Manchester-based TV studio Vectar Project had an exhibition last month and approached Cheadle-based Cestrian to support it with the printing, finishing, and cutting of some of the sets.
Cestrian worked alongside the design team at its sister company Creative Digital Images to create the artwork for a range of sets including a train carriage, prison cell, kitchen, and concrete column, with others still set to be produced.
The job saw Cestrian digitally print brick walls, tiles, flooring, granite surfaces, cupboard doors, windows, and an infinity wall on the Vectar Board substrate, using its EFI Vutek h5 printer. Some of the printed sets then had texture added using its Kongsberg XP24 cutter.
Vectar Project developed Vectar Board, which is made from wood sourced in Sweden, is 100% recyclable, and boasts a carbon footprint up to 90% lower than traditional methods.
Sets made using this board are said to be as strong as wood but are cheaper to build and quicker to reposition on set.
Tom Henderson and Chris Gilmore of Vectar Project said that thousands of film sets are built from wood and MDF every year and then disposed of once the filming stops. The pair are challenging the film industry to “clean up its act by switching to cardboard sets”.
Cestrian managing director Paul Price, who joined the business in October, said: “Our cardboard engineering experts know the full capabilities of this material, so we were delighted to be approached by Vectar Project for this groundbreaking idea. We understood exactly what we needed to achieve and the end result.
“We believe that this is just the beginning and that other players in the TV and film industry will see the full cost, logistical and environmental benefits.”
Cestrian also runs kit from Inca, Durst, HP, Xerox, and Fotoba. PFI Group acquired the out-of-home, retail, and events specialist from Austrian firm Arian Group last year.
