The next time you’re watching the Animal Planet television series “Tanked,” keep an eye out for one of Roland’s advanced wide-format inkjet printers or state-of-the-art rotary engraving machines on the set. The hosts and graphic design team of the popular Animal Planet series are using Roland equipment in the creation of many of their wild and elaborate fish tanks.
“Tanked” follows the antics of two brothers-in-law—Wayde King and Brett Raymer—as they run the nation’s largest aquarium company, Acrylic Tank Manufacturing (ATM). King, Raymer and the rest of the “Tanked” crew rely on a Roland VersaCAMM VS-640 wide-format inkjet printer/cutter and a Roland EGX-360 Rotary Engraving Machine to add unique design touches to their unconventional, larger-than-life projects.
According to Phillip Dominguez, art director for Acrylic Tank Manufacturing and owner of Identity, Inc. (a Las Vegas-based advertising and print studio), Roland technology is playing an essential role in the making of ATM’s highly customized fish tanks. “We build tanks for a long list of noteworthy clients, including some A-list celebrities, and each one is incredibly personalized for the individual,” said Dominguez. “An important part of that customization process is incorporating bold, colorful prints and precision graphics, and that’s exactly what the VersaCAMM VS-640 delivers.”
Dominguez is also impressed by the design elements made possible by the VS-640 printer’s specialty ink capabilities. “Having the ability to incorporate white and metallic inks into our graphics is a big advantage,” he noted. “Other printers we’ve used in the past simply didn’t have this kind of functionality.”
ATM has used its Roland large-format inkjet printer/cutter to build many memorable client aquariums, some of which have been showcased on “Tanked.” These projects include a one-of-a-kind “Mob” fish tank for the Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, as well as incredibly inventive “New York Phone Booth” and “Pinball Machine” tanks built for private residences, all featuring stunning, vibrant Roland prints.
While ATM relies heavily on its Roland printer/cutter to help bring its tanks to life, the company has found additional uses for this versatile machine as well. “We used our Roland to wrap the ATM truck and trailer,” explained Dominguez. “It’s an unbeatable promotional vehicle…pardon the pun. You can’t miss our rig as it cruises down the road. Like our tank graphics, the vehicle wraps are bright, colorful and unusual.”
ATM is also using its Roland EGX-360 Rotary Engraver to add special touches to the unusual fish tanks the team builds for restaurants, casinos, banks, hotels, churches, corporate offices, mansions, zoos, and museums around the globe. “We’re really just getting started with the EGX-360, but from what I’ve seen so far, it’s another truly amazing machine, noted Dominguez. “I can think of all kinds of applications for projects we’re planning in the second half of the season. It’s the perfect tool for adding eye-catching 3-D effects to the one-of-a-kind tanks we create.”
Along with its high quality, large-format printers, printer/cutters and rotary engravers, Roland makes an array of high-tech, yet user friendly, products and accessories for the dental, photography, packaging and 3-D modeling industries.
To learn more about the complete Roland lineup, call 800/542-2307 or visit www.rolanddga.com.
For more information about Acrylic Tank Manufacturing and “Tanked,” visit www.acrylicaquariums.com.
