Making the inflexible flexible
While rigid substrates certainly practice what they preach in terms of offering sign-makers a strong and hard-wearing material, they are most certainly not rigid in how they can be used, with these products suitable for use across a wide range of applications.
From traditional signage projects, hoardings and safety signs, through to point-of-sale (POS) and exhibition stands and even interior design work, rigid substrates are, ironically, among the most flexible materials available to the market.
Here, we look at some of the latest options available to sign-makers and find out about how they can help users improve both the quality and performance of applications across a wide range of markets.
Solid base
First up, Indasol offers a host of both off-the-shelf and bespoke bonding solutions to cover a wide range of applications and markets such as sign-making, POS, fabrication and general purpose bonding. Martin Sadler, owner and director of Indasol, says that in order to achieve the best final product, sign-makers have to start with a solid base.
With this, he recommends Signblock, which, available from Indasol, is supplied in a range of densities and sizes to allow the user to create a 3D shape or letter, and then finish it as they wish with either a high gloss or textured stone effect.
Best suited for 3D signage and displays as it can be CNC (computer numerical control) routed or hand carved, Sadler says that Signblock lends itself to the more adventurous signs and shapes. He adds that using LEDs will also further enhance the product’s final finish and as Signblock is a lightweight exterior grade, it suits installations at height both indoors and outside.
Indasol says its Signblock product is suitable for use on projects both indoors and outside
“Starting with the right surface ensures the best final results,” Sadler comments, adding: “Signblock is durable, will not warp or crack, is lightweight, can be finished in any texture, can be CNC-routed or hand-carved to any 3D shape and can be illuminated, so when choosing what substrate to use, Signblock fits almost all requirements.”
Aside from the core substrate product, Sadler says it is also important for the sign-maker to consider the primers and fixing products to go with the substrate, as both of these will play a major role in the success of the project.
“All too often the right substrate is used, but either the finish or fixing is done poorly which results in the overall product failing,” Sadler says, adding: “Here at Indasol, we have the correct products to get the job done right first time.
“To compliment Signblock, we also offer laminating adhesives to help build up shapes, as well as bonding adhesives for mounting to walls or fixing locators, abrasives for sanding and finishing and the all-important polyester primer to achieve the best finish possible.”
Greener future
Elsewhere and Antalis also has a number of options available in this sector, with some of its latest products developed to meet a rising demand for more environmentally friendly solutions.
Among these is Xanita Board, an engineered fibreboard manufactured from fibres recovered from recycled, used cardboard boxes. Also available from Antalis is Katz Display Board, billed as a greener alternative to the use of PVC and PUR foam boards.
Antalis has noted a significant increase in demand for greener rigid substrate products
“Both provide an environmentally friendly alternative for a wide range of sign and structural applications, including POS, display, and shop-fittings,” says Paul Neale, product manager for visual communications at Antalis.
He adds: “The drive for more sustainable materials is changing the landscape for rigid product use. It’s more important than ever to consult with suppliers to ensure you are considering the best options for your projects and the environment. With the largest portfolio of leading visual communication brands in the market, we can help you do just that.”
The drive for more sustainable materials is changing the landscape for rigid product use”
Neale goes on to say that the importance of working with quality materials from reliable suppliers cannot be overstated, explaining that selecting the wrong product could lead to serious issues.
“Specification of the correct product is key,” Neale says, adding: “Most important is to understand the end application and expectation of the end-user for the finished job.
Antalis’ comprehensive choice of products, coupled with SUBSTR8, our interactive online product selector tool, enables customers to filter by attribute and see the potential products available for use for all sign and display applications, be it signage, POS and display, exhibitions, indoor/outdoor use, etc.
“Not only is it important to specify the correct material for the job, it’s equally important to understand the commercial impact of over-specification, and their recyclability at end of life.”
High standards
Luke Martyn, marketing manager at Perspex Distribution (PDL), is also of the mindset that sign-makers and fabricators need to be confident that their projects will stand the test of time, with rigid substrates playing a major role in the success of applications.
Perspex Distribution has been manufacturing its acrylic products for almost 90 years
“It is the properties of different rigid substrates that enable a wide range of applications,’ he says, adding: “Will you need to print or cut, glue or bend the material, is it going to be inside or outside, permanent or temporary, illuminated? Our team are trained to the highest standard to offer guidance to the best materials available for the job at hand.
