Inspiration

Roland DG customers are some of the most imaginative and creative people we've ever met. To support your creativity and need for inspiration,we have created a selection of blog entries to help you get inspired and excited about creating your next vehicle wrap, sign, custom graphic or prototype. The following content ranges from fun articles and infographics to customer interviews and print news.

ISA 2011: New booth, new products & a great show!

03 May 2011 Rick Scrimger Inspiration isa , versastudio , versauv lef-12 , versauv lej-640

ISA (International Sign Association) is always a big show for us and this year was no different. Pre-show numbers coming out of the association showed registration significantly up from previous years, with more exhibitors and booth space. We took more space ourselves with a 40x60ft booth and a whole new booth structure that looked fantastic thanks to our awesome marketing department. In addition, we had three exciting new products to talk about: the VersaUV LEJ-640, Roland DG's first roll-to-roll hybrid flatbed; the LEF-12 UV small flatbed, and our new 20" print/cut device called VersaStudio.

Less Taxing Times Ahead

05 April 2011 Patrick Kersey Inspiration charlie sheen , taxes , tsunami

As everyone would agree, this time of year can be especially taxing (pun intended). This year, however, we have the added worries of war in the mid-east and leaking radiation in Japan. Meanwhile, governments everywhere are wrestling with how to pay for their growing debt.

ABC: Always Be Closing

31 March 2011 Rick Scrimger Inspiration 100 ways to print & profit with a roland , @gerrylayo , @rolanddga , @skipgrant , glengarry glen ross , inc. magazine , isa expo 2011 , sales training

Glengarry Glen Ross, the 1992 movie, featured an all-star cast: Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, Alan Arkin, Ed Harris, Kevin Spacey and Jonathan Pryce. During a memorable scene, Alec Balwin says the famous phrase: “ABC. Always Be Closing.”

You Printed What?

18 March 2011 Patrick Kersey Inspiration aj-1000 , creative center , fabric , fp-740 , heatsoft , inkjet , interior design , lec , textile , versauv

Wide-format inkjet printers are now producing some amazing things with fabric. You have probably seen many examples of sublimation, like these sublimated jerseys produced on a Roland DG FP-740. I especially enjoy the printed fabric wings on the replica of an 1895 Lillienthal glider that hangs in our lobby and were printed on a Roland DG AJ-1000.

The Sun will rise again

15 March 2011 Dave Goward Inspiration earthquake , japan , manufacturing , red cross , roland dg , roland dga , tsunami

This can't be happening I thought when I first heard the news that a major earthquake had struck northern Japan. I had the same feeling when I heard that a devastating tsunami followed the earthquake. And again when I heard that the nuclear energy plant had lost power and was out of control. Can this really be happening all at the same time? Sadly, the answer turned out to be yes.

Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto

09 March 2011 Dede Sabey Inspiration avon high school , benchtop milling machine , connecticut , desktop milling machine , educators , first , functional parts , high school , mdx-40a , rapid manufacturing , rapid prototyping , robots , stem , students , uberbots

For all the negative news we hear in regard to the American school system – budget cuts, teacher strikes, drop-out rates, graduates that can’t write – it is certainly nice to hear about some smart kids that are excited and motivated about learning and about school programs that teach students real-world skills and experience. Here’s one such example.

The Virtues of Being Nimble

01 March 2011 Patrick Kersey Engraving , Inspiration

On my way to work this morning, I endured the typical frustrations of driving in Southern California traffic. The cement, garbage, 18-wheelers and other commercial trucks were lined up four abreast. In addition, there were the usual assortment of cars and pickups traveling at a rate 10 to 15 miles under the speed limit and leaving huge gaps, sometimes a quarter mile — between them and the next vehicle.

Secrets Revealed

24 February 2011 Rick Scrimger Inspiration inkjet , lec-330 , rapid package prototyping

No, this isn't a follow-up from my last post where I actually "reveal secrets" from my recent trip to Japan. It's a reference to an event here at Roland DGA that we've had after the last 2 Pacific Design & Engineering/West Pack shows.

Meanwhile in Japan: New Product R&D

08 February 2011 Rick Scrimger Marketing Expertise , Inspiration

Roland DG is a Japanese company. While the name doesn't sound like it, it actually is. Our counterparts in Japan come over to Roland DGA's territory for shows and meetings with us fairly often, but a once or twice a year I head over to Hamamatsu Japan for meetings and to get the latest on new products in our pipeline. This time, we sent our sales, product management and field engineering teams over to have them see, first-hand, what R&D is working on and what we have coming. There's no way for me to translate every product detail or the excitement the engineers have for our products when I visit, so it's important for them to see it for themselves.

It’s Not Rocket Science

25 January 2011 Patrick Kersey Inspiration , Engraving service , support

One of my hobbies is managing a small but growing portfolio of stocks and among my better performing investments of the past few years has been Apple (APPL). Accordingly, I read a fair amount of news and commentary in the business and investment press with regards to whether Apple will continue to grow, or whether it’s peaked.