Delivered in October, the machine was part-exchanged for an HP Latex 360 and was chosen due to the performance of Hull-based VLS’ first SC-S80600, which was installed in summer 2017.
It will be used to improve the consistency of VLS’ provision to the vehicle livery market, which includes clients such as police forces, as well as livery for plant machinery, patient transports and vehicle fleets.
Managing director Greg Saunderson said: “It is really important for us to have confidence in the consistent output of this machine.
“We endeavour to maintain quality in all aspects of the business. A second SureColor was an easy choice. We supply to large fleets from full branding to ancillary decals. We also supply to the ESV market serving a quarter of the UK's police forces through contract and many other emergency services.
“Dealing with strict brand guidelines you must have several quality/colour check procedures in place to ensure the correct output. Even with this failsafe in place it can sometimes go wrong with a reliability issue when it is in print phase, with the Epson I have full confidence in the output every time, we check colours post print and so far, we have passed every time.”
Epson’s 1.6m-wide SureColor SC-S80600 achieves a wide colour gamut using an inkset comprising CMYK, white, red, light magenta, light cyan, light black, metallic silver and orange. VLS said it made particular use of the red, orange and light black inks.
It prints at 1,440dpi resolution and is designed with the capability to match 98.2% of Pantone colours. Saunderson said Epson provides “by far the greatest machine in the market today for our industry”.
With the new machine, VLS has also installed new Onyx Thrive RIP software to replace the Onyx RIP originally taken on with the first SureColor. It enables VLS to RIP up to four files at a time on each printer, as well as reducing time on key steps in its workflow through automation.
Based on 372sqm premises, Vehicle Livery Solutions is close to outgrowing the home it set up 11 years ago. Its team of 14 staff is set to grow by four in the near future and so Saunderson said new premises were “high on the agenda”, as well as further new kit and software due to a recently-awarded European innovation grant.
