But you won’t hear these sentiments repeated in the exhibition halls of Birmingham’s NEC exhibition centre during this year’s Sign & Digital UK show (24-26 March). That’s because exhibitors and show organisers are gearing up for the biggest and best ever version of the event, according to Rudi Blackett, Sign & Digital UK event director.
With a month to go before the show kicks off, the event was already 20% larger than the previous year, occupying 10,000 metres in two halls at the NEC. This was largely due to more exhibitors taking part as well as existing exhibitors purchasing larger stands, explains Blackett.
“The main reasons for these increases is that we are seeing a return in market confidence, largely due to the brighter economic outlook, making visitors keen to upgrade and replace their printing and finishing equipment. We had a very busy show in 2014 and this trend is likely to continue this year,” he says.
Stand-out stands
He also anticipates visitor numbers to increase at this year’s show with 7,000 people set to pour through the halls, versus the 6,100 visitors who attended last year. But what can those visitors expect to see gracing the exhibition halls, where is the stand-out kit located and what are the key industry trends that are likely to emerge from the show?
You can usually pinpoint some key trends from the exhibitor list and this year is no different, according to Blackett. He says there has been a noticeable increase in the number of materials and media suppliers at the show – a reflection of the new applications and markets that are opening up in the wide-format sector – as well as more flatbed and finishing systems manufacturers.
Falling into this latter category is Blackman & White, with the first
UK exhibition appearance of its Versa-Tech cutter, which was recently added to the company’s established MasterCut Range. As the name suggests, the major upside to the Versa-Tech is its flexibility – it offers crease, kiss-cut, router, drag knife, oscillating knife and driven rotary knife capabilities all on a
single conveyorised or flatbed heavy duty table.
“The sign and graphics market is always moving at a furious pace with innovations in both media and print technology and our customers rely on the ability to diversify and handle new materials to capitalise on the opportunity that brings,” says Blackman & White managing director Alex White.
The furious pace of innovation to which White refers will be in evidence throughout the exhibition halls, with much of this kit targeted at emerging markets, like textiles.
“Textile printing is a big growth market and this will be very much in evidence at the show,” confirms Blackett. “Soft signage has made its mark with its assortment of unique benefits, including ease of transportation.”
One company that will be playing up these benefits is Colourgen, which is taking the new Mutoh flatbed LED UV printer to the show.
“We expect to see a lot of enquiries for soft signage applications, such as textiles and flags,” says Colourgen’s product marketing manager Melanie Enser. “Now that this sort of output is no longer limited to the dye-sublimation market it will be a key trend at the show.”
She also thinks there will be a lot of interest in promotional gadget printers, capable of producing pens, luggage tags and all manner of other paraphernalia, as users look to increase their product offering.
“We’re launching the Mutoh ValueJet 426UF LED UV printer on our stand, which is ideally targeted at this market,” says Enser. “We’ve seen a huge amount of enquiries, even before the launch, so this is obviously an area of great interest.”
The ability to approach clients with a product that gives a printer a real point of difference from competitors remains a holy grail for printers, and Blackett expects products that boast these benefits to fare particularly well at the show. “For leading wide-format manufacturers and resellers it is a constant battle for market share and volume sales and the real quest is to launch a game-changing product that will hold a price point,” he adds.
A year or so ago that game changing device might well have been a latex printer, but the technology has rapidly established itself in the mainstream market thanks to the significant growth in sales of latex devices in 2014.
Graham de Kock, director at large-format equipment supplier CWE Solutions, says that in 2015 the market is set to go one better, with record sales of HP latex printers, in particular, anticipated.
“All the arguments that competitors had when the latex first came out a couple of years ago are non-existent today,” says de Kock. “The technological developments that HP has developed in this third-generation latex ink includes a superior scratch-resistant finish and ‘stretchy’ inks, which makes it the perfect printer range for vehicle wrapping. The other clear fact about latex ink is your print is dry and ready to laminate immediately – no more waiting for solvent de-gassing, which can take up to 48 hours. And of course because there are no harmful gasses, the output is suitable for all indoor applications, including nurseries, hospitals and the home.”
Fast-moving sector
Latex printers like those manufactured by HP have made a major impact on the interiors and wall coverings market over the past few years and this continues to be one of the fastest growing applications for wide-format print. As a result, display printers are increasingly having to develop innovative products to allow their clients to stay ahead of the game. Manufacturers are also stepping up to the plate in this regard, a fact underlined by a visit to the Canon stand where ‘creativity and imagination’ are the watchwords at this year’s show.
