Toronto-based Holman Exhibits has installed a Scitex FB500 flatbed printer from HP Canada, supplied by Ernest Green + Son.

Holman has produced work for exhibits, indoor environments, museums, special events and retail projects for about 50 years. As business has grown, particularly with regard to in-store displays, the company recently expanded its facilities with the buildout of a custom printing shop. The Scitex press is enabling in-house project transitions from graphic design to print and fabrication.

“Printing direct-to-substrate becomes more economical to control in-house, as opposed to outsourcing,” explains Edgars Apse, Holman’s marketing manager. “It eliminates a step that traditionally had us printing to film and then applying that film to a rigid substrate. This integral addition reduces production time and allows control of output quality to remain in-house.”

The company plans to use the FB500 for all direct-to-surface printing of rigid materials. The machine is also beneficial in printing customized registration marks with graphic files that can then direct the company’s computer numerical control (CNC) routers to cut printed items to shape.

“It has expanded our printing capabilities and, consequently, is opening new opportunities with clients as they become aware we have a flatbed printer,” says Mark Wojtowicz, graphics production manager, who also operates an HP Designjet printer.

“We are excited to be broadening our offerings for clients,” says Dirk Trefzger, vice-president (VP) of operations. “This printer has already demonstrated a reduction in turnaround time for our finished products and driven savings right back to our clients.”