Hobart printer Eye Spy Signs has installed a new Durst Rho 163 TS, and has retired its screen printing activity as a result. The company has also invested in a new Zund flatbed cutter.
John Howard, managing director and owner of Eye Spy says, “We had a need to get ahead of others in the industry and to increase our efficiencies. Its primary use will be as a digital road sign printer. The Durst Rho 163 TS allows us to skip a step in the manufacturing process, which makes us more efficient. The press is also fully backed by 3M. Road signs require a 12 year warranty and this printer is able to deliver that.
“This printer is the second in its generation. The 163 TS as opposed to previous generations will print in full colour whereas previously, the colour gamut was limited. And we can use it for other jobs besides road signs, we can print other signs.
“It is not replacing another press, but we do not need to screen print signs anymore, so we have got rid of our screen printing capacities. Because the signage is digitally printed, we can dispatch on the same day. The ink is UV cured, so the output is immediately ready for downstream processes.
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“We often get urgent requests and now we can turn jobs around a lot more quickly. We can make it as ordered rather than holding stock to pick from.
“We also invested in a Zund flatbed cutter towards the end of last year and it has revolutionised our processes. It will process a lot of the work that comes through the Durst. Together they have made us a lot more efficient. On some jobs, the labour content has been cut by 75 per cent. We spent around $600,000 on the two machines. They both have been installed successfully here and are already starting to produce some payback.
“Durst is the best in the world, and we are always looking for high quality. We are happy with what we have procured, and the installation service was second to none.
“Myself and my wife own the business. It commenced in 1994 in my garage doing real estate signs. We have 20 staff now. I am a civil engineer, I graduated in 1978 with first class honours. It is a long story of how I ended up in signs but I am happy with what I do now.”
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