Northamptonshire-based Creation Signs & Displays has switched its Roland VersaCamm SP-540V wide format printer from OEM inks to Colorific ProMax and made ink cost savings of around 35%. This is the 70th Robert Horne Group customer to make the switch.

Founded in 2001, Creation Signs & Displays designs, manufactures and installs the full array of signage solutions from interior and exterior signage, through vehicle wrapping to exhibition and display products. The majority of Creation Signs & Displays’ clients come from the agricultural industries. Its client-base – which spans the UK and Ireland – includes AGCO, Stihl and Case IH to name a few.

Much of Creation Signs & Displays output is created on the Roland VersaCamm SP-540V wide format printer. However, as with all businesses, the company was looking to make savings and boost profit margins. To that end, the company spoke with Robert Horne Group to investigate the cost-savings that could be made by switching over to alternative ink solutions.

Robert Horne recommended that Creation Signs & Displays try Colorific Pro Max – a high quality, alternative ink solution. So confident is Colorific of its products, it recently announced a 100% satisfaction guarantee – or get your money back – on its Roland alternative inks.

Following testing on the Roland printheads and further discussion, the transition from OEM to Colorific ink was made in January 2012. On the process, Tim Jackson, sales manager at Creation Signs & Displays, comments, “It was incredibly straightforward. We literally took out the old Roland ink cartridges and plugged in the new Colorific ones.”

He continues, “There was no noticeable difference in the quality whatsoever and we’ve made ink cost savings in the region of 35%. I’d most definitely recommend that other companies make the switch across to Colorific inks.”

For more information on Creation Signs & Displays, please visit www.creationsignsuk.com

For more information on Robert Horne Group, please visit www.roberthorne.co.uk

For more information on Colorific, please visit www.colorificink.com

Colorific, a leading European supplier of high quality, alternative inks, will be demonstrating its range of cost-effective ink solutions on stand P130 at Sign & Digital UK. The event takes place at Birmingham NEC between 27th and 29th March 2012.

Regardless of printer model and application, Colorific has a cost-effective, high quality, alternative ink to meet every requirement. Colorific is so confident of the quality of its ink range that it is now offering a 100% satisfaction guarantee across its Mimaki and Roland range of ink solutions.

Shaun Holdom, Business Manager for Colorific, comments, “There are clear benefits in switching across to our high quality alternative inks. They are more cost-effective than OEM inks, yet there is no difference in the quality of output and no issues switching over. The vast majority of our customers report over 30% cost saving on alternative ink compared to OEM ink.”

Since its introduction to the European market in 2009, Colorific has continually grown its portfolio of ink solutions so it now encompasses the majority of wide format printers currently in use today. Colorific inks are distributed across the globe by a number of leading companies including PaperlinX/Robert Horne Group.

Shaun Holdom adds, “Ours is the first alternative ink solution to be widely adopted and accepted at corporate level – an achievement of which we are immensely proud. Our inks have developed a well-earned reputation for quality and stability at a fraction of the price of OEM inks and as a result, our global expansion continues apace.”

If you would like to book an appointment at Sign & Digital UK, please email shaun.holdom@colorificink.com

For more information on Colorific and its ink solutions, please visit www.colorificink.com

Colorific, a leading supplier of high quality, alternative inks, will be demonstrating its range of ink solutions on stand M51 at FESPA Digital 2012.

Regardless of printer model and application, Colorific has a cost-effective, high quality, alternative ink to meet every requirement. So confident of the quality of its ink range, Colorific now offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee across its Mimaki and Roland ink solutions.

At the Barcelona-based event, Colorific will be joined on its stand by representatives from its Spanish distributor, Ribera Digital.

Shaun Holdom, Business Manager for Colorific, comments, “There are clear benefits in switching across to our high quality alternative inks. They are more cost-effective than OEM inks, yet there is no differentiation in the quality of output and no issues switching over. The vast majority of our customers report over 30% cost saving on alternative ink compared to OEM ink.”

He continues, “FESPA offers Colorific a great opportunity to meet with current and potential business partners and to demonstrate just how good our inks are. We’ll be announcing special offers and promotions on our stand and I will be tweeting daily updates too.”

For more information on Colorific, please visit www.colorificink.com

To make an appointment at the event, please email shaun.holdom@colorificink.com

In what is believed to be a market first, Colorific, a leading high quality, alternative ink supplier, has announced a 100% satisfaction guarantee on its alternative inks for Mimaki and Roland printers.