“Our industry is emerging from an incredibly challenging 18 months, but it was impossible not to be impressed with how flexible our customers were to meeting the challenges of Covid. Many pivoted their manufacturing capabilities to produce Covid-related products and were instrumental in helping to keep shops open, and workers and the public safe.
“No doubt these challenges have planted the seed of further diversification for many businesses.”
Martyn goes on to give examples of markets and segments that offer growth opportunities for those companies working with rigid substrates. With people spending more time in their homes during the pandemic, Martyn says PDL has noted an increase in printers using PVC foam to create interior decorations and clear substrates such as Perspex acrylic being used to produce display cabinets to showcase models and ornaments.
O Factoid: Perspex Distribution has been manufacturing its Perspex acrylic for sign-makers since 1934 O
Meanwhile, commercial solutions such as Alupanel aluminium composite are being used to manufacture home offices and temporary buildings, while display specialists have been using Perspex Edge to produce light sheet panels in-house without the need to engrave or print the panel and have also seen customers grow into new markets.
With this, he picks out some of the latest products available from PDL, starting with new products within the Alupanel range. These include the recent launch of a fire retardant AlupanelFR, a new Signal White paint finish for print substrates and traffic grade panels, which meet industry demands for niche display solutions.
“Alupanel producer, Multipanel UK, has demonstrated solid investment in sector-leading technology to enhance its capabilities with a second production line added to greatly increase production capacity,” Martyn says. Also new from PDL is Palight Print Plus PVC foam, which Martyn says is well suited to short-term print and display projects. The Print Plus range has recently been updated with the launch of Palight Print Plus LW, offering sign and display companies a more economical option for print or vinyl applications.
“It is designed for digital printers seeking a visibly brighter solution that is developed specifically for wide-format print and producing noticeably brighter colour imaging,” Martyn adds.
Efficiency and longevity
Elsewhere and industry supplier Brett Martin also has a number of options available to the market, with sales director Duncan Smith singling out two core reasons to work with high quality rigid substrates.
“Firstly, to minimise wastage during processing such as cutting, printing and fabrication, keeping costs to a minimum and reducing levels of scrap,” Smith says, adding: “Secondly, a robust substrate will ensure longevity of the end sign or display.
“Rigid substrates can be used across the wide variety of signage and display that we see in retail, hospitality and leisure, healthcare facilities, schools and colleges, public buildings, private offices, factories and transport networks. These include branding, advertising, marketing, and merchandising signs and displays, wayfinding and directional signage, as well as signs to give information and messaging, which have been particularly important over the past 18 months.”
Sign-makers must consider the primers and fixing products to support rigid substrates
Looking at Brett Martin’s solutions in this sector, Smith first highlights that in addition to its existing rigid substrates, Foamalux foam PVC, Marlon FS polycarbonate, Marpet-g FS PETg, Marpet-a FS aPET and Marcryl extruded acrylic sheet, the company recently announced its new range of Eco products. This, Smith says, fits in with a company-wide belief in minimising on-site waste and reusing whatever production waste is unavoidably generated.
The new Marpet-g FS Eco contains at least 50% PETg regrind which Smith says minimises the amount of PETg that goes to landfill. Similarly, Marcryl FS Eco contains at least 50% acrylic regrind, again reducing the waste that leaves Brett Martin’s site to landfill. Available in limited quantities, both products can be processed in the same way as their standard equivalents.
In Brett Martin’s foam PVC substrate range, the black Foamalux Eco product contains up to 80% reclaimed content, making it what Smith describes as the company’s greenest choice of substrate. Foamalux Xtra, which is already established in the market, contains up to 80% reclaimed material in its black core and also has one or two virgin white foam PVC surfaces, making it suitable for printing or for engraving to reveal the black core.
While perhaps best known for their longevity and hard-wearing features, rigid substrates offer an incredible amount of flexibility to sign-makers and fabricators, and are suitable for across a wide range of applications. With new and innovative products coming to market all the time, catering for the ever-changing needs of the modern market, this flexibility will only continue to increase.
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