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Case Studies

Real world examples of how Advertisers Printing can take your print strategy to the next level.

Using Specialty Substrates to Tap into New Marketing Mediums with the RMGT 9-Series

When we announced early on that our RMGT 9-Series would open up a whole new host of options for our customers to come up with extraordinarily unique print projects, we weren’t kidding around. Our last blog showcased some of the stunning innovative finishes this press can produce so that you can create “fridge-worthy” print materials. Now we’re going to examine the specialty substrates that the RMGT is capable of printing on, plus why they allow you to spread your marketing message further and with more impact than ever before. What Are Specialty Substrates and Why Are They a Big Deal? In the world of commercial printing, the term “substrate” simply refers to the base material onto which images, words, etc. are printed. You’re likely familiar with some of the most common substrates such as paper stock, cardboard, and newsprint. But did you know that innovations in modern technology now enable printing on some “specialty” substrates that you may have written off as being too difficult to use?  Thanks to its low-heat LED curing and pneumatic (air-powered) guide that safeguards against contact scratches, our RMGT 9-Series allows you to explore specialty substrates such as: PVC vinyl  Polypropylene (synthetic paper)  Styrene Plastics   PET (polyester)  Adhesives/clings  Metallics  The RMGT’s ability to print on these distinct, often delicate substrates provides you with an opportunity to enhance your product packaging, as well as print marketing materials like wide-format signage. Let’s examine a few examples of print projects that make use of these specialty substrates.  Print Projects You Can Create With Specialty Substrates Vinyl Banners –  When it comes to out-of-home advertising, you can’t go wrong with this large, can’t-miss form of signage. Whether you’re looking to display a banner outside your store to increase foot traffic or spread brand awareness by hanging one above a busy street, you can count on vinyl banners to last through rain, snow, and sunlight while maintaining quality for years.  Boxes & Folding Cartons – The RMGT also introduces a new host of options for durable print products to use in retail display, direct mail, packaging, event marketing, and more. These dimensional print pieces come in all different shapes and sizes, plus they can be combined with innovative finishes and other substrates such as gold or silver foil to generate some really striking creations. Ready to think outside the box? Clings – These lightweight, versatile signs can be used on windows, mirrors, monitors, and most types of glass. Static clings (vs low-tack) are also reusable, which means you can easily change where they’re positioned or store them away for seasonal use. They can be used to help a business increase privacy, reduce glare/UV ray exposure, and maintain brand consistency with clings that are placed both outdoors and inside the building.  Indestructible Direct Mail – Synthetic paper and direct mail are quite the dynamic duo, as this flexible substrate looks and feels like regular paper stock while being resistant to water, heat, chemicals, and rips/tears. It can also be perforated, die-cut, scored, folded, and punched, opening up a huge range of possibilities for direct mail pieces that can stand the test of time, weather, wear, etc.  Metallic Labels – Trying to give a certain product a high-end feel? Silver or gold metallic labels and wraps a surefire way to catch the eye of consumers and let them know there’s something luxurious inside. And, because the RMGT 9-Series is capable of printing special inks like white, gold, silver, and copper, you can even layer metallic elements to create a majestic, gilded look.  Hopefully this blog gave you a deeper understanding of what specialty substrates are and why they’re so valuable to use in print marketing. There aren’t many printers in our area who can produce pieces with such distinct finishes and substrates, so if you choose to collaborate with us on original print projects, your marketing materials will be in a league of their own. Ready to get creative and bounce some ideas off of our print strategists? Let’s talk soon! 

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Are Your Print Products Fridge-Worthy? Achieve Magnet Status with the RMGT 9-Series

Following up on our last blog about the sustainability attributes of the RMGT 9-Series, in this article we’re going to examine some of the incredible innovative finishes that this press will enable you to explore. We’re talkin’ the types of finishes that will really make your print materials stand out and help you earn a spot on the front of your customers’ refrigerator for all to see! Let’s take a look. RMGT 9-Series Innovative Finish #1: High Gloss The RMGT is capable of producing high gloss LED coatings inline using its retractable coating unit. “Inline” means that the coating is applied in the same pass as the printed sheet, yet another way that this press brings you faster delivery. LED coatings also dry quicker, are more durable, and offer a 10-15% higher gloss level compared to traditional aqueous coatings. For you, this higher gloss level means stunningly realistic imagery that jumps off the paper and grabs the attention of your customers. You know when you flip through a National Geographic and the high-quality pictures make you feel like you’re transported to the jungles of Borneo or the Swiss Alps? You can achieve a similar (or even better) effect with a high gloss coating. RMGT 9-Series Innovative Finish #2: Spot Gloss Akin to the previous finish, a spot gloss treatment is a method for coating printed materials that utilizes the RMGT’s LeoLED Modular Lamp Array to cure a varnish that is placed on select portions of a product. A spot gloss effect can be a useful tool for guiding your audience’s attention to exactly where you want them to look, which really comes in handy with a multi-page piece. Additionally, it can give your business cards, brochures, presentation folders, and book covers a high-impact, “luxury” feel that will distinguish your company from your competitors. RMGT 9-Series Innovative Finish #3: Strike-Through Strike-through is another variety of the matte varnish/gloss finish combo that results in an eye-catching finished product. Compared to spot gloss treatments, strike-through effects work best on dark, high contrast images. Some printers produce a version of a strike-through-type effect with aqueous coating, but it just isn’t the same. With LED, we cure the ink before the varnish unit, and then apply the LED gloss coating over the top. The end result is a product with sharp, exact registration that makes your images look crisp and lifelike. RMGT 9-Series Innovative Finish #4: Reticulated Varnish When a freshly waxed car gets caught in a storm, you know how the rainwater tends to bead up on the shiny vehicle? It’s mesmerizing! It happens because the surface tension of the wax and the surface tension of the rain repel each other, causing the water to group up in small droplets. Reticulating varnish works in a very similar way: we apply a flood gloss LED coating over a spot varnish in a single pass in order to produce a raised finish. Think your customers will be captivated by such a unique, 3D effect? Science says they most certainly will! RMGT 9-Series Innovative Finish #5: Metallic and Opaque Inks Another benefit of the RMGT’s LED-curing is its ability to print metallic and opaque inks such as white, gold, silver, and copper. To achieve this effect, these special inks are run in the first few units of the press and then cured afterward, allowing the wet inks to be trapped over the dry inks. This enables you to develop high-end marketing materials with just a touch of opulence that will impress your customers and make your competitors envious. The RMGT 9-Series is one of only a handful of presses capable of printing such inks, so opting for this effect will surely help you stand out from the crowd. Curious to hear which of these finishes would look the best on your next print project? Drop us a line to chat with one of our print strategists about how you can wow your customers with fridge-worthy print products!