“This guarantee clearly demonstrates to our customers the level of confidence we have in our cost-effective, alternative ink solutions,” comments Shaun Holdom, Business Manager for Colorific. “It should stand as the final piece in the jigsaw for those companies looking to take advantage of the cost savings of alternative inks, but wanting to remove any perceived risk factors.”

Colorific offers credible alternative inks which enable end users to realise significant savings and increase their profits. Colorific Inks have been fully tested in the field and successfully meet or exceed the performance and reliability standards expected within the industry.

Colorific inks are fully supported with one of the most comprehensive ink stream warranties available. When Colorific inks are used in the correct manner, the company categorically stands behind the reliability and performance of its inks.

Shaun Holdom concludes, “It’s a win-win situation for our customers. If customers of Colorific’s Roland and Mimaki inks are not 100% satisfied, they’ll get their money back. It really is that simple.”

For more information on Colorific inks, please visit www.colorificink.com

Colorific, a supplier of high quality alternative inks, recently attended a number of leading industry events and reported great interest in its products from distributors and resellers alike. The company set out on this international roadshow with a view to expanding its distribution channels with like-minded professional businesses worldwide. Events attended include:

• Visual Image Impact Expo, Melbourne, Australia, 13th to 15th September 2011
• International Graphics Art Show (IGAS) in Tokyo, Japan, 16th to 21st September 2011
• Viscom Spain, 6th to 8th October 2011
• Viscom Germany, 13th to 15th October 2011
• Viscom Italy, 3rd to 5th November 2011

At Viscom Spain, Colorific appointed a new Spanish distributor – Ribera Digital. Based in Barcelona, the company is headed up by Josep Ribera and will distribute and support the full range of Colorific inks across the region.

Josep Ribera comments, “In the current trading conditions, wide format printers owners are looking to make savings where they can but without compromising the quality of their output. Colorific inks – which typically allow users to make savings in the region of at least 30% compared to OEM products – meet these demands head on.”

He continues, “We are also looking at taking on Tech8, the technical support and spares provider, which will give customers added confidence during the transitioning process from OEM to Colorific ink.”

According to Shaun Holdom, Business Manager for Colorific, “Yet again, our ‘alternative inks made easy’ model is proving to be a real winner. As a supplier of credible, proven, alternative inks, we can help our customers realise significant savings and these savings directly and positively impact our customers’ bottom lines.”

At Viscom Germany, the company met a number of prospective partners and is now in the final stages of negotiation with a number of partners. Announcements of the appointment of these resellers will be made imminently.

Viscom Italy proved to be a showcase for Colorific’s newly opened Italian operations. A number of resellers have been lined to take on Colorific’s inks in Italy and to further develop the Italian market. Giuliano Marchesin, country manager for Italy, says, “We already have a number of key installations in and around Milan and are looking to expand throughout Italy.”

As well as the above exhibitions, Colorific has been busy supporting its business partners and co-hosting events. In October, it also attended an Open House event at BührmannUbbens premises in the Netherlands. BührmannUbbens is the third PaperlinX company to sign up for Colorific’s range of inks, alongside Robert Horne Group in the UK and iMedia in Australia. Negotiations are also ongoing with a number of other PaperlinX international operations.

Shaun Holdom, Business Development Manager for Colorific, concludes, “Ours is the first alternative ink solution to be widely adopted and accepted at corporate level – an achievement of which we are immensely proud. Our inks have developed a well-earned reputation for quality and stability at a fraction of the price of OEM inks. They are truly mix and match – with no need for flushing – and the feedback we get from customers is incredibly positive. We plan to continue our global expansion apace.”

In order to maintain the momentum built, Colorific will be attending a number of shows in the New Year. These include:

• Sign & Graphic Imaging Middle East, Dubai, 31st January to 2nd February 2012
• FESPA Digital, Barcelona, 21st to 24th February 2012
• Reklama / Polygraf 2012, Prague, 20th to 22nd March
• Sign & Digital UK 2012, 27th to 29th March 2012.