“We’re predicting interior decoration to be one of the key trends across the shop floor as designers seek the latest print processes and techniques to help bring their concepts to life in new and interesting ways,” says Dominic Fahy, business group manager, display graphics systems and imaging supplies at Canon UK.
Consequently, the company is taking an armoury of printers to the show including the Océ ColorWave 900, the Océ Arizona 318 GL and 480 GT UV flatbeds in addition to the UK debut of its high-performance wide-format colour printer, the Océ ColorWave 700.
“These technologies will be supported by proof-of-concept examples of eye-catching customer applications ranging from kitchen splashbacks and 3D art to stained glass window glazing and printed wood, to name but a few,” adds Fahy. “Our whole proposition aims to encourage visitors to the show to be more imaginative with wide-format print and we’re anticipating another lively and inspiring event.”
Fujifilm also plans to place the emphasis on creativity by showcasing what’s possible using its Uvijet KV inks and its Acuity printers. It intends to print on substrates like polystyrene and PETG, and then show how these substrates can be easily moulded into new shapes like car dashboard covers or other 3D objects.
“What we want to try and do is enable our customers to provide innovative print to their clients,” says Steve Cookman product manager wide-format inkjet Fujifilm UK. “We’re a very UV ink oriented company and in the case of both the Acuity Advance Select and the Acuity LED we offer a white and a clear, so that allows customers to be quite creative in terms of multi-layer printing onto various substrates.”
Of course it’s no good putting all of your energies into being creative if you can’t turn a profit at the end of the day, which is why software providers like Shuttleworth also anticipate a busy few days at the exhibition.
“The key challenge for printers today is to manage work more efficiently, without affecting profitability and the way to do this is to reduce administration, and this is where MIS solutions and integration can help,” says Andy King, joint managing director at Shuttleworth MIS.
MIS opportunity
King detected a new-found confidence in the market in 2014, with a string of new clients coming on board, and he aims to build on this resurgence later this month as the company showcases a range of products and enhancements specifically aimed at assisting the sign and digital market. “At the show we envisage this trend will be reflected in visitor numbers, with savvy printers seriously looking to invest in solutions to help them with existing and future business requirements,” says King.
The good news for Shuttleworth, and all of the other equipment manufacturers in attendance at the exhibition for that matter, is that a raft of businesses are expected to visit Sign & Digital with a view to splashing the cash and taking advantage of some of the exclusive show deals that exhibitors intend to offer. These potential customers come from a number of different areas, explains Blackett.
“Printing and graphic output companies will be attending to catch up on what is new to make sure they are competitive and to make those all-important buying decisions, and in recent times we have also seen a growing number of end-users visiting the show from a range of industries, who commission a lot of work out, but also run their own print inplants,” says Blackett. “We are also seeing a growing number of commercial printers attending to find out how to add wide-format applications.”
And it’s for these kinds of reasons alone that manufacturers like Canon and Fuji still see a real value in attending trade shows.
“I said last year that our presence at the show was worthwhile and valuable and I still think it is,” says Fuji’s Cookman. “We all have databases, but when we come away from these shows after talking to people, we find there are a number of other prospects that we weren’t aware of or haven’t even considered, so the more you talk to people the better it is.”
With a growing number of visitors and exhibitors gearing up to attend the Sign & Digital show, you can expect a good natter will be taking place in Birmingham at the end of this month.
SHOW ESSENTIALS
Date 24-26 March
Location Halls 17 & 18, NEC, Birmingham
Registration Free is free, visit www.signuk.com for more information
Opening times
24 March: 10am–5pm
25 March: 10am–5pm
26 March: 10am–4.30pm
PRODUCT PICKS
Canon A selection of printers from the company’s portfolio will be on display in the NEC’s halls, with the Océ Colorwave 700 receiving its UK debut.
Colourgen Expect a lot of queues gathering around the new Mutoh ValueJet 426UF desktop flatbed LED UV printer, which is making its UK debut. The machine can print on a wide range of materials and objects to a thickness of 70mm.
Friedheim International It’s a UK first for the Lasercomb ProDigi Neo 2517 large format multi-functional digital cutting system. The machine is targeted at the signage, packaging and display industries.
Fujifilm Although it’s not strictly speaking a brand new piece of kit, Fujifilm will be showcasing new applications for its Acuity Advance Select flatbed printer and its Uvijet KV inks, with a particular emphasis on the printing of high-value, thermoformed objects.
Hybrid Services The exclusive UK and Ireland distributor of Mimaki kit plans to launch a raft of new wide-format printers at the show encompassing various speeds, sizes and price points.
