Sunday, 17 Apr 2016 19:00 GMT

Taking time out for Sign and Digital UK

With time a precious amenity for all members of the industry, Brendan Perring asks: “Why is a visit to Sign and Digital UK worth the time out for a busy sign-maker?”

Exploring new ideas

Sign and Digital 2016 will be the ideal opportunity for sign-makers and printers to discover the huge potential within digital applications. Our specialist team of sign and display experts will be on hand throughout the show, so if anyone wants to explore new substrates or discover the latest products on offer, it is an ideal opportunity to gain their input and advice.

Our stand takes the theme of a ‘coffee shop’, showcasing our products within a retail settling, so visitors to the stand can see first hand the range of products we have available, and chat to our experts.

We have selected some of our most innovative sign and display products that we hope will inspire visitors to our stand to try something new and give them the confidence to tap in to new markets.

We have selected some of our most innovative sign and display products that we hope will inspire visitors to our stand to try something new ”


Amongst the products on display will be our new Digital Wall Covering ranges, from Coala and Graham and Brown the new Coala Digital Wall Coverings range, as well as a range from Graham and Brown. Compatible with the majority of digital inkjet printing technologies, Graham and Brown’s FSC non-woven substrates are both ranges that are easy to apply and remove. Visitors will also be able to view the new DISPA board, perfect for short-term, indoor sales displays and a highlight of our stand.

Also on display will be the latest Orafol range of plotter vinyls, digital vinyls, and laminates for creative floor, wall, and window treatments, the Drytac range of easy to apply films and overlaminates, as well as the popular 3A composite products such as Dibond, Forex, Smart-X, and KAPA ranges.

Try to be memorable


Graeme Hoole, director, The Sign Group


When you get to the nitty gritty, the exhibitors are there to try woo you into a business relationship for anything they can help with in the future, nothing else.

It is nice to meet up with current suppliers or customers, have a catch up and pot of tea, but, ultimately, it is an in-your-face sales pitch.

Saying that, the exhibitors really have to take advantage this and make sure their stand really shows off what they are trying to get across.

From a visitor point of view, this is a great melting pot of different companies, which should inspire them to want to try new things, delve into new areas, and leave them with a positive feeling of what they can achieve. If the exhibitors do their job correctly, their stand should be memorable and aspirational, leaving the visitors thinking of ways of how they can be involved with them, and wanting to work with them. Easier said than done, and rarely is it done flawlessly, but effort counts for a lot.

We always enjoyed visiting Sign and Digital UK and always came away with at least one good contact, which helped us down the line. In past years, the show seemed to get a little smaller, with only built up letter companies and digital print suppliers exhibiting in the main, but the diverse range of companies exhibiting now means this should be a must for any sign-maker.

We always enjoyed visiting Sign and Digital UK and always came away with at least one good contact, which helped us down the line”


As an exhibitor, we try to portray what I have described—some say we achieve it, I feel we do a great job. As one of the smaller exhibitors, we have to make sure our stand is always eye-catching and busy to make up for the smaller floorspace. This year will be our biggest stand, and we are excited to show off new developments across the business. Come visit us to see our biggest stand yet, and get involved with our unique competition to win one of our NeonPlus Hearts.

Strength to strength


Phil George, director, Signmaster Systems


I think everyone in the sign-making or print industries should visit Sign and Digital UK if they get a chance. Visiting for 20 years and exhibiting since 2000, I have a seen it go from strength to strength, and every year it gets more exciting. The show offers a first look at new products and technology storming the market, with offers and promotions you will not get any other time. Everything is under one roof from printing to finishing. All the market leading brands in attendance, so it is a prime opportunity for networking, building working relationships, and looking at new investment opportunities.

Sign and Digital UK continues to be the main event of the year for Signmaster and is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our range of wide-format print and finishing equipment from premium and reputable brands including OKI, Roland, Signlab, Graphtec, and many more.

On show will be the Colorpainter range by OKI that includes the W-64s with its unique solvent neon ink. The M-64s, a higher production machine that offers quality at impressive speeds as well as the super-wide H3-104s that integrates many of the advanced features of the M-64s into a 2.6m format printer.

We will also be showcasing the latest in technology and offerings from Roland, including the TrueVIS VG-640, which uses Roland’s latest ink formation, RIP and remote control function. The new LEF-300 will also be featured with its bigger bed size with vacuum, faster print speeds, and new features in the latest dual RIP.

The Inglet Inblade vertical cutter will be making its UK debut on Signmaster’s stand. This premium cutter has advanced features such as a pneumatic clamping system delivering greater precision as well as many other innovative features.

I encourage anyone within the wide-format industry to come and have a look—there really is something for everyone”


I am very excited about this year’s show, especially with so many new products on offer, which promise to add value to any new and existing businesses.  I encourage anyone within the wide-format industry to come and have a look—there really is something for everyone.

Showcasing innovation


Phil McMullin, sales manager, ProGraphics, Epson UK


Sign and Digital UK is a significant event in the industry calendar and offers print service professionals the chance to see many of the latest products and services that are on offer to the signage and display sector—all in one venue. It also offers a unique opportunity for them to get up-to-date information on the latest developments, gain new insight, and discuss their businesses with like-minded individuals and print technology experts.
 
In turn, the show gives us as exhibitors the chance to present our products in a way that we hope will inspire visitors and show them how they can broaden their service offering with new creative ways of using the technology and different media available to them.

The show gives us as exhibitors the chance to present our products in a way that we hope will inspire visitors and show them how they can broaden their service offering”


This will be a strong focus for Epson this year, where we will not only be showing our latest range of professional SureColor printers but also demonstrating how companies can use our new print head, ink, and printer design technology to develop new business ventures and enter new markets, as well as expanding on their current service offerings. There is something for everyone at the show and visitors to the Epson booth will be able to see new ways to create everything from simple signage to high-end displays and décor on a range of substrates, including rigid and 3D applications.

Epson provides the signage and display market with affordable printer and ink technology for the broadest range of professional print applications—such as backlit panels, POS materials, vehicle wraps, wallpaper, canvases, printed textiles including soft signage, clothing, and home textiles, and exhibition and display graphics, many of which we will be on view at the show. As always, we are keen to meet visitors on the booth, whether from small start-ups new to this sector or medium-to-large organisations looking to diversify or develop on their current set-up, and look forward to showing them ways they can maximise their production capabilities and their profits.

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