Active installs Onset robot printing

Active Display Group is installing two new Fujifilm Inca Onset X series UV flatbed printers at its Mulgrave site in Melbourne, the first from the Fujifilm X series in the Asia Pacific region, and which come with robotic automation.

Fujifilm says this will be one of the company’s largest installations of its type in the Asia-Pacific region, featuring ABB Robotic Systems automation. The presses are currently in the process of being installed at Active’s Mulgrave site, where it runs its print operations in Melbourne.

Stuart Gittus, general manager of operations at Active says, “They will increase our print capacity and quality. We look forward to seeing our productivity grow in Active's sign and display market through the introduction of the new Onset X series printers. It will allow us to be more nimble and responsive. It is a demanding market we sit in and to be able to cater to it is important.”

“Primarily we have always been early adopters of new technology. These new presses demonstrate best; quality, flexibility and speed, whist offering future-proofed technology with updatable and upgradeable platforms. In terms of what had come out in the last four years, these presses do provide what we need for growing capacities.

 “As part of WPP AUNZ, Active is able to provide clients with an end-to-end path to purchase solution, seamlessly delivering one streamlined integration of experts. Because we offer the region’s most comprehensive suite of services from design, production and distribution through to merchandising and warehousing; we needed to look at our present and future needs including, but not limited to, growing volumes and shorter print runs.

[Related: David Gittus: Just say yes]

“Extensive due diligence was performed and, in the Inca Onset X series from Fujifilm, we found print speed at high quality will ultimately enable us to become even more competitive in a challenging market, whilst increasing our capacity for speed-to-market. Also, with the degree of automation, both machines can be run by a single operator.”

“Along with adding capacity and efficiency, we will be able to print on basically any substrates where other devices would be quite limited, depending on factors like composition. When the new Incas arrive, they will be printing a wide range of media including synthetic paper, art paper, screen board, fluted plastic and fluted cardboard for both Australian and global leading retailers and brands.

“Currently the printers are in the process of final commissions, they should be fully operational by the end of the week.”

“Our customer base is widespread from print to design to hardware and distribution and retail. We have a wide offering of products. We are mainly producing wide format printing at Mulgrave. The rest of the sites have their own differing functions such as steel fabrication and distribution.

“Everyone at Active is excited. The staff are looking forward to being trained and to using the new devices. It offers us more capacity and speed. Flatbeds traditionally are quite slow, so to produce jobs of that element faster is significant. We take pride in our production and what we have to offer.

[Related: Fujifilm swallows Xerox in US$6.1bn deal]

Active has two other Fujifilm-supplied grand format printers at Mulgrave; a Uvistar 2 and a Uvistar Pro8 – both five metre wide roll-to-roll machines.

Gittus says, “Fujifilm has been very proactive and lateral working with us to provide a solution to suit all our needs. Also, the technical information has been invaluable to the decision. It has been a pleasure working with Fujifilm and Inca.”

Ashley Playford, National Sales Manager at Fujifilm Graphic System, says, “Our thanks go out to Stuart and the whole team at Active for entrusting Fujifilm and Inca with their next production growth phase. We are excited for Active and cannot wait for their customers to experience the quality and speed to market that these two Onset X series systems will offer them."

Active is part of WPP AUNZ, who claims itself as the region’s largest brand management, advertising, PR and media group. WPP AUNZ is majority owned by WPP plc which has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. The group is headed by notable advocate of print media, Sir Martin Sorrell.

The company has 450 staff across its various sites in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Hong Kong as well as in China and Singapore.

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