Synergy Australasia, Melbourne, is the first Australian company to install the new HP Scitex FB700 flatbed UV printer.
Director Benjamin Hunt said the versatility of the printer and the HP brand made the decision easy. “With our custom design work we need to be highly adaptable, and so does our equipment. When we started looking at a new printer we had two firm objectives in mind: the printer needed to be flexible in terms of the types of substrates we could use on it, and it needed to produce high quality images”.
 |
| Benjamin Hunt |
He continued. “The HP Scitex FB700 met our criteria on both the technology front and also from a brand perspective. There is peace of mind working with a leading brand like HP. We know we can trust the HP technology and it is this assurance that gives us the flexibility to break boundaries and offer the widest and broadest capabilities to our client base”.
Synergy has built a solid reputation for pushing creative limits to produce distinctive custom-built displays for its national client base. In business since 1998, the company employs 15 at its plant in Preston, a suburb 10km north east of the Melbourne CBD.
Hunt said they’ve started experimenting with various substrates on the HP Scitex FB700 and the results are impressive. “We are not just feeding sheets through this printer, we are pushing through whole pre-built merchandising units. We are printing on aluminium composite panels, plastics, acrylics and we will be trying glass also. We do a large volume of CNC machining and we are using our experience in this area to try new things with the FB700. It is proving very adaptable which is great”.
He continues. “The printer also handles traditional substrates such as coreflute. Because of the size and capacity of the printer we’ve been able to print up to six panels at a time on this material and prints are dry to handle when they come out of the machine. When you factor in the flexibility, ease of use and speed of the machine there is no doubt the FB700 has raised our productivity considerably”.
The installation of the HP Scitex FB700 will enable the company to secure new work, said Hunt, and in particular tap a boutique market where Hunt and the Synergy team can show their creativity.
“We are challenging what people perceive printing is capable of. We’re applying what we’ve learned in the exhibition space in terms of efficiencies and expertise to offer a new, highly specialised boutique service that will change perceptions”.
He expanded. “The investment in this printer is part of our strategy to broaden our capabilities in the exhibition market and to also target new segments such as architectural firms. We are using the FB700 with another product we import, to develop a graphic solution that will enable us to produce images on all types of surfaces. With our new printer, producing this graphic solution is more effective, efficient and quicker than conventional screenprinting methods. The FB700 has taken the process from a three person operation to one making it a viable, affordable option”.
Hunt said the user friendliness of the HP Scitex FB700 has meant that any of his production staff can operate the printer because of the high level of automation and the printer’s self-management features. He particularly likes the “intuitive” nature of the HP Scitex FB700 technology. “The smart technology that drives this printer removes a lot of production and maintenance issues because the printer looks after itself. If there’s a problem with a job the printer alerts you before it becomes an issue and as such requires a lot less attention than traditional roll-to-roll machines. It has fitted seamlessly into our operation. HP has created a very well rounded machine”.
In fact, Hunt is so impressed with the capabilities of the new HP Scitex FB700 he believes there is value in establishing an arm of the company dedicated to addressing print requirements across the advertising, retail and architectural industries - COMMAND P will use the HP Scitex FB700 to revolutionise the element of print within these forums.
HP Australia
www.hp.com.au
