Installations
Solucan installs world’s first Tonejet Cyclone digital beverage can printer
Solucan has installed the world’s first Tonejet Cyclone direct-to-
can digital printing system at its new production facility in
Trois-Rivières, Quebec. Solucan is a new company that serves
the ‘smaller’ beverage industry in North America, while also
supporting the craft brewers and other beverage manufacturers
in the region. The new system will yield all the benefits of
short-run digital can decoration without the high costs, waste
and recycling headaches that come with traditional labels
and shrink-sleeves, said the company.
“We’re focused on offering a cost-effective, environmentally-
friendly solution to our customers and to theirs,” said Sebastien
Baril, President at Solucan. “The government is looking for a
recyclable solution and we have their full support towards a
better canning solution for the industry. Currently, beverage
producers wanting to avoid labels have to purchase from the
major can manufacturers, whose minimum quantities are far
too large for any microbrewer or craft beer producer that
we’re working with. With the Cyclone, these issues are
addressed. The system allows us to keep up with changing
consumer habits, transforming packaging as we know it,” he
added. All cans produced using the Tonejet Cyclone system
will be 100% recyclable.
“We’re now able to transform a beverage can into a totally
digital portal,” said Jean-Francois Gaudreault, General
Manager at Solucan. “Linking packaging to the digital world
that’s accessible via your smartphone or laptop, is a total
game-changer and provides a powerful marketing tool. In
addition to using the space to promote events, marketing
promotions and so on, you can include codes to link to
augmented reality (AR) apps, and even invisible codes and
water marking,” he pointed out.
From left are: Marvin Foreman, Sales Manager, Tonejet; Rob
Day, CEO, Tonejet; Sebastien Baril, President at Solucan;
and Jean-Francois Gaudreault, General Manager at Solucan,
pictured with the Cyclone system.
Fastsigns of Burlington takes production to the next level with its swissQPrint Impala 3 Printer
Fastsigns of Burlington, Ontario continues to expand its products
and services, improve print quality and reduce turnaround
times with the installation earlier this year of a swissQprint
Impala 3 wide-format UV printer. The shop can produce signage
and banners in virtually any shape and size using a variety of
media for indoor and outdoor use. Other services include
graphic design, digital displays and digital content services,
including the design and creation of static images, motion
graphics and interactive content supported by ongoing content
updating. The company also specializes in traditional POP
displays, vehicle wraps, wayfinding systems and much more.
Owned and operated by GM Diane Henderson and VP of
Sales & Marketing Brian Henderson, the shop needed “a real
workhorse that we knew would last a long time,” recalled
Diane. “These machines have been in the field for a while, and
rarely need service. It’s a machine you can really depend on.”
The compact, user-friendly 2.5 m x 2 m Impala 3 flatbed from
swissQprint can produce ‘museum quality’ prints with up to
seven colours on virtually any substrate at a maximum speed
of 1,938 ft 2 /hr, with little or no loss in ink density. The backlit
prints it produces on both rigid and flexible substrates rival
those of high quality aqueous printers and dye-sublimation
devices, said the OEM. “Also, when we buy a new printer, it’s
8 | November 2019 | GRAPHIC ARTS MAGAZINE
great to share its capabilities with our customers,” Diane
added. “So when they come to us, they know that we
have the best technology for all of their signage and
visual communications needs – and that positively reflects
on their brand as well.”
Owners Brian Henderson (VP of Sales & Marketing), with
Diane Henderson (GM), in front of their swissQprint Impala 3
wide-format UV printer.
graphicartsmag.com