ImagesMagUK_May_2021

INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 18 images MAY 2021 Tag us on Instagram! @imagesmaguk Purple Hippo Printing This brilliant hoodie was printed using heat transfer vinyl by Purple Hippo Printing for street food vendor Clucking Oinks in York. imagesmag.uk/Purple-Hippo-Printing Trotec launches Q500 laser cutter Trotec has introduced the latest addition to its Q Series, the new Q500 laser cutter. Using Trotec’s OptiMotion control system, the Q500 has a maximum processing speed of 2m/s, offering “fine engravings up to a font size of 4pt with sharp shoulders and defined details”. The new cutter has a 1300 x 900mm bed size, and is available with two different laser source options — the 60-120W power DC CO2 glass tube model, which is perfect for cutting applications, while the dual-source model, which also features a 60W CeramiCore RF CO2 source, enhances speed and reliability for applications that involve a lot of engraving, explained Trotec. The Q500 also uses JobControl software, which acts as a print driver and is compatible with a wide range of graphic design programs. The cutting system is fully supported by Trotec’s UK subsidiary, with both extended warranty options and training available to customers, as well as ongoing support offered by the company’s UK-based technical service and support team. imagesmag.uk/Trotec-Q500 The new Q500 laser cutter enables “fine engravings up to a font size of 4pt” FSB finds one in four small UK businesses have halted EU exports post-Brexit Research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has found that small businesses in the UK have suffered a decline in exports to the European Union (EU) following Brexit. In a survey of more than 1,400 small firms in March 2021, the FSB found that 23% of exporters had temporarily halted sales to EU customers, while a further 4% had already decided to stop selling into the EU permanently after new trading rules took effect at the start of 2021. One in ten (11%) exporters surveyed said they were considering halting sales to Europe permanently, while another 11% had established, or are considering establishing, a presence within an EU country to ease their exporting processes. In addition, 9% are thinking of securing, or are already using, warehousing space in the EU or Northern Ireland for the same purpose. Following its survey, the FSB said it is urging the UK government to increase the threshold at which tariffs and taxes for imports/exports kick in to £1,000, as well as for them to strike new free trade agreements, which include dedicated small business chapters, with fast- growing economies around the world, including the US. The FSB also said the UK government should be closely monitoring the roll- out of its SME Brexit Support Fund to ensure that small businesses are aware they can apply for funding to access a range of trading advice, training and technology, and not exclusively that relating to customs and intermediaries. Find out more at imagesmag.uk/ SMEBrexit-SupportFund. imagesmag.uk/Brexit-EU-exports Small businesses highlighted the impact of mounting paperwork and delivery delays for the decline in EU imports and exports