Helping hand
In recent times there has been much debate around the topic of disability. A few months ago on budget day, it was revealed that there could be potential cuts to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) which are made to over 640,000 disabled people in order to save the government billions of pounds. This would remove around 200,000 disabled people from the system and result in less or even no money being given to those with disabilities—news that many people in the UK found devastating.
Although a political issue, the whole situation can also be applied to the sign industry. The debate certainly shone a light on the area, highlighting the importance of signage that is accessible to those with disabilities such as sight loss or severe learning difficulties. The latter is also a much overlooked area, and only recently has seen a drive to make sure that public spaces such as transport hubs, tourist attractions, and amenities carry signage that can be easily interpreted and understood without the need to read, for instance. This has also stimulated some clever innovations from the signage world. A good example is three dimensional tactile wayfinding maps that recreate the shape of distinctive landmarks combined with colour coding to help improve ease of use.
A key issue though still remains the implementation of signage for the visually impaired, which despite being backed up by stringent legislation, is still only being adopted very slowly by some public and consumer service providers. Peter Kettle, business development manager at Roland DG weighs in on the issue: “In the UK it is predicted there are almost 20,000 people using Braille and over 2 million people with a sight problem and so for them, it is paramount that accessible signage continues to be available across a wide range of materials and products at an affordable price.”
O Factoid: According to the RNIB, almost two million people in the UK are living with sight loss, which is roughly one in 30 people. It is predicted that by 2020, the number of people with sight loss will rise to over 2,250,000. O
With thousands of people using Braille just in the UK, it is somewhat surprising to hear from a handful of companies that orders for this type of signage are low.
David Catanach, director of the British Sign and Graphics Association (BSGA), who talked all things sign maintenance at this year’s Sign and Digital UK, similarly says that there has been a dip of enthusiasm in this area.
Resolute DTG showcased its technology at this year’s Sign and Digital UK. Pictured: The company’s 2015 stand
He explains: “Following the initial rush to conform to, what was then, the new legislation, the demand had tapered off—but it is still there, especially as a legal requirement in certain situations. Sign companies should not ignore the legal requirement for these type of signs.”
So, although it appears that demand for accessible signage has faded slightly, it is clear that it is still an important part of the industry. With so much clever technology on the market that can double up to produce accessible signage as well as a host of other products, there is really no reason why sign-makers should be hesitant to enter this vital market.
The third dimension
Roland DG has a range of equipment that can be used to produce braille and tactile signage, including its latest offering, which it brought to Sign and Digital UK this year for the first time, along with many of its existing products.
Kettle says: “The VersaUV LEF-300 is Roland DG’s largest, fastest and most productive desktop flatbed UV printer yet, with exciting production-boosting features that include: a 770mm wide by 330m long printing area, four print heads and two UV-LED lamps for fast bi-directional direct printing, a vacuum table and comes with the new Roland DG VersaWorks Dual RIP software.
“Roland DG’s ECO-UV Ink has been specifically manufactured to complement its VersaUV range, including the LEF-300, to ensure high quality outputs, optimum machine performance and elongated machine lifetime. The ECO-UV ink, which comes available in six colours, is cured using LED UV lamps and can be utilised for gloss highlights and special effects. Multiple layers of clear ink can be applied directly onto objects to create simulated embossing and 3D textures making it the perfect machine to produce braille signage.”
When choosing the material for your braille sign, there is a great deal of choice as the LEF-300 prints onto many different substrates. This includes acrylic, wood, board, plastic, fabric, and leather, meaning that the sign-maker will be able to produce virtually any requirement that you are asked to produce.
Resolute DTG’s range of Direct Color Systems 1024 UV MVP printers can digitally print braille onto even thin substrates such as aluminium or plastic
Kettle adds: “This, coupled with the host of advanced production-boosting features, will allow users already using the VersaUV LEF-12 and LEF-20 printers the opportunity to increase their customer offering and productivity levels, resulting in business growth and higher profit margins.”
Colin Marsh, managing director of Resolute DTG, says the company’s UV direct-to-substrate MVP printer is one of the only machines in the world that can do digital braille which is ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant. The printer is available in five different sizes so can accommodate many different types of work.
Colin Marsh of Resolute DTG says its MVP printer is also cylindrical so as well as making braille signs, you can print onto bottles
Marsh says: “For braille signage, it means that instead of having to route and use beads in a fairly thick substrate, you can digitally print a braille sign onto a very thin substrate like aluminium or plastic—even self-adhesive vinyl can be used.
“The textured printing ranges from small areas of text that can be raised to images that automatically pick out raised areas. If you’ve got a picture of a lace up shoe, the laces can be raised as texture. It can be an easy thing to do but it’s very effective, especially on phone cases. It’s in effect variable data embossing and is the only machine that can do that. It’s also a cylindrical printer so can print glass, aluminium, and plastic bottles as well.”
Adding to its impressive features, the Zero VOC ink used in the printer is also environmentally-friendly as it does not have an odour which means the machine does not need extraction or filters, so you can use the printer in a closed environment. Resolute DTG is another company which returned to Sign and Digital UK this year to showcase its range of equipment to visitors.
Stable market
With accessible signage always needed due to legal requirements, Kettle believes it is an area of the market that is very worthwhile for sign-makers to get into: “There is a constant demand and need for accessible signage making it a relatively stable market for businesses to enter and by utilising the LEF-300, it is now easier to do so than ever before. The sign industry is an extremely competitive and congested market and so businesses need to remain versatile and diversify their offerings if they are to grow.
The sign industry is an extremely competitive and congested market and so businesses need to remain versatile and diversify their offerings if they are to grow”
“Included with the LEF-300 is the new VersaWorks Dual RIP software, developed to incorporate the latest native PDF and postscript engine for improved file reproduction when layers and transparencies are used, including braille signage. The advanced special colour plate generation features allows white or gloss data to be created from print artwork, simplifying the process. In addition to this, the maintained clipped position function preserves the accurate repositioning of clipped images, which is useful when extra processes such as gloss effects are required on braille signage.”
Explaining the features of a piece of equipment is interesting, from its speed to its media capabilities, but it is the real-life benefits for sign-makers, such as increasing profit margins, that makes all the difference.
Kettle says: “The introduction of the Roland DG VersaUV LEF-300 has allowed users to produce high volumes of embossed and textured signage across a wide range of materials at a low running cost, resulting in increased profit margins for businesses and more accessible signage for consumers. As well as high production levels, the LEF-300 boasts consistent accurate and high-quality printing even during long production runs, which is vital given the precision that is required to produce braille.”
Peter Kettle of Roland DG says the VersaUV LEF-300 is the ‘perfect machine’ for braille signage as multiple layers of clear ink can be applied onto objects for a 3D texture
David Catanach looks to the future of the sector, saying more can be done to make accessible signage more interactive and better in the process. He says: “Technology is opening up all sorts of potential for more interactive signage. Careful consideration should be given to ensure that technology does not decrease the impact that accessible signage has achieved for those for whom it was designed to assist.”
David Catanach of the BSGA says demand for accessible signage has ‘tapered off’ but still remains due to legal requirements
Even though it seems demand for braille signage has tapered off slightly, it is still a highly important sector that needs to be catered to. With over two million people in the UK with a problem with their sight, the accessible signage sector produces more than just a shiny vehicle wrap or an eye-catching billboard, it gives people the helping hand they need. And with more equipment than ever before on the market helping sign-makers produce braille signage with the lowest running costs possible, it is a great opportunity for sign-makers.
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