South African Nashakele Distribution launched the new AfriJet infra-red printer at the recent Sign Africa 2010.
Conceptualised and designed in South Africa, it is a world first and the only South African designed and built wide format printer that is assembled in South Africa with imported and locally sourced components.
AfriJet has generated enormous interest all over the world. It’s claimed to be a low cost alternative to UV technology, cheaper to run, alternates effortlessly between rigid substrates like correx or ABS sheeting and the more traditional roll-to-roll substrates like PVC and vinyl.
Leading international printer experts have hailed it a winner and the most unusual new printer they’ve seen at any exhibition in 2010 worldwide. This innovative new technology won enough attention to secure Nashakele Distribution the best medium size exhibition stand at Sign Africa 2010.
This unique new printer has also garnered great interest at the Nipex exhibition in Nigeria and spearheads Nashakele’s drive north into the rest of Africa. It partnered with Avery Dennison for the Nipex exhibition in Lagos and this has been an unprecedented success. Shawn Bezuidenhout of Nashakele Distribution was enthusiastic in his praise for Avery Dennison saying, 'We needed to partner with a media supplier who not only was offering the market an excellent value product, but is synonymous with innovation and leading the pack. As always their quality vinyl and PVC ranges are a brilliant avenue to showcase the print quality of the new machine.'
Distribution channels have already been opened to Nigeria, Namibia and Zambia. They are finding that these markets are often distrustful, having burnt their fingers with suppliers who have no commitment to the region. Products in the past have been poorly supported and client service non-existent as suppliers make a half-hearted effort into African countries. Nashakele is changing that and offering the same standards of quality and excellence that they have been offering the South African market for nearly 10 years, establishing local service centres.
The plan going forward is to expose the rest of the world to the unique AfriJet infra-red flatbed printer. There are plans in place to showcase it in Dubai before the end of the year and take it to European markets early in 2011.
The really amazing news is that despite sharing many parallel functions with much more expensive UV printers, it comes to market at a fraction of the cost. Many businesses have invested heavily in UV printers to print correx for estate agent’s boards and ABS sheeting. Functionality that’s easily taken over by the Afrijet at well under R 200 000 (+/- A$28500.00) fully installed, trained and supported. The infra-red inks, capable of printing at 1440dpi, are around half the price of UV inks and are more flexible to withstand bending, vacuum forming and shaping better than UV or screen printing inks.
The first 'Proudly South African' printer, the AfriJet is the single most exciting development to hit the digital outdoor printing industry in a very long time!
Nashakele Distribution
www.Nashakele.co.za
