As Loch Michie prepared to launch Tiger Sanitation, his garbage-collection business, this past November, he knew he needed a garbage truck that would catch people's attention. “Little guys can get passed over easily and I needed a strong statement–not to mention a strong marketing tool.”

He approached Ken Garff Creative Services, a company he had done business with in the past, to design the graphics for his 22-ft vehicle. A designer from Ken Garff created the Bengal tiger-inspired graphic in Adobe Illustrator, and then sent the file to Metro Display for output. Says Michie, “[A design with] tiger stripes was my thought from the beginning, but my friends at Ken Garff nailed it for me.”

Production

After receiving the graphics, Metro Display went to work. Using its MacDermid ColorSpan DisplayMaker XII with InteliCoat Gloss Photo Paper, Metro Display produced full-sized proofs of “critical areas” of the truck for approval from Michie and from the Ken Garff designer.

With the go-ahead from both parties, the shop output the final wrap on MacTac Imagin JT5292BFD adhesive vinyl using both of its Oc??”? Arizona 180 printers and Nazdar Lyson 500 series inks. Twenty-four 54-in. x 12-ft panels were printed, totaling 910 sq ft. Printing time totaled 15 hr. The graphics were finished with MacTac Permacolor LF3600 cast vinyl using the shop's Seal Image 600 laminator. Finishing took a total of 4 hr.

A crew of five from Salt Lake City-based Impeckable Graphics performed the challenging installation, which took 125 hr. “Doing a second [truck],” says Metro Display founder and manager Andre Vandiggelen, “would take less than half the time because of the knowledge we gained from this one.”

Comment

Extremely pleased with the end result, Michie expects he will add additional tiger-striped trucks as his business grows. “I could never explain in words the reaction I get on the road.” Plus, he adds, “Garbage collection should be fun, right?”

Client

Tiger Sanitation, West Valley City, UT

The Players

Metro Display, Salt Lake City, UT (www.metro-display.com); Impeckable Graphics, Salt Lake City; Ken Garff Creative Services, Salt Lake City

Tools & Supplies

Oc??”? Arizona 180 (2), MacDermid ColorSpan DisplayMaker XII, Seal Image 600 laminator, InteliCoat Gloss Photo Paper, MacTac Imagin adhesive vinyl, MacTac Permacolor cast vinyl, Nazdar Lyson 500 series inks.