Irish Sign specialist Freeney’s Graphics has chosen to futureproof the business and its ongoing evolution with investment in an Epson SC-V7000 UV Flatbed printing solution and an Epson SC-S80600 Large Format roll to roll printer.
The sixth-generation family run Dublin sign specialist worked with local Epson supplier digitalprint.ie to cement its reputation for high quality sign and display solutions, bring production inhouse, and expand into new markets.
Tom Freeney, Managing Director of Freeny’s Graphics, explains: “We were originally sign writers but today we are producing digital format print, large format print and a lot of vehicle graphics. We were early adopters of digital printers and as their technology has evolved, we have evolved with them, and the business has grown.
The two Epson systems were chosen to help continue that growth says Tom: “Reviewing all the options, we decided that Epson had a lot to offer over the rest. Their systems came with local support and the Epson name gave us the confidence to move forward with Epson. Both are performing very well.”
The SC-V7000 was developed for sign makers keen to expand their offering and produce high quality UV signage. Offering up to 2.5m x 1.25m print capability it prints directly on to a wide range of substrates up to 80mm thick including acrylics, polycarbonates, PVC, aluminium, metal, polyester, foamboard, styrene, wood, and stone. Its 10-colour ink set with light cyan, light magenta, and grey provide low graininess and red for vivid and bright prints. It ensures accurate colour reproduction for spot and corporate colours. With Epson Edge Print RIP software and UV Flatbed controller software, operators can speed up printing and produce high quality results easily and repeatably.
States Tom: “The flatbed solution is a new technology for us. It is very versatile. We find we are doing some nice niche work which we wouldn’t have previously done or we would have outsourced. It has a wide range of features, features that other machines in its class simply don’t have. It has the ability to print white inline. It prints varnish. It has a wider colour gamut than any other machines we inspected and after printing the same file on a range of printers the Epson was far superior.”
The 64-inch SC-S80600 system features a combined precision media feeding system and high-performance Dual-Array PrecisionCore® TFP print head, which supports enhanced productivity. Its uses Epson UltraChrome® GS3 9-color solvent ink – including a red solvent along with the option for white or metallic silver inks – for outstanding photographic print quality, durability, and media compatibility.
Tom adds: “We hit the ground running with the SC-S80600. It has been very easy to use. The colours are far beyond our expectations and it has been a great success.”
Both systems were installed by digitalprint.ie. Print Production Director Colm McCarthy says: “Freeney’s chose Epson based on couple of key decisions - the quality that both systems could drive and the fact that both had the ability to colour match across separate platforms and separate ink sets. That was really important to them. And, although the SC-V7000 would be seen as an entry level flatbed model, it is quite distinct in its key features compared to market alternatives and what it can do. This really was the differentiation for the decision to go with Epson.”