AD Bell Sign Systems moves back from latex to solvent technology for car wraps

Harrogate signage and graphics company AD Bell Sign Systems has started the year with its first Epson printer, the Epson SureColor SC-S80600 ten-colour solvent inkjet system. It has replaced a latex model and the result has won acclaim from car wrap designer customers who are impressed by the punchier vibrant colours now being achieved.

“We approached Perfect Colours who sell a range of large format equipment and they recommended a move to Epson and we could not be happier with the results,” says Simon Bell, managing director. “They gave us objective advice and introduced us to a user. The printer is easy to operate and does what it says but the key is that the colour match to any Pantone reference is spot on every time.”

In March the company will be wrapping a truck which will feature Astro Turf so the vinyls must match that green and AD Bell is now confident that can be done very easily. Typically it takes an hour to an hour and a half to print the vinyls for a car wrap and anything from eight to 12 hours to fit onto a vehicle. Company branding and contact details are often included so colour match and legibility is very important to its customers.

“A big advantage is that Epson supplies its own manufactured print heads and inks so you are not constantly recalibrating and the colour doesn’t vary as you switch between ink suppliers. We have used both solvent and latex in the past but this is the best technology we have had to date in terms of its quality,” says Mr Bell.

The company specified the SC S-80600 with an Onyx RIP. This particular printer uses Epson’s Micro Piezo TFP print head and for the black and each of the colours there are 360 nozzles applying ink from the 700ml ink tanks. The ten colours for this printer are from the UltraChrome GS3 range which provide a 1,440 x 1,440dpi resolution. 

In addition to car wraps AD Bell also provides window graphics, interior display and exterior fascia signage. The company operates a flexible 8.30am to 5.30pm day. It describes the vehicle wrapping market as enjoying “steady growth”. When vinyls for this application were first introduced it went mad but now is an accepted service. “Having the technology that makes your customer go ‘Wow!’ when they see it is so pleasing and that really is what we are enjoying now,” says Mr Bell.

Perfect Colours which supplied the printer is an award winning supplier of large format printers, consumables and servicing. Its headquarters is in London but it also has offices in Watford and Sheffield and a distribution centre in Kent.  

January 2018