Agfa Graphics ramps up inkjet infrastructure in Australia & New Zealand
Agfa Graphics hails the initial success of its new UV-curable :Anapurna L and XL printers at the Visual Impact Image Expo. With one sale already finalised (through distributor DES to Gold Coast sign and display company Ocean Graphics) and several others in the pipeline, Agfa is confident of the :Anapurnas' success and, judging from the popularity of its :Anapurna XL demonstrations at the Sydney show, it is on the right track.
“We were running live demonstrations every hour and every spot was full,” says Garry Muratore, Agfa's Oceania marketing manager. “We had crowds three-and-four deep each time and had to move people back to make space to do the print runs. There was a lot of enthusiasm from stand visitors and every sample we printed was taken away.”
At the Expo, the :Anapurna XL was successfully put to the test on a range of paper, film, vinyl, boards, wood, plastic, glass and metal media. “I went to the local hardware supplier and got the cheapest, nastiest, roughest wood samples I could find and they just printed up great,” adds Muratore.
“We also demonstrated the white ink printing which can be done as a preprint or spot colour. This was very effective on an aluminium sheet where we printed spot white in some areas and left others unprinted to allow the metal to show through.”
After the show the hard work continues
So as to facilitate Agfa’s inkjet support plans, Kontogiannis visited Agfa’s Global Inkjet Competency Centre in Antwerp to further develop local support planning. “Obviously the industrial devices are big ticket items. Customers will expect high quality and timely support, so we made sure such infrastructure was in place prior to the first units being installed.”
Agfa Graphics has just completed its second factory certified :Anapurna courses at their new purpose built facility at Rydalmere N.S.W. bring the number of trained :Anapurna engineers in the region to eight. Another key to Agfa's industrial inkjet support strategy is not only internal training but also the acquisition of new staff.
Joining Agfa for the :Anapurna training is Steven Tidman (N.S.W.) and Rashed Chughtai (Vic). Chughtai who is already well known in the sign and display markets has held senior inkjet support positions in Europe, the middle east and the USA. Both Tidman and Chughtai join Agfa as a key members of the national :Anapurna support team. Tidman and Chughtai were also at heavily involved at Visual Impact Image Expo last month assisting in sample production and technical support.
Distribution Expanded
“Distribution is key to our on-going success,” says Bruce Lowery, Agfa’s long-time distributor manager and inkjet product manager. “We have always relied on a broad distribution model which means end-users deal with organisations that they know and trust. With :Anapurna it is our intention to provide factory certified support to end-users in conjunction with our distribution channels”
Agfa’s comprehensive support structure will mean that :Anapurna XL and L will be available through Agfa's authorised distributor network whilst installation and ongoing technical support will be provided via Agfa's National :Anapurna Support Team. “It will mean that end-users can leverage existing vendor relationships knowing that Agfa will stand behind the product with direct support,” said Lowery. Consumables such as inks and substrates will be available via Agfa’s distributor channels.
As the :Anapurna has applications not only in the display and poster markets but also in the expanding sign market, Agfa Graphics has announced the appointment of Signwarehouse as a national distributor of the :Anapurna range.
SignWarehouse’s managing director, Gary Chapman (pictured) said, “The SignWarehouse team look forward to working with Agfa and the :Anapurna family.” SignWarehouse is Australia’s largest and one of the countries oldest supplier’s of CAD-based technology solutions. They operate branch offices all over Australia to ensure customers receive local service and support backed by a national company.
Chapman prides his technical support staff as, “the best in the business. Just ask our customers. SignWarehouse’s sales staff offer our clients comprehensive, logical value for money solutions and they are highly respected in the industry.
“We are privileged and trusted with representing major manufacturing companies from all over the world and we now add Agfa to that list. If you require just a blade, a total production solution or just some friendly helpful advice, our friendly knowledgeable team are here to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our company culture is evident with every employee to assist our customers no matter how much effort is needed.”
The Agfa inkjet team in training.
“Distribution is key to our on-going success,” says Bruce Lowery, Agfa’s long-time distributor manager and inkjet product manager. “We have always relied on a broad distribution model which means end-users deal with organisations that they know and trust. With :Anapurna it is our intention to provide factory certified support to end-users in conjunction with our distribution channels”
As the :Anapurna has applications not only in the display and poster markets but also in the expanding sign market, Agfa Graphics has announced the appointment of Signwarehouse as a national distributor of the :Anapurna range. 