Sign-making stateside

The words that greet visitors to the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) Expo website are '97 percent Sold Out', with still some time to go until this year’s edition of the hugely popular event. A quick glance at the floorplan demonstrates the importance of the show, with many of the leading names from the wide-format print and sign-making markets down to exhibit.

SGIA Expo heads to New Orleans this year, with thousands expected to descend on the Louisiana city to learn more about how the latest technologies could help their businesses reach the next level. In addition, visitors will have access to the regular series of speaker sessions, designed to offer advice as to how they can enhance their service offering.

However, although always very well attended by the North American industry, what about us members of the UK market. Is it worth us spending hundreds, or even thousands, on making the trip to New Orleans, with so many quality events much closer to home?

Come one, come all

Kate Achelpohl, senior manager, public relations at SGIA, wastes little time in outlining the reason why the event is not only suitable for visitors from the US, but also the UK and wider international market. Achelpohl picks up on the wide variety of companies set to attend as one of the key points, explaining that the technology on show will make the trip worthwhile.

“The SGIA Expo is a phenomenal show and more than 20 percent of attendees come from outside the United States,” Achelpohl says, adding: “The 2017 SGIA Expo will deliver a comprehensive look at printing and imaging; it really has got everything you need to take on a project, from inspiration to implementation.


“On site, you’ll find more than 540 exhibitors, the show floor will be wall-to-wall with equipment and supplies, and they’ll be displaying their newest releases. Industry experts will lead over 40 educational sessions focusing on technologies, production and business management. And the ‘Golden Image Awards Gallery’ will display some of the finest printing in the world.”



Having seemingly settled the debate as to whether SGIA Expo is a global or more regional event, Achelpohl goes on to pick out some of the other features that we can look forward to at the show in October.



“There’s so much to find at the SGIA Expo; innovations, education, inspiration—really, it’s everything you need for a project, from the first glimmer of an idea all the way through implementation and finishing,” Achelpohl says.

She adds: “Education is a huge offering at the SGIA Expo. There is a full track of sessions for graphics and sign producers during the show. Also, on October 9th, two half-day workshops—‘Wide Format 101: Four Steps to Profitability’ and ‘Your Business: Plan for Success’—look at the nuts and bolts of running a printing business, from maximising your wide-format equipment, to building business.”

SGIA Expo also runs a variety of networking and education events throughout the yearly show. For example, this year, visitors can look forward to the ‘Brands Talking Sustainability’ luncheon on October 10th, which Achelpohl says will allow major retailers and brands to discuss the importance of sustainability to their businesses.

Also set for this year is the ‘Community Reception’ at the end of day one, which Achelpohl explains will allow visitors to mix, mingle, and take in the best prints in the world, while the ‘Women in Print Alliance’ breakfast on October 11th will feature a keynote from Fawn Gerber, a global leadership and work-life balance speaker. And if all this was not enough to convince UK industry members to go Stateside, Achelpohl says that visitors will not be able to resist sampling the world famous nightlife that has helped New Orleans gain its ‘Big Easy’ nickname’.
Achelpohl says: “When you make your plans to see the show, include some time to explore New Orleans. It’s a magical, historic city and a destination I’m sure you’ll love.”

Meeting core customers

As with every industry event, the main draw for visitors will be the exhibitors that are down to feature on the show floor, and SGIA Expo is no different. One of the stand-out names this year is HP and Avi Basu, director, market development, graphics solution business, Americas, believes that the exhibition is one of the most important events for the manufacturer’s business in the region.

Basu explains: “SGIA is one of the key industry forums for HP Graphics business in North America. Historically, HP has been able to meet with the core attendees of SGIA that are in the signage and décor markets to consider the range of HP digital platforms including HP Latex, HP Scitex, HP Design Jet and HP Pagewide XL.

