Protea Graphics has just completed the first installation in Africa of a large-format liquid laminator. Typesetting & Repro Services in downtown Johannesburg bought an Accutech wide-format liquid laminator from Protea Graphics after spending almost two years searching for such a laminator. T&R; has been in business since 1967 and offers a complete repro and printing service.

T&R's Willie Jackson says, "The repro industry is an evolving industry and customers demand a fast service which is why we decided to invest in an ACCU-70 liquid laminator. It means we can now handle our internal requirements for laminating printed material from our various printers. We are also now able to offer a finishing service to the industry as we can laminate material up to 1,65 m wide with unlimited length in the fastest turnaround time available - and at a competitive price."

Willie first saw a liquid laminator at a trade show almost two years ago and decided that T&R; would be able to improve its service to customers if it had one in its possession. Willie asked Protea Graphics' Sales Manager Ken Bezuidenhout to source a wide-format liquid laminator that would meet his company's requirements. Ken went to the US to examine the Accutech liquid laminator and, upon his return, recommended that Jackson purchase it as it represented the latest technology in lamination.

Accutech liquid laminators use a unique automatic coating system to coat, protect and texturise digital and photographic images with water-based, environmentally friendly lacquer. This high-speed system uses technology that is a world-first. This lamination technology is now available through Protea Graphics in various widths.

Protea Graphics recommended Accutech as the company has been in the liquid coating business for over 15 years. "The water-based process is much better than solvent-based lamination, which poses a health hazard to operators. The question of waste removal also has to be considered in the case of solvents," says Bezuidenhout.

Jackson says, "Protea Graphics ensured that the installation went smoothly and trained our staff on the new machine. Ken really went beyond the call of duty by going overseas to inspect the laminator on my behalf and this is the kind of service that ensures customer loyalty."

Protea Graphics

(011) 887 2626