With over 28 years of experience serving the Australian market, the Fleetmark Group prides itself in providing a complete digital print and fleet branding solution.
Fleetmark is a transport-oriented business that provides innovative branding solutions, incorporating the latest technologies in wide format digital print, such as truck-side curtains, in addition to PVC fabrication, traditional painting and sign writing within fleet branding. Having produced solutions from its operations in Victoria, NSW and Queensland, the company recently faced a growing market trend in fleet branding that required the use of digitally coated PVC. This resulted in an opportunity for the business to upgrade its printing machines for more flexibility and further business expansion.
Fleetmark Group general manager Stuart Farrow, who has been involved in the printing industry for many years, said there are three main priorities for the business and that it needed a machine that delivered on those fronts.
‘’Firstly, we wanted to better enhance the art of print within the fleet branding space and to excel in the printing environment,” he said.
“Secondly, building on our customer base and meeting their needs has been our priority, along with being a market leader. So, we did some research on machines that would suit our requirements and found that the EFI range is the future.”
Fleetmark chose to purchase a VUTEk D3r roll-to-roll printer from its trusted manufacturer partner, EFI, after realising the robust nature of the machine and that it delivered on the quality and versatility that the business was seeking.
EFI as a preferred technology partner
Fleetmark is no stranger to EFI’s robust technologies. The company first purchased a VUTEk GS3250LX Pro hybrid machine from EFI two years ago. The VUTEk GS3250LX Pro printer allowed Fleetmark to do large format printing, as PVC printing is its main core business, and flatbed printing to create solutions such as decals. It mainly used this machine to print on truck tarps and rigid boards.
Fleetmark Group Victorian general manager Alf De Fazio said having experienced the service and quality from EFI since its purchase of the GS3250LX Pro, the company decided to look for a printer within the EFI portfolio.
“We were talking about how to better streamline our processes because EFI had new clear coatings that would allow us to print in-line. We already own an EFI hybrid machine, so wanted another that is GREENGUARD Gold and UL-compliant, with LED curing capability that is better for the environment and creates less waste,” he said.
EFI business development manager Brett Addison said having worked closely with Fleetmark before, EFI very quickly understood its business requirements of reducing the go-to-market time, using less ink and power, and saving time.
“We found that the VUTEk D3r suited its needs best as with truck curtain applications, different companies require specific colours used on the curtains. So, instead of having to buy a generic white tarp and printing over it, Fleetmark could buy the tarp already made in the company colours and then through the VUTEk D3r, lay a white down first, colour over the top then clear over the top of that. At that time, the VUTEk D3r was the only machine capable of doing that application,” Addison said.
“The machine also covers a wide number of unique applications for fleet graphics and truck-side curtains, in addition to billboards, front-lit applications, wall decorations and murals, window graphics, flooring, cloth, and high-value prints with selective gloss effects. It’s really a versatile machine.”
De Fazio added that the group was impressed by the VUTEk D3r printer’s high print quality and its versatility to offer white and clear ink together in glossy and matte finishes, in addition to enabling five-layer printing in one pass and the ability to print on a variety of substrates.
“Investing in the VUTEk D3r was an easy decision after looking at research findings of EFI’s industry-leading technology, total cost of ownership analysis, and having an established, good partnership with EFI’s team,” he said.
“The VUTEk D3r has been delivering high-definition quality, and it also allows us to colour profile. It enables us to be versatile and print on a variety of substrates such as PVC, rolls and hard surfaces. Traditionally, other machines only print on white substrates.”
Seeing the benefits of the VUTEk D3r
The VUTEk GS3250LX Pro was initially installed in Fleetmark’s Melbourne premises, but following the purchase of the new VUTEk D3r, it moved the older EFI machine to its Sydney location.
“We refurbished the GS3250LX Pro for our NSW operations. So together with the VUTEk D3r in Melbourne – as the majority of our printing is done from our Victorian location – we have the capability to double our large format printing efforts and can get the products to our customers more quickly,” De Fazio said.
