Digital Output - June 2008 - (Page 30)

application spotlight Wraps on Tap A vehicle wrap business creates a traveling brewery. by Kim Crowley D ale Salamacha started his sign company 24 years ago in his mother’s garage with only a paintbrush and airbrush. Over time this developed into a sign operation with over 20 years of experience. Salamacha, president, Media 1, works with co-operators Damon Coppola and Rick Ream, VPs. “The three of us have been doing work together for over 15 years. We decided Salamacha. “Sure, there is an upfront, initial cost, but for the number of years a wrap will last and the amount of people who will see the message, it is one of the best, if not the absolute best, form of advertising.” Wraps are such a strong portion of Media 1’s business that the owners made the decision to differentiate the service. “Up until about two years ago, we performed around ten to 15 vehicle wraps—partial and full—in a month,” says Salamacha. space in Orlando, FL. Wrap This, Ink. also has a separate 3,000 square foot facility in Melbourne, FL. The company plans to keep Media 1 in its Orlando location while seeking an additional 6,000 square feet for Wrap This, Ink. in Orlando this summer. “We’re looking for major road frontage. We feel that Wrap This, Ink. will definitely benefit from large sign and road frontage for advertising finished wrap products,” states Salamacha. The owners plan to expand Wrap This, Ink. locations into Tampa and Jacksonville, FL later this year and into other states over the next few years. The two companies currently employ 34 people and are constantly looking for more talent. Revenue for Media 1 is estimated to break three million dollars this year, with Orlando-based Wrap This, Ink. at 1.5 million dollars, and a goal of $350,000 for the first year in Melbourne. Evolving Technology Media 1 and Wrap This, Ink. wrapped a 2008 Scion XB for Orange Blossom Pilsner—a brewing company popular in the Southeast. The wrap was printed with a Mutoh Toucan LT 64-inch printer on 3M Controltac Graphic Film with Comply v2 Adhesive IJ180Cv2 and 3M Scotchcal Gloss Overlaminate 8518. When Salamacha first opened up shop he admits, “There were no such things as vinyl “Sure, there is an upfront, initial cost, but for the number of years a plotters or any computwrap will last and the amount of people who will see the message, it is erized sign making equipment, let alone one of the best, if not the absolute best, form of advertising.” the digital printers of today’s marketplace.” —Dale Salamacha, president, Media 1 about five years ago to team up and become partners and have never looked back or regretted any of our decisions,” says Salamacha. As the Media 1 business grew, it became a state-certified electrical sign contractor that provides design, engineering, and permitting. Services include production of routed, sandblasted, and dimensional signs; pylon signs; architectural sign systems; illuminated cabinets; awnings; channel letters; custom paint and airbrushing; and vehicle and marine wraps. Differentiating Wraps Demand grew rapidly, and Media 1 now produces wraps on 60 vehicles per month. To handle the incoming wrap projects and distinguish this portion of Media 1’s business, Media 1 divided into two independent companies in June 2007—Media 1 and Wrap This, Ink. “We were fueled by the concept that a client looking for a vehicle wrap might not know to go to a sign company. We threw ‘wrap’ into the name and split Media 1 into two companies. The split allowed both divisions to pursue their own avenues of growth and marketing,” says Salamacha. Today, Media 1 and Wrap This, Ink. operate out of a 12,000 square foot To print wraps, Wrap This, Ink. uses three Mutoh Toucan LT 64-inch printers. The printers can print at up to 1,440 dpi at a speed of 398 square feet per hour (sf/h). They use Eco-Solvent Plus ink or LT Solvent inks from Mutoh America, Inc., which have a three-year outdoor durability rating. “We complement the LT’s with Mutoh’s Ultima SC Pro 1650 64-inch cutters with MGE i-Cut technology. All projects are nested, tiled, and ripped through ONYX Graphics ProductionHouse software,” notes Coppola. All design software, printers, cutters, and inks are purchased through the Orlando branch of Fujifilm. “Using Fujifilm as our only www.digitaloutput.net Output “I think people are really starting to realize what a great means of advertising vehicle wraps are,” explains Digital Output June 2008 30 http://www.digitaloutput.net http://www.digitaloutput.net

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Digital Output - June 2008

Digital Output - June 2008

https://www.nxtbookmedia.com