“The attendance and relevance of SGIA Expo is based on the perceived value by the attendees that represent buyers, specifiers, and influencers. The value for SGIA will continue by providing an effective forum for such attendees and relevant technology or services providers, to find each other and develop measurable business decisions and results.

“With this in mind, HP will continue to feature a portfolio of products, solutions and related applications that are relevant for the signage and décor markets.”

Equipment on display at the HP booth at the event will include the HP Latex 560 and 570 printers, which the firm says are both designed for medium-to-large PSPs with increasing print volumes.


Also on display will be the HP Latex 1500 super-wide-format printing solution, that the manufacturer says delivers fast turnarounds on a range of indoor and outdoor applications, such as PVC banners, self-adhesive vinyl, textiles, and double-sided prints.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to see the latest models in the HP Latex 3000 series—the HP Latex 3200 and 3600. The 3200 is suitable for larger print-service-providers that produce work such as retail/outdoor advertising, events/exhibitions, vehicle graphics, and interior décor, while HP says the 3600 is designed for even companies that require long-run, uninterrupted printing.


And for those who are not able to make the trip over to New Orleans, HP will also be in attendance at The Print Show 2017, which is located a little closer to home at the International Centre in Telford.
 
Setting the standard

Another leading name confirmed for SGIA Expo this year, and indeed a regular attendee at many industry events, is EFI. Visitors to the company’s stand at the October show can view the EFI Pro 16h wide-format hybrid roll/flatbed LED printer, which EFI says will “set the standards by which other entry-level hybrid roll/flatbed LED production printers will be judged”.



In a statement, the manufacturer adds: “This new Fiery Driven printer is extremely affordable, includes white ink, and its feature set assures lowest total cost of ownership, superior image quality and a broad range of applications. It also has faster speeds than other EFI entry-level hybrid production platforms, with some print modes offering up to a 30 percent higher throughput.”

EFI also plans to show off its next generation of Vutek roll-to-roll printers, which it says offer the highest resolution and productivity in their class, using EFI Ultra Drop Technology 7pl print heads.

The company says: “Designed to be the industry’s most technically advanced LED roll-to-roll production offerings, the new Vutek roll-to-roll printer is available in 3.5 and 5m widths and includes unique, integrated production workflow benefits that allow print professionals to do more work in less time. Users gain a competitive advantage in quality and throughput thanks to the complete set of available value-added options, including an inline finishing system for all-in-one printing, x-cutting, slitting and collecting, and additional white and light colours.”

Other highlights on the EFI stand include the Vutek Fabri VU line of textile soft signage printers. Available in widths of 1.8, 3.4, and 5.2m, these aqueous dye-sublimation soft signage textile printers can produce work in resolutions of up to 2,400dpi with four-level greyscale printing and four- to 18pl drop sizes.

In addition, EFI plans to showcase its Midmarket Print Suite workflow, which drives end-to-end efficiencies for display, signage, and graphics customers, as the company explains: “Improvements include an upgrade to the suite’s Superwide Format component database for easier estimating, planning and management in dedicated signage and graphics production printing environments, as well as a new workbench tool and deeper integration with imposition and fulfilment components.”

O Factoid: New Orleans is known as the ‘Big Easy’ for its lively nightlife, vibrant music scene and famous cuisine.  O

It seems that there is plenty to be gained from making the trip over to the US to SGIA Expo this year, with those that attend to be greeted by the great and good of the global print and sign-making industries. Although the journey may be a little more costly than travelling to events a little closer to home, the quality of SGIA Expo certainly makes it an event worth visiting.

Ford Bowers, president and chief executive of the SGIA, concludes: “We’re wall-to-wall with exhibitors who will show the latest technologies for graphics, garments, signs, digital textile, installation, printed electronics and industrial printing. The SGIA Expo floor is the place to find the newest products and techniques serving your markets.

“The industry is buzzing about this show. Year after year, the SGIA Expo brings the imaging industry together to explore opportunities and technologies, to master techniques and new ideas. But this year, the buzz is beginning early.”


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