Page 14 - Print21 March-April 2022

Cover Story
Billboard team: (l-r) David Kelada from 5C Capital, accounting, finance and general business support; Joel Statham, sales manager with 28 years’ experience in the print industry; Matt Geary, business accountant, Lakeside Financial; Randal Shreeve, founding director with 40 years’ experience in the print industry; Charlene Enslin, chief financial officer with 15 years’ experience in finance and accountancy; Mat Walker, chief operating officer with 10 years’ experience in the print industry; Andrew Poole, operations manager with 40 years’ experience in the print industry
.../continued from page 13
From day one, Brett worked
closely with us to undergo a rigorous sales discovery to understand what the business required and was instrumental in making this happen. ‘’
Addison says, ‘’When I first sat down with Billboard, I wanted to understand their existing solution and their business challenges. Billboard needed a better and complete solution that could overhaul and reduce their operational costs while delivering the production efficiencies they need.
It wasn’t just a single feature that sold the Q5r. Amongst many things, the white and clear ink will provide the flexibility and high-quality premium print applications to their customers. In addition, the VUTEk
Q5r printers will help Billboard achieve operational efficiencies at a lower cost by offering benefits such as lower ink and power consumption.
The three new printers will be used for banners, billboards, construction wraps, self-adhesive vinyls, retail print, and more. They each print 672 sqm an hour, delivering an additional 2000 sqm of print an hour between them for the company.
Walker says, “We have been blown away by the speed and quality of the new machines. The added benefit of slitting knives on the machines have been a big help to our finishing team.”
Rodd Harrison, vice-president Asia Pacific Sales at EFI says, “We are really excited that Billboard Media chose to invest in EFI’s VUTEk Q5r machines, with three of EFI’s newest and fastest
roll-to-roll printers in our portfolio. “These are the first Q series
printers that are being installed in the ANZ region, and is a strong indication that print businesses are recognising the value that our products can deliver in terms of speed, flexibility, lower operating costs, and meeting their customers’ expectations.
“We are looking forward to building a stronger partnership with Billboard Media and to continue to be their technology partner to help support their strategic business needs.”
At Billboard Media, all three new VUTEk Q5r printers are now operating. Mat Walker says, “Although they
are the first EFI machines we have purchased, keep an eye out for further announcements, as we hope to increase our EFI fleet in the near future.” 21
EFI VUTEk Q5r
EFI says the VUTEk Q5r, which it launched last year, delivers, “speed, quality and is a complete print to finished graphic workflow system with advanced roll-to-roll LED technology.”
It produces a wide range of applications, from premium POP with multi-layer white, and cosmetics displays that demand high print quality, to high volume campaigns that require low cost of production.
The 5-metre wide VUTEk Q5r printer runs at speeds up to 672 square metres per hour. It also features up to nine ink colours (standard CMYK and optional
light cyan, light magenta, light black, white, and clear coat), enabling customisation of each printer to users’ needs and strategies.
The machine also has
EFI UltraDrop Technology, featuring native seven-picolitre print heads with multi-drop greyscale addressability,
which EFI says is for high- definition image quality, as well as smoothness in shadows, gradients and transitions, and three-point size text with a resolution up to 1,200 dpi.
EFI VUTEk Q5r printers use UV LED curing –which consumes less energy, – and enables the use of
thinner, heat-sensitive substrates – and are offered with EFI’s Power Tool options, which the company says automates processes and enables advanced productivity and capabilities, including in- line quality inspection, in-line slitting and cutting, roll and
tape collection, auto-calibration, automated backlit printing, and automated blockout printing.
The VUTEk Q5r includes EFI’s Fiery proServer Premium digital front end (DFE) with Fiery Fast Rip for accelerated file processing, maximising the printer investment by eliminating idle printer
time. The printer’s Fiery DFE
system also include options such as Fiery Spot Color, Fiery Color Profiler Suite and Fiery Color Verifier for what EFI says is “the ultimate in easy- to-use, proof-grade colour management.”
Output: Feed: Size:
Tech: Resolution: Rip:
Ink: Droplets: Inkset: White: Clear:
672 sqm per hour Roll-to-roll
5.2 metre width
LED curing and UltraDrop 1200 dpi
Fiery proServer & Fiery XF LED UV
7pl
Up to 9
Yes Yes
14 Print21 MARCH/APRIL 2022