Written by Colin Gillman | 27 January 2012

The Sign & Digital UK Awards, held alongside the Sign & Digital UK exhibition, is open to sign makers and print service providers. Details can be found on the show website and click on the Awards tab at the top of the page. The deadline for entries to be received is the 10th of February 2012.

There are 10 categories in all and the focus is on rewarding both the creative and business aspects of the industry.

• Individual Sign Project of the year 1-9 employees
• Individual Sign Project of the year 10+ employees
• Multiple Sign Project of the year 1-9 employees
• Multiple Sign Project of the year 10+ employees
• Vehicle Wrapping Project of the year
• Wide Format Print Project of the year                                   
• Green Award
• Rising Star Award
• Sign Company of the year
• Wide Format Printing Company of the year

The accolades will be awarded at the Sign & Digital UK Awards and Networking event - hosted by comedian Seann Walsh - which will be held on the evening of the second day of Sign & Digital UK 2012 (Wednesday 28th March 2012) at the National Motorcycle Museum, near the entrance to the NEC, Birmingham.
www.signanddigitaluk.com

Written by Colin Gillman | 25 January 2012

Roland DG (UK) has been awarded Investors in People (IIP) core standard accreditation, and already the company is setting its sights on attaining IIP’s bronze level accreditation before the end of 2012.

Roland DG’s managing director, Jerry Davies (pictured) says: “We are striving to make sure Roland is a great company to do business with – the best products, service and training from the best team in the industry. Our continuing success at a time when other companies are struggling isn’t an accident. We’ve never been a company to stand still and our team has always been at the core of our business, making Roland DG what it is today. This accreditation recognises the belief we have in our people and the difference a great team can make.”

Roland DG says the IIP framework has focused the business and set the benchmark to ensure the company will continue to build a strong organisation that provides excellent training to staff and, it says, an extraordinary service to Roland DG customers.

www.rolanddg.co.uk

Written by Colin Gillman | 13 January 2012

The team at printMAX have done it again and for the second year running by exceeding expectation and achieving Roland Premium Partner status for 2011.

“printMAX is our number one selling dealer in the UK for the second year running,” says Roland DG technical director Brett Newman. “They have continued to support the Roland brand in the market, but more importantly they have continued to support their customers, and this achievement is testament to how their customers come back to printMAX and, in turn, back to Roland year upon year.”

Well done to all at printMAX for yet another outstanding year.
www.printmax.co.uk

www.rolanddg.co.uk

Written by Colin Gillman | 13 January 2012

According to a recent InfoTrends/FESPA survey, wide format solvent inkjet is under attack as a production technology as more print service providers intend to invest in UV-curable and durable aqueous inkjet in the future than intend to invest in either eco-solvent inkjet or solvent inkjet.

InfoTrends also advises solvent inkjet manufacturers to diversify their product offerings to stave off losses. In other words develop eco friendly print solutions or lose out to emerging technologies.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom on the solvent front. Far from it in fact as InfoTrends believes there is still growth in the low-end of the market on a worldwide basis, particularly for print-and-cut devices.

Low-end solvent inkjet remains a strong solution for small print shops and entry-level establishments, or as an accompaniment to other devices. Also, while technological development resources are shifting away from robust or high-end solvent, there are global suppliers still actively developing technology for the low-end or “eco”-solvent segment.

Further good news for eco solvent producers is the projected value of the global wide format solvent inkjet printer and supplies market for 2015 is valued at more than $2 billion, so there remains opportunity for these suppliers to continue to operate profitably in what is deemed the most lucrative end of the market.

Sales of entry level roll fed eco-solvent wide format machines continued to outstrip those of higher end systems in the UK, and several dealers that we spoke with were reporting above average sales for the last quarter of 2011 and were highly confident of seeing growth in 2012.

The manufacturers of eco-solvent wide format printers that we spoke with continue to remain tight lipped about possible aqueous inkjet developments, although it is anticipated that at least one manufacturer announce a solution, or make a strong technology announcement, at FESPA Digital in Barcelona next month.
www.infotrends.com