Print Solutions
When AD Bell, a leading signage printer, manufacturer and installer, recognised the time had come to enhance its existing offering with a direct to substrate flatbed printer, it opted for a Jetrix LXi7.
Coinciding with a move to new, larger premises in Wetherby at the end of 2019, this company now had the space to look at other machines with a view to being more efficient with time and effort. It identified a need to look for a printer that could take some of the capacity from its roll to roll printers to free those up to solely produce vinyl wraps and flexible signage. So, the search was on to find a new printer to tackle the flat direct to substrate work.
Simon Bell, director at AD Bell, said: ‘We have been going for over 20 years and during that time have constantly innovated and broadened what we are capable of producing. A lot of the work we do is vinyl vehicle wraps using roll to roll printers, however we also frequently produce large scale flat signage too. Previously, this has been produced by printing the vinyl on a roll machine and then sticking it to board. However, there is always a risk involved in doing it this way in terms of durability and resilience, which is why we wanted to look at some flatbed printer options.’
Working with Darren Walker from Perfect Colours, a number of machines were explored, however the Jetrix LXi7 repeatedly came out as the preference.
Darren said, ‘Perfect Colours has been dealing with AD Bell for a few years, supporting it as the business has developed. We have been working with the company to explore and introduce more digital wide format capabilities and applications which in turn will create additional opportunities.
‘Having recently acquired a flatbed cutting solution, it next wanted to invest in the very latest flatbed printer. After extensive research of the market the obvious product was the Jetrix LXi7. So, after successful demonstrations, we also went through a comprehensive testing of substrates that other printers often find challenging including plastic, glass and Perspex. This was to make absolutely sure the printer could meet immediate and longer term aspirations of working with a wide variety of substrates.’
The extensive research process obviously involved seeing the printer in action, but the team at AD Bell also put a significant focus on putting several samples through more extreme testing conditions. The experienced team that was going to be using the printer was only too aware of the issues some direct to substrates exhibited. The company was therefore keen to avoid these problems – such as chips when routing or drilling and print easily scratching off. However, despite the best efforts the Jetrix LXi7 with its powerful zonal vacuum system, LED-UV technology and advanced user friendly GUI software repeatedly met and exceeded this stringent testing. In fact, this, combined with the extended warranty, leading head technology and the outstanding colour with high level of adhesion that the InkTec inks achieve, meant the Jetrix LXi7 was the perfect machine.
Simon continued, ‘While the cost of the Jetrix was extremely competitive compared to the other options out there, our purchasing decision was based on much more. We were also keen to look at understanding the lifetime running costs, the quality and cost of inks and their durability. As a result, all of these factors were paramount in making our decision.
‘The Jetrix really does do exactly what it promised and more. It is faster than our existing roll to roll printers and so is doing things quicker and eliminating the additional stages in the process that we were going through using the roll to rolls. The colour gamut is absolutely fantastic and in fact the six colours are so much punchier than what we are getting from the other printers. The comprehensive training by the engineers when it was installed and the cleaning management programme means that it is always ready to print when you need it.’
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