Spyder Displays expands capabilities with the new FabriVU 340i+ From their start in 1987, manufacturing fabric panel boards, to moving into textile printing in the late 2000s, Spyder Displays have run the gamut of Sign & Display Offerings in their thirty-five years of business. Ostensibly they’re a one-stop shop for media walls, flags, and roll-up banners and have a strong foothold in the exhibition and trade show space. As an Australian manufacturer, they manage the stand build for their clients from start to finish, from manufacturing to printing to liaising directly with event organisers. They also have a hand in the kiosk and short-term lease spaces in retail centres across Australia. Speaking with Keven Riordan, Spyder Displays General Manager (GM), he talks passionately of their focus on quality control, translating that need to deliver the best possible product into an almost entirely in-house production line, including all aspects of manufacturing. He speaks proudly of their 100kW solar panels running their Brisbane Head office and their drive to use locally supplied recyclable raw products, a nod to their holistic look at sustainability and being “green”. Early in 2022, Spyder began looking for a new printer; as their fleet of textile printers was aging, after extensive research, they narrowed the field down to the EFI FabriVU 340i+ and contacted vendors to make inquiries. Riordan says they wanted a machine that could be serviced locally, as they found their previous machines incredibly difficult to get support and service over 26 OCT/NOV 2022 the last two years. They also wanted to increase printing speeds to meet demands to deliver to market faster. Riordan responsiveness comments from that the Paul Whitehead, Business Unit Manager – Sign & Display at Currie Group and the details of the FabriVU’s capabilities clinched the sale for Currie Group. He also notes that Currie Group’s willingness to learn about fabric printing really got the deal over the line, and he says categorically, the same level of service and professionalism has extended through the installation and in the post- sales support, noting that they recently had a small issue, which was resolved overnight with support locally and remotely from Europe. Spyder didn’t miss a beat, starting up work the next morning, and no delays impacting their delivery to their clients. Riordan describes the machine as a “game changer”, saying that when it’s printing at its highest quality, he can produce products in a few hours that would previously have taken a day or longer. In fact, one knock-on effect of the EFI FabriVU 340i+ is that it has highlighted other bottlenecks on Spyder’s factory floor, which the team are now working on improving. The training on the machine was easy, so much so that Riordan says he has four operators trained within the business, which keeps the production line running smoothly. Riordan is proud to say he has the first of this type installed in APAC and the fifth in the world, and he is thrilled with the service and ongoing support he gets from Currie Group. Whitehead concludes, “We at Currie Group are excited that Spyder Displays, being an experienced outfit in printing fabric, have decided to be the first in the region to invest in the new EFI FabriVU 340i+ combined with Currie Group service and support. Spyder Displays have been a pleasure to deal with and have helped us as an organisation get a more comprehensive understanding of this market and the level of serviceability required. We look forward to a long and successful relationship.” The improvements to Riordan’s business are dramatic, the speed to market and productivity chief among them. Riordan and Spyder Displays can now deliver faster and keep the exceptional quality of the product that they are known for. New markets have opened, and the increased demand has created the opportunity to increase staff in various areas of the business and improve processes, which is a win for the extensive Spyder Displays clientele. All in all, the EFI FabriVU 340i+ and Currie Group have delivered an exceptional win for Spyder Displays.
