Sign-Tronic

Minneapolis, Oct. 6, 2004 Using panels printed on the Océ Arizona® T220 solvent flatbed printer, Océ (Nasdaq: OCENY) is demonstrating a new digital technology for producing three-dimensional signage that significantly streamlines the process over the traditional methodologies. Océ is demonstrating this process in conjunction with Sign-Tronic in Océ... s satellite booth #619, with a video link to its main booth #1439, at the Specialty Graphics and Imaging Association / Digital Printing International (SGIA/DPI) conference in Minneapolis, October 6-9, 2004.T220.png The Océ Arizona T220 flatbed digital inkjet printer is one component of a new process that significantly reduces the time and material costs required to produce three-dimensional signage and delivers a superior quality graphic. The Océ Arizona T220 can print directly onto a number of substrates used in the vacuum-forming process including polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheets, acrylic and polystyrene. Once imaged, the panel is then vacuum-formed and ready for immediate installation. The majority of vacuum-formed graphics are created using cut vinyl. This process starts with a sign blank that is first put through the vacuum-forming system. The vinyl is then applied color by color to the formed substrate. This labor-intensive process requires skilled application specialists who know how to apply vinyl around corners and how to align colors precisely. Since the color application is all done by hand, it can take several hours to complete. This process is also limited to blocks of color; no images can be produced using the cut vinyl process. A shop using this method must also maintain a good supply of vinyl in various colors, which often results in excess inventory that cannot be immediately amortized. Some shops have adopted a screenprinting method, where a flat panel is imaged using solvent inks in a screen press, and then vacuum-formed. This method results in lower labor costs due to the elimination of the hand-application process, and there are also no vinyl ...Read More