Lufthansa Technik AG uses a Roland LEC-540 UV printer/cutter to produce labels for use in aircraft. For them, the biggest advantages are the excellent white ink and user friendliness of the device.
Lufthansa Technik AG is one of the world's largest players in the field of aircraft maintenance, repair and inspection. It is a subsidiary of the German Lufthansa AG that employs 26,000 people worldwide. Every day, they inspect 1700 aircraft at 60 different airports. Aside from technical services, Lufthansa Technik also provides Aircraft Painting Services. This department is responsible for painting aircraft and aircraft components, with tasks that range from painting individual components in workshops to consulting and coordination of complex questions regarding aircraft painting.
They also have their own Graphics Shop where they make stickers and templates that are applied to the exteriors and interiors of aircraft. More specifically, these are used for cabin signage, painting templates and advertising stickers.
UV printer for aircraft stickers
Lufthansa Technik uses an LEC-540 UV printer from Roland DG to produce labels for use in aircraft cabins. Manuela Behrmann from Aircraft Painting Services at Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg explains: "We use the Roland LEC-540 in our Graphics Shop many hours every day to make labels that we use in aircraft. When you realise that there are about 1000 to 1500 labels in and on one aircraft, you understand that we need to be able to make labels quickly and efficiently. We primarily use the LEC-540 to print on polycarbonate foil. We print on the back of the foil and apply an adhesive layer over the print. Then the stickers are applied to chairs, toilet doors, etc."
Lufthansa Technik has been a client of Roland DG since 2004. Their SOLJET PRO II V SC-545EX is still in service, and in October 2013 they also bought a UV printer/cutter through Farben-Frikell GmbH & Co. "We're thrilled about our LEC-540. It is a high quality and user-friendly printer. The white ink allows us to increase the colour intensity. VersaWorks, the software from Roland that comes with it, is easy to use and has all the functions that we need," say the employees of the Graphics Shop.
Expertise in foils
The Graphics Shop at Lufthansa Technik is an expertise centre for graphical and technical lettering and large format prints for aircraft. Every material is subjected to a wide variety of tests to ensure that they satisfy the regulations of the aviation industry. For example, all the foils are extremely colour fast.
"In many cases, it is easier, better and more flexible to use a foil instead of painting. There are few limitations in terms of design or colour scheme," says Manuela Behrmann.
