BURSCOUGH, UK - AB Screenprint says its switchover to Nazdar digital inks has significantly reduced its maintenance and spare parts costs – as well as its ink expenses. 

Founded in 1996 by Kevin Baker and Glenn Andre, Liverpool-based AB Screenprint provides a full range of promotional and display materials to a variety of businesses and individuals within and around the Liverpool area. 

In order to meet the demand for these printed materials, the company has a variety of wide-format printers in-house including a Uniform Grenadier SP-1900, an Agfa Grand Sherpa, a Mimaki JV3-160 and a Roland VersaExpress RF-640. 

All four printers are running on Nazdar inks supplied by QPS: the Grenadier and the Mimaki printers are running on Nazdar 1300 Series; the Roland printer is running on Nazdar's new 202 Series inks which were launched at FESPA; and the Agfa is running the Nazdar PhotoChrome aqueous inks. All of these inks are supplied by Quality Print Services (QPS) Ltd. 

Kevin Baker, Co-Founder of AB Screenprint, explains: "We were struggling with the Grenadier printer when we initially installed it in 2006 and needed support. The inks we were using were practically destroying the machine. At this point, QPS were recommended to us and we've not looked back since. 

"They suggested we try Nazdar's inks in the Grenadier and since the swap-over to the Nazdar 1300 Series inks we've had no issues whatsoever. Simply by changing inks we've reduced our maintenance and spare part costs." 

Following further expansion and the installation of its Mimaki printer, AB Screenprint converted that machine straight on to Nazdar 1300 inks. The inks offer long-term exterior performance with proven resistance to the effects of UV degradation and colour fading.  Colour-matched to the OEM inkset, they provide consistent colour density values and excellent adhesion and flexibility on vinyls. 

As AB Screenprint's business grew and its stable of printers built up, the company continued to rely on Nazdar inks from QPS. The Roland VersaExpress printer was converted to run on Nazdar's 202 Series inks. Designed as a high-quality alternative to Roland Eco Max 2 original inks, the 'plug and play' 202 Series is colour matched and chemically compatible with Roland Eco Max 2 inks. 

The Nazdar 202 Series ink is specifically formulated to emulate the original Roland Eco-Sol Max 2 ink and is ideal for use in Roland Soljet Pro 4 printers, the XF-640 (aka The Beast), the XR-640, the Roland VersaCamm VSi range of 'print and cut' chassis and the recently launched Roland VersaExpress RF-640. 

All four of AB Screenprint's printers use QPS's Bulk Ink Systems. It's not all about savings for AB Screenprint though, as Kevin explains: "As well as being cost effective, the inks perform incredibly well. Nazdar ink fastness and adhesion is second to none and the inks are fully compatible with the printers that we have." 

Chris Bailey, Managing Director at QPS, adds: "It seemed obvious from the outset that the ink supplied with the Grenadier was completely inappropriate for the technology; it caused constant print-head blockages and damage to other vital components that came into contact with the ink. It was then that we stepped in and were able to resolve all issues and get the Grenadier up and running successfully." 

On QPS, Kevin concludes: "To be honest, QPS has been absolutely brilliant. They will come out to us at 10pm if needed and nothing seems to be too much for them. They offer great maintenance services and technical support; quite simply, we wouldn't go anywhere else."