How Antalis helped HMYOI Aylesbury with its vision to create a sign workshop to help rehabilitate offenders.

The Background

HMYOI Aylesbury is a long-term young offenders’ institution, holding the longest sentenced young adult males in the English prison system. Their approach to rehabilitation is visionary, with the education of prisoners being both practical and revolutionary. They sought to create a real business sign workshop where staff could teach prisoners the ‘art of sign making’. They wanted to use this, not only to coach and rehabilitate the offenders, but also to put these skills into practice by refurbishing elements of the prison itself, including the prison signage.

Antalis is an established and trusted supplier of the prison service for many different products from its print and visual communications substrate range. HMYOI Aylesbury approached Antalis’ team of hardware development managers, who are dedicated to helping print service providers make the correct hardware investment based on their individual needs and budgets.

Antalis has several hardware partnerships designed to provide a ‘one-stop-shop’ offer for large format needs. Offering access to the world’s leading manufacturers, Antalis can give a truly consultative approach which ensures the correct solutions are sourced and implemented.

The Solutions

An initial brief was given to Antalis who made in-depth recommendations based on the requirements. HMYOI Aylesbury agreed to the proposals and Antalis facilitated the establishment of a fully working ‘Sign Workshop’ within the prison, including the full production systems and all other components of the facility. The workshop contains the latest state of the art technology to enable printing, cutting, laminating, mounting, storage of media and even specialist finishing equipment such as wall and bench mounted media cutters.

The equipment was supplied and installed by Antalis’ partner, Granthams Graphic Technology, based in Preston, who is an authorised Mimaki reseller. They were chosen for this project by Antalis as their preferred hardware partner because of the fantastic reputation they have in the industry. (Granthams is a family business, known for their high levels of technical support)

After the system installation Antalis’ large format print media experts were on hand to advise on media choices best suited for the applications to be produced.

The Benefits

The Head of Printing for the Prison Service, Kevin Johnson, approached Antalis to make recommendations based on the intended applications to be produced in the workshop. “Antalis listened to, and shared, our vision to create a real working environment within the prison. They provided a free consultation which extended right the way through the workflow, including advice on design software, PC's, RIPs, laminators, cutting and finishing, as well as the environment in which the systems would be positioned.”

Kevin goes on to explain why the new workshop is so important, and how it will benefit the wider prison service. “The workshop is for offenders to produce signage, not only for HMYOI Aylesbury, but for the wider prison sector. The equipment installed enables us to produce all types of display graphics, labels and signage, and we have the capability to cut and finish aluminium, foam PVC panels and over apply vinyl graphics. Additionally, on a very human level, it gives prisoners, who want to learn, the opportunity to develop vital new skills”.

In Conclusion

Paul Duffy, Hardware Development Manager at Antalis UK said, “We are delighted to have worked with HMYOI Aylesbury’s team to set up this workshop. The project took three months from initial brief through to final installation. Kevin and the team at HMYOI Aylesbury are forward thinking in their approach to rehabilitation and we share their passion to improve the education of offenders through projects like this which use the latest technology.”

Summary

• HMYOI Aylesbury was looking for independent and expert hardware advice

• Consultation and recommendations are FREE and impartial Antalis has hardware partnerships with industry leading providers

• Antalis provides a ‘one-stop-shop’ offer for large format technology and media needs

• HMYOI Aylesbury now has a sign workshop that supplies signage for the prison wider community

• Offenders are benefiting from real training and work experience as a result of the forward thinking prison management

For more information about Antalis’ growing portfolio of Hardware or Visual Communication Substrates; visit www.antalis.co.uk/business/home/applications/sign-display.html