ImagesMagUK_August_20

www.images-magazine.com AUGUST 2020 images 37 IS DECORATOR PROFILE There are certain things you can’t do as well on an automatic VinoSangre’s new unit Work for film distributor Arrow Films NuArc MSP 3140 screen printing exposure unit which has also been “a real game-changer”, Mikee says. “Instead of three minutes for a screen to be exposed, it’s half that time and then some.” He has also invested in a Vastex Econored II 30 conveyor dryer and a Vastex Dri-Vault screen drying cabinet. “In the old unit, we were drying screens in the sunshine or with a little air heater. Now we can dry a screen in 10 minutes.” The latest addition is a second-hand Rutcure Master 22 tunnel dryer, bought through Pressure & Ink Screenprinting in Germany, which has helped to source much of VinoSangre’s equipment as well as providing valuable advice. “We trust their judgement on its quality etc to meet our requirements, and we can also get in touch with them easily with any questions,” Mikee adds. “It’s a much bigger dryer and we Prints for clothing brand Overgrown Vastex light-, medium- and heavy-duty screen printing equipment lines include: presses in 1 to 10 stations/colours, athletic numbering systems, infrared conveyor dryers, flash cure units, LED exposing units, screen drying cabinets, screen registration systems, wash-out booths and utility equipment. Rockets ink temps up to 175°C in the first several centimetres and holds at-cure temps longer for the highest possible rates. Digital temp control of 3 height- adjustable heaters maximises efficiency for each ink type. Cure 1080 plastisol- printed garments/h, 555+ water-based or discharge-printed garments/h, and 185+ garments/h inkjet printed with white ink. 46-, 76-, 137- and 198-cm wide models. OF PLASTISOL, WATER-BASED, DISCHARGE AND DTG WHITE INK +1-610-625-2702 SALES@VASTEX.COM VASTEX.COM Mix & match chambers and conveyor extensions for limitless possibilities! Made in USA II-0808 will be able to work much faster with that.” It was installed in July with the help of Screen Print Essentials’ director, Tony Wardle, who has also been a longtime supporter of the business. Lockdown relocation They managed to complete the move on the day that lockdown started. “Our main thing has been the music industry. The fortnight preceding lockdown, we lost all of our work as people figured out what to do. All the tours, all the bands coming over from America, got cancelled. We saw this as a good opportunity to move.” It proved lucky as, after a brief hiatus, work started to “trickle back in and build momentum”, and, thanks to the larger unit, the three could continue operating with social distancing measures in place. At the start, the biggest challenge was the shutdown of most of the garment suppliers as VinoSangre holds little stock, but turnaround times are returning to VinoSangre’s standard seven to 10 working days. Bands and music venues started to move merchandise online instead of selling it at gigs, while more work came in from other sectors, especially tattooists looking for an alternative source of revenue. Tattoo studios such as Tooth and Talon in Manchester started selling T-shirts, tote bags and other products with their designs on. “People were seeing that on the internet and word spread that we were still open,” Mikee says. “The loss of live music has been detrimental. It’s affected us but not as badly as it could have done. It’s not back to normal but we are busy again.” Further revenue came from VinoSangre’s own online store carrying