Colorific has a best-in-class ink to suit any requirement – regardless of printer or application. Its solutions are fully tested and proven in the field, with a track record of reliable and trouble-free performance. Since its introduction to the market, Colorific has continually grown its portfolio of ink solutions so it now encompasses the majority of wide format printers currently in use today

If you would like to arrange a meeting with the Colorific team at one of these events, please email Shaun Holdom on shaun.holdom@colorificink.com

For more information about Colorific and its range of ink solutions, please visit www.colorificink.com

East Sussex-based Millbrook Design & Print Ltd was originally established in 1999 by Dave Roderick as a design agency. In 2007 it was transformed into a design and print business and now produces high quality, digitally-printed small and wide format output for a variety of purposes. The company employs three people and recently came Highly Commended in the Customer Service category of a local business award competition*.

In order to cater for the wide format market, Millbrook Design & Print bought a Mimaki CJV30 130 printer from Robert Horne Group in 2009 which was supplied with the standard manufacturer’s warranty. All of Millbrook’s wide format output is created on the Mimaki including banners, vehicle wraps and posters to name a few. The company also has a Xerox digital printer in-house on which it produces small-format print. Millbrook’s key customers include local venues and businesses and also other printing businesses that outsource their wide format work to the company.

When the warranty expired on the Mimaki, Millbrook looked to renew but found that the quoted price for the standard manufacturer’s warranty was too costly. Company director, Dave Roderick, explains, “In March – just prior to the expiry of the manufacturer’s warranty – we visited the Sign & Digital 2011 show in Birmingham to evaluate our options. Whilst there, we visited the neighbouring Tech8 and Colorific ink stands and spoke to Shaun Holdom who explained the partnership between the two companies.”

Tech8 and Colorific announced their close working relationship at Sign & Digital 2011. The two companies work together to remove the perceived risk factor in switching to alternative inks. This ‘alternative inks made easy’ strategy is proving highly successful as it enables wide format printer owners to make significant savings in ink costs by switching to Colorific’s high quality, alternative inks, whilst having the added reassurance of Tech8’s backing and support.

Like many other print business owners, Dave Roderick had heard all the supposed horror stories about alternative inks and was planning to stick with OEM inks. However, when realising that Tech8 would honour and guarantee the Colorific inks and provide any necessary support during and after the transition, he felt it was a potential win-win situation.

Shaun Holdom, Business Manager for Colorific, states, “Previously, there had been concerns about the viability of alternative inks – mainly due to scaremongering by OEMs. Our sales are growing rapidly because customers like the security of being fully backed up by Tech8 in the unlikely circumstance that any issues might occur.”

Millbrook Design & Print purchases its Colorific inks and the warranty from Tech8 through John Sears at Universal Print Supplies. On the switchover process, Dave Roderick explains, “It was a very straightforward swap as there was no flushing required. Since that time, the printer has been working all day – every single working day – and we have had no issues whatsoever.”

He adds, “You wouldn’t know the difference in terms of the quality of output we are creating using the Colorific alternative inks. We are also making cost savings of £30 per cartridge in ink terms alone. In addition, we are covered by a more cost-effective, better value warranty package from Tech8.”

*The 1066 Business Awards organised by the Hastings Observer and sponsored by HSBC. For more information, please visit: www.1066businessawards.net

[picture shows Dave Roderick of Millbrook Design & Print and company logo]

Colorific has taken the next step in its global expansion with the opening of a dedicated office in Milan, Italy. The operation has been established to better service the ever-increasing demand for its products in the Italian marketplace and to drive and support sales in the country.

Colorific’s high quality alternative inks are fully tested and proven in the field and have a track record of reliable and trouble-free performance. The company is able to offer an alternative ink solution for every type of wide format printer and for every application. Colorific inks are more cost-effective than OEM inks and there is no differentiation in the quality of output.

The company has been selling its range of high quality alternative inks both direct and via resellers to the Italian marketplace for the last four years. Colorific made the decision to open the Milan office to ensure that it could supply and support its customers in a more localised manner.

Colorific’s Italian operations will be headed by Giuliano Marchesin who has been appointed as Business Development Manager, Italy. Giuliano has over 20 years of experience working in the wide format printing industry within a number of leading companies including Neolt and ATP Media.

Colm Garvey, Colorific’s International Business Director, comments, “Giuliano’s knowledge of the wide format market in Italy is second to none. His experience and contacts – combined with our great products – should ensure that the Italian business really takes off.”

Colorific combines with Tech8, the technical support and spares provider for the wide format printing industry, to ensure that the switchover process – from OEM to alternative inks – is made as simple and seamless as possible. In most instances, the transition is a ‘plug and play’ process with no need for flushing.

