What is the range and when was it launched?

Launched in April this year, the Grafik range of foam-centred boards was launched by paper merchant the Robert Horne Group as a replacement product for its formerly supplied Kapa boards. The range comprises three boards: Grafik Line, Grafik Mount and Grafik Fix.

What are the boards designed for and what are they made of?
All three products incorporate a white polystyrene core, but each differs slightly in its outer make-up. Grafik Line comprises 300gsm pure cellulose bleached paper laminated directly onto either side of its polystyrene core, forming a lightweight but rigid board suitable for point-of-sale, store and exhibition displays, graphic illustration and photo-mounting.

Grafik Mount is a more robust board designed for longevity and suitable for mounting posters, photographic displays and laminated instruction sheets such as those used in hotels, schools or colleges. Its rigidity is created through the use of a thin layer of white, lacquered aluminium on either side of the polystyrene core, underneath the paper-based exterior layer. According to Robert Horne Group, the aluminium makes the board more resistant to degradation when pins are used to mount displays. 

Grafik Fix is a similarly robust board to Grafik Mount incorporating the layers of white lacquered aluminium, but in addition it has a self-adhesive backing so users can directly fix graphics in place without the need for separate adhesives. The adhesive surface has markings at every 10mm so displays can be lined up accurately.

All three products are CFC-free and have low compressibility properties, which means they are less easily dented and damaged, according to Robert Horne. They are produced in thicknesses of 5mm and 10mm and, as well as bespoke sizes, the whole range is available to order from a minimum size of 700x1,000mm up to a maximum dimension of 1,524x3,050mm.

How is the range different from other boards?
According to Robert Horne Group category manager Mike Summers, the surfaces of the Grafik range of boards are a brighter white than any other product on the market. "These products will be in use for three, six, 12 months and that surface isn’t going to yellow. If people are printing on to them then it is the difference between printing on a bright white board or onto a yellow board. Aesthetically it looks far better, it produces a far punchier print than the alternatives out there."

Summers also hails the Grafik range’s rigidity, stay-flat properties and resistance to warping or twisting as generally superior to other products on the market. "The challenge is to produce a board that is 10ft long and 5ft wide that is absolutely flat. Putting that through a digital flatbed means it will have four colours applied to it in a matter of seconds and if it doesn’t lie flat it will stop the machine. It has to lie flat and Grafik does just that," he says.

Is the board easy to work with?
All three products are supplied in boxes of 10, 12, 16, 20 and 24 depending on the thickness ordered and can be hand-cut with a standard blade or on a digital cutting machine. The range is, according to the Robert Horne Group, designed for screen process printing as well as digital flatbed printing and is compatible with all current digital inks. Grafik Mount and Grafik Line are also suitable for manual or industrial lamination processes.

"This product range offers digital printers, signmakers and exhibition display producers, among others, a genuine alternative high-quality foam-centred board at an attractive price point," says Summers.

How much does it cost?
Grafik Line is priced from £3.50/sqm for the 5mm board to £5/sqm for the 10mm version. Grafik Mount from £6.90/sqm (5mm) to £8.40/sqm (10mm). Grafik Fix from £8.90/sqm (5mm) to £10.50/sqm (10mm).

SPECIFICATIONS

Whiteness score ISO 11475: 122%
Surface pH neutral
Core material White polystyrene
Dimensions Min: 700x1,000mm Max: 1,524x3,050mm (bespoke sizes available)
Thickness 5mm, 10mm
Price From £3.50/sqm to £10.50/sqm depending on size, thickness and product
Contact Robert Horne Group 01604 495 333 www.roberthorne.co.uk