Jetrix The brand new Jetrix RX3200 is poised to get its European debut at the show. The super-wide 3.2m UV roll-to-roll machine has a top speed of 169m2/hr in production mode.
MTex Technologies The company is claiming a “UK first” at Sign & Digital UK, showing the newly launched 1.85m MTex Vision with direct disperse inks and the MTex PAD coating machine together for the first time.
SEMINAR PROGRAMME
Business Seminar Theatre
Tuesday 24 March
11.30-12.15 Introduction to new and existing standards for sign design and construction, David Dyke, BSGA
12.30-13.00 Explore the wallcovering opportunity with HP latex printing technology, Terry Raghunath, HP
13.15-13.45 Tips and tricks using lasers, Martin Horne, Trotec Laser
14.00-14.45 Sign maintenance and planning regulations, David Catanach, BSGA
15.00-15.30 The fast track to creative vehicle wrapping, Mike Horsten, Mimaki
Wednesday 25 March
10.45-11.30 Introduction to new and existing standards for sign design and construction, David Dyke, BSGA
11.45-12.30 Health and safety update for the sign market, Martin Moy, BSGA
12.45-13.15 Tips & tricks using lasers, Martin Horne, Trotec Laser
13.30-14.00 Modular display solutions, Andrew Burdett, Ultima Displays
14.15-14.45 HP large-format media, the perfect solution for any application, Julian Mainwaring, HP
15.00-15.30 Explore the wallcovering opportunity with HP latex printing technology, Terry Raghunath, HP
15.45-16.15 Diversifying your business: training for new market opportunities, Giles Bristow, Mike Collins and Chris Green, Antalis
Thursday 26 March
10.45-11.15 Diversifying your business: training for new market opportunities, Giles Bristow, Mike Collins and Chris Green
11.30-12.15 Introduction to new and existing standards for sign design & construction, David Dyke, BSGA
12.30-13.00 Explore the wallcovering opportunity with HP latex printing technology, Jane Rixon, HP
13.15-13.45 Why and how can digital be used in new markets, Frazer Chesterman, FM Brooks
14.00-14.45 Sign maintenance and planning regulations, David Catanach, BSGA
Signmakers Workshop (Daily)
10.30-12.00 Basic application of vinyls
10.30-10.50 First steps in vinyl application
10.50-11.15 Moving on from the basics
11.15-12.00 Q&A session and try your hand at the techniques talked about in the presentation
12.30-14.00 Vehicle livery
12.30-12.45 First steps in vehicle livery
12.45-13.05 Moving on from the basics
13.05-13.35 Starting vehicle wrapping
13.35-14.00 Q&A session and try your hand at the techniques talked about in the presentation
14.30-16.45 The basics of making a sign board
14.30-14.50 First steps in making sign boards
14.50-15.15 Moving on from the basics
15.15-15.45 Q&A session and try your hand at the techniques talked about in the presentation
16.00-16.45 Q&A ‘anything goes!’ Got a sign-making related problem? Let’s see if we can solve it!
Adobe Theatre (Daily)
10.40-11.15 Adobe Bridge Creative Cloud (2014): browse, locate, manage
11.30-12.30 Totally colour managed
13.30-14.30 Adobe Photoshop Creative Cloud (2014): Creativity overload
14.45-15.45 Adobe InDesign Creative Cloud (2014): Don’t break the grid
16.00-16.45 Adobe Illustrator Creative Cloud (2014): The professional’s choice
Corel Theatre (Daily)
10.30-11.15 CorelDraw Graphics Suite X7: An overview of new features
11.30-12.15 CorelDraw Graphics Suite X7: Marketing materials project, step-by-step guide
12.15-13.00 Using DecoNetwork to sell personalised goods online
13.00-13.45 Wilcom DecoStudio e3 with CorelDraw Graphics Suite
13.45-14.30 Tips and tricks on tracing with CorelDraw Graphics Suite X7
14.45-15.15 CorelDraw surgery
15.15-16.00 Working with Corel Photo-Paint, part of CorelDraw Graphics Suite X7
16.15-17.00 CorelD surgery
SignLab Theatre by CAD Link (Daily)
10.45-11.30 Introduction to SignLab: The advantages a true sign-making software solution can have on daily design and production workflows
12.00-12.45 Large-format printing from SignLab: Not all RIP software is created equal
13.30-14.00 SignLab for Versaworks: Take advantage of the innovation found in Roland’s print and ink technology
14.30-15.00 SignLab for Mimaki: Maximising design and production workflows with Mimaki printers
15.30-16.15 SignLab tips and tricks: You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to get things done quickly and easily in SignLab
