Husband and wife team Rick and Connie Rhind Robey are the owners of SpeedPro Imaging in Silver Spring, Md. Recently, the SpeedPro headquarters in Denver asked for volunteers to test one of the new HP Adhesive Vinyl products from LexJet. The Robeys responded and brought in a roll of HP Optimal Gloss Air GRP and HP Gloss Polymeric Overlaminate.

The first project they created with the Optimal and Gloss laminate was a wall mural. “Wall graphics can be tricky with the new paints,” Rick says. “We did a test with the Optimal and it was a go. It went up well and stayed up well. It was a great start.”

“We’ve been using another product, but it’s kind of pricey. The Optimal has the same characteristics and maybe even a little better holding power,” says Rick. “I’ve been using it [Optimal] based on what the 40C can do: vehicle decals, flat surface, even subtle rivets. One customer was so thrilled, he’s sending us another job.”

While the Optimal is perfect for walls, vehicle decals, and other outdoor signage, there was an opportunity to use it in an unorthodox manner in Rick’s hometown of Kensington, Md. Some of the stores in the downtown area planned a storefront-style appearance on the back of the buildings.

Local artists were commissioned to create art that would decorate these “storefronts” and Rick and his team printed the artwork on Optimal, laminated it with Polymeric Gloss and installed it to hide storage space from street view. 

“I loved the high-quality look of the images. Each section was designed by a different artist. It’s important that the final piece looks great and the artist loves it. It really shines in the high-end market place,” Connie says.

The artwork has generated a lot of interest on “Antique Row” in the quaint downtown area. “The pieces have garnered a lot of attention, it speaks to the work of the artist, the work of the printer and the material,” she says. “With this job, there’s no marketing message to hide behind. It’s showcasing art. And this product really shines.”

Connie, who is also the Marketing Director, says that they are delighted to have a product like this for customers. “It’s fun to find a product that we like so much. We are excited to use it moving forward.” Rick agrees, “the graphics go on and stay on. That’s important. We’ve gained a lot of confidence in the product and will recommend it to other SpeedPro locations.”

If you are interested in trying any of the products from the HP Adhesive Vinyl portfolio, give us a call at 800-453-9538 or visit LexJet.com.