Currie Group hosted a successful ‘Epson By Appointment’ event at its Melbourne showroom last week, with keen interest from a range of businesses from sign and display operations, to vehicle and fleet graphics companies, and print service providers keen to diversify.

The event, held over Thursday and Friday, featured four private sessions each day to present the latest printer technologies and applications, and an informal gathering – the ‘Epson Evening Shift’ – on Thursday evening.

All sessions featured two of Epson’s latest release print engines, both on show for the first time in Victoria. The SureColor S9160-64” large-format printer impressed with what Epson says is the highest colour gamut in the sign and display space, while the SureColor S7160-64” generated plenty of interest for its versatile and cost-effective performance. A Neolt Factory trimmer completed the line-up, representing Currie Group’s extensive range of finishing solutions.

The sessions were overseen by Paul Whitehead, Currie Group’s Business Unit Manager – Sign & Display, and the company’s new account manager, Jordan Brewer. They were supported by Zeff Lowe, Business Development Manager and Warren Davey, Pre-sales Engineer, both from Epson.

Brad Sitlington, Regional State Sales Manager – Victoria & Tasmania and Eric Thai, Business Development Manager for ORAFOL, were on hand to provide expertise and advice on the ORAFOL substrates which were running on both machines, and Heath Burgess, Regional Manager (VIC/SA/TAS) Technology Finance from Finlease, was there to explain the special financing options which are being offered as part of the By Appointment event.

Whitehead says the new printers impressed visitors with their exceptional colour accuracy, productivity and media versatility, delivered thanks to Epson’s PrecisionCore printhead technology and UltraChrome GS3 inks.

“As well as running demonstrations on the printers in the showroom, we were also able to show our guests samples from the full Epson portfolio, with applications including dye sublimation, direct-to-fabric, direct-to-garment and flatbed print, which complemented the roll-to-roll digital inkjet printers on show,” he explained.

“These By Appointment events were designed to provide the opportunity for business owners to discuss their own, particular business challenges, and how Currie Group, together with our partners, could help meet those requirements.

“With the help of our colleagues from Epson, ORAFOL and Finlease, we were not only able to show them what the Epson printer portfolio can offer, but also provide additional information and expertise, enhancing the value from their investment of time to attend,” he added.

Currie Group and Epson announced their partnership in February this year, rounding out the company’s Sign & Display portfolio and ideally complementing its range of EFI grand-format printers and the Canon Colorado and Arizona printer ranges from Canon Production Printing

The result, Whitehead says, is that Currie Group now has a solution to suit virtually any type of sign and graphics business, from those who may be using more traditional signage technologies and looking to upgrade, to those who want to diversify into new areas like textiles or promo products, or to printers who are keen to add new offerings to their range.

“Our partnership with Epson gives us some outstanding options for businesses who are just starting up or diversifying, providing a cost-effective starting point for profitable production, and also provides some exciting new technologies like eco-solvent, resin and dye-sublimation, which ideally complement UV and UVgel ink technologies to deliver a really comprehensive application gamut.”

Unsurprisingly, this comprehensive offering, coupled with Currie Group’s outstanding reputation for customer commitment and the industry’s largest technical support and service operation, have made the company’s Sign & Display business unit one of the fastest-growing verticals in the company.

Those who did not manage to make an appointment during the event have not missed out, Whitehead adds, with the two printers still on the showroom floor, and the special finance deals from Finlease available at least until the end of October.

“If you are interested in seeing the latest technology from Epson, please give us a call and we’d be more than happy to demonstrate the printers and discuss the variety of options available from Epson and our other partners,” Whitehead says.

More information on the Epson printers and other solutions in Currie Group’s extensive product portfolio can be found at curriegroup.com.au or, to make an appointment for a demonstration, email Currie Group at [email protected]