Addison mentioned that having the VUTEk D3r machine has enabled Fleetmark to successfully deliver large branding or re-branding projects.
“EFI has been working closely with Fleetmark to ensure that our latest technologies can help deliver innovation and performance with impact for their customers,’’ Addison said.
De Fazio added that the addition of the VUTEk D3r to Fleetmark has surpassed the business’ expectation in meeting customers’ needs.
Fleetmark also works with industry associations, and companies like Linfox and Woolworths that have their own partnerships with these associations, to promote mental health campaigns. It recently delivered promotional materials for a ‘Healthy Heads’ campaign.
“We deal with the Australian Trucking Association and the Victorian Trucking Association. We contribute quite regularly and have been supportive in campaigns such as ‘Healthy Heads’. As part of this campaign, we used the VUTEk D3r to print decals for awareness vehicles, and curtains and other promotional materials,’’ De Fazio said.
A machine that delivers on fleet branding
As truck curtain applications require the reproduction of high-resolution, photographic images that match a customer’s colour specifications, the machine’s ability to print up to 204 square metres per hour, employing UltraDrop Technology to deliver precise and sharp three-point size text with a true resolution of up to 1200 dots per inch, offers the near-photographic quality needed.
It is also equipped with EFI’s Fiery proServer digital front-end for increased productivity and accurate colour matching.
Truck curtain branding also requires protective coverings to withstand road grime, high pressure wash pressures, hosing, detergents, and all sorts of different elements. The VUTEk D3r addresses this challenge with its inbuilt protective coating capability.
EFI Asia-Pacific vice-president of sales Rodd Harrison said, “We’re happy that Fleetmark has chosen EFI as a preferred partner. The strength of our technology is evidenced by the calibre of businesses that choose us.
“The VUTEk D3r is designed to offer the right mix of features, productivity, and cost to create new opportunities for signage and graphics professionals like Fleetmark. The printing resolution, as well as the possibilities of white printing and the inline protective clear coat, are unique features which give Fleetmark a competitive edge in its market offering.
“For the Australian market, most people need a machine that provides the versatility to do a lot of different things, so our customers need to focus on as much as they can get through the door. The VUTEk D3r is able to do that.”
Future-proofing the needs of Fleetmark
Since investing in the VUTEk D3r, Fleetmark has seen more flexibility in its operations and efficiencies. As part of its strategic growth expansion plans, Fleetmark’s decision to invest in the VUTEk D3r was its scalability.
“As the VUTEk D3r is equipped with multi-layer white printing capabilities, it allows us to print on coloured mediums, especially coloured PVC, which means we can expand our scope as and when needed,” De Fazio said.
“We purchased the VUTEk D3r also keeping in mind increasing market demand in the future. The machine is capable of faster speeds and we have no doubt of its ability to handle an added workload in terms of quantity and quality, without any further investment.”
And EFI’s continued support is expected to further equip Fleetmark with the ability to provide its customers with stellar service. During the installation process, EFI went above and beyond in educating Fleetmark about the potential of the VUTEk D3r.
“EFI has been great in identifying any intricacies from day dot and the service that it has provided is second to none. The installation process was easy – the movers came in and quickly got the big machine to where it needed to be. EFI then calibrated the unit,” De Fazio said.
“EFI also trained our operators on the details of the equipment, which they picked up easily because the machine is automated and simple to use. We basically got up and running within a few days. EFI has heard our needs from the start, and we are in the very capable hands of its team in terms of support moving forward.”
EFI Asia-Pacific BDM Brett Addison
EFI Asia-Pacific VP of sales Rodd Harrison
Features of EFI’s VUTEk D3r
• Four colours plus optional white and optional clear coat – together
• UltraDrop Technology with native 7pL printheads
• Ultra-high-definition print modes
• Multi-layer white printing
• EFI’s LED curing technology
• EFI VUTEk D3r – 3M SuperRange UV Ink with 3M MCS Warranty
• EFI SuperFlex inks for fleet graphics
• Versatile media handling capabilities
• Touch-screen mobile operator station
• Carriage height adjustment and wrinkle analyser
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