Grafityp user in the spotlight: de Toekomst
25.09.2023 - Who uses our Grafityp films and for what applications? One of these users is Dutch full-service communications company de Toekomst. Order managers Remon van de Meent and Patrick van Galen take you inside the company's Sign department. They will tell you about their projects and their experience with Grafityp films.
What started in 1952 as a commercial printing company has grown into a full-service communications company by 2023. Clients can come to de Toekomst in Hilversum for all their communication and advertising needs. From web design to wall advertising and from video editing to corporate clothing. Although the client base is diverse, de Toekomst mainly focuses on major players including Garmin, NOS and Center Parcs.
Much in house
Remon has now been working in the Sign department for four years. “The assignments are very varied. Our job as order managers? Supervising projects, drawing up quotations and helping out in production. We can offer the customer a lot because we have a wealth of knowledge and products in-house.”
“Before this, I was always a fitter myself. So I know the films inside out and know which one’s work and which ones don’t,” says Patrick, who has been order manager for one and a half years.
“I have been a fitter for 25 years. So I know the films inside out.” – Patrick van Galen, order Manager Sign
40% Grafityp films
De Toekomst has been working with Grafityp films for quite some time. In his previous job as a fitter, for instance, Patrick built up years of experience with Grafityp’s sandblast films. At de Toekomst I came into contact with the print media which I am really very satisfied with.” All the print films are from Grafityp. In total, that’s about 40% of all the films used in the company.
The biggest advantage of Grafityp products according to Patrick? The adhesion. “Even when it’s colder, the initial adhesion of Grafityp films is good. That’s a difference from competing products. Take the S24P, which is just a top film with top adhesion. Even on cars you can work the creases into it nicely so sometimes you don’t even need to use wrap films. Our fitters have been working with Grafityp films for a long time, so they have a real feel for them.”
“Even when it is colder, the initial adhesion of Grafityp films is good. This is not always the case with competing products.” – Patrick van Galen, order manager Sign, de Toekomst
The flexibility of Grafityp’s films
S24P is suitable for many applications. For example, we use it a lot for full-colour prints on company buses. Because of the flexibility of S24P, a cast wrap film is not always necessary. That gives us more room for manoeuvre.
A close team
Originally a printing company, de Toekomst has grown into a sustainable full-service communications company. Remon: “Six years ago, de Toekomst took over a sign company. The fitters who worked there came over with us. Together we form the Sign Department, a close-knit team of five that is well integrated with the rest of the company. Actually, there are six of us because the print operator produces all our designs.”
“The Sign department consists of a close-knit team of five. We are well integrated into the company and can count on the other departments.” – Remon van de Meent, order manager Sign, de Toekomst
Own designs
Depending on the type of order, the order managers create their own design. “That often works out with our background as graphic designers. More complex design assignments we forward to the in-house design studio. We also often collaborate in the production itself. That is also the company’s vision: versatile employees. That also makes it very varied work,” says Remon.
Conscious about the environment
The future for de Toekomst? It is definitely green. “We are environmentally conscious. More than that, we want to be leaders in ecological products for our customers. For example, we use organic inks on our offset printing press, our work clothes are made of organic cotton and we are working on a recycling system for our PVC films,” says Remon.
And what about PVC-free films? “Those are not in our range yet. We think that product still needs further development on our side. But they are definitely coming,” says Patrick.
“PVC-free films are not in our range yet, but they are definitely coming.” – Patrick van Galen, order manager Sign, de Toekomst
Trends in the sector
Besides sustainability, the gentlemen see two other trends in the signage sector: “We get a lot of orders for textile frames. Then we print the canvases and mount them in the frame. One customer, for example, ordered several small frames to be mounted against a wall. Handy, the canvases are easily interchangeable,” Remon says. “Photo wallpaper is also becoming more popular, customers are increasingly opting for personalised wall decoration.”
A selection of recent achievements of de Toekomst:
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We help to make brands stick. To do this in the best possible way, a good knowledge of the material is essential. Of films and of adhesives. And of the perfect mix for each application. In our blog we share this knowledge with you and we keep you posted on the latest news facts from our company and from our sector.
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