Aussie duo to take on world at Fespa

Two Australian wide format printers will take on the world for international honours at Fespa in Germany later this month, with both shortlisted for three awards.

Next Printing is shortlisted for two point-of-sale paper and board entries and one in the cross media print campaign category, while three outdoor jobs by Sydney billboard printer Cactus Imaging are up for the out-of-home and vehicle decal award.

The Cactus entries include two wraps of iconic Sydney buildings and a completely recyclable polyethylene billboard for client Samsung.

Next Printing’s two point-of-sale creations were backdrops for a window display in upscale women’s clothing chain Jigsaw, and a display for Krispy Kreme’s new Perth outlet launch.

[Related: More outdoor news]

Cactus general manager Nigel Spicer says the company had to overcome a number of challenges to print such a green product.

“We had to ensure the material was correctly treated, profiling ink settings and selecting the right amount of UV curing time was paramount,” he says.

“During the finishing of the skins, special attention had to be given to the welding heat so not distort the lightweight PE. The used billboard is then recycled into the edging used in installing other billboards.”

Spicer says wrapping the Sydney Town Hall with a printed mesh during renovations took many hours of planning to get accurate colour, minimal joins, and to match the area it was covering.

“The wrap had be produced within 48 hours of final approval to allow finishers and installers time to install the massive wrap. Each panel was printed on a HP XP5500 in five metre drops and welded together using a High Frequency Fiab,” he says.

Similarly, the 2500sqm mesh wrap of the Queen Victoria Building with an ad for Samsung’s sponsorship of the Australian Swimming Team required ‘cranes and plenty of grunt’.

“The printing took about 45 hours to complete and once installed could be viewed by 65,000-plus people who walk down Pitt Street each day,” Spicer says.

[Related: More awards news]

Next general manager Romeo Sanuri says the company drew on inspiration from 3D pop-up greeting cards to design and produce two displays that resembled Big Ben and St Paul's Cathedral, to bring Jigsaw’s UK heritage to life.

Krispy Kreme wanted to bring a carnival atmosphere to its Perth launch so Next Printing designed a donut take on the classic hoopla game, using cardboard donuts as hoops and a spinning prize wheel.

“We wanted to create something interactive for the launch as it was a big event with many excited people coming into the store, and they spent hours throwing hoops into the display,” Sanuri says.

Its cross media campaign was an exhibition stand for augmented reality startup Engagency using the company’s own technology to showcase its abilities.

The stand was fitted with 300-400 slots containing DL flyer-sized boards attendees could take home and view a 3D presentation of Engagency’s offering using their smart phone or tablet.

Sanuri says the demonstration took the viewer through a series of virtual doors to show the many doors of possibility the company could unlock.

“Instead of buying a big stand, clients can get more out of a small space using augmented reality. We thought it was a different take on cross media campaigns, instead of just a sign and a website,” he says.

All three jobs were made with 16mm Re-board (fluted paper board) substrate, which Sanuri says is better alternative to other materials because it is lightweight, flatpacked and easy to set up and transport.

They were produced with Next Printing’s HP FB7600 and Durst P10 flatbed printers and cut with an Esko Kongsberg cutter.

Cactus general manager of strategic development Keith Ferrel and Visual Solutions Australia managing director Marshall Beaumont are also nominated for the Fespa Hall of Fame award, which Ferrel won last year.

Fespa is held in Cologne, Germany on May 18-22, with the award winners announced on May 19.

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