At a glance

Industry: Sign & Display

Business names: OPG

Headquarters: Lanarkshire, Scotland

Websites: opgraphics.co.uk

Challenge

• Increaseordersandimproverevenuesduringunfavourableeconomicconditions.

• Create,printandinstallarangeofvisuallyimpactfulinteriordécorforrestaurantcustomer,CafeEataliano, on a strict deadline.

Solution

• HPLatexPrintingTechnologiesspearheadedby2012installationoftheHPDesignjetL26500Printer.

• HPPVC-freeWallPapertoproducevibrantwallcoverings.

Results

• Stunninginteriordécorgraphicspackagewhich,thankstotheuseofwater-basedHPLatexInks,wasinstalledtotightdeadlinesbeforetherestaurantopeningwithnoodoursfromprintedmaterials.2)

• ExpandedserviceofferingbyusingOPG’sheritageinfleetgraphicstobecomearecognisedsupplierofhigh-qualityindoorand outdoor print applications

• SupplementarybenefitsforOPG,aidedbyall-HPLatexinstallation:ISO140001environmentalmanagementsystemcertification,staffweretrainedintheHPEcoSolutionsTrainingProgramme.

With HP Latex Printing Technologies OPG delivers stunning graphics to order for Cafe Eataliano

“Wefinishedinstalling the entire graphics package forCafeEatalianoonaFridayandbythe Sunday, the restaurantwasfullofcustomers. Insofarasinteriorgraphics are concerned, it’s a caseofbeingseenandnotsmelt.” –AlanWatson,generalmanager,OPG

Efficientserviceandfastdeliveryofhigh-quality, mouth-wateringproductswithinstantjaw-droppingappeal–thesimilaritiesbetweengraphicsproducedwithHPLatexPrintingTechnologiesandthepizzabusiness.Ratherfittingthen,thattheCafeEatalianopizzeria,basedinHamilton,Scotland,shouldcallupontheservicesofall-latexprintserviceprovider,OPG,tofurnishitsnewpremiseswithfeast-sizedquantitiesofeye-catchingdécor.

Indeed,havingbuiltabusinessproducingfleetliveriesandvehiclegraphics,AlanWatson,generalmanager,OPGexplainssuchinteriorprojectsareincreasinglyprimefodderfortheLanarkshire-basedcompany.

“Theunfavourableeconomicclimatethatwebegantoendurein2008sawourfleetandvehicleordersfall,butweusedthatextratimetolookcloselyatourofferingsandthinkaboutwhatwemightdotobolsterrevenuesandimprovethecompany,”saysWatson.

Withinthreeyears,OPGhadreplacedtwosolventinkprinterswithtwoHPLatexPrinters,runningwater-basedHPLatexInksthatcontainnohazardousairpollutants1) andenableodour-freeoutput.Whiletheproductionofsuch odourless prints2)improvedtheworkingenvironmentandthroughputintheprintroom,thelevelofvehiclegraphicsorderswasstilllowerthanithadbeen.

Wide-format printing firepower expands service offering

Equippedwithitsnewwide-formatprintingfirepowerandtheobjectiveofturningbusinessaround,OPGdecidedtomaximisethepotentialofitsHPLatexPrintingTechnologiesbybroadeningitsskillssetwithanexpandedserviceoffering.Thecompanyapproacheditsvehiclegraphiccustomerstoofferindoorgraphicsfortheiroffices–asmartmovethatnotonlysawrevenuesimprove,butalsoenabledthe18-yearoldcompanytoestablishareputationasaproviderofhighqualityindoorandoutdoorprintapplications.

Havingreplacedthelastofitssolventink-basedprinterswitha61inHPDesignjetL26500Printerlastyear,OPG’sall-latexportfolioistailor-madeforprojectssuchastheCafeEatalianopizzeria.Asanewrestaurant,ownerManioLoiawaslookingtocreateaninstanthitwithcustomers,andrealisedthatavibrantandvisually-impactfuleatingenvironmentwasasequallyimportantasthequalityofthemenuitself.

LoiasubsequentlycontactedOPGtodiscusshisideafordesigningthethemeoftherestaurantonhisfamily’svineyardestateinTuscany,Italy,usingimagestoshowthehistoryofthe30-yearoldwine-makingbusiness.

HavinglistenedcarefullytoLoia’sideas,OPG’steamsetaboutcreatingtheartworkforafullinteriordécordesignpackagecomprisingnotonlyvibrant,digitally-printedwallpaper,butalsotextileprints,rollerblindsandilluminatedglasspanelgraphics.

Astherestaurantopeningquicklyapproached andturnaroundtimebecameapriority,OPG commissioneditssix-colourHPDesignjetL26500Printertospearheadtheprintjob.

Vibrant graphics that are seen and not smelt

Deliveringspeedsofupto246ft2/hr(22.89m2/hr),the HPDesignjetL26500Printernotonlyoffersfastthroughputtimes,butcanprinttoarangeofmaterialsthatarereadytofinishimmediately.Alongwithitsspeed,anotherkeybenefitunderscoredonthislatestindoorprojectis,accordingtoWatson,theprinter’sabilitytorunodourlessHPLatexInksthatcontainnohazardousairpollutants.Aswellasrestaurants,thismakestheinksidealforanylocationwheresolventbasedinkshazardousemissionsisaconcern–suchasschoolsandhospitals.

