AUGUST 2010
The last 12 months have seen a 25% growth in turnover for SPEEDSCREEN. "During a period of recession, any increase in turnover and profitability is welcome, but 25% is beyond all expectations and is testament to the hard work from our employees and the bold decision making on investments made during the last year" TIm Hill
JULY 2010
DURST GMBH open a new R & D facility in Austria, inviting selected customers from around the world as guests for the official opening. Tim Hill from Speedscreen was the UK representative.
 A breathtaking piece of architecture, is the only way to describe the new Durst R & D centre at Lienz in Austria. What goes on inside is more like something from a James Bond movie, with hi-tech developments being made in various areas of digital technology.
" I was expecting to find a man with a white cat on his lap as we entered certain Laboratories " Tim Hill
JUNE 2010
Fespa 2010 this year is in Munich mid June, our intrepid MD will make the journey once again and report back on the latest development in kit.
"It is more important than ever to stay abreast of developments in the digital print arena, changes and upgrades are appearing almost monthly now and it is truly hard to keep up with things, having said that, the emphasis for the manufacturers is to launch new upgrades for Ipex and Fespa, once that has gone by I see it slowing down again hopefully" Tim Hill MD
 JUNE 2010
Within 8 weeks of acquiring unit 3 Target
Business Centre, a new floor was installed and commissioned ready for
our next development phase.
Tim Hill our MD has visited HP
headquarters in Barcelona & the Inca UK demo site in Broadstairs
Kent during the last few weeks to assess the latest developments in
high speed flat bed printers, back to back tests are being carried out
and an in depth feasibility study is under way to consider these high
tech dedicated fat beds capable of 300 sqm per hour plus .
 MAY 2010
May will see the installation of an EPSON Stylus Pro 11880 digital wide format printer.
According to Tim HIll MD at Speedscreen, " This is the machine to tick our last few remaining boxes for high quality short run work, it will offer us extra capacity for high quality poster work and art reproduction. More importantly it also creates a back up facility for our in house repro and proofing systems. When speed is not an issue, but the ultimate quality is, then you can't get better than this without going lamda or photographic".
The 64 inch wide aqueous printer, prints super high quality using a tiny 3.7 picolitre dot size, with a very wide colour gamut from using 8 colours including 3 separate blacks. It sets the industry standard for both colour proofing applications and monochrome reproduction.
 APRIL 2010
Speedscreen grows sideways by aquiring an adjacent building . We now boast units, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Target Business Centre.
Expansion is full steam ahead, giant girders arrive in Unit 3 Target Business centre for the heavy weight mezzanine floor being errected.
This will give us a further 3750 sq feet of badly needed room, further digital equipment and storage are planned.
FEBRUARY 2010
 Our boldest print promotion yet! Valentines day saw Speedscreen distribute 250 sets of A2 lightbox prints on 250 mic polyester, using a fantastic image of a girls face amongst a host of cherries.
The theme carried over into the packaging, printed & produced in house containing real cherries in Kirsch encased in hand made chocolate, made for us by the chocolatiere Madame Oseau of Canterbury http://www.madame-oiseau.com
The play on words, Speedscreen had "cherry picked" the best equipment and that it hoped clients would "cherry pick" Speedscreen for their next print enquiry.
 Truly well received by our clients, this more than
any other example so far, has demonstrated the fantastic quality that
the Durst 800 will deliver, many clients thought they had received a Lamda
print, the quality really is that good.
This shows the image with some back illumination.
For more details or a sample contact Nick Patrick on nick@speedscreen.net
 JANUARY 2010
January saw the true versatility of the Durst 800, printing full width 2500mm canvas banners, these 2.5 x 2m banners were printed at speeds in excess of 100 sqm per hour with our heavy duty roll to roll facility. The Client was amazed at the strength and vibrant colour obtained, plus of course the lack of solvent or VOC's (volatile organic compounds) meant the finished article was as enviromentally sound as one can get.
