Finishing & Screen Printing
FB-950 is the jewel in the crown for Pink Panther
Friday 30. April 2010 - Pink Panther Digital will save £1,500 a month in vinyl and laminates as well as reducing its overtime bill by eliminating the mounting processes as a result of its latest investment.
It has been supplied with a HP Scitex FB-950 UV inkjet digital printer by The Paper Company (PaperCo). Paper merchant PaperCo has a specialist digital equipment sales operation supplying the UK with a range of hardware products and specialist technical advice.
Pink Panther, an eight year old award-winning business specialising in the exhibitions, signage and short run, quick turnround digital market wanted a high speed, good quality flatbed solution and it is pleased with the machine that PaperCo recommended.
Jon Stephens, managing director of Pink Panther, says: “The HP brand name was important and we were impressed by the quality of the FB-950 shown at the demonstration. Its a full colour machine that complements our wide format portfolio and gives us a tool to print on any substrate up to 50mm thick including Foamex, banner materials, polypropylene and even doors.”
The company looked at a broad range of options over a 24 month period before coming down in favour of the FB-950. It can handle media up to 2.5 m wide and to almost any length in sheets or rolls.
“It is very easy to switch between different substrates and the set up time is minimal,” says Mr Stephens. “The RIP and software are very user friendly and we are going to find the roll to roll mechanism very useful. It arms us to keep ahead of our competitors in terms of capability but also quality. Its maximum running speed is 80 sq m an hour but we are happy to run it at the slower production mode for 80% of our work.”
Pink Panther has nothing but praise for the thought that has gone into this touchscreen controlled HP unit where changing ink and running and switching jobs is so easy. It can even produce a range of images on one roll or sheet and automatically splice them. But Pink Panther is equally pleased with the service and support provided by PaperCo.
“PaperCo held our hand throughout the installation as the machine was new technology for our staff. The service levels and the training have been good throughout,” says Mr Stephens.
This is a machine that is right for producers of point of sale and signage as well as general commercial printers wanting to create a niche. PaperCo today supplies digital equipment and a range of paper and alternative media for the burgeoning digital market.
PaperCo focuses on local service through its 20 UK sales and distribution centres. It has FSC, PEFC and ISO 14001 accreditation and strong Corporate Responsibility credentials. Member merchants of PaperCo include Dixon & Roe, Masons Paper, North West Paper, Donald Murray Paper, Rothera & Brereton, Southern Paper and Reel Paper.