Zest invests in Dimense one-pass print emboss

Zest Image, a Melbourne-based sign and display business, is investing in the new Dimense 3D wide format print and emboss technology, to enhance its visual solutions for the retail, display, signage and exhibitions markets.

Purchased from Stick on Signs, the eco-friendly roll-to-roll Dimense S printer offers "a complete solution" with seven types of media and inks, and according to Zest, will open up new markets for its interior design applications.

"We already produce a lot of 3D texture, but this is done with the conventional white layer system which is expensive. It also takes a long time to produce the texture, so the reason that we've gone down this path is because we're seeing more and more demand for it, and we have identified an opportunity to deliver something new to the market," says Rob Grosso, director at Zest, which offers small, large, and grand format digital printing, digital displays, Large format 3D printing, Digital signage solutions, illuminated signage, and more. 

The “pioneering technology” of Dimense prints and embosses in a single step, achievable via two major components in the same device – inkjet printer and calendar heat press.

It is the "greenest system on the market," says Abe Weiszberger, CEO of Stick-on-Signs, confirming that since the inks used are water-based latex, the process is PVC and phthalate-free, and all products and ingredients used in the process are non-toxic and certified harmless with the Eco-Institut-Label in Europe.

"The new Dimense enables us to provide a product that is actually commercially viable for doing work for high end architectural projects and suchlike because the cost of the machine is not expensive and the cost of the material is similar to the cost of the papers that contain PVC," adds Grosso.

"It's also opened up new markets for us for interior design applications, and because it's environmentally friendly it's a win-win for us."

Weiszberger is pleased that he could help Zest choose the right technology to suit its needs. He says, "Rob was looking at other raised printing technology options, and found when printing on transparent ink that these options were costly, slow and not good for the environment. So we solved all three problems for Zest with the Dimense system.”

Weiszberger explains that the Dimense 3D wide format printing technology is a new technique to create structure in a way that has not been seen in digital printing before.

"Dimense media is a set of different print substrates which consists of two layers non-woven in the back and a patented PVC free, phthalate-free Ecodeco composition on top. Under a certain temperature in the printer, the top layer of the media foams and expands by 1 to 1.5 millimetres high. However, in areas where structural ink is applied, it stays flat. In this way, the thickness of the media can be controlled, and a unique structure for every print can be created.

"Structural ink itself is transparent and it can be printed together with CMYK inks. So you can print a picture and structure in one step, as well as print only structure without colour," he adds.

To achieve this result, Dimense offers a complete solution: the Dimense S printer, seven types of media (matt, pearl, suede, gold, silver, chameleon, media plus) and water based latex inks.

“The Dimense technology is changing the way people view wall graphics and wall décor. We are delighted Zest image has embraced it," concludes Weiszberger.

Zest Image, which acquired wide format business Print X One last year, is currently using a Dimense S demo model until its new purchase arrives from Europe.

The Dimensor S will be on display at stand H18 at Pacprint, which runs from 28 June to 1 July in Melbourne.