Melbourne wide format printer Exotic Graphix has won the 2015 ASGA Wrap Masters National Challenge with the competition’s fastest ever time.
Exotic will take home a fantastic first prize of a Roland DG Soljet Pro4 XR-640 wide format printer, which the company says will go ‘straight in the print room’, while runner up SS Signs collect a Sign Master 1600 Pro Laminator.
The Carrum Downs firm overcame defending champions Graphic Effects in Thursday’s Victorian qualifier, and then stormed to victory at the grand final at Visual Impact on Friday.
The team of Nick Caminiti, Leigh Mason and Callum Fulcher wrapped the Falcon XR6 with printed film in just 1 hour and 35 minutes with an adjusted time of 2 hours and 20 minutes, after one minute was added for every mistake.
This obliterated last year’s 3 hours and 29 minutes winning time and was even faster than New Zealand printer GAS Graphics managed in the trans-Tasman playoff last year.
Caminiti credited his team’s coordination for the record-smashing result, but thinks they can improve on their time when they face the Kiwis next April.
“We had great communication and work well together as a team, everyone supports each other. We were a bit nervous at the start so I think better planning would help us,” he says.
“There were plenty of mistakes we can improve on for next time, so I think we still have some left in the tank.”
Brisbane printer SS Signs was again second, losing by only 1 minute and 22 seconds last year, but were nowhere near Exotic’s time this year. The gap was so big the organisers did not even give out the runner-up’s time.
SS Signs competitor Cameron McLachlan says the team, led by director Steve Lambourne, was not as well organised as last year and had communication issues – but even in a perfect scenario would not have beaten Exotic.
The prizes are provided by event sponsors 3M, Australian Visual Solutions, and Roland DG.
Third place went to Bear Designs from NSW, WA entrant Tint a Car Malaga was fourth, with SignCity NT in last place.
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