Antalis has exhibited at the Sign Africa Expo for the last seven years, which, for the past four years, has incorporated Africa Print and Visual Communications Africa – the premier equipment show for the African market. The objectives this year were clear – to showcase Antalis as a comprehensive valued added solutions supplier to the Printing and Visual Communication markets, featuring two pieces of equipment that are leaders in their respective fields namely the Vutek GS3250LX and the Esko Kongsberg Table XN24.
As this year’s proud winners of the ‘Best Mega Stand’ category announced at the official Exhibitor function during the expo, the highly visible and exceptionally well-positioned Antalis stand cleverly showcased, alongside the Vutek and Kongsberg, many of their Visual Communication products – using Xanita rigid boards, A.Berger fabrics and back-lit fabrics, Hahnemuhle papers, Natura back-lit film, Smurfit Kappa boards, Forex by 3A Composites, Yupo Tako and Jelly, as well as Avery vinyls.
Marketing and Purchasing Director David James commented, ‘We were very pleased with the visitor response and interest on our stand, and would like to take this opportunity of thanking our valued customers and friends for joining us at the show, and being part of the experience.’
Also on show was the full range of paper, board and specialties that Antalis stocks with a focus on the digital printing paper. Uniquely the Arjowiggins range of specialty fine papers was used for the coffee cup promotion that the stand featured – inviting every one visiting the stand to ‘Start their day with Antalis’ and a delicious cup of coffee. Antalis was the first and largest Forestry Stewardship Certified (FSC™) paper merchant in Southern Africa and, as such, this played a significant role again in the theme of their stand design.
One of the highly visible attractions on display was the EFI Vutek GS3250LX. The ‘cool-cure’ technology and speed that this sleek piece of equipment offers allows jobs to be produced faster and more efficiently. This would have been ‘music to the ears’ of industry entrepreneurs who are always on the lookout for the latest technologies.
A large draw card for the Antalis stand this year was the featured Kongsberg XN24 table that is easily the most versatile digital printing-finishing device ever introduced. Available in seven different sizes the machine comes with a wide range of specialty tools that offer speed, power and flexibility to handle a wide variety of materials. Live demonstrations were held throughout the show by the Esko team demonstrating the versatile quality output offered. Both the Kongsberg and the Vutek generated a great deal of interest which is actively being followed up through our national sales teams. Barely had the show opened when the eager African Mediums snapped up the Kongsberg.
Not content with having such a prominent and highly effective stand Antalis also offered a topical and interesting breakaway session on Thursday, 22 August. Phil Walsh, Digital Printing Solutions Business Manager, Kodak discussed Print with a focus on looking at how new production techniques have been developed for global printers. Walsh was also integral in explaining the Kodak NexPress virtual wall which detailed the Digital Printing Solutions such as the Prosper Press 1000, Digimaster HD, NexPress and Prosper S Series.
The NexPess is capable of printing on 99% of commercial paper stock so there is no need to go to the expense of stocking specialised digital papers. The innovative display was a great talking point at the busy stand.
‘For us this year, the challenge was more about incorporating the ‘new Antalis’ into our stand whilst showcasing to our customers our extensive product range and capabilities. We are exceptionally pleased with the results and feel proud that, as a team, Antalis confirmed their position as the industry leader,’ said Caroline Coughlan, Marketing Manager, Antalis.
Antalis, a veteran of the industry, had some lofty goals for Sign Africa 2013. Anyone attending the show was able to garner information around the remarkable, innovative and industry changing plans that are under foot and get a taste of the new, stronger, more goal-orientated Antalis.
‘Our customers proved that the show this year was a resounding success, and we would like to acknowledge the Antalis team for making this possible. Also a special word of thanks to our principals, A Berger, Arjowiggins Creative Papers, Avery, Efi, Esko, Kodak, X-Rite, Xanita and Yupo, for their valued support and presence on the stand,’ concluded David James.
