FLAGS & BANNERS Feature Flags and banners – a growing market
......continued from page 36 We asked Graham Wilkinson from Hampshire Flag Company, to explain the main differences between a good quality and poor quality flag. He says: “It all comes down to the quality of the textiles, the dyes and the processes used. For example, if you use a low quality
Above and below, Hampshire Flag Company supplies a range of flags and banners to the trade.
The centre of Manchester was decorated for the International Festival last year. Photo courtesy of Icon SLS.
sublimation dye it will have low UV resistance but disperse dyes have high UV resistance making them ideal for external use. However disperse dye printing does require washing so it is a longer more expensive process but the product does last longer.” He goes on to explain that the immediate difference is the
quality of the dye, which can have an effect on reproduction of the colours. In addition, if the washing process is not used then the dye can run when the flag is in-situ, and if the flag is exposed to high UV then the colours can degrade rapidly. Hampshire Flags produces approximately 95 per cent of its
products in-house, using DuPont Artistri 2020 machines with Artistri disperse dyes, complemented by a Rimslow Dry X, a Rimslow Steam X and a Rimslow Wash X. Hampshire Flags uses an eight colour set with DuPont inks
which have high UV resistance to achieve maximum colour vibrancy, colour matching and durability. “These inks have high UV resistance, which is important on
textiles with an external grade and is something that you don’t get with the dye sublimation process,” says Graham. “DuPont is well known throughout the industry for producing
high quality dyes for digital textiles and has had a great reputation particularly over the last five years,” he explains. “DuPont offers proven technology and the machines are industrial and robust. For our post printing production we use Rimslow as it is a great range and has proven reliability. Icon SLS outsources its printing to selected printers which meet
the company’s exacting standards. Icon SLS flags and banners are printed on Grenadier, Mimaki and Mutoh machines. Cathel Maclean from Icon SLS says: “These machines are
used as they are the UK market leaders in solvent inkjet printing. They have the ability to print at high speed, in stunning quality onto the widest possible range of materials, whilst offering outstanding reliability day in and day out.” Grenadier uses CitroSOL organic solvent inks while the Mimaki
machines are capable of utilising acid dye, disperse dye ink and even reactive dye ink, depending on the material being used. “The benefits of these inks are their ability to produce very
high quality output, resulting in excellent high-resolution images,” explains Cathel.
.....continued on page 40 38 Sign Update ISSUE 134 FEB/MARCH 2012
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