OCTOBER 2009
Sometimes a project comes along that gets everyone really excited to work on, we have worked now with THE HARD RAIN PROJECT a number of times. The fact that they keep coming back to us for their moving exhibition of photograhs must mean they like what we do!
This is a series of terrific and moving photographs depicting the effects of climate change taken from around the world, we were asked to reproduce them as one long 50m banner, with most individual pictures not bigger than 900mm the quality had to be outstanding, therefore we opted to print on our Roland XC-540 producing a near photographic result, one that the client is over the moon with.
Mark Edwards delivers his startlingly original presentation examining the issues illustrated in Hard Rain. A moving and unforgettable exploration of the state of our planet at this critical time, the presentation shows that the world has little chance to solve poverty, the wasteful use of resources, habitat and species loss, and the summation of our problems, climate change, unless we tackle all of them together.
http://dev.hardrainproject.com/test/section.php?a=4
If you are unfamiliar with Hard Rain, please look at the above link - It is a truly stunning work of art and if you get the chance to see the exhibition itself the photographs will blow you away.
 Currently on exhibit in St Martins-in-the Fields in London until the 31st Dec 2009 - We thoroughly recommend a visit.
 Colour redition was critical, once again our expertise in this area was put to full use.
WE HAVE PRODUCED VERSIONS FOR MANY COUNTRIES THE LATEST BEING SWEDEN
 This shows clearly just how long the banner is, 50m in one piece
SEPTEMBER 2009
Wow! what a busy time, we have hardly been able to catch our breath, the last two months have seen our new DURST 800 and Kongsberg cutter flat out on production, in fact the cutter can now no longer cope with the production speeds from the Durst !
AUGUST 2009
 August sees a new employee start at Speedscreen. We welcome Nick Hajialexandrou, Nick has joined our Digital department, having left full time education this year. Nick will be trained in all things "Digital" including colour management, printing processes and finishing equipment.
 Alongside our new Durst 800 Flat Bed digital press, Speedscreen have invested in the very latest Spectrophotometer from Barbieri. This Spectro LFP model can profile rigid materials up to 20mm thick, a big advantage over all other spectrophotometers which are based around calibrating thin paper stocks.
This means we can create our own ICC colour profiles and give our customers the best result from their images.
 One of the very first projects we were asked to produce on the Durst 800 has been to print edge to edge on 38mm, full size paneled doors. Even we were amazed by the results.
"The quality is truly fantastic, and the machine printed right into the recess of the doors with no problem, we have several companies talking to us already about this capability." Jon Flagg
THE DURST PRESTO 800 - See separate Durst section for more pictures.
 It's arrived - Our latest investment is now up and running.
Showing the 800 in roll feed model
 This was perhaps the scariest installation I have ever seen, 5.5 tons and ½ a million pounds swinging from a fork lift, does not do wonders for the heart! However it went without a hitch, all credit to the Durst boys, and within 3 days of arrival we are up and running, pretty impressive stuff! -
 A nervous moment for all concerned!
See the installation diary tab for full picture sequence.
http://www.printweek.com/news/924896/Speedscreen-completes-tricky-install-Durst-Rho-800-Presto/
See Print Week Article
-http://www.printweek.com/wideformat/news/914106/Speedscreen-ups-capacity-Durst-Rho-800-Presto-purchase/
In June 1944 D -Day saw allied forces land in Europe to defeat German Tyranny, and a rather small Austrian with a moustache.
JULY 2009 is D- DAY at Speedcsreen = DURST DELIVERY DAY .
The Austrians are landing in England this time round, 65 years and 1 month later than the original D-Day landings. World domination is still high on the agenda, but it is now in the world of digital printing. We have an Austrian made DURST Rho 800 printing machine arriving soon,it is built a bit like a Panzer Tank it has to be said, but thankfully the similarities are confined to build quality and attention to detail, with which the Durst abounds.
