It’s hard to believe that it’s only been about 15 years since the first flatbed inkjet printers to use UV-curable inks hit the market. So much has changed since 2000, both for firms that started out as screen printers and their clients in retailing and brand marketing.

When discussing flatbed UV printing, the statement “what can’t you print on!” is probably more appropriate. With the right flatbed device, there are not many items you can’t directly print on. For sign shops and other design and print businesses, UV flatbed printing represents a massive increase in production capabilities. 

Founded in 2008, USA-based Insight Print and Display specialises in full service digital print solutions and display hardware.  From its offices in Kansas City, the company serves customers across the USA and prides itself on providing state-of-the-art digital printing on premium quality materials at bargain prices. 

The company creates, supplies and fits a wide variety of products from flags, display stands and banners to cut vinyl, vehicle graphics, wall graphics, table throws and other soft signage solutions.  This gamut of printed output created by Insight Print and Display is produced on the 13 printers from Mimaki, Mutoh, Roland and Epson that the company has currently in operation in-house.

Since its inception, the company has worked closely with Nazdar Ink Technologies.  Insight Print and Display initially contacted Nazdar when it was having issues with ‘fish-eye’ – a quirk of printing whereby a flat image appears as though it were mounted to the surface of a sphere. 

Shawnee, KS – Nazdar SourceOne is pleased to announce that Cheryl Jennings has joined the organization as Customer Service Representative. In this position, Cheryl will be based out of the Shawnee facility and responsible for providing customer service support for domestic customers.

Any time there’s a discussion of the versatile light-emitting diode (LED), there’s sure to be a lot of acronyms thrown into the mix. And acronyms—unless you have a military background (Lima! Echo! Delta! Sierra!)—can sometimes confuse and befuddle. So, for the sake of this treatise on edge-lit acrylic signs, we’ll keep the acronyms to a minimum, perhaps only to the most important acronym of all: LED.

Why the demand for unusual substrates and the growth of LED curing are related trends.

This simple How to Guide will show you the best way to print high quality surface textures using Fototex N and Fototex UV texturing lacquers onto the range of Autoflex hard surface coated polyester and polycarbonate films from MacDermid Autotype. Refer to individual product data sheets for substrate compatibility.

On April 13th 2015, an EU ban came into force that prohibits the use of mercury in lighting, causing concern among some in the wide-format print industry that printers using mercury vapour for ink curing will also be affected. While it seems this is not on the cards just yet, the EU's focus on the metal suggests it may be worthwhile looking at the alternatives when choosing new equipment.

Sign and print shops are increasingly using UV-cure type inkjet printers for printing onto rigid substrates and other applications. It’s a good idea to review some of the safety concerns of these inks and the safeguards that should be put into place. UV-curable inks are very reactive materials and are classified as hazardous. They must be dealt with carefully to prevent injury.

The major safety issues with UV-curable inks include:

Nazdar SourceOne is pleased to announce that after 50 years it will be relocating to a new facility in the Chicago metropolitan area. This new facility is strategically located with greater access to major highways, allowing for improved service to their customer base. It is also larger, providing more space for additional inventory, a state-of-the-art equipment demonstration area and a customer training center.