Geordies Signs has purchased PVC-free Kavalan and Pongs Blackback roll materials from CMYUK to expand its services into tension frame graphics and single-piece wallcoverings.
The County-Durham-based business, which acquired an exhibitions company during lockdown, is committed to printing onto green materials that offer responsible end of life solutions.
Bryan Bell, co-owner, said, ‘It’s all about making the change, reducing the number of materials used for jobs and doing our best to stop our print going into landfill. We’re not 100 per cent PVC-free but we’re trying to do our fair bit.’
The company has recently completed a job for a school using Kavalan PVC-free Gecko – a PVC-free grey backed polyester-based textile.
Mr Bell added, ‘Kavalan Gecko was a lot more vibrant, which is a big selling point because when you’re installing graphics in schools, colleges, and the like, the colours need to really pop and be in your face. It’s now up on the school walls. It was great to print, easy to install and nice to use.’
Mr Bell ordered samples of Pongs Softimage Contrast Blackback textile material, and impressed by the quality of reproduction, has used it to create the business’ very first tension frame graphic for a green energy supplier that is exhibiting at a caravan show.
Pongs Softimage Contrast Blackback is compatible with all sublimation processes and UV inks – and is ideal for expo walls, frame wraps, retail and interior displays, and backdrops. With stretch properties and anti-scratch black block out backing, it is PVC-free, recyclable and fire rated.
Mr Bell said, ‘A lot of the historic exhibitions work has been printing, mounting onto Foamex, and laminating but we want to use single piece stretch frame graphics. We’ve just sampled PONGS® Softimage Contrast® Blackback textile and we’re really impressed with it. We’re using it for our very first tension frame graphic. By using this we’ve immediately saved using six panels of 8 x 4 Foamex, vinyl laminate, and magnetic tape.’
Back in the summer, Geordies Signs invested in a Mimaki UJV55-320 UV LED 3.2m wide printer. This has enabled it to produce both large one-piece and tension frame graphics in-house, significantly updating the exhibitions and retail services, which it recently added to its business portfolio. Going forward, the company is keen to push forward on surface textile production and is looking to collaborate with CMYUK to further explore its Arkutex range of architectural material solutions.
Now with a staff of five including a graphic designer, the business offers interior and exterior signs, window graphics, vehicle wraps, banners, display products, labels, and stickers. It also offers trophies, laser engraving, printed clothing, business cards, leaflets, and more.