 Building work is frantically being carried out at Speedscreen to accommodate the new Durst machine, new floors designed to take 2.5 tons on each of the Rho 800’s four legs are being installed, under the watchful eye of a structural engineer.
At 6m long, 4.5 m wide and weighing a colossal 5.5 tons it is a massive undertaking to install on a mezzanine floor, possibly the first time this has been done in this country.
We have to knock down walls, build new floors, move existing machines along with all the other paraphernalia that goes with a project like this, and we have one month to do it all !
 The new floor area completed. The machine arrives on the 13th July , we call it D-Day and we have to remove the whole front of our building to get it in . Then have the front put back on, all in a day - Tim Hill MD
 JUNE 2009 - BIGGEST INVESTMENT IN SPEEDSCREEN HISTORY
A trip to Durst, Austria for Tim Hill & Chris Venus saw the contracts signed on what must be the single biggest investment in Speedscreen's history.
"Having looked very carefully at the digital market over the last 24 months, we have ordered a new Durst 800 presto"said Tim Hill MD
" A £500k investment in the middle of the worst recession in recent history, is either reckless or inspired decision making, I am convinced it is the latter" said Tim Hill
" This machine will catapult Speedscreen into a major player in our region for digital print, the quality and speed is awesome, but also the flexibility of what it can offer will bring many benefits to us and our clients alike" said Chris Venus Production Manager
A unique machine in many respects and winner of several international awards the Durst 800 Presto offers print speeds up to 120 sqm per hour with unrivalled quality, the rare facility of white print either under or over an image that can be used with no loss of print speed is a truly exceptional USP - UV Inks that are free of VOC's, again unique amongst rivals and with the continuous board facility and heavy duty roll option attached, make this one of the highest spec machines anywhere in the country, in fact one of only 9 machine installed in the country to date.
MAY 2009 - VISIT TO AMSTERDAM
FESPA Amsterdam, this was the venue for the world's showcase of the latest developments in digital technology. MD Tim Hill visited along with production manager Chris Venus. " It is vital to keep abreast of the latest developments" said Chris. New machines were debuted by Inca, HP, Vutek & Durst in particular. All striving for the highest production speeds - After visits to all these manufacturers a decision has been made that favours Durst, the fit for Speedscreen is the right one, it is a proven technology and Durst have a similar ethos to Speedscreen, they strive to be the best and anything less is cast aside.
APRIL 2009
A special thank you to all our clients that took part in the Easter Competition,The winners were from Derby, Suffolk,Croydon,Gillingham,London,Rochester and Maidstone.
"Wow! what a response to our Easter Competiotion, all seven main prizes being won in the first two days, we have had a terrific feedback from our clients who all loved the idea, the quality and the inovation" Tim Hill MD
APRIL 2009
Speedscreen create an EASTER GIFT BOX with a competition for clients.
 A screen printed box, containing HOT CROSS Buns was sent out to all our clients for Easter. Contained within was a competition. The first 4 correct entries will win a Giant 1000g Lindt Easter Bunny.
The competition comprised of a Jigsaw Puzzle of the USA , each State being a piece of the Jigsaw. One State is missing, the idea being to identify the missing piece.
The box showed off all the processes that Speedscreen offer - Screen Printing in High Quality with Gloss UV Varnish - Digital Flat Bed printing - Solvent Digital Printing - Cutting and Creasing - Cutting to shape of the puzzle on our flat bed cutter. The winners will be annouced after Easter.
The first four correct answers will win this Giant Lindt Bunny! See the "Easter Competiton" drop down for more details.
MARCH 2009
March has been a busy month for our MD Tim Hill. A trip to Barcelona visiting the European headquarters of HP Scitex, investigating the newest technology offered in digital printing. Then to Austria and Italy, visiting Durst Digital Gmbh, a red carpet factory tour, followed by a dedicated day running trials on the latest flat bed offerings.
