TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Month's SBI Trivia Question Stumper:
What are the names of all nine reindeer that pull Santa's sleigh?
For the answer, scroll to the bottom of the newsletter.
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Industry News
[[HOT TOPIC]] SO LONG, '06!
As we give 2006 the proverbial boot, let's ring in the new year and embrace the notion that 2007 holds great potential. For your sign shop, the last twelve months may have been grand; or perhaps the next twelve can show some improvement. Either way, it's out with the old and in with the new, and we here at SBI Update have come up with a few ways in which we'll be adhering to that very concept in 2007:
Out with the old: Distributing SBI Update to our loyal readers via e-mail.
In with the new: In 2007, we'll deliver each copy individually using mental telepathy.
Out with the old: Traveling hundreds of miles across the country to various tradeshows like SGIA, USSC, and ISA.
In with the new: In 2007, all industry tradeshows will be held in my 10' x 6' office cubicle. (Register now, booth space is limited.)
Out with the old: Keeping our readers up to date with vital information about the sign industry.
In with the new: In 2007, switch to all-Britney Spears news format.
Out with the old: SBI Update editorial staff and sales staff harmoniously working together to produce a top quality e-newsletter.
In with the new:
In 2007, work environment more akin to Survivor: SBI Update, with a different staff member voted off the island of Manhattan each week.
Out with the old: Neon.
In with the new: LED.
Ouch. Well, from all of us at SBI Update, here's wishing our readers a happy holiday season and a grand format digital printer of a new year. See you in 2007!
Sylvania Product Used in One of TIME Magazine's "Best Inventions of 2006"
CeeLite's Light Emitting Capacitor technology, named one of TIME Magazine's "Best Inventions of 2006," is powered by higher quality OSRAM SYLVANIA phosphors. Nominated by a team of writers and researchers, CeeLite's LEC panels were chosen for TIME Magazine's recent issue dedicated to the best inventions of the year. Past nominees include iTunes and Bluetooth.
CeeLite's LEC technology consists of printable, flexible, paper-thin film panels that can turn any surface into a light source. The LEC panels can be used for a wide range of indoor and outdoor signage, architectural and entertainment lighting applications including transit advertising, point of purchase signage, window display and studio and stage lighting.
"SYLVANIA's higher quality light-emitting phosphors provide CeeLite's LEC panels with the color and brightness necessary to make our product a platform technology that is destined to redefine the way lighting is used today," Gabrielle Santulli, marketing director, CeeLite, said. "Phosphors afford us the flexibility to turn any surface into a light source both indoors and outdoors for backlit applications such as advertising, street signage, consumer electronics, home décor and clothing," she added.
"SYLVANIA is proud to provide the phosphors used in CeeLite's LEC panels," Diane Seymour, business development manager, OSRAM SYLVANIA, said. "Being named one of the best inventions of 2006 by TIME Magazine is a testament not only to CeeLite's hard work and revolutionary thinking, but it also demonstrates the possibilities offered by SYLVANIA phosphors."
CeeLite's LEC panels are constructed by sandwiching SYLVANIA phosphors between two electrodes and screen printable, recycled compositions. The application of AC voltage generates a changing electrical field across the phosphors causing them to emit light.
With the help of SYLVANIA phosphors, CeeLite's LEC panels offer lighting solutions not possible with other technologies. CeeLite's LEC panels provide many features and benefits: as the panels are paper-thin, adding very little weight. The technology also offers 99 percent uniform surface illumination and energy savings by consuming little power and generating negligible heat.
Recent CeeLite applications include a massive interactive illuminated window display featuring Madonna at H&M's New York City flagship store, a sound-activated, illuminated drum set for the Red Hot Chili Peppers latest concert tour, the CNN Headline News set, Moog synthesizers, Firefly PC keyboards and Back-LiteTM jackets.
Plastics and Vinyls Top List of Popular Substrates
Nearly 45 percent of specialty imagers print on plastics and/or vinyls, according to results of the "Substrates & Specialties" survey conducted by SGIA.org's Surveys & Statistics site.
