Darwin wide format printer SignCity is capitalising on the growth of the NT exhibition scene by making a major investment, buying three new HP wide format latex printers, two of which are additional capacity.

SignCity director Brad Sisson says increasing the firm’s stable of latex printers to four will improve efficiency by allowing them to dedicate each machine to a specific type of job, and reduce time job time.

“We got sick of always having to work around the clock to meet deadlines, so having this extra capacity means we can just work business hours and still get everything done,” he says.

Sisson credits sustained growth in Darwin’s exhibition market for steadily increasing demand that SignCity, as a heavily involved player in that market, is trying to take advantage of.

“The expo scene in Darwin is getting bigger and bigger every year and we expect that to continue and demand to rise,” he says.

The company upgraded its original UV ink flatbed wide format printer to a new HP FB500 flatbed UV wide format printer and doubled its stable of HP L26500 Designjet latex printers by adding another two to make it four in the house.

All the printers were installed in early April and are already in use.

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Sisson says the company upgraded to the HP UV to increase printing speeds and cut turnaround time.

“It was time to buy a new printer. The HP is much faster and as it is a hybrid rather than static it can run continuously,” he says.

“We saw the samples and while samples always look good the prints we have done on it are impressive.”

SignCity will use the L26500s for soft signage work including canvas, fabric, and other materials for illuminated signage, banners and flags; and indoor, outdoor and vehicle signage.

Sisson says as SignCity now uses mainly HP printers it was easier from a quality consistency and service point of view to stick with the one manufacturer for new machines.

“If we have a problem we can just fly one tech up to look at all of them, and HP has a good record and is sold in many countries,” he says.

“It is way ahead in the soft signage market and it will take someone else a lot of work to catch it.”

He says the HP will mainly print on foam board and similar surfaces for exhibition booths, point of sale and composite panels.

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SignCity has been operating in Darwin for eight years offering latex digital and UV flatbed printing for banners and flags; display; indoor, outdoor and vehicle signage; as well as offering digital kiosk touchscreens and in-house design.

It was the winner of last month’s SA and NT Wrap Masters competition and its team consisting of Sisson, Brad Woolley and Joanne Thompson will compete in September’s national final at the Visual Impact Expo on September 12-14.

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