Introduced about a year ago, DIPA Global B.V. has been running its ‘Substrate Bank’, an online platform of substrates for digital printing. Although the concept is similar to any online B2B portals, Substrate Bank brings together print media manufacturers and their products on a B2B industry platform which makes the sourcing and specifying of substrates easy, fast and transparent. Substrate Bank takes into account the intended usage to find and source products in a digital way.
The platform has already welcomed leading industry brands – Contra Vision, Xanita, DESARDI, Digital Magnetics, Neenah, Dreamscape wallcovering and Re-board Technology. In the next phase, more manufacturers are set to join.
Marco Stevens, Sales & Marketing Director of DIPA Global B.V. explained that users of the platform can easily source print substrates with the use of industry-specific search criteria, giving users the ability to filter around multiple parameters to find a selection of desired substrates in a few minutes instead of browsing through multiple company websites. After registration, users are able to connect with manufacturers directly whereby they can request samples, ask for directions to the nearest distributor, ask about print settings, technical datasheets, and more.
He added: “Material specifiers from global brands and retailers have complex responsibilities. As campaign creators they need trusted product information from reliable sources – for example on environmental aspects and sustainability. These sources are shifting more towards information available online.”
Substrate Bank strives for more transparency by bringing key information on brands online in one place. Creating a reliable resource for professionals from different industries to select print materials and discover new brands, he concludes.
