For over 10 years, Brian Wittkamp has driven on the fast track to success as a premier provider of decals and graphics for the motorsports industry. As the founder of Comp-Cal, a sign and motorsport graphics company based in Denver, NC, Wittkamp counts among his clients NASCAR greats such as Joe Gibbs Racing's Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Busch. To service these giants of race track, his shop operates in high gear—creating that championship look under very tight deadlines for some of the fastest and most famous cars in the world.
To stay ahead of the pack, Comp-Cal relies on Roland technologies including their new SolJet PRO III XC-540 54-inch printer/cutter, which was installed this past February.
"We purchased our first vinyl cutter in 1997 and from that point on we have been sold on the Roland brand," Wittkamp says. "Roland products are reliable, precise and extremely easy to use. We take full advantage of the print/cut capabilities which allow us to keep pace with the tough demands of our clients."
Wittkamp reports that they had a VersaCAMM unit in house but wanted to bring their production volume to the next level so purchased the Roland SolJet PRO III XC-540. "We wanted to get something more high volume to handle our growing workflow and we also wanted a unit with print/cut capabilities. In addition, purchasing a unit that was Eco-solvent was a key too. The SolJet PRO III XC-540 was chosen because it met all of these requirements," he points out.
The XC-540 delivers rich, six-color CMYKLcLm images at a maximum print speed of 441 sqft/hr. For maximum productivity, the XC-540 offers a tri-heating system and advanced media feed and automatic take-up system and can be upgraded with an optional dryer/blower unit. "I am very impressed with the construction of this machine. It's a very solid unit. The printer's speed is tremendous. It's been a real workhorse in helping us churn out jobs faster. The take- up reel is a great addition. It works very seamlessly with the printer."
Comp-Cal designs graphics for hundreds of go kart customers nationwide—and enjoys a steady stream of work from NASCAR race teams as well. Recent projects that the XC-540 has played a roll in include graphic design and production for the #70 Nick Tucker Racing ARCA Remax Series Dodge Charger and for several high profile cars competing in the 2008 ARENA Racing Series. Wittkamp says their vehicle wraps are ptinted mostly on 3M ControlTrac V2 and 180C and the new Arlon DPF 6000X media.
The XC-540 features ECO-SOL MAX inks and is available in the following ink configurations: six-color CMYKLcLm, four-color CCMMYK, and five-color CMYK+W featuring new, improved White ECO-SOL MAX ink. The White ink is said to offer even higher levels of brightness, opacity and durability and delivers superior imaging across a variety of media. "In the future we are going to start experimenting with the White ink option for our window graphics applications," he adds.
"We are constantly striving for perfection in our work, and with Roland equipment like the XC-540, we continue to reach that goal," he concludes.
The Roland SolJet PRO III XC-540 AT A Glance
- Photorealistic printing up to 1440x1440 dpi
- Print speed: Up to 441 sqft/hr.
- Scratch resistant ECO-SOL MAX ink
- Choice of 440 or 220ml ink cartridges
For more information:
www.rolanddga.com