“I was most impressed with the Durst factory, it reminded me of a Formula one racing car facility, incredibly clean and efficient, the attention to detail and engineering expertise was quite breathtaking.” Tim Hill
 Durst Digital in Leinz Austria
FEBUARY 2009
Speedscreen are commissioned to work on the “Hard Rain Project”
http://www.hardrainproject.com/home.htm
This is a project set up by photographer Mark Edwardes, a mobile exhibition containing a 50 metre long banner one metre high showing more than 50 amazing images, many shot by Mark himself. This is travelling the world, 1st stop Canberra university in March 09. The exhibition outlines the devastating effect of climate change, poverty, habitat loss and human rights, told by pictures and cleverly using lyrics by Bob Dylan that caption each image.
This exhibition will be seen by an estimated 10 million people on every continent. The banner was printed using our high resolution digital machine, producing an almost photographic quality to the images, not previously seen.
Some images follow.
DECEMBER 2008 - ALL GLOOM AND DOOM..............
The credit crunch is all we HEAR, so Speedscreen inject some CHEER!
 SPEEDSCREEN has decided to lighten the gloom with an early Xmas present to our clients. This Christmas Starter Kit will promote goodwill to all men, whilst at the same time showcase just what Screen Printing can do at it's best. Effects used on this box include High Gloss UV Varnish, Glitter Ink, Mirror Silver Ink effects, Printing direct to MIrror Board and Plike plus our latest effect of Doming. For more pics and info click "Christmas Cheer"
NOVEMBER 2008 - A NEW WORLD CHAMPION
 Speedscreen Congratulates Lewis Hamilton on becoming
the youngest ever Formula One World Champion
in celebration we were asked to prduce these life size
cut outs printed direct to 5mm Foamex using
our flat bed digital - Then Routed to shape
on our new Kongsberg production table. Lewis is on the Left!!
OCTOBER 2008 - NEW ARRIVAL
 We welcome the arrival of Charlie this month who takes over from Tersha in Admin. Tersha became well known to all our clients and we all wish her a safe return to her native South Africa. Most clients first point of contact will be with Charlie who is looking forward to her new challenge. charlie@speedscreen.net
SEPTEMBER 2008 - ADDITION TO FINISHING/DIGITAL DEPT
 Due to a substantial order for cut vinyl graphics our digital department has been joined with a 1.6m vinyl cutter and plotter. This machine cuts at an astonishing rate, some 4 times faster than our current machines, helping Speedscreen make the delivery date secure for this Xmas promotion.
AUGUST 2008 - £100K SPEND! WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH THE TOUGH GO SHOPPING
Despite the credit crunch SPEEDSCREEN have taken the initiative and invested in the latest cutting & milling technology. Delivery and installation has taken place of the largest ESKO KONGSBERG XL i-cut production table in the South East.
The installation was completed in under 5 days with a further 4 days of operator training.
 This represents a further £100k investment in digital technology but it shows my commitment to SPEEDSCREEN keeping the company at the cutting edge of the technology race. Tim Hill MD
 The maximum sheet size is 3050 x 2200mm The machine was earning it's keep on day one. Seen here milling 5mm Foamex A4 signs printed 54 up on a sheet.
A closer view clearly showing the cutting path.
 The speed and accuracy of cutting is what impresses the most, never mind the vast range of substrates that it can handle. Chris Venus
JULY 2008 - A Change to a name............
 We are still Speedscreen of course, but not just Screen Printers anymore.
SPEEDSCREEN "Creative Print Solutions" We are no longer simply screen printers, our range of services offer so much more these days. We can offer clients the best route to production, that may be Screen, Digital, Litho, Solvent digital or a combination of processes. The fact is our clients get the benefit of our versatility and experience. Tim Hill
JUNE 2008 - SPEEDSCREEN VISIT DRUPA 08
MD Tim Hill and head of production Chris Venus have just returned from a 2 day visit to DRUPA in Dusseldorf , probably the largest print exhibition in the world that only occurs every 4 years.
It is more important than ever to keep abreast of the constant change in print technology, the developments in digital printing especially UV flat beds are evolving continuously and we have now short-listed 3 manufacturers as worthy of meeting our future investment in that arena.
