FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 19, 2004

Mare Floors Penetrates New Markets Using Its VUTEk® UltraVu® 2600 EC To Print Photographic Quality Flooring

Mare Floors GmbH, the German-based large format printer, has used its VUTEk® UltraVu® 2600 EC's superior print capabilities, to print a vibrantly colored and unusual underwater floor design for leading Madrid advertising agency, Estudio Cruz. The floor printed for Estudio Cruz is part of Mare Floors' plan to maximize new opportunities within the worldwide floor covering market and has already generated keen interest from Asian customers.

Using its UltraVu® 2600's abilities to re-produce eight-color, super-fine printing of photographic quality, Mare Floors printed a 20 sq m montage made up of different water motifs. Incorporating a new special effect patented floor covering, the design of the new floor at Estudio Cruz is unique to Mare Floors. As one of the company's first installations in Spain, the innovative floor has proved a huge success.

René Schiller, Managing Director of Mare Floors GmbH comments, 'The majority of signs and billboards are printed at 150 dpi, as they are designed to be viewed at a distance of five meters or more. Mare Floors' products are designed to be viewed clearly from one meter, so every detail in the print should be faultless. With its 600 dpi resolution capability, the VUTEk® UltraVu® 2600 EC prints images of photographic quality - we do not believe we could complete our work to such high standards without it.'

To install the new floor, Mare Floors first applied a plastic layer to the existing concrete, and then bonded the self-adhesive vinyl graphics to the base layer. Glass beads and crystals were adhered to the VUTEk® printed image and a matte covering overlayed. The final touch was the implementation of a special hard-wearing transparent film that helps to create a look of shimmering water. The floor is now a key focal point in the main reception area at Estudio Cruz.

René continues, 'Most industrial and commercial flooring is used for more than 20 years - therefore the print quality has to be exceptional and retain its high visual quality. High-resolution images can be printed on our UltraVu® 2600 EC and applied to flooring of any type. The decorative and marketing opportunities are endless and there is no limit to what you can do.'

As part of Mare Floors' commitment to customer service, and as one of its first projects in Spain, René went to Madrid to oversee the project and offer technical advice to the contracted installation team. By outsourcing the installation of its graphics to local companies, Mare Floors was able to retain its team of experts at its printing house, increasing productivity by running its VUTEk® UltraVu® 2600 EC 24 hours a day.

René continues, 'The Estudio Cruz flooring was printed in less than two days, and then took a week to install, as each layer needed time to dry. Estudio Cruz are very happy with the installation and the floor is testimony to our capabilities within the Spanish market.'

Mare Floors claims to be the world's leading floor coverings specialist, and using its VUTEk® UltraVu® 2600 EC has already produced highly successful jobs for blue chip companies such as Mercedes Benz. A marble floor created for a fashion wholesaler in London, England, earned Mare Floors the distinguished 'Most Innovative Product Award' at the 2003 Resin Flooring Association Awards. The company now has several jobs lined up in Asia, and has already printed floor coverings for customers in the Czech Republic and Japan.

René concludes, 'We believe that VUTEk® printers are the only machines in Europe that are capable of offering the ultra-high quality printing that our customers demand. As we move into new markets, we would certainly look to VUTEk® to provide us with future printers.'

About VUTEk® Inc.
Founded in 1988, American manufacturer, VUTEk® Inc., is the leading worldwide supplier of superwide format inkjet printers to the graphic arts market. VUTEk® pioneered superwide format printers, and sets the standard for superwide/grand format and specialty printing, using inkjet technology for out-of-home advertising applications including billboards, fleet graphics, banners, bus shelters, point-of-purchase displays and posters. Its current product portfolio includes the UltraVu® product range, for high quality, high speed superwide flexible printing in 1.5-, 2-, 3-, and 5-meter formats; and its PressVu® family of digital inkjet flatbed printers, capable of printing on both rigid and flexible substrates.

All trademarks noted herein are either the property of VUTEk® Inc. or their respective companies.

VUTEk®
Phone: 603 279 4635
Fax: 603 279 6411
E-Mail: jcedrone@vutek.com
Website URL: www.vutek.com