company provides sign and graphics solutions, primarily to the point-of-sale, exhibition and special event markets, using processes including digital printing, vinyl cutting, lamination and cardboard engineering.

AXYZ Automation (UK) and Pacer Systems will exhibit at The Sign Show as a joint enterprise. Their machines will demonstrate both companies' abilities to meet contrasting routing and engraving requirements, particularly complex design concepts.

Stylo is one of the UK's leading providers of complete graphic solutions to the retail industry and enjoys a highly successful history of growth through investment in the latest technologies.  Stylo has built a strong reputation for delivering creative print solutions to an enviable client base including some of the leading design and advertising agencies and with blue chips such as Vodafone, Next, Caffè Nero and TK Maxx, as well as niche clients such as Moyse and Stevens.

In this Q&A article, Quarmby Colour Studio's managing director, Damian Quarmby, illustrates the benefits of direct to substrate printing with an EFI Vutek QS2000

Retail Print Solutions is bucking the trend going into 2008 with a number of high value contracts. With its unique flatbed litho presses and a commitment to ‘green' issues, the company states it is continuing to attract clients looking for extra services from traditional print companies.

Hygiene requirements in the medical, food, cleanroom and pharmaceutical industries are extremely high. All surfaces and items which staff touch must be sterile. Surfaces of frequently used membrane keypads are potential breeding grounds for germs, bacteria and other microorganisms. However, this risk can be minimised by using antibacterial coatings.

Leicestershire-based ColourMaster Images has chosen Epson Stylus Pro printers and UltraChrome ink to produce photographic prints and Giclée canvas wraps by botanical photographer Clive Nichols.

With awards including Garden Photographer of the Year 2005 and The Royal Horticultural Society Garden Photographer of the Year, Clive explained the origins of the project:

MacDermid Autotype’s latest generation hardcoated films are playing a key role in helping Fascia Graphics maintain its position as a manufacturer of high performance membrane switches, keypads and keyboards.

Specialising in solar cells for renewable energy applications, Switzerland-based VHF Technologies is proving the importance of rotary screen printing for industrial applications.

Successful vending machines must attract customers and then offer reliable operation. Material selection plays a critical role as German-based Richard Wöhr explains

As part of a major government initiative to highlight the potential dangers to children on-line, Kinetic Grafix, the Beverley, East Yorkshire-based vehicle livery company, was commissioned to provide the graphics on VW supplied vans.

Significant Signs explains why being the UK’s first HP Designjet 10000 series user has, quite literally, widened its business scope, created new opportunities and given it more credibility among big customers

Specialising in poster and fine art reproduction, Derbyshire-based Matlock Media believes its choice of ITL Digital Chrome inks has helped it win major contracts including the London Science Museum and National Rail Museum.

The story begins when ITL approached Matlock Media to test its Digital Chrome inks. Managing director, Peter Dell, explained: “The Digital Chrome Inks have a very simple changeover, so moving to ITL inks was easier than I had imagined.

Quarmby has expanded its superwide format printing capability, with the addition of a Vutek QS2000 UV-curing, superwide format inkjet printer from EFI. The QS2000 joins Quarmby’s existing Vutek PV200, which has proved a huge success since its installation in July 2005.

In addition to a wide range of PoP, PoS, banner and exhibition work, Wiesbaden-based wide format photo lab, Oschatz, specialises in museum artwork.

Colourgen reseller, The CAD Warehouse, has provided RDA Consulting with the latest Seiko II Infotech Teriostar integrated CAD printer and scanner designed to provide faster prints, improved workflow capabilities and weather resistant prints

The Digital Print Centre of Industrial Collaboration has chosen to use two DuPont Cromalin Largo colour proofing systems for its Colour Master Courses, run jointly by The University of Leeds Department of Colour & Polymer Chemistry and Leeds College of Technology