ImagesMagUK_Digital-Edition_Nov17

INDUSTRY NEWS

DECORATED PRODUCT OF THE MONTH

This year’s official T-shirt for the SGIA 2017 Expo in New Orleans in October was created by Graphic Elephants/Print This. Designed to capture the spirit of the New Orleans’ French Quarter, it features a saxophone-playing alligator on account of alligators being local to the state of Louisiana and New Orleans being a town well-known for its musical heritage. The team started off with a pencil sketch, which was then scanned in and cleaned up in Photoshop, before colour was added digitally, layering Vastex releases LittleRed dryer aimed at DTG printers Vastex has introduced the LittleRed X3D-54 multi-function dryer with 137cm wide conveyor belt. The company says that the new configuration is capable of curing more than 720 plastisol- printed garments per hour, more than 240 water-based or discharge-printed garments per hour, and more than 100 garments inkjet printed with digital white ink per hour per chamber. It has a high-powered, pre- heating zone that is said to boost ink temperatures beyond 149ºC within the first few centimetres of conveyor travel, maximising the dwell time garments are exposed to optimum, digitally- controlled curing temperatures. “We’ve thoroughly tested the X3D heat curve profile in real time with specialised meters and probes to validate the temperature rise and fall through every minute of conveyor travel, proving it maximises drying rates while minimising Visitor research has resulted in a number of changes for Sign & Digital UK when it returns to the Birmingham NEC in April next year, including broadening its appeal to include textile print. There will be a number of new features added as well as a theme that has been “tailored to meet the changing needs of its visitor profile”, all of which will be announced in detail soon. Rudi Blackett, event director for Sign & Digital UK, said: “We are delighted to announce our 2018 visitors will benefit

the colours to produce optimal results when the finished design was screen printed on to a Fruit of the Loom HD Cotton tee. The colours used included, in order, two white underbases (one soft and a wet hard white), royal, purple, turquoise, green red, magenta, orange, gold and a highlight white. A rainbow foil was used on the pipes of the saxophone, and some gold beads were also applied to provide the finishing touch. www.graphicelephants.com www.sgia.org energy usage,” said Mark Vasilantone, Vastex president. “No other dryer this compact or affordably priced equals its performance.” The dryer’s three 122cm wide heaters are digitally-controlled and height- adjustable. The X3D also offers precision thermal-profiling to match curing conditions to the drying characteristics of each ink type, and the belt is continuously centred by a roller belt tracking system. It comes with a 15-year warranty. www.vastex.com

OBITUARY

Anton Penn Anton Penn, senior vice president Activewear EMEA at Fruit of the Loom, died on 24 September 2017 at the age of 57 following a long battle with cancer. “Anton was a powerful and committed leader and a special person. He worked tirelessly to progress the EMEA business and was proud of the success we shared in the 18 years he was with our company,” said the European Fruit of the Loom Leadership team. “We owe it to his legacy to continue to service our customers with the same energy and passion Anton had. Our thoughts and prayers are with Anton’s family at this time of loss.” www.fruitoftheloom.co.uk

The new LittleRed X3D model from Vastex

Sign & Digital UK 2018 to incorporate textile print following visitor research

from a wider range of learning and networking opportunities than ever before, with new practical demo areas and interactive visitor features. “In addition to focusing on our core sign, print and finishing, and display markets, we will also be broadening the appeal of the show further with an emphasis on the design and creative, textile print, event build and interior décor markets. We will be introducing a programme of engaging show content to highlight the business opportunities in

Sign & Digital UKwill return to Birmingham in April 2018

these growing market sectors.” The show will take place on 24-26 April 2018, and is free to attend. www.signuk.com

10 images NOVEMBER 2017

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