All Colorific inks are backed up by the Colorific Ink Stream Warranty. In the extremely unlikely event that the inks cause any damage to a printer’s ink stream, Colorific will repair or pay for the repair of the said machine. This ‘alternative inks made easy’ model is proving to be highly successful and takes the alleged risk factor out of making the switch to alternative inks.

Giuliano Marchesin comments, “There are numerous small and medium-sized businesses in Italy that should be benefiting from the cost savings to be made by switching to alternative inks. Typically, savings of 30% can be made simply by switching from OEM to alternative inks – and these savings are particularly welcome in the current tough trading conditions that the industry is facing.”

He concludes, “I’m really looking forward to joining this dynamic, future-oriented company.”

Colorific will be demonstrating its products and talking to potential distributors and customers at all the upcoming Viscom events:

• Viscom-Sign in Madrid, 6th-8th October. Hall 8, stand E041
• Viscom Europe in Dusseldorf, 13th-15th October. Hall 8B, stand E83
• Viscom Italia in Milan, 3rd-5th November. Hall 1, stand G02

If you would like to make an appointment in advance of these events, please email: giuliano.marchesin@igsuk.net, italia@colorifink.com or colm.garvey@igsuk.net

[above photo shows Colm Garvey (L) with Giuliano Marchesin (R)]

Colorific, the high quality alternative ink provider, has announced the signing of Tokyo-based Rustech as a reseller for its leading range of inks in Japan. The deal was signed at the International Graphics Art Show (IGAS) 2011 in Tokyo, which has just wrapped up.

Colorific’s high quality alternative inks are fully tested and proven in the field and have a track record of reliable and trouble-free performance. Colorific offers an alternative ink solution for every type of wide format printer and for every application. These inks are more cost-effective than OEM inks, yet there is no differentiation in the quality of output.

On the appointment, Rustech’s business manager Naozumi Hibi comments, “Customers in Japan are looking for choice and want access to high quality alternative inks. Colorific ink is one of the first brands of alternative ink that printers can switch to and remain confident that they can still achieve the print quality their customers have grown to expect.”

Shaun Holdom, Business Development Manager at Colorific adds, “The Japanese market is where the vast majority of printing equipment and supplies originate. The demand for print quality is very high as customers need to be able to create top quality output, yet they also want value for money. With its wide range of cost-effective, high quality inks, Colorific is ideally positioned to meet these requirements.”

He concludes, “We take great pride in being accepted as a credible supplier in the modern day home of inkjet – a country where print quality is absolutely the critical factor.”

Colorific will also be demonstrating their products and talking to potential distributors and customers at all of the forthcoming Viscom events:

• Viscom-Sign in Madrid, October 6-8. See Colorific at Hall 8 stand E041
• Viscom Europe in Dusseldorf, October 13-15. See Colorific at Hall 8B stand E83
  
• Viscom Italia in Milan, November 3-5. See Colorific at Hall 1 stand G02

Further information on Colorific ‘Best in Class’ alternative inks can be found at www.colorificink.com

Colorific has announced that Australian-based iMedia is the second PaperlinX company to take on its range of high quality alternative inks.  The deal was signed at the Visual Impact Image Expo at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre where both companies are currently exhibiting.

Founded in 1992 and acquired by PaperlinX in 2007, iMedia is a supplier of hardware, software, media, inks and consumables to the architectural, engineering and large format copier markets as well as the higher quality inkjet market for point of sale, display, signage and proofing.

The successful signing of iMedia as a distributor follows the announcement in June 2011 that PaperlinX’s Robert Horne Group had adopted the Colorific ProMax inks for Roland in the UK & Ireland.

Chris Lewis-Williams, Group iMedia Manager, at iMedia, comments, “Colorific’s range of alternative inks is a natural fit for iMedia.  Our customers are always looking for ways to reduce their costs and improve profits and switching to high quality alternative inks is a great way of doing so.”

Shaun Holdom, Business Manager for Colorific, adds, “It’s great to welcome iMedia on board as the Australian distributor for our inks.  We are able to offer a high quality alternative ink to suit every requirement – regardless of printer and application.  All our inks are fully tested and proven in the field and have a track record of reliable and trouble-free performance.  As a result, we are the fastest-growing alternative ink brand in the UK and we want to replicate this success across the globe.”

