Providing them with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the world of Formula One, this month Link Publishing, the powerhouse behind SignLink and Print Monthly, were given a full, guided tour of the Lotus F1 Team headquarters in Oxfordshire by Joe McNamara, Visual Branding Manager in order to understand the lasting technical partnership between Roland DG and the Lotus F1 Team. 

Equipped with a camera kit and list of questions, the team from Link Publishing were granted filming and interview rights with Joe, as well as the Lotus F1 Team graphic studio and Lotus’ show cars for use on Sign7 news. Editor Brendan Perring and his team explored with Joe why exactly Roland DG technology is such a fantastic fit for Formula 1, and in what ways print can be used in the industry.

Says Joe Mcnamara “The main piece of technology that we’ve got in the studio is the Roland XR-640 Pro-4. It’s a highly versatile and capable piece of equipment and we use it for everything from the tiny labels that go on the F1 car steering wheels right up to the large format prints that are used in our reception and hospitality areas, and everything in between. Even our E23 race cars both have had their liveries printed on the Pro-4, as well as the many show cars that we have dotted around the world.”

With a complete print solution provided by Roland DG, including the SOLJET PRO-4 XR-640, renowned for quality engineering, reliable performance and unmatched versatility in the market, and the CAMM-1 PRO GX cutter equipped with the industry’s most powerful cutting motor, the Lotus F1 Team is furnished with the tools to create anything from signage through to vehicle wraps and small detail pieces. ECO-SOL MAX ink also provides long lasting, durable graphics ideal for a wide array of applications and uses, making Roland DG technology highly suitable for the varied uses Lotus F1 Team has for the machines.

Says Brett Newman, Managing Director of Roland DG UK, “Our machines are designed with precision in mind, capable of matching any timeframe you throw at them. Joe’s work proves that – from highly detailed vinyl work to massive prints, the XR-640 rises up to the challenge with ease time and time again, meeting the standards expected of a world-famous brand.”

In an industry with a focus on speed, reliability and attention to detail, Roland DG has proven to be the perfect match for the Formula One spirit, with products created on the Roland machines visible throughout the Lotus F1 Team headquarters – as well as multiple Modela Pro II MDX-540 machines being put to work in other parts of the facility.

Continues Joe, “There are a lot of parallels between Roland DG technology and an F1 team, in that we rely on something being right first time. We operate in a high pressure atmosphere with very tight deadlines, and have absolutely no room for errors. When we need to get something printed, often at short notice, it’s reassuring to know the print technology we have is quick, reliable and always produces very high quality output.”