stole girls’ shoes from Waukesha schools convicted
EFI reported at Graph Expo last month, that Brazilian firm Studio Alfa has revolutionised its business with EFI’s Vutek superwide-format printing. ‘We started our business in Rio de Janeiro eight years ago as a prepress house,’ said Evando Abreu, director, Studio Alfa. ‘As the industry changed around us, we were looking for new business opportunities, and flatbed printing struck us as an innovative and exciting technology.
Since we were one of the first firms to implement direct-to-rigid-substrate printing in Rio, it has taken time to educate the market, but now it is really taking off.’ Today, Studio Alfa has 70 employees and revenues of about $5 million. The firm counts among its clients high-end jeweler H Stern and fashion designer Casa Alessa. ‘One of the most unique and exciting things we do is print custom fabrics for Alessa,’ said Abreu.
‘She came to us looking for an alternative to producing her new fabric designs for fashion shows. We have been able to offer her same day turnaround in many cases, as opposed to weeks with the conventional process she was using.’ Studio Alfa receives electronic files with Alessa’s custom designs for fabrics featuring Brazilian scenes, monuments, flora, fauna and architecture.
The Vutek PV200 prints directly on the fabric and then Casa Alessa cuts and sews this custom fabric into a wide range of fashion items for use at fashion shows prior to going into full production. ‘We can even print on leather so that she can create custom shoes, purses and other items,’ commented Abreu. ‘We never cease to be amazed at the creativity of our customers as they deploy Vutek solutions,’ says Chuck Dourlet, vice president of marketing, EFI Vutek.