Sign Expo 2024 in Orlando Highlights Technology, Emerging Opportunities

Held April 10-12 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, Sign Expo, presented by the International Sign Association, presented a marketplace of equipment and ideas for sign producers, decorators, and entrepreneurs. Further, it featured some key U.S. equipment introductions and product announcements.

The mood of the annual event was largely positive, punctuated by the whirring of a large variety of equipment, the constant murmur of voices, eye-popping printed images, and bright blasts of light from digital signage. Booths and aisles were busy – a great sign for the signage industry.

Equipment and Service

Among the technologies making their U.S. debut at the Sign Expo was the Agfa Anapurna Ciervo, a next-gen offering of the company’s Anapurna printer series. This new iteration features a hybrid approach, offering the benefits of both roll-to-roll and flatbed systems, a CMYKLcLm + white ink set, and can print up to 2,249 sq.ft./hr.

A new flatbed inkjet system from Roland DGA, the EU-1000MF UV LED, offers a 96x48” print size with a height clearance of 3.74”. LED curing provides a quick cure with low energy use. The new system can be run in four or six color mode, enabling the use of white ink or effects such as spot varnish.

Vanguard Digital Printing Systems, a Durst Group Company, featured, among other systems, its new VK322OT-HS flatbed printers, which can print up to 3,800 sq.ft./hr. on a bed size of 126x80”. The new Vanguard system also offers print resolution of up to 1,800 dpi, and features LED UV curing.

Printing system manufacturer Mimaki USA highlighted a new approach to equipment service, touting what director of marketing Josh Hope described as “more customer-centric,” and “adding consistency and confidence.”

Systems In Support

Touring the Sign Expo show floor, it would have been difficult to miss the fact that the systems driving profitability and differentiation in sign production are not limited to inkjet printers. A wide variety of cutting systems, featuring cutting via blade, router head, or laser – and in some cases, combinations of all three – allow entree into spaces where detailed and contour cutting are necessities.

Additionally, software solutions continue to expand, enabling capabilities and workflows to expand. Demonstrations from software developers such as Fiery, SAi, and PrintFactory provided a view into how software is giving producers the tools they need to expand production diversity, and make prepress and workflow easier to manage.

Installation on Display

A well-attended graphics installation demonstration area, with a primary focus on vehicle wrapping, added frantic energy to the Sign Expo show floor. Presented jointly by ISA and Wrap Institute – now partners in a training endeavor – the area was an opportunity for some of the industry’s best installers to demonstrate their top-shelf skills, and for graphic and color-change film producers to highlight new products.

Of particular note were new films from Arlon and Orafol, which serve to continue the progress away from PVC-based films to other formulations that are more sustainable.

Decoration Technologies

The meteoric rise of direct-to-film (DTF) technologies was on full display at Sign Expo, with that technology being demonstrated in numerous booths – from heavy-hitters such as Epson and Roland DGA, to smaller producers. DTF, which can be used to decorate apparel and a seemingly endless variety of other items, particularly in the promotional products space, offers an opportunity for sign producers and others to expand their offerings – a one-stop-shop approach.

Several DTF systems, along with other technologies including direct-to-garment and small-scale object printing or embellishment – such as laser etching – bridge the gap between commercial and hobby-type imaging. This so-called “prosumer” focuses on the “makers” of the world, whose micro-commerce approaches on sites such as Etsy are strongly enabled by digital technologies.