Globe Print supplied Drytac Polar Grip Matte film for an intense endurance challenge which saw a team of four men row 3,200 miles non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean for over 45 days.

Drytac’s Polar Grip Matte film was put to the ultimate test in the last couple of months when graphics printed on the material were featured on a boat crossing the Atlantic Ocean in an extreme endurance challenge.

A team of four men rowed, non-stop, for 3,200 miles from Lanzarote in the Canary Islands to the island of Antigua in the Caribbean, in a challenge dubbed the ‘Atlantic Dash’. Skipper Billy Taylor was joined by Johnny Ward, Matthew Pritchard and Martin Heseltine for the journey, which took 50 days, 5 hours and 12 minutes.

Such was the extreme nature of the challenge that Monkey Fist Adventures, organiser of the event, relied on Drytac materials – once again – for support in decorating the boat with striking graphics that would be able to withstand the harsh environment out on the Atlantic Ocean.

Globe Print, a long-term user of Drytac products, took on the task of printing the graphics, having previously worked with Monkey Fist Adventures on one of its previous challenges. The Marlow-based company used a Roland SolJet EJ-640 large-format printer to print the graphics on Drytac’s Polar Grip film which was then paired with their Interlam Pro Emerytex overlaminate.

Polar Grip is a self-adhesive vinyl for digitally printed graphics and signs, designed to look vibrant and remain in place for up to five years, making it the ideal solution for such a testing project.

The graphics, featuring the many sponsors supporting the event, were applied to the boat on location in Lanzarote prior to the team setting off on their journey in early March, with the quartet making land in Antigua on 2^nd May 2021.

Barry Hayes, Director of Monkey Fist Adventures, said the decision to work with Drytac and Globe Print again for the Atlantic Dash challenge was an easy one, with the graphics used in a previous event having proved extremely successful.

“We’ve used other companies in the past, but on previous crossing we went to Globe Print, and apart from just being all round nice people, the Drytac products supplied were far superior to anything we’d ever used before,” Barry said.

“Oceans are harsh on everything, but our sponsors – and their logos – remained solid and steadfast for the entirety of both the Atlantic Dash crossings.

“The Globe Print team went above and beyond to produce the printed graphics exceedingly quickly – as they knew we had very tight timeframes.”

The latest Atlantic Dash challenge came about as the Monkey Fist Adventures team sought to restore some sort of normality after Covid-19.  

Alex Mason, co-founder of Monkey Fist Adventures, had not seen her mother in more than a year due to the pandemic, while Billy Taylor, another co-founder who skippered the Atlantic Dash, had to endure his partner contracting Covid-19 while working on the frontline for the NHS. Barry Hayes suffered with mental health issues during the pandemic but was thankfully able to access the right support.

“After having to go through so many challenges and tough times over the past 12 months, we wanted to get back to doing what we do best, so we created an ocean row to try and reset the balance – and the Atlantic Dash was born,” Barry says.

The Atlantic Dash has raised more than £8,000 for two very worthy causes: HUMEN, a movement to improve and maintain men’s mental health; and Dean Farm Trust, an organisation committed to working for a sustainable, healthy and cruelty-free planet. This was less than hoped for, but with the constraints of Covid-19 it became somewhat challenging for fundraising to be as effective.

“However, the major goal of the Atlantic Dash was to get people talking about their mental health and it absolutely worked!” Barry concludes.

If you would like to donate to the above charities, please click here.

Family-run Links Signs has used Drytac Polar Grip to produce an attention-grabbing range of graphics at London Underground stations to celebrate the Euro 2020 football tournament.

Hastings-based signage and large-format print business Links Signs recently used Drytac Polar Grip to create a series of eye-catching graphics at five London Underground stations to celebrate this year’s Euro 2020 national team football tournament.

Euro 2020 had been due to take place last year but was delayed until this year due to the pandemic. The tournament is a special edition of the quadrennial competition, with matches taking place at locations right across Europe, as opposed to the traditional set-up in one country.

Wembley Stadium was one of the venues selected to host games, and to mark this special occasion, Transport for London (TfL) approached Links Signs to produce a series of themed graphics to accompany fans as they travelled across London to the stadium.

Graphics were installed at King’s Cross and Paddington – two of London’s busiest terminus stations – as well as Baker Street, London Bridge and Wembley Park, the latter being where fans exit the train to walk down the famous Wembley Way to the stadium.

