Signarama Tuggerah, led by Director Melissa Marshall, made a significant impact by delivering eco-friendly signage for the Australian Olympic Committee at the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. As a leading signage and print manufacturing facility on the Central Coast, their involvement in this project cemented their reputation as a leader in sustainability.
“This project was all about sustainability” says Melissa. “Every application we delivered had to be the most sustainable option possible.”
Over the course of a year, Signarama Tuggerah designed and manufactured bespoke signage for key locations in France, including five hotels, two shipping containers, and seven sporting venues. The Paris 2024 organisers aimed to halve the carbon footprint compared to previous Games. For Signarama Tuggerah, the challenge was not only about delivering high-quality signage but ensuring it adhered to strict sustainability guidelines.
Central to the success of this project was the Summa F Series F1612 Flatbed Cutter, acquired from Pozitive in 2022. According to Melissa, the Summa F1612 was critical to managing the complex production requirements. “We couldn’t have done it without it” she explains.
The Summa F1612’s compact footprint is one of its standout features, requiring only 2.5 x 2.5m of space - making it accessible for almost any sign shop to install and immediately boost productivity. The machine’s interchangeable tools enabled the team to switch seamlessly between cutting methods. “We’d start with routing, then kiss cutting, and finish with through cutting” Melissa says. The flexibility of the Summa F1612 allowed the team to handle various materials, from cardboard to organic substrates and films, ensuring each piece met the sustainability standards set by the Australian Olympic Committee.
The Summa F1612’s advanced barcode workflow also reduced the time and manpower required for the project. “The barcode system made it so easy,” Melissa recalls. “What would have taken two people all day to cut, we finished in 20 minutes, all we had to do was supervise.”
This automation maximised efficiency and minimised waste, aligning perfectly with the sustainability goals of the Paris Games. The accompanying GoProduce software further simplified job management, allowing the team to focus on delivering high-quality results quickly.
The Summa F1612 wasn’t the only innovation that helped Signarama Tuggerah meet the sustainability standards. The company partnered with industry leaders to pioneer recyclable, reusable materials that produced 22% less carbon. The transition to latex printers, using water-based inks, further reduced their carbon footprint.
“Inventing signage with organic materials was challenging” Melissa notes, “but essential for meeting the sustainability standards.” Their success not only fulfilled the AOC’s requirements but demonstrated that high-quality, sustainable signage is achievable on a large scale.
As a result of their work, Signarama Tuggerah has become a strong voice in the Australian signage industry, advocating for sustainable practices. Their efforts have helped prevent tonnes of waste from entering landfills.
Melissa sums up the importance of the Summa F1612: “It’s like having two extra staff in the shop.” By boosting productivity and simplifying workflows, the Summa F1612 allowed Signarama Tuggerah to take on this large, high-stakes project and deliver beyond expectations.
The success of Signarama Tuggerah’s project for the Australian Olympic Committee showcases how the right technology drives sustainable innovation. From managing multiple materials to automating labour-intensive tasks, the Summa F1612 played a pivotal role in helping Signarama Tuggerah meet their goals for the Paris 2024 Games.
For Melissa and her team, this project marked a turning point—not just in what they could achieve with eco-friendly materials but in setting new standards for sustainable signage.
Pozitive Sign & Graphic Supplies is proud to be the Australian distributor for Summa, providing cutting-edge solutions like the Summa F Series to help businesses achieve precision and efficiency in their signage production.
Article published in Image Magazine October 2024 Edition.
