Roland and Custom Gateway seek to change the High Street

(L-R) Jerry Davies, president of Roland DG (EMEA) and Brett Newman, MD of Roland DG (UK) with Andrew Talbot, CEO of Custom Gateway

Targeting large omni-channel retailers, Roland DG and Custom Gateway are integrating their hardware and software solutions to help meet demand for personalised offerings and brand experiences.

The first wave of development will incorporate the VersaUV LEF series of printers (LEF-300, LEF-200, LEF-12i) followed quickly by the VersaStudio (BN-20) desktop inkjet printer and cutter and the Metaza (MPX-95) metal printer. The first integrated systems are expected to be installed in the early summer of 2017.

 ‘We have been working towards the consumerisation of the digital imaging industry for many years,’ said Jerry Davies, president of Roland DG EMEA, who outlined his company’s strategy for bringing digitally personalised and customised products to the market.

‘The first [element] is to enable our existing sign and graphic customers and partners to access the growing demand for personalisation and customisation in business and consumer markets by helping them to integrate Custom Gateway’s web-to-print technologies.

‘The second element of the strategy is to bring Roland printing technologies directly into retail and fashion stores, leisure parks and sports venues.  Roland equipment and the software from our partner Custom Gateway can create a true omni-channel consumer experience. From instant design and print in-store, fully featured website integration, ‘click and collect’, browse and design in-store with home delivery, and even live ‘green-screen’ photo composition and print – together we have all the opportunities covered.

‘The third and final element of our strategy is to embed Roland imaging and 3D technologies into customised manufacturing processes – effectively delivering ‘create on-demand’ customised products that will feed into the consumer markets through the ‘traditional’ supply chains.’

‘The integration of Roland’s imaging systems into retail environments needs specialist software solutions to complement them,’ commented Andrew Talbot, CEO of Custom Gateway. ‘Our software makes the consumer product personalisation experience intuitive, the operators’ role much less complex and the integration with existing websites, point of sale systems and logistics possible.

‘I believe that together we can completely change the dynamics of consumer personalisation and customisation on the High Street,’ he added.