Shades adds photo-print quality Lambda to its print range

The design and the ergonomics of such machines continue to play a major role in their acceptance by players. The tradition print solution with screen print is still reflected in the company name. Quality is key in the print process and for this reason Shades management has always focused on the vertical integration in the production process.

An in-house glass cutting and processing centre has allowed gaming and amusement machine manufacturers the flexibility they need in their glass design. The cut-outs can easily be taken into consideration for components such as banknote readers, coin acceptors or buttons, thanks to the water-jet machine park at Shades.

Screen printing has been complimented by digital printing for many years at Shades with a range of large digital print machines. Often the two processes are combined to obtain the best print quality for back-lit glasses. The gaming industry is well known for its cyclical nature – new legislation can cause a large demand overnight and so manufacturers require the highest amount of flexibility. Its customers have for many years benefited from this quick, quality service.

The respect and quality that Shades has earned over three decades in the marketplace has been spread over the amusement and street market machine manufacturers in many countries. Naturally Shades operates in other markets such as vending and banking. However, it has been the casino market that has not been able to benefit in the past from Shades product offer to the full.

The reason being is that back printed glasses and plastics in the casino industry tend to be very strongly back-lit. The digital printing process is made up of printing individual pixels that can be seen on very close inspection if the back lighting is also very strong. Therefore, casino slots tend to make up of a photo-print quality called Lambda.

Martin Charlesworth, Sales Manager at Shades, comments, “We are very pleased to be able to offer lambda print. This really does make Shades stand out in the print industry given the full array of print possibilities that we offer. It is this flexibility that is such an important criterium in the gaming and amusement industry”. Carroll Consulting acts as European agent for Shades. John Carroll explains, “The company history spreading over thirty years underlines that Shades really knows how our industry ticks. Now Shades is even better positioned for the future”.