In anticipation of the Sign Africa 2009 exhibition we started working hard at bringing several new products to market for South African signage and graphics professionals. In the process we clinched a number of exclusive distributorships for South Africa, including Triangle Inks and GCC UV printers and plotters.

Our latest product we managed to get distributorship for is actually a product we’ve been selling for years, but this one has a bit of a new twist. The product is CADDlexx (also known in industry as videoflex) in neon colours.

So what is CADFlexx? The simple answer can be put in the form of a question. Have you ever seen the word “Beckham” and the number 7 in large letters on the back of David Beckham’s Manchester United football jersey? That is done with CADFlexx.

It is a PVC based, CAD-cut material that is cut on the same cutters that sign makers cut vinyl signs and is used mainly in the decorating and customising of sports apparel. This product has been adopted by sports organisations globally due to its opacity and the appearance its matt finish lends to garments decorated or cutomised with this product.

Having made the transition from sports to fashion, a wider colour spectrum became a necessity to that end Sytech Supplies started talks with manufacturers about introducing more and brighter colours. Those talks resulted in the product that Sytech Supplies makes available to the South African signage, graphics, sports and fashion industries today. CADFlexx in neon colours.

CADFlexx is suitable for use on pure cotton, pure polyester, blends of polycotton and most other synthetics, but not nylon (challenges with coatings).

The plotter cutting of this material has to be done in reverse, and it has to be heatpressed with it’s backing intact. The backing is only removed when the CADFlexx is pressed and has cooled down considerably. Heatpressing has to be done with medium pressure, at a temperature of around 150∞C with the plate pressed down for 10 to 15 seconds.