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“WefinishedinstallingtheentiregraphicspackageforCafeEatalianoonaFridayandbytheSunday,therestaurantwasfullofcustomers,”heexplains.“Thiswouldn’thavebeenachievablewithoursolventprinters,becausethesmellwouldhavestillbeenunbearable,aswouldtheensuingconversationwithmycustomer.Insofarasinteriorgraphicsareconcerned,it’sacaseofbeingseenandnotsmelt.”

TheprintprojectundertakenforCafeEatalianosawOPGprintatotalofover40m2ofwallcoveringsusingHPPVC-freeWallPaper3).Thiswascomplementedbyeightdouble-sidedrollerblindsprintedwithablock-outmembrane,whichadorntherestaurant’swindows.

Inaddition,four900x2,440mmglasspanelbacklitgraphicswereprinteddirectlyonto3MFrostedCrystaland3MSelf-AdhesiveClearFilmandappliedtoglasspartitioningandbacklitPerspexpanels.3MSelfAdhesiveFront-litFilmwasappliedtoanaluminiumcompositepanelandaffixedtothewall.

Five800x550mmtextile-printedgraphicsproducedonDigiEco100percentPE210gmsknittedfabriccompletedthevariedensemble.Thistextilemediawaschosenbecauseofitssuperiorprintabilityaswellasitssoft,crease-free,light-stretchcharacteristics.Thetrimmedprintswerethenstretchedontocustom-madeanodisedaluminiumframes.

A firm favourite among customers

ForLoia,aninteriordécorprojectthatonlyafewweeksagoremainedavisionisnowfullyrealised.

“Theresultsarestunningandlooktotallydifferenttoanyotherrestaurant;notmywordsbutthoseofourcustomers!”heexplains.“Thegraphicsnotonlydecoratethe110-seatdiningareaitself,butcoverthewholeinterior,includingtheentranceandhallway.

“We’vebeenfully-bookedsinceopeningourdoors,andourcustomersalwaysremarkonthegraphics,scoringthemhighlyinthefeedbackformsweprovidethem,”hecontinues.

AccordingtoWatson,thisprojectepitomisesOPG’snewstrengthsregardingthecompany’send-to-endserviceoffering,whiledemonstratingthatcreativepotentialholdsnoboundswhenusingHPLatexPrintingTechnologies.Infactwhenitcomestofullyembracingtheopportunitiesofusingaprintprocessthatreducestheimpactontheenvironment,OPGisreapingtherewards.

Havingdisposedofitssolventprinters,thecompanyexpandeditslatexknowledgebycompletingthe HPEcoSolutionsTrainingProgramme.Thisconvenientdownloadabletraininghelpsprintserviceprovidersandtheircustomerslaythefoundationsforalong-termcommitmenttosustainability,honetheircompetitiveedgeandcreatenewopportunitiesforgrowth.

“Theresultsarestunning and look totallydifferentto any other restaurant;notmywordsbutthoseofourcustomers!” –ManioLoia,ownerofCafeEataliano

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©2013Hewlett-PackardDevelopmentCompany,L.P.Theinformationcontainedhereinissubjecttochangewithoutnotice.TheonlywarrantiesforHPproductsandservicesaresetforthintheexpresswarrantystatementsaccompanyingsuchproductsandservices.Nothinghereinshouldbeconstruedasconstituting anadditionalwarranty.HPshallnotbeliablefortechnicaloreditorialerrorsoromissionscontainedherein.

4AA4-6006EEW,CreatedApril2013

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Sharewithcolleagues.

1) ContainsnodetectedHazardousAirPollutantsaccordingtoEPAMethod311

2) Somesubstratesmayhaveinherentodour.

3) HPPVC-freeWallPaperprintedusingHPLatexInksisGREENGUARDChildren&SchoolsCertifiedSM (see greenguard.org) andmeetsAgBBcriteriaforhealth-relatedevaluationofVOCemissionsofindoorbuildingproducts (see umweltbundesamt.de/produkte-e/bauprodukte/agbb.htm).

Sustainability-minded ethos delivers success

“IthoughttheHPEcoSolutionsTrainingwassogoodthatnineofourpeoplehaveundertakenit,”saysWatson. “Notonlycanoperatorsbenefitfromthecourse,butalsothesalesteamandadministrativestaff.Havingafullunderstandingofthetechnologyandmarketshasenabledustorealiseourpotentialandbetterserveourcustomers.”

Additionally,reflectingthecompany’senergy-consciousethosanditsstancetodeliverprintviasustainablemeans,OPGwasrecentlyawardedthehighly-covetedISO14001environmentalmanagementsystemcertification.Thisindependentlyauditedaccreditationisusedbyorganisationsseekingtoimproveresourceefficiency,reducewasteanddrivedowncosts.

“ItgoeswithoutsayingthatourutilisationofHPLatexPrintingTechnologiesprovedpivotalinourachievementofbeingawardedISO14001,whichisanicebadgeofhonour,anddemonstratesourenvironmentalcommitmenttocustomers.Moreimportantly,itsuccessfullyopenedupnewrevenuechannelsduringoneofourbleakestperiodsandsincethenhascontinuedtotransformourabilitytoexceedcustomerexpectations.So,fromawiderbusinessperspective,onadailybasis,HPLatexPrintingTechnologyprovesitselfrightwhereitmatters,”Watsonconcludes.