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Roland DG and BWT Alpine F1 Team crown Europe’s Hottest Wrapper

19 November 2024

Roland DG, the world’s leading provider of digital printing solutions hosted ‘The Wrap Academy’ - a vehicle wrapping workshop in collaboration with BWT Alpine Formula One Team that also uses Roland DG’s technology, to find Europe’s next car wrapping star.

Held at BWT Alpine Formula One Team’s cutting-edge Technical Centre in Enstone, UK, the event welcomed 10 car wrappers from across Europe who went head-to-head to showcase their creativity, precision, and craftsmanship by live wrapping the world-famous Formula One team’s show cars, and learn from the best in the industry to accelerate their car wrapping businesses.

Mike Szwacki, founder of MEK Wrap Squad based in the UK was crowned the champion, impressing a distinguished panel of judges including car customiser to the stars, Yianni Charalambous. Mike will now go on to support BWT Alpine Formula One Team’s wrap crew at one of the most iconic motorsport events, taking place in Las Vegas on Sunday 24th November 2024, receiving unparalleled access to the fast-paced world of Formula One car wrapping - from the pit stop to the wrap shop.

Champion of The Wrap Academy, Mike Szwacki, said, "Today was unbelievable - all thanks to Roland DG! I learnt so much at the event, but what really shone through was the power of teamwork in this industry and that’s what really matters. I can’t wait to be behind the scenes, working with the incredible BWT Alpine Formula One Team’s wrap crew at one of the most prestigious motorsport events in the world. I’m going to Vegas, baby!"

During The Wrap Academy, participants were given exclusive access to industry experts during an intimate Q&A and panel discussion with Yianni Charalambous and representatives from Roland DG, BWT Alpine Formula One Team and vinyl supplier Hexis, plus one-to-one skills sharing sessions to help them elevate their own businesses.

Boasting over 6 million social media followers, Yianni Charalambous mentored the participants throughout the event, sharing his insights and decades of experience within the car wrapping industry. Charalambous has wrapped cars for many of Hollywood’s biggest stars and is the owner of Yiannimize, a luxury car customisation garage based in London, UK. Commenting on the event, Yianni Charalambous, owner of Yiannimize said, “The event was a great success and I loved being a part of it. The talent all brought their A-game and it was great to see car wrappers from all over Europe come together and showcase their talent. The Wrap Academy is a great initiative, and I look forward to seeing the future success of Mike and all the other participants in our industry.”

Worldwide market research organisation Precedence Research recently reported the global automotive wrap films market size is expected to reach around USD 39.31 billion by 2033, proving it is an incredibly exciting time for the industry and business owners alike.

Stephen Davis, EMEA Marketing Director & UK President at Roland DG, commented, "At Roland DG, we are passionate about supporting business owners and talent, sharing expertise and skills to help them level up their own offerings. Reflecting the spirit of motorsport, this event was dedicated to uncovering talent with an unwavering commitment to precision, accuracy, and peak performance in car wrapping. The creativity, skills and passion of the attendees in the room was nothing short of inspiring.”

“Roland DG has been our print partner of choice for many years so we were delighted to partner with them in their pursuit to support the next generation of car wrapping talent,” shared Joe McNamara, Paint & Graphics Head at BWT Alpine Formula One Team. “The event at our new graphics studio in Enstone was easily the best one yet! It was a highlight for us all to work alongside Yianni Charalambous, to help educate and inspire business owners, whilst also celebrating the incredible industry talent in attendance. It was a great success and we’ve all made new industry friendships for life.”

Roland DG has supported BWT Alpine Formula One Team for almost a decade, using Roland DG’s world-leading TrueVIS ink-printing technology in all aspects of the team’s branding, from the high-quality decals and artwork on the A524 race cars to the emblems on the transport trucks, and even on notices and signs around their facilities.

NOW, THAT’S A WRAP!

Source: Largeformatreview