"The full report, only available to SGIA members, specifies substrates in much narrower categories," said Alaina Harris, Business Information Associate. "For example, of the respondents who print on plastics and vinyl, 15 percent said they print on pressure-sensitive vinyl."
The survey asked participants to identify the substrates they use with screen printing, digital imaging and "other processes". Paper and board substrates accounted for 38 percent of responses and garments/textiles were chosen 22 percent of the time.
These types of results, said Kerry Gillespie, Gillespie Graphics (Wilsonville, Oregon), provide insight into current and emerging industry trends. "I participated so I could get feedback and see what else is going on in the marketplace. The results can tell me how much is being consumed for projects similar to what my company does. It's information that will feed later decisions," Gillespie said.
For Selecto-Flash (West Orange, New Jersey) President Joe Shondel, survey results are planning tools: "We are a mid-sized company, but very focused on our day-to-day sales. Our visibility into the direction of the economy is limited. Information such as plans to purchase new equipment, salary ranges by company size or regional demographics help helps us in our decision-making process. The substrate survey results will give us a feel for where our industry and competition may be heading."
Results for specific substrate-process pairings are included in the full survey report, "Substrates & Specialties," available to SGIA members at the SGIA.org Surveys & Statistics site. A summary report posted alongside the full report is accessible to any visitor. Next up on Surveys & Statistics: "Financial Outlook Survey."
AccuWeather and APEX Digital Imaging Partner to Advance the Digital Signage Experience
AccuWeather, Inc. announced that APEX Digital Imaging, Inc. has licensed AccuWeather's news, sports and weather content for redistribution on digital signage networks across the United States and Canada. The AccuWeather content functions as a powerful tool to draw viewers and reduce perceived wait times.
AccuWeather's digital signage content modules include current local weather conditions, hourly and five-day forecasts, regional radar, video forecasts, and weather trivia, plus sports news, U.S. or world news, business news, and financial information. Many of AccuWeather's digital signage modules are also available in Spanish.
Digital signage has become an essential element for advertising to captive audiences, but displaying only advertisements can cause viewers to completely tune out the information. The AccuWeather modules integrate timely and localized information into digital signage playlists to grab viewer interest.
"Weather is, by its very nature, relevant and dynamic information that draws eyes to the screens again and again. That is why weather consistently gains top audience ratings in all existing media, and why advertisements integrated with weather information in existing media command premium rates, "said Dr. Joel N. Myers, Founder and President of AccuWeather. "Now the content that AccuWeather has developed will offer to digital signage systems the same attractive power of weather."
AccuWeather engaged with APEX to integrate their content with APEX's diverse scope of 3M products and services that work synergistically with digital signage solutions. APEX combines 3M Digital Signage solutions, with large format display screens, MicroTouch™ touch screens, and Vikuiti™ rear projection films to create a distinctive, high-impact experience.
"In today's world, 'content' is king," stressed Milton Jones, President of APEX Digital Imaging, Inc. of Tampa, Florida. "Busy consumers proactively seek information in all phases of their lives, and, in many cases, from new and different sources. Weather data is critical to many consumers as they begin their work day, plan a business trip or just decide it's a great day to visit a theme park. So displaying the latest weather forecast has great value for many consumers. Weather data can inform, entertain, reduced the customer's perceived length of wait time for service, and improve the customer experience. We want to assure that when our customers purchase state-of-the-art digital
signage from us, they also receive full-bodied content options to assist them in serving their customers."
New Appointments
TIME Manufacturing recently invited Carmen Hogan
to join the Sales Administration team. Mrs. Hogan has been employed at TIME Mfg. for more than five years and has worked in areas such as accounts payable, purchasing, warehouse, and the parts department; she now joins the Sales team as Sales Coordinator. Mrs. Hogan's experience with the Versalift and Condor product lines makes her an invaluable asset to this fast-paced team.