Links Signs, an accredited printer and installer for TfL, worked with the commercial team at TfL and its agency to create a series of innovative and attention-grabbing graphics that provided unique photo opportunities for fans. Prior to installation, Links Signs met with the graphics agency at the proposed sites to advise on the best fit solution for the extensive, multi-site project.

The project included wall graphics at Kings Cross and Paddington that mimicked the players’ tunnel at Wembley Stadium, as well as football pitch floor graphics and a design that integrated existing seating at the station to give the effect that fans were sat on benches in the stadium. 

All the Euro 2020 graphics were printed on Drytac Polar Grip polymeric self-adhesive vinyl, paired with Drytac Interlam Pro Emerytex which is fully approved by TfL and carries all the required fire and slip certifications and ratings for public spaces.

Links Signs used an HP Latex 570, installed 18 months ago, to print the graphics onto the vinyl and carried out installation of all the graphics over a period of five nights, in time for the start of the tournament on June 11.

Paul Cox, Operations Manager at Links Signs, said Drytac Polar Grip was the ideal solution for the job as it is approved for use in projects on the London Underground, adding that the product delivered outstanding results across the series of graphics.

“When working on projects for London Underground, we cannot use any materials that are not approved,” Paul Cox said. “Drytac is not only approved, but also an incredibly stable and reliable product that can be easily applied.

“We really liked working with the Drytac vinyl; it delivered exactly what it promised, and we will be looking to work with it on other projects we produce for TfL.”

Bristol-based N3 Display Graphics used Drytac Polar Street FX to produce a series of creative floor graphics encouraging social distancing on streets across the city.

Large-format graphics production and installation company N3 Display Graphics recently used Drytac Polar Street FX aluminium print media to produce a range of eye-catching outdoor floor graphics to promote social distancing across the city of Bristol.

Bristol City Council designed a series of 2m x 1.1m (6.36ft x 3.6ft) footprint-style graphics for use in high traffic areas of the city ahead of non-essential shops reopening in mid-April. Shops in England had been closed since early January due to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

The aim of the graphics was to encourage social distancing among shoppers when they were out and about on the high street, helping to limit any further spread of the virus. As such, Bristol City Council required an attractive design that would stand out under shoppers’ feet.

The printed graphics also had to be safe for use underfoot. The Council specified they should have a proper slip rating, meaning they were safe for use in busy areas that could be exposed to wet weather, including high streets and other retail settings

To meet these challenges, the Council turned to N3 Display Graphics, a Bristol-based company that specialises in large-format graphics for both indoor and outdoor use. As a long-time user of Drytac materials, N3 Display Graphics quickly identified Drytac Polar Street FX as the ideal solution for the project.

Polar Street FX is a PVC-free, aluminium print media suitable for both outdoor floor and wall graphics, without the need for lamination. The slip-resistant printable film can be applied to ground or wall surfaces such as brick, concrete, asphalt or any other low energy surfaces. Polar Street FX holds a ‘Low Slip Potential’ 72 PTV according to the EN 13036-4 Pendulum Test. In the UK, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) only recognises slip ratings based on the Pendulum Test Method.

N3 Display Graphics Director Nigel Walker explains: “The Council specified that we use aluminium-backed slip rated material so Polar Street FX was the ideal choice for the job.”

Polar Street FX is printable with eco-solvent, latex or UV technology, making it a flexible choice. For this project, the giant footprint graphics were printed on two HP Latex 360 printers, resulting in a series of creative graphics that have proved a huge hit with shoppers since being installed at the end of March 2021.

N3 Display Graphics cut the graphics into the curved footprint shape with its Zünd cutter with double edged tungsten blades, which was easily able to handle the strong-wearing nature and toughness of the Polar Street FX aluminium backing.

In terms of working with Drytac, N3’s Nigel Walker adds: “We have a long history of mutual respect with Drytac, and they always have the right products at the right price.”

The Bristol footprint graphics have been a great success. Nigel continues: “After a month out on the streets, the graphics are all standing up well and are helping people to return to shopping safely.

“The client was happy; Drytac was happy, and we were happy!”

Have you used Drytac media for a recent project? We would love to feature your work!

