Art & Soul has just installed a new HP Latex 3100 printer through Spandex, along with Spandex-supplied latex-compatible media.
This formidable 3.2 meter HP printer is the latest addition for Sydney’s Art & Soul, established in 1983 by self-titled “Grand Pooh Bah” John Nicolas, a qualified sign-maker, animator and colour psychologist. Art & Soul’s progressive and creative team is located in the industrial hub of Alexandria, with twenty two specialist staff including three highly skilled 3D animators, designers, electronics and animatronics experts and a world class team of creatives.
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| The Art & Soul building |
Other high speed production equipment includes two new HP Latex 360 printers for proofing and short run jobs and a recently-installed Canon 6170XT double-size flatbed UV for rigid sheet media. The latest Zünd computerized cutter, router table and laser machine automates Art & Soul’s finishing. With a heavy focus on the creative side, as Art & Soul’s name implies, in-house designers work to create eye-catching original point-of-sale displays and exhibitions using both flexible and rigid media. There is even a 3D printer in the foyer to greet you and a fully functioning bar setting the mood.
Art & Soul services an impressive list of corporate clients in the fashion, entertainment, liquor and cosmetic industries right across Australia and internationally.
Production Manager Dan Nicolas, son of the “Grand Pooh-Bah,” says the HP Latex 3100 has been a great success, with extra shifts needed to cope with the ever expanding demand. Support and training from both Spandex and HP direct has been outstanding, with a very smooth roll-out and little interruption to production. The HP Latex 3100 is capable of production at up to 180 sqm/hr in 2-pass billboard mode but is regularly used for high quality close-inspection indoor graphics in 6-pass mode at a blistering 77 sqm/hr. For textiles and backlit media, more passes are typically needed and speed of 44 sqm/hr is the regular speed.
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| Production Manager Dan Nicolas with master operator Andrew Leota and the new HP Latex 3100. |
The advantage of the 3.2 metre width is that when full-width is not required, two 1.6m rolls can be loaded side-by side. The HP Latex printheads deliver up to 1200 x 1200 dpi resolution in six colours (CMYK_lC & lM) with a seventh channel used for Latex optimization jetting.
John Nicolas says of the addition of the HP Latex 3100 from Spandex: “It has been a game changer for Art & Soul. As we have focused strongly on our UV technologies for the last 15 years, we are really pleasantly surprised by the quality and reliability of HP Latex & Spandex.”
Spandex Asia Pacific
www.spandex.com.au
Art & Soul
www.artandsoul.com.au