The primary reason for our visit however was to view the latest technology in automated cutting tables, ZUND had unveiled their new range of machines the G3 which we were able to view working and could assess against the tried and tested machines from ESKO Kongsberg.
HP had introduced the very latest developments in ink technology, namely Latex inks, these may replace solvent ink systems in the future for ink jet printing and the quality was very impressive.
Tim Hill
FEBUARY 2008 - FURTHER INVESTMENT IN DIGITAL DEPARTMENT
On the back of our trip to FESPA last year we have finally decided which manufacturer best fits with our demands on quality and after sales service. ROLAND is the company currently head and shoulders above the rest . As a result we have installed a Roland Soljet PRO 111 XC - 540 Printer/Cutter.In just seven days from intial consultation and order placement, the machine was installed and printing quality work. A testament to both Roland and their agents Atech.
 "A truly stunning piece of kit" Is how Tim Hill MD at Speedscreen summed up his latest acquisition. "This digital printer really does do what it says on the tin, brilliant photographic quality printing on a range of materials, with the added benefit of cutting work to shape on the same machine.
We looked at a whole range of machinery at FESPA in Berlin, and frankly it was a minefield. Having let the market settle for a further 6 months we were able to base our final decision on some sound field evidence. By this I mean we now know that this machine not only delivers in terms of true quality and speed, but also has the best service back up available."
The ECo-Solvent inks it uses are so low in odour that it requires no specialist ventilation.
"The manufacturer is constantly working to improve existing software and has just launched a firmware chip to make this machine 50% faster whilst improving quality still further, I have seen the before and after examples, so I know it to be true." Tim Hill, Speedscreen MD
DECEMBER 2008 - INVESTMENT IN DIGITAL DEPARTMENT
A Seal 62 S 1370mm laminator has been installed to complement the digital department. This will laminate either cold or heat sensitive laminates, or mount adhesives and application tapes.
 "We took the decision to install a Seal laminator on the strength of one contract really, to laminate 200 8' x 4' foamex panels with anti-gaffiti film. Strange how things work out because the Seal laminator has been flat out on a wide range of projects ever since.This supports both the screen and digital side as required." Chris Venus, Production Manager
July 07 - DIGITAL FLAT BED PRINTING THE FINAL FRONTIER
"To Boldly go where no Flat Bed has been before"
 To prove once again why our Durst Rho Flat Bed has an advantage over the competition, these metal panels are 3.5 x 1.6m.
Most other machines are restricted by a bed size, commonly 2 x 3m. With the Rho, we are unlimited on the length we can print.
 The project for a close trading partner involved printing 24 panels Edge to Edge on specially prepared white painted Alluminum Sheets which produced near Photographic quality. Needless to say we have a very satisfied client.
June 07 SPEEDSCREEN VISITS FESPA BERLIN
Tim Hill Speedscreen MD visited the bi-annual FESPA Exhibition in Berlin.
 It is important to keep abreast of the new technologies arriving in both Digital and to some extent Screen-printing. Far from being a dying industry FESPA proved to me once again that Screen Printing is alive and well and still growing in certain market sectors. The advances in Digital were not that great this time around, with manufacturers seeming to come away from the obsession with speed of production and concentrating on better quality and higher resolution. A combination that we at Speedscreen maintained all along was the route to follow; Screen Printing is still the most competitive process for runs of 100 plus on large format work. Durst and Inca were again the market leaders in Flat Bed Technology with highly engineered, quality equipment. We will be looking at further investment in digital hardware later this year. Tim Hill (MD)
March 07 SPEEDSCREEN STRENGTHENS TEAM
 12th March 07 saw Nick Patrick join Speedscreen as Business Development Manager.
Nick has been in the print industry many years, the last 17 in a Sales Capacity. His experience in both Digital and Screen Process will be invaluable to our planned growth strategy. This new position ensures our customer support and liaison is further enhanced. For example, it adds an increased efficiency and response time to clients requests.
