At times, finding the right digital print solutions feels like trying to finish a jigsaw puzzle without all the pieces. Blue Print Imaging says it’s a matter of pulling the right pieces out of the box
When Blue Print Imaging directors Geoff Milliken and Rick Day started the company, they wanted a point of difference. Day says, “We set the business up on that philosophy of being able to support our customers. We need to do more than just sell good machinery and consumables, so we’ve ensured that our support and service is second to none.”
Day and Milliken continue to expand the company’s offerings, moving into rigid substrates with its latest acquisition of Halifax Vogel in New Zealand. Day adds, “We are increasing our array of products and solutions, not only to be a one-stop shop but also to fulfil the needs of our customers.”
New hybrid wide format
Milliken says the company’s latest Mimaki entry level hybrid machine comes at an affordable entry level price point. The Mimaki UJV-160 prints on roll media and rigid media. Equipped with a feed and delivery table, it enables direct printing on rigid media up to 10 mm thickness and 12 kg. Compactly designed, the table can be folded when not needed, allowing for a smooth changeover between roll and rigid media. It handles a range of substrates from acrylic board, aluminum composite board, pasteboard, PVC, synthetic paper to PET.
Milliken says that UV LED curing with UV inks means instantaneous drying that eliminates post-printing drying time. He says, “This innovation leads to dramatic reduction of job turnaround time (from printing to processing) and increase in productivity LEDs have a longer lifetime and save about 50 per cent in energy in comparison with conventional UV printers employing halide lamps. Another friendly aspect of UV LED technology is the fact that it does not emit short wave ultraviolet rays which generate ozone and heat which is perfect for heat sensitive type substrates.”
Substrates range broadens
With the Halifax Vogel acquisition, Day says that Blue Print Imaging has vastly broadened its range of substrates. Day says, “Moving into rigid substrates was always on our horizon with the wide range and increased numbers of UV Digital Flatbed equipment in the market and of course our long established presence in the screen printing industry.”
To coincide with the company’s move into the rigid market they have invested in two new state of the art Verdi Multi-Substrate Cutters which feature both a saw for rigid panels and pneumatic utility blade for semi rigid panels.
The units are also equipped with a laser beam technology for accuracy and a powerful dust extraction system to minimise this issue during the cutting process. One unit will be put into the existing HVG premises in East Tamaki whilst the other is destined to go to the ‘new’ BPI branch location in Wellington.
Day adds, “To realise the true potential of the move into rigid substrates has facilitated the need for the Wellington branch to finally relocate to a larger more user friendly premises – luckily we have managed to find just what we needed right across the road from its existing premises in Sydney Street, Petone. This move should be finalised by early September and to be fair it has been a long time coming with the company having been in the same building for the last 12 years.”
Morgan Jackson the Wellington Branch manager says he is thrilled at being able to have a more modern facility which will include a showroom and meeting room but also relishes the opportunity to be able to provide a more comprehensive range of substrates to the Wellington region.
New Agencies
Blue Print has also been busy in acquiring new agencies to add to its portfolio and these include Tekcel, a company from Perth Australia specialising in a high quality range of routers and cutters and Drytac from Virginia USA a company specialising in the manufacture of liquid coatings and equipment both UV and Aqueous.
Day says, “We have just recently sold our first Tekcel unit to an Auckland company and we presently have another number of leads that are interested at looking at the Tekcel offering – again this is a great fit now that we are truly into the rigid substrate supply market.”
In regards to Drytac, Day says, “We see this as a growth area as companies are looking towards quicker and more economical ways of laminating or offering protection to the printed job.” Mark Thodey one of the company’s digital account managers is about to head up to Drytac for a three day training seminar and is looking forward to what he will be able to bring back to the table.