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Sustainably Sharing the Magic of Print with the RMGT 9-Series

At Advertisers Printing, we constantly seek ways to reduce our environmental impact and increase our social responsibility. Our journey to become one of the most sustainable printers in the United States began in 2002 when we earned our Sustainable Green Printing Partnership certification (we are one of less than 60 SGP-certified offset/digital printers in the world). Since then, we’ve proactively implemented policies, procedures, and equipment that keep us in the top 1% of sustainable printers, and our recent acquisition of the RMGT 9-Series is no exception. Let’s take a look at some of our environmental initiatives and how the RMGT will help elevate our company and clients to the pinnacle of sustainable printing in 2021 and beyond. Why Is the RMGT 9-Series an Achievement in Sustainable Printing? In addition to enhancing our print quality and speed to market, our new RMGT enables us to print products with the lowest carbon footprint in an incredibly efficient way. Some of its most notable green features include: Reduced energy consumption – Besides being a time-saver, the RMGT’s one-pass perfecting saves time and energy by eliminating the need for a second pass. At 25 x 37 inches, it also uses 70-80% less energy than a conventional UV-IR 28 x 40 inch full size press while still delivering a standard size 16-page format. Low material waste – The RMGT’s “compact” size compared to other presses in its class means that consumable use (plates, blankets, and ink) is cut by 1/3, and make-ready (setup) paper spoilage is lowered by up to 80% on every job. Advanced UV/LED curing – Not only does the RMGT’s GEW LeoLED MLA (Modular Lamp Array) curing technology provide major speed and quality benefits, it also enables greener printing in the following ways: Reduced ink waste = no need for daily ink wash ups (saving over 1,000 lbs of wasted ink annually) Zero ozone emissions = no exhaust ventilation necessary, healthier for our staff Low heat generation, = less HVAC energy used for climate control in our facilities Light-emitting diodes = LED uses just 10% of the energy compared to a conventional arc lamp UV system (90% energy savings) Long life span = last about 15,000 hours versus 1,000-3,000 hours for conventional arc lamps Instant on/off power = eliminates the need for a large amount of standby power when the press is off So, why are we telling you all of these details about our new RMGT 9-Series? Because in our core values, we have a responsibility to communicate our ongoing commitment to sustainability to our employees, clients, vendors, contractors, and visitors – an SGP requirement. That means every time we enhance our operations to become even more eco-friendly, we want to let you know so you can feel good about choosing us as your trusted printing partner! The Advertisers Printing family believes that it’s absolutely essential to work safely, protect our community’s health and welfare, and preserve the environment all while delivering the highest quality products and superior service to our clients. In What Other Ways Is Advertisers Printing a Sustainable Company? Plenty of companies say that they are environmentally conscious, but how many have tangible evidence to back up their claims? We live in the “Show-Me state,” after all! Our team not only talks the talk, but we walk the walk – every single day. Our sustainable initiatives include: Sustainability presentations – We’ve given environmental talks at WashU, Georgia Tech, St Louis University, Canon Corp, Missouri Botanical Garden, SGP, and AIGA, among others. We are available and ready to present to your organization, too. 12-prong recycling program – We employ a comprehensive system for recycling ink, paper, metal plates, and other operational materials. Energy efficient facilities – The roof of our facility is blanketed by 25kW solar panels (offsetting energy expenditure by 20%), all of our interior lighting is LED, and our service fleet includes an EV Chevy Bolt and four Prius hybrid vehicles used for sales and deliveries. Clean inks – We only use inks that contain very low or zero volatile organic compounds, and the LED/UV process eliminates the need for aqueous coatings (a consumable). Weekly waste pickups – Our company has made such drastic solid waste reductions that we require pickup only once a week. School share paper donations – Another way we help paper goods avoid landfills is by repurposing paper at schools across the St. Louis region. ‘Know before you throw’ program ­– To assist our clients in becoming more sustainable, we provide them with scheduled recyclable material pick-ups and waste reduction consultations. As a result of the above efforts, our team has been recognized as some of the world’s foremost experts in sustainable printing. We work with prestigious, forward-thinking cultural organizations such as the Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis Art Museum, and St. Louis Symphony, as well as large corporate clients including Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Bayer, and Ameren, all of whom are attracted to our reputation for sustainability. And, in addition to our Sustainability Green Partner affiliation, Advertisers Printing is certified by the Rainforest Alliance and the Forest Stewardship Council. We take environmental behavior very seriously: our Sustainability Director holds a Masters in Sustainability from St. Louis University and sits on the Board of SGP. Interested in using the RMGT 9-Series to create a stunning and eco-friendly print project? Or want to talk about how we can help your organization become more sustainable in 2021? Contact us today to speak with one of our print strategists – we can’t wait to hear from you!

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