L to R: Neil Handforth, Apex Sales and Marketing Director, Kate Ferrucci, Bob Usher, Apex Joint MD

Tsunami aid art printed during successful October event

Apex, along with fellow exhibitors at the Apex Autumn Open House, entitled "Total Printing 2", declared the event a success in terms of visitor numbers and print businesses current approach to investment.

"There was definitely a positive air encircling the visitors on both days of the event," confirmed Bob Usher, Joint Managing Director of Apex Digital Graphics, the Hemel Hempstead based UK Ryobi distributor. "Print companies that have shied away from investing over the last three or four years are realising that they have to do something to find an edge over the competition, or to make the business more productive. It might be offset printing technology or it might be a digital print product - we had the best of both at our open house, and visitors were able to see these technologies in action, along with a selection of pre-press and post-press equipment, as well as MIS and web-to-print product."

Apex, along with leading paper distributor Antalis McNaughton, are sponsoring a collaborative charity project led by Kate Ferrucci of Nottingham-based graphic design business Quarto Design. The charity effort is focuses on providing aid via the Japanese Red Cross as they continue their efforts in the rebuilding of Japan following the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. As part of the project a number of Japanese artworks were printed on a Ryobi 920 Series press during the event.

A set of twenty artworks on the theme "Thinking of Homeland" has been created by Japanese artists living outside of the country. A limited edition of 500 offset litho prints were produced of each work.

"We are delighted to be able to provide some tangible assistance to the earthquake tsunami aid effort on behalf of the print community in the UK," said Neil Handforth, Sales and Marketing Director of Apex Digital Graphics. "Our strong ties with Japan via our long-standing relationship with Ryobi mean that the tragedies suffered earlier this year in the country had a significant impact with the team here, especially those of us that have visited our colleagues in the Far-East."

Thinking of Homeland will be available to order starting in late October via the project website at http://thinkingofhomeland.wordpress.com/

Summing up the Apex Open House event, Bernard Parker, Joint Managing Director of Apex Digital Graphics, said: "Our partners in the event all seemed to get a good response from the two day show. We have been delighted with the number of companies that took the time and effort to visit and to discuss their next investment project. I am sure that such a positive focus has to be a good sign for our economy."