Toronto-based Lamin-8 used Drytac’s ReTac Smooth 75 polymeric PVC film for the project at its local branch of Jimmy Guaco’s

Diversified printing business Lamin-8 Services used Drytac’s ReTac Smooth 75 polymeric PVC film to produce stunning wall graphics for Mexican restaurant chain Jimmy Guaco’s.

Toronto-based Lamin-8 was contacted by its local branch of Jimmy Guaco’s to create interior graphics that displayed some of the authentic Mexican dishes on offer at the restaurant.

As many of the featured foods were very bright in colour, Lamin-8 had to ensure that the final print was able to effectively present these vibrant colours in a way that attracted the attention of diners and passers-by.

Lamin-8 selected Drytac ReTac Smooth 75 polymeric PVC film with matte laminate for the job. ReTac Smooth 75 is a printable self-adhesive vinyl that allows users to install, remove and reposition graphics without leaving residue on the surface underneath.

The film can be printed using eco-solvent, latex and UV technologies and Lamin-8 used its Epson S80670 device to print the graphics – achieving a stunning effect with many tasty-looking dishes.

Michael Isaacs, President of Lamin-8, said the decision to work with Drytac ReTac Smooth 75 on this job was an easy one, with the company having used Drytac materials for over 20 years.

“We have been working with Drytac for more than two decades, using their laminating films and other products on a wide range of printed work,” Isaacs said. “With so much knowledge of Drytac films, we quickly identified that Drytac ReTac Smooth 75 was the best film for this job.”

Having worked with Drytac materials for such a long time, Michael has developed a fantastic relationship with Dennis LeBlanc, Territory Sales Manager for Drytac in Eastern Canada.

“Knowing Dennis for many years and having the ability to discuss each project – if needed – is a huge benefit in deciding which product to use. We can also access a specific material the very next day, if required, which is great!” concludes Michael Isaacs.

The new Jimmy Guaco’s restaurant can be found at 767 Taunton RD East Oshawa ON L1H7K5.

Have you used Drytac media for a recent project? We would love to feature your work!

Australian sign-maker Signmob used Drytac Polar Grip to produce eye-catching exterior graphics for a special exhibition at the Bendigo Art Gallery.

Victoria, Australia-based sign-making specialist Signmob used Drytac’s Polar Grip white polymeric PVC vinyl film to produce stunning exterior graphics for an exhibition at the nearby Bendigo Art Gallery.

The gallery is currently playing host to an exhibition by renowned British designer and fashion icon Mary Quant, and enlisted the help of Signmob to help promote the event.

Signmob faced a number of key challenges during the project, including selecting a film that would stand the test of time on the outside of the building in all weathers. They also had to ensure that the film would accurately reflect Quant’s work and style, with the final print required to match Quant’s artistic qualities and incredible talent across a huge area spanning 11m x 11m (36ft x 36ft).

As such, Signmob opted to work with Drytac Polar Grip, a white polymeric self-adhesive PVC vinyl film that is the ideal choice for digitally printed signs or graphics on any surface, including metal, plastic, wood, glass and brick.

Drytac Polar Grip is also guaranteed to remain in place for up to five years in all conditions, and with the exhibition running throughout the summer from March 21 until July 21, this fit the bill perfectly for Signmob.

“We chose Drytac for this project based on the recommendation of our rep Liam Simmons from Drytac’s distributor The Shann Group; he provided us with samples for testing a few months prior to the start of the project and they were everything he promised,” Signmob Expert Sign-Maker and Sign-Writer Bill May said.

Signmob covered the entire façade of the gallery with 750mm-wide rolls of Drytac Polar Grip white matte, replicating some of the world-famous designs by Quant, and also printed text of the artist’s name using a Roland SOLJET PRO III XC-540 54″ Printer/Cutter with eco-solvent Inks.

As Drytac Polar Grip is compatible with eco-solvent, Latex and UV printing, this meant that Signmob was able to produce an incredibly clever design that was unique to the exhibition.

“The benefits of the product were not only the excellent adhesion, but the confidence it will perform for the duration of the project,” Bill May said. “It allowed us to provide something not usually seen in the Bendigo Art Gallery. We have already had very positive feedback.

“Drytac Polar Grip was easy to work with, conforms well – so much so that people assumed it was paint – and is also cost effective.”

Have you used Drytac media for a recent project? We would love to feature your work!