This year the exhibition will be open for four days for the first time, allowing visitors more opportunity to attend and there will be over 90 national and international specialists showcasing a combination of digital printing, vinyl, neon, screen printing, digital, airbrush and a host of other highly creative imaging techniques and process for the graphic arts and related industries.
General manager of Visual Impact Image Expo Sydney, Peter Harper, says the exhibition has been sold out for a “good six months.” He says this year, the show will fully emphaise the wide variety of visual imaging techniques, as well as the traditional forms of imaging.
“This year we’re trying to get people to understand that its not just a large format printing show, that there are sign writers, engravers, screen printers and a host of other people involved in the graphic arts and imaging industries and these individuals are all doing interesting things to promote the whole gamut of visual imaging,” says Harper.
Three highly professional graphic arts and imaging companies will sponsor the event this year. They are Roland DG, Sign Warehouse and Graphic Art Mart.
Platinum sponsor Roland DG will be displaying some of the company’s new products, including the AJ-1000 large format printer, the SJ1045IS grand format printer, as well as the Hi-Fi Jet Pro II FJ540 large format die/ink printer, as well as numerous cutters and engraving machines.
Roland’s AJ-1000 combines the easy operation of a large format printer, with the high-volume capabilities of a grand format printer. At 2.6m wide, the system has a maximum print speed of 90m2/hr and a precision print speed of 45m2/h and is suitable for a wide range of outdoor graphics including banners, billboards, front and backlist and fleet graphics. The AJ-1000 comes complete with VersaWorks, Roland’s powerful, easy-to-use professional RIP.
The Jet Pro II FJ 540 large format dye ink printer, prints up to 28m2/hr true 1440 x 1440 dpi resolution and features variable droplet technology six colour printing.
The SJ-1045IS has a maximum print speed of 45m2/h and with a maximum print resolution of 1440 x 1440 dpi and is well suited for even the largest applications including billboards, banners, vehicle wraps and large production runs.
Additionally, Roland DG is hosting a major draw at the show. Just by entering the exhibition, visitors get an entry form which can be filled out and put into a box at the Roland DG stand for the chance to win a ride in a Stone Brother’s purpose built 700+ Horsepower V8 Supercar. The winner is to be drawn by the reigning V8 Supercar Series Champion Russell Ingall, who will be at Roland’s stand between 3 – 4 pm on Friday the 15th and between 11-12 on Saturday 16th – the draw taking place on the Saturday at 12 noon.
Gold sponsor at the Visual Imapct Expo, is specialist supplier to the sign making and graphic arts industries, Sign Warehouse Australia. National sales manager for Sign Warehouse, Paul Szep, says the company is pleased to be a sponsor of the Expo this year and is looking forward to the opportunity to promote a range of new technologies showcased at its stand.
“We’re very pleased with the opportunity to be able to provide information and to sponsor what we think will be a very successful show,” says Szep.
“We’ll have some information on our new UV flatbed printer, the Uniform Chieftain G2 UV and we’ll also have an Intrepid 3.2 metre six colour 720 dpi printer, which is perfect for producing vehicle wraps, high resolution vinyl prints, as well as billboards and banners. “Sign Warehouse will also be displaying a range of GCC laser products and Uniform Printer Cutters using Lemon Scent Ink,” he says.
Thirty year veteran of the graphic arts industry Graphic Art Mart, will be the Expo’s silver sponsor and will be re-launching Avery Digital’s new MPI1005ez and MPI1900 Cast Digital Films at its stand.
The company is encouraging visitors to check out the Roland large format digital printers and cutters. Among the Roland technology the company will be running at its stand, will be the Soljet Pro III XC-540 offering a faster and superior quality print with no fumes.
The Emseal Applikator laminator and Ezy Taper tape application system, will be demonstrated to visitors interested in laminating clear or coloured films for large format prints and Graphic Art Mart will also be launching a new range of window films from Avery and Nylex and the new Krinner ground screw system, an innovative system to secure signage to any type of ground surface.
If that’s not enough to stimulate the senses, there’s always the conference program, which this year promises a wealth of interesting speakers from all facets of the graphic arts industries.
Among the speakers prepped to inform and amaze visitors, is sign expert Joe Braga from the USA, who will be discussing tips for laser and rotary printing. Digital applications specialist for Sericol, Liz Cerbelli, will deliver a talk about digital prepress and workflow and IT specialist and former service manager for Roland DG, Conrad Birkett, will be talking about managing colour in digital print.
Be sure not to miss the talk called ‘The Future of Communication Within the Sign Industry’ to be presented by entrepreneur and founder of signtrade.org (a resource for sign makers), Paul Faix, as well as technical marketing manager for Avery Graphics, David Newman’s, speech on solvent versus UV curable digital printing.
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