USLED announced that Fritz Meyne joined the company as Director of Sales Southeastern Region and New Product Development. Meyne brings industry leading knowledge in the sign and lighting industries to compliment the USLED team. Most recently Fritz was with a Swiss based LED OEM specializing in dual beam optics and thermal dynamics.
Meetings and Events
FEBRUARY
February 21 - 22: The Strategy Institute's conference "Out-of-Home Digital Networks, Contact Strategies, and Awards Summit" will be held at Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, call 866/298-9434, e-mail registrations@strategyinstitute.com, or browse www.strategyinstitute.com.
MARCH
March 2 - 4: Graphics of the Americas 2007 will be held at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida. For additional information, call 305/558-4855.
March 7 - 9: GlobalShop 2007, the largest retail design and in-store marketing event of the year, will be held in the Sands Expo Center at The Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, check out www.globalshop.org/globalshop/index.jsp.
March 9 - 11:
Fred's Letterheads will host the Sasekalahewata Oklahoma Letterheads meet at Fred's Sign Company, Inc., in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. For registering information, call 405/235-8696 or e-mail FREDSSIGNCO@aol.com.
Sponsored Links
M2 Lighting Solutions, LLC -- NEW epoxy-encapsulated UL recognized LED channel letter lighting system that will stay bright even in your most challenging conditions.
www.M2Lighting.com
Elliott Equipment Corporation -- Award-winning HiReach & BoomTruck aerial-workplatforms and cranes. Elliott products increase your productivity, and give you the highest ROI available. Do more with Elliott. www.elliottequip.com
This Month's Trivia Answer:
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Donder, Blitzen, Cupid, Comet, and of course, Rudolph.
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For in-depth coverage of these topics and other sign industry topics, check out
www.signshop.com
ATTENTION ADVERTISERS and SUBSCRIBERS:
Coming up in the January 2007 issue of
Sign Builder Illustrated,
feature articles on:
Architectural Wayfinding
Wide Format Digital Printing
Gold Leaf Application
LED Channel Letters/Sign Cabinets
RIP Software
Vinyl Tools
ATTENTION ADVERTISERS and SUBSCRIBERS:
Coming up in the February 2007 issue of
Sign Builder Illustrated,
feature articles on:
Dimensional Adhesives
Digitally Printing Banners
Dimensional Monuments
LED Message Centers
Vinyl Magnets
Neon Lighting
Contact your ad sales representative to reserve your space today.
As we shape SBI Update into the premier
e-newsletter for the sign industry, we encourage our readers to send us feedback on what you like, what you'd like to see, and any other comments you might have. To do so, send an e-mail to Associate Editor Chris Ytuarte at cytuarte@sbpub.com.
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ATG Electronics, Inc.A Leading LED Signage Products manufacturer! Product range: LED standard flex strip, SMD flex strip, ribbon flex strip, 3LEDs, 4LEDs & 6LEDs waterproof modules. Color range: red, yellow, blue, green, white, pink, purple, amber, jade, RGB.
Toll Free: 800-495-8630.
Email: sales@atgelectronics.com www.atgelectronics.com
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Mimaki USA has stood at the forefront of technology with its large-format plotters and cutters. Headquartered in Suwanee, Georgia with branch offices in Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles, key strengths include large-scale printing and cutting solutions, smaller, affordable plotters, and breakthroughs in printing for UV curable ink jet systems.
www.mimakiusa.com
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Sign Builder Illustrated Goes Digital
With live hyperlinks to video clips, advertiser information, and other features, SBI Digital offers the newest online technology with the familiar layout of a hardcopy issue. To view an example, click on:
SBI Digital Magazine
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Sign Builder Illustrated:
The How-To Book Vol. 1
Learn secrets to fabricating neon, illuminating with LED, sandblasting signs, applying paints, cutting and printing vinyl, and more in this 288-page, full-color reprinting of Sign Builder Illustrated's trademark How-To articles. To visit the How-to Book Web site, click on:
SBI How-To Book
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SYLVANIA Part of Best Invention