Holdom concludes, “Our business case is compelling.  Once customers have seamlessly switched to our inks, they are sticking with them because they profit from the significant savings that can be made – up to 50% in some cases – without compromising the quality of output.”

International expansion continues

In a bid to continue the expansion of its distribution channels with like-minded, professional businesses worldwide, Colorific has also announced that it is about to embark on an ambitious ‘world tour’ of major trade events over the coming months.  These include:

• International Graphics Art Show (IGAS) in Tokyo, Japan, 16th to 21st September 2011
• Viscom Spain, 6th to 8th October 2011
• Viscom Germany, 13th to 15th October 2011
• Viscom  Italy, 3rd to 5th November 2011
• Sign and Graphic Imaging Middle East, Dubai, 31st January to 2nd February 2012
• Sign & Digital UK, 27th to 29th March 2012

Potential partner companies interested in meeting with Colorific at these events should contact Shaun Holdom on shaun.holdom@colorificink.com

For more information about Colorific and its range of ink solutions, please visit www.colorificink.com

Lick N Stick Graphics switch to Colorific ink

Based in Thorpe, Surrey, and created by Paul Cobby and Richard Long in April 2009, Lick N Stick Graphics is a large format graphics production company.  The two company owners both have over 15 years experience in the large format graphics industry and using the latest digital technology, Lick N Stick provides practical graphics solutions for the event, exhibition, sport, retail, TV and films industries.

From its inception, there were four main employees.  Richard Long took the role of sales director and Paul Cobby became production director.  They were joined by Nathan Green as production manager and Justin Wallace as marketing manager.

According to Justin Wallace, “Starting any new business is hard enough at the best of times, yet in the middle of a recession, we have managed to create a successful digital graphics production company.  We have had a very positive first couple of years in business and have expanded rapidly.”

From the outset, Lick N Stick purchased an arsenal of printers upon which it could create quality output including:

• Roland VersaCamm print and cut 720mm-wide solvent printer capable of printing and cutting to shape laminated and unlaminated vinyl stickers
• HP5500ps on which all Lick N Stick’s indoor hi-res graphics and pop-ups are printed
• Mutoh ValueJet 1604 used for high-end outdoor graphics including banner, vinyl, mesh and canvas
• Vutek 3300 super-wide format printer to produce graphics up to 3m wide on banner, mesh, jettex, woven poly and vinyl

Having had a very successful first year in business, the company decided to expand its portfolio and invested in an Acuity HD 2504 so that it could print directly onto sheet material up to 8’ by 4’ using UV inks.  This saved Lick N Stick time on production and ultimately increased turnover.

The increase in production then created a bottleneck in finishing, so to combat this, Lick N Stick bought a Zund iCut which can cut any output to shape on materials upto 1750mm wide.

In January 2011, Lick N Stick also replaced its Vutek 3300 with a Vutek Press Vu400 for roll and sheet fed options upto 3m in width.

Lick N Stick has closely partnered with various companies to ensure it has a great back-up team at hand.  The Roland, HP and ValueJet printers all run Colorific ink. This alternative ink brand offers massive cost savings over OEM inks and helps to keep the company profitable.

SelecTech, a specialist supplier of ink, media and accessories to the professional large format sign and display print market, supplies all the substrates and other consumables that Lick N Stick needs.

Maidenhead-based Tech 8, which offers technical support, extended warranties and spare parts for most wide format printers, has colour-profiled the Colorific ink so the prints are the best quality they can be when printing onto the SelecTech substrates. Tech 8 also supplies any engineering backup and spare parts required.

Lick N Stick’s success can be demonstrated by the fact that for the third year running it has been awarded the signage contract for Royal Horticultural Society’s Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2011.  Lick N Stick has held the contract for the last two years, but this was the first year the contract had gone to tender – and the company retained the contract.

According to Justin Wallace, Marketing Manager at Lick N Stick, “For Hampton Court Flower Show, we design and create hundreds of individual graphic items in our Mac-based studio to precise brand guidelines supplied by the Royal Horticultural Society. We then produce all the signage required in-house onto the various different media using our wide- and super-wide format printers.  The signage will be installed on-site by our installation team over a three-week build period at Hampton Court Palace.”

He concludes, “We are very confident taking on such ambitious projects.  We are well-organised and are well supported by our suppliers.  Our business continues to grow at pace and we have doubled our headcount in less than 2 years