Eye Spy Signs strengthens its position as industry leader with installation of Durst Rho 163 TS printer.
Eye Spy Signs started out in a suburban home garage in Hobart (Tasmania – Australia) back in 1994 eking out an existence as a dedicated Real Estate sign provider. In 1996 the Company bought the Government’s Main Roads sign workshop at tender and all of a sudden became heavily involved in road sign manufacture for the State of Tasmania.
For the next 20 years, our road signs were made using conventional methods – screen printing or cut vinyl – both high in labour content and inherently inefficient. In the meantime, the development of digital printing processes – and in particular ink technology (in conjunction with 3M) was progressing at a quick pace.
In March 2017, Eye Spy took delivery of a Durst Rho 163 TS and all of a sudden, another world opened up. It quickly re-affirmed our position as industry leader. As well as conventional roll-to-roll printing, it offered many side benefits including the ability to print flat substrates. For example, we very frequently print jobs direct to corflute requiring no over laminate. These days we put many different types of substrates through the machine – it is so versatile.
Year on year, our turnover has increased whilst our labour levels have decreased.
Running costs are surprisingly low and the reliability of the machine is nothing short of incredible - we have experienced machine availability exceeding 99% since it was commissioned. When needed, support from Durst has been outstanding and the fact that we are in different hemispheres/time zones has made little difference.
John Howard B.Eng (Hons), Managing Director, EYE SPY SIGNS P/L says: "In summary the acquisition of the machine is the best business decision that EYE SPY has ever made. It was not cheap, but what do you expect to pay if you are buying the best in the world?"
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