Jason Martin, VP of creative at Caskey Group, has seen wide-format printing come a long way in the 15 years since he first operated an inkjet printer in his dining room. His York, Pennsylvania, company offers offset, small-format digital, and screen printing, as well as embroidery, marketing, and photography services, but its 10-person wide-format division has seen rapid growth in recent years.
Martin says the vehicle wrap market has only become more and more competitive since the early 2000s, but a dedication to quality is what’s key in keeping and attracting clients. Caskey specializes in fleet graphics, a market where their 3M installer certification and professionally photographed portfolio carry real value: “A lot of what drives some of our clients to find us is some of the work that we’ve done in the past. … It definitely makes a difference when you see that professional-looking photography.”
For this job, local disaster relief agency Mihalko’s wanted to rebrand the first of a fleet of field vehicles used for sales calls, site visits, and the like. Caskey worked with Mihalko’s for a week on the design; production was then completed in two days, followed by a total of 12 hours for a two-person installation.
The graphics were printed on the shop’s EFI H1625 hybrid printer, a UV-LED machine purchased in January that Martin says has doubled their capabilities, in part thanks to the elimination of dry times. “We can literally print, laminate, and install all in one motion,” he adds.
The wrap was created with 3M Controltac 180Cv3 film with Scotchcal 8518 gloss laminate, totaling 275 square feet. It was run through Caskey’s Esko Kongsberg V24 flatbed cutter – another new addition for the company. They’re currently working on adaptations of the design for another seven to 10 of Mihalko’s vehicles.
Check out other from our issue:
That’s a Wrap: A Few of My Favorite Things
Haters Gonna Hate, Wrappers Gonna Wrap