As businesses weather this uncertain time, many look to expand their offering. Acrylic printing is one sector that should be on every large format printers’ list when considering new opportunities for increasing revenue. As a sector, it has been bucking the trend and has experienced a boom over the past year, with some printers who offer this application seeing an unprecedented influx of orders. Commonly used for photographic prints and signage, the pandemic has influenced a drastic shift towards creating acrylic splashback panels too.

Looking to grow its large-format business among growing post-COVID market demand the AlphaGraphics® franchise in Portsmouth, New Hampshire has invested in an EFI™ Pro 16h UV LED wide format printer manufactured by Electronics For Imaging, Inc. Purchased from authorized EFI dealer Nazdar SourceOne®, the hybrid roll-to-roll/flatbed inkjet printer bolsters the services that the premier marketing and printing shop offers to its local clients operating in a wide range of vertical markets, including food, medical manufacturing, real estate, government and education.

Brett Martin is pleased to announce that Mimaki Europe BV, manufacturer of large format printing equipment, is the latest company to join its Approved Partner Programme. Although the two companies have worked together for years - with Brett Martin providing substrates for Mimaki's demo centre and exhibitions, as well as taking part in Mimaki's webinars during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown - the two parties have never formalised the relationship.

The Schiele Group’s motto is “Print Smarter,” but with its recent acquisition of an EFI™ VUTEk® h5 superwide-format inkjet solution from Electronics For Imaging, Inc., it could easily become “Print Faster.” Founded in 1948 by Henry Schiele and now headed by second-generation family member John Schiele, the Chicago-based company prints nearly a billion pieces of printed materials each year using multiple formats, including sheetfed, large- and small-format digital printing, as well as sheetfed and web offset.

French printing software company Caldera has announced the support of the new Roland IU-1000F printer for CalderaRIP Version 14. This new driver expands the award-winning software’s long list of supported peripherals for wide-format production.

One of Poland's largest producers of comprehensive branding solutions is expanding its product portfolio with the industry's leading platform for high quality, high productivity large format print.

GSP, a leading provider of high-impact visual solutions for the retail market, is expanding their production capabilities with the addition of the first Jeti Tauro H3300 UHS LED system in the U.S. The company delivers in-store marketing programs to more than 70,000 nationwide retail locations from its four G7-certified print facilities.

Quality Print Services (QPS), the one-stop shop for the wide-format print market, has been announced as the official UK distributor for ColorJet's leading range of UV flatbed and soft signage printers.

French printing software company Caldera has announced the support of the new Durst Rho 2500 printer for CalderaRIP Version 14. This new driver expands the award-winning software’s long list of supported peripherals for wide-format production.

Simpson Print of Bloomingdale, Canada, have installed their third swissQprint Nyala flatbed printer. They expect the retail market to take off again soon and are ready to meet the increased demand as well as new customer requirements. Key is a holistic concept.

The Jeti Tauro H3300 from Agfa enabled mixed offset and inkjet large-format printing company Beyaert Printing to expand the offering to its customers.

Canon today (29th June) announces the launch of the new Arizona 135 GT flatbed printer, offering sign makers, print service providers and offset and screen printers, among others, a smart technology investment to fulfil new business opportunities. Whether you are starting out in the rigid applications, large format graphics industry or are looking to further diversify into new applications, the Arizona 135 GT delivers the proven benefits of the award-winning Arizona series – high image quality, impressive productivity and reliability, application versatility and excellent total cost of ownership – at a smart investment level. Manufactured in Poing, Germany, with the same industrial-build quality and heritage as all other Arizona models, the Arizona 135 GT further demonstrates its value by being able to create impressive applications across an extensive range of not only rigid media but, with its field upgradable Roll Media Option, of flexible media too.

DME Visual is a premier grand format printing and design company offering various visual products and services that elevate brands and make lasting impressions. From large-scale branded environments, portable, retail, and trade show displays, signs and banners, custom graphics, and POP/POS, DME Visual is known for approaching projects with an “out of the box” mentality. Based in Daytona Beach, FL, DME Visual is a subsidiary of DME Delivers, a nationwide business solutions provider of superior direct marketing campaigns.

Haletra is a company based in the town of Houthalen, Belgium. For the first time in their history, they are taking the step towards large-format printing. And they are doing this in style right away with the installation of an Anapurna H2500i LED hybrid printer. Haletra Managing Director Koen Braem explains: “This investment is actually the first step in setting up a totally new department within Haletra, which will expand our customer base as well as our service offering.”

A leader in custom printing, specializing in wide- and grand-format graphics, Olympus Group has provided branding solutions for over 125 years. Headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, Olympus Group conducts business with recognizable high-profile clients, providing custom print solutions, as well as custom mascot characters, across a variety of markets including tradeshows & events, sports teams, entertainment, and branded environments.

Fujifilm’s stylishly designed new Acuity Prime flatbed prints at exceptionally high quality to a range of rigid and flexible media.

Ben Ashdown, Managing Director at Magna Signs in Nuneaton, sums up the extraordinary impact of the wide-format hybrid 3.2m Agfa Anapurna H3200i, purchased through Josero. The main challenge facing Magna Signs was volume; there was too much demand for the business to meet in-house, particularly as the volume from a large contract with one of their key clients was increasing.

Azonprinter together with their exclusive distributor for United States, GRAPHIC SOLID INKS, INC., proudly present their latest flatbed digital solution – Azon Matrix MonsterJet+.

Chroma, a full-service printer located in Theale, near Reading, has taken a significant step into the flatbed printing market with the installation of a Yotta Fr2513-R5 printer and Sinajet DK2513 cutter. Both machines were supplied by SOS (Service Offset Supplies).

Eager to always provide its customers with top-notch quality solutions that will keep them ahead of the competition, Magenta-Vision is delighted to announce that the company is expanding its portfolio of high speed, high quality TECKWIN printers. Two flatbed printers and one roll-to-roll with expanded colour gamut now complete the range.

Innovative and forward-thinking company Digipress has revolutionized its business after an investment in an expanded technology P5 350 hybrid platform from Durst, manufacturer of innovative digital printing systems and software solutions. The all-in-one hybrid solution for flexible roll and board printing has been a godsend, according to partner Steve Jackson who says they are now ‘making money while they sleep’ thanks to unattended overnight printing.