Nick can be contacted on nick@speedscreen.net or 01622 695950
December 06 SPEEDSCREEN AT CUTTING EDGE IN £50,000 INVESTMENT.
 With the massive increase in workflow at SPEEDSCREEN and with larger sizes being the norm, a 185cm Schneider Guillotine has been installed. This £50k investment will bring almost all cutting in house.
We looked at various options, but with Point of sale work you need a robust workhorse of a machine, the Schneider was an obvious choice, the fully programable computer cutting options will make the most complicated guillotine job a much easier task. We think this is the only guillotine of it's size in the area, at 1850mm it is a big beast, so we envisage a proportion of trade business to compliment our own substantial demand for it's service.
Chris Venus (Production Manager)
June 06 PRE PRESS ADDITION AT SPEEDSCREEN.
To compliment the recent expansion and bolster the stencil making department another NATGRAPH walk in print down frame has been ordered. This will take a massive screen size of 3600 x 2400mm
May 06 - FURTHER INVESTMENT IN SCREEN PRINTING.
SPEEDSCREEN - Strengthen their screen printing capabilities with the purchase of another SERIFAST screen printing machine. This one will print up to 2150 x 1500mm at speeds of 900 per hour combined with a Twin Lamp UV dryer, conventional air and an Automatic stacking unit.
 This investment of £200,000 + underlines our belief that Screen Printing still has much to offer, and in fact in some sectors is growing in demand. Our philosophy is to meet customers' demands and expectations with a pro active approach. If a bigger machine is what we need to meet clients' requirements, we invest in one. The fact is the market has changed and the demand is for bigger and bigger sizes. Our DURST Flat Bed is coping with more and more short run large format POS. This latest purchase completes a perfect equipment portfolio, enabling us to be more competitive on longer run large format work. Tim Hill M.D.
Dec 05 - FTP SITE GOES LIVE. We are pleased to announce the launch of our own FTP drop site for files, so we no longer have the problem of files too big for e-mail or too troublesome via ISDN. Up tp 100mb files can be sent direct with ease. Follow the simple instructions on the link from this site.
STOP PRESS NOV 05 - THE FUTURE ARRIVES IN MAIDSTONE.
SPEEDSCREEN Show their commitment to the future and new technology with the purchase of the advanced Durst Rho Flatbed Digital printing machine, as part of a £275,000 investment programme.
Capable of an Amazing 2050mm width by up to 10,000mm length onto Rigid Materials up to 70mm Thick. Plus the ability to switch to Roll Fed Media such as Self Adhesive PVC or Poster Paper 2050mm x any length.
The Durst RHO 205 arrives to be installed on a grey November morning.
 "This purchase has been considered for the last 18 months. I needed some real convincing that digital was capable of competing with screen printing on quality and speed. The first machines I remember were appalling on both fronts, but I now stand convinced. They will not take over from our screen print but rather complement it, especially with short runs and large format work - also creating work where previously it would not have happened due to cost restrictions." Tim Hill M.D.
 Now Installed in our new Digital Department.
"we were amazed with the quality of the printed image, and the sheer range of what it can do. Our first live job was to print roller blinds for a new coffee house chain with an all over 4 colour image. It did it brilliantly, and with no overs! " Joel Hill - Operator
STOP PRESS July 05 - SPEEDSCREEN start first phase of new investment programme with the arrival of the first SIAS squeegee cutter in the UK, developed and built in Australia and distributed exclusively by SIAS worldwide. Tim Hill and Chris Venus first saw the machine at FESPA 2005, and were so impressed with the inventor and the product that they were the first to purchase one. Our SPEEDSCREEN SIAS cutter was the first ever to be made to take 3m + squeegees.
 "This will save us many thousands of pounds in the first year alone, based on our current spend on squeegee, plus the edge this creates on the blade will give our printers much more consistent quality control"
Chris Venus - Production Manager.
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