The innovative use of Roland engraving machines is proving itself far beyond the market for conventional nameplates, trophies and other items where the third dimension has long come into its own. Precision working with the company's EGX-350 desktop unit to produce personalised back plates on centre pin fishing reels was the reason that specialist manufacturer, Adcock Stanton, opted for its own machine in preference to using a trade service.

Formed more than 70 years ago to specialise in the design of trotting reels popular amongst discerning anglers, Nottingham based Adcock Stanton's best known products were known as the Reynolds Reel. These were precision engineered and manufactured to work automatically, paying out line with the force of the water's current, and checked with the pressure of a hand.

Today's centre pin, or float, fishing reels are the result of a liaison between Cliff Adcock and angler, Ray Hyland, who has been extremely successful in re-launching and continuing to develop the original Adcock Stanton concept. In January 2008 Hyland approached the company and offered to continue the specialist manufacture for which it had become renowned; today, as their high reputations grow, these products are exported to anglers all over the world.

With his critical eye for precision and quality, Hyland was quick to spot that customising the back plate of the reels would add a unique finishing touch to every Adcock Stanton product, with personalisation incorporating a fish design and the owner's name. Creating the high quality detail was dependent on finding the right engraving machine to reproduce the intricate drawings accurately, and the Roland EGX-350 easily met these expectations.

"Back in 2008 when I wanted to bring new life into Adcock Stanton, I realised that any personalisation needed to match the perfection used in the manufacture of the centre pin reels," states Hyland. "Engraving was completely new to me and my son, Paul, who has played a vital role in setting up this side of the business. But, having seen the Roland machine in action, it was clear from the start that its versatility, exacting quality and robust construction made it a sensible long-term investment.

"As a result, our Roland EGX-350 serves two important roles in the production of milled and engraved elements for our reels," Hyland continues. "We use sheets of 1mm engraver's brass for cutting out the inset plates on the reel foot; these wedge shapes are nested and worked in multiples, ready for the Adcock Stanton name to be engraved to fit precisely within them. The second role of the machine is for personalisation with the fish graphic and the owner's name which means, in practical terms, we get dual versatility from a single piece of equipment."

The details reproduced in the fish motifs are, by their very nature, extremely complex with every element down to the scales and the eyes needing to be engraved with the finest precision. Hyland works from original drawings where each design is rendered to produce crisp and clear results, producing an original and unusual finishing touch to the reels.

Both the engraved back plate and reel foot can be augmented with a hand-crafted wooden presentation box which, again, can be personalised using the Roland EGX-350. To complement its primary product range, Adcock Stanton also offers customised engraved gifts including Zippo hand warmers, lighters and hip flasks all of which can be finished with a choice of fish motifs and the owner's name. Hyland's in-house designer can reproduce images from any drawing, not only fish, for high quality engraved results, taking the company into new market areas.

"Because of the high level of accuracy which goes into every Adcock Stanton hand built centre pin reel, it is vital that the engraved and milled elements stay true to the fine quality for which are known all over the world," Hyland continues. "Every part of every order is made in England to the customer's precise specifications, and offering personalisation adds an exclusive finishing touch to a precision engineered product."

The idea of customising the back plates for centre pin reels has led Hyland into new areas where he can put his Roland EGX-350 into good use, and he's always happy to talk to potential customers about innovative possibilities. Already personalised engraving is being offered as a bespoke service for golfers, walkers, bird watchers plus football and rugby clubs, and more ideas are underway.

"Adcock Stanton is an excellent example of a British company wanting to benefit from using Roland solutions. By matching a precision engineered range of products with the fine quality of customisation we can provide adds the icing to the cake," comments Andrew Dudley, Assistant Product Manager – Business Development, Roland DG (UK). "Ray Hyland's enthusiasm for the continuing potential for his engraving machine will bring him endless opportunities for providing robust and highly attractive three-dimensional personalisation."

Roland's EGX-350 is one of the company's family of robust, versatile and compact bench top engraving machines engineered to produce sharp, precision text and graphics. With the EGX-350 users can quickly and easily add value and expand their businesses by turning ordinary items into beautifully personalised, treasured mementos for both indoor and outdoor display.