BILLBOARD GOES BIG WITH TRIO OF NEW EFI VUTEK Q5R PRINTERS INSTALLED
Leading ANZ display business Billboard Media has just made one of its biggest ever investments, installing three new EFI VUTEk Q5r wide format roll-to-roll print systems, the first time it has installed EFI.
(l-r) Brett Addison, BDM, EFI; and from Billboard Media: Joel Statham (top), sales manager; Charlene Enslin, CFO; Andrew Poole (front left), operations manager; and Mat Walker, COO (front right)
The three new printers will be used for banners, billboards, construction wraps, self-adhesive vinyls, retail print, and more. They each print 672 sqm an hour, delivering an additional 2000 sqm of print an hour between them for the company.
Billboard currently has a dozen wide format print systems, with the new printers joining as extra capacity, although in time some of the company’s older printers will be retired.
Mat Walker, chief operating officer at the company said, “Covid posed its challenges to the business through 2020 and 2021. However, this also provided an opportunity to refocus why we do what we do. Billboard Media has been re-energised with a new management team, with extensive industry experience to identify opportunities and help with growth. The new team spent time focusing on developing a new growth strategy.
“One of the key pillars of the strategy was investing in new print machines, which will help increase our capacity, reduce costs, and improve our speed and quality outcomes for customers."
It wasn’t just doing the same work at higher productivity and reduced costs that drove the decision to invest though. Walker says, “The new machines also open up new markets which we plan on exploring in the near future. White print capability allows us to change the way we do things, and opens up even more opportunities.”
Consistency with the company’s environmental commitment was one of the criteria in choosing the new print systems. Walker says, “Sustainability was one of many driving factors in the purchase of the new Q5r machines. Reduced ink usage and power were the first two benefits that come to mind.”
In addition to the sustainability requirements, Billboard's criteria when it came to analysing the market for new print systems included a five-metre wide machine, speed, quality, cost savings (ink, power), white ink capability, and clear coating ability.
Walker says, “We chose EFI because the Q5r printer ticked the most boxes. We went through a thorough analysis. We are committed to quality and speed. Our customers have come to know us for these attributes, these models allow us to deliver on this.”
Brett Addison, business development manager at EFI says, “‘When I first sat down with Billboard, I wanted to understand their existing solution and their business challenges. Billboard needed a better and complete solution that could overhaul and reduce their operational costs while delivering the production efficiencies they need.
“It wasn’t just a single feature that sold the Q5r. Amongst many things, the white and clear ink will provide the flexibility and high-quality premium print applications to their customers. In addition, the VUTEk Q5r printers will help Billboard achieve operational efficiencies at a lower cost by offering benefits such as lower ink and power consumption.”
To read the full story on Billboard and its new investment turn to page 12 in the new issue of Print21.
