Roland DG Australia has donated a state-of-the-art Soljet Pro4 XR-640 printer cutter to the signage department at TAFE Illawarra.
Roland DG Australia has donated a state-of-the-art Soljet Pro4 XR-640 printer cutter to the signage department at TAFE Illawarra.
The XR-640 will be used in conjunction with the department’s VS-640 printer cutter that was donated five years ago by Roland DG, a leading supplier of wide format inkjet printers and 3D devices.
“This is our latest technology and we wanted to work with the TAFE to provide them a second machine [and] more access to their students and obviously more opportunity to have that hands-on experience with the printers,” said Gino Farina, sales and marketing director at Roland DG.
The XR-640 uses environmentally-friendly Eco-Sol Max 2 inks and has greater quality output, precision and performance. The machine prints to a wide variety of materials such as vinyls, banners and textiles – producing a range of items from POP displays and soft signage to vehicle graphics.
TAFE Wollongong graduate Anthony Jones said the new machine would add great value. “When [students] do jump out into the field, they are going to be able to work with the current technology,” he said. Jones, who finished a Certificate 3 in Signage a year ago, started his own business making private and commercial murals using the older machine, which he found to be “fantastic.”
Roland DG is also working closely with the TAFE to add value to the curriculum in the form of additional course content on the manufacturer and business side of the industry. This competency-based training is helping to educate the students so that the next generation of signage professionals graduate with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the ever-evolving signage industry, said Ian Squire, head teacher of the TAFE’s Signage Department. “The industry is so fast moving and revolving and it’s so important for students to be able to learn using industry standard equipment, along with the right training,” he said.
The delivery of the XR-640 gives TAFE staff a chance to receive training before the updated signage course commences in 2016.
For more information on Roland DG’s printer cutter range, please contact Roland DG on 1800 500 119 or visit www.rolanddg.com.au/colour/printer-cutters.