TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Month’s SBI Trivia Question Stumper:
What percentage of graphic imagers use both screen printing and digital imaging processes?
For the answer, scroll to the bottom of the newsletter.
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Industry News
[[HOT TOPIC]] 2010 SEGD Annual Conference + Expo Descends on DC
The Society for Environmental Graphic Design will be holding the 2010 SEGD Annual Conference + Expo from June 2-5 at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in Washington, DC. The Expo will focus on how design can make a difference and how designers can be catalysts for change in their own practices, in the environments they design, in their personal lives, and in the world.
The four-day event is jam-packed with workshops and events. On Wednesday, June 2, attendees can take advantage of some pre-conference workshops that take you to some of Washington, DCÕs most popular attractions while also discussing the roles they play in design. On Thursday, June 3, attendees will have four tracks of exciting sessions to choose from. The SEGD Design Awards Presentation will also take place at a luncheon from 12:30-2:00 pm.
Friday, June 4 is the day of the Expo! From 9:00 am- 6:00 pm, visit over 70 fabricators and manufacturers serving the EGD community around the country and across the world. Be sure to stop by and see Sign Builder Illustrated at Booth #615! The Expo will also have four key EGD practice areas, which will include an overview followed by specific educational focus areas with new activities and ways for members to get involved.
To give you an idea of what to expect, here is a preview of just some of the new and innovative products that will be showcased at the Expo:
Nova Polymers, Booth #103
Nova Polymers will be showing its new NovAcryl¨ GR photopolymer sign material for high-resolution raised graphics and ADA-compliant room identificiation signage. The result of a partnership with 3form¨, the material is environmentally and user friendly. The material is processed in plain tap water and bonds to 3formÕs Clear Ecoresin panels, which are non-toxic, Greenguard Certified, and have up to 40% recycled content. (www.NovaPolymers.com, 888-484-6682).
ClearPath Signage Systems, Booth #105
ClearPath will be introducing several new products for environmental graphic designers, including LuminEssence, a thin-gauge sheet material. LuminEssence is available in 21 different colors and three distinct patterns, and it is ideal for use as design accent strips or a signage substrate. ClearPath will also show its new line of European-inspired fastening and mounting hardware. The 12 new products offer the functionality of stand-offs and other mounting hardware with a sleek, contemporary design. Also look for the companyÕs popular design-friendly Triline modular wayfinding signage system and other versatile sign components. (www.clear-path.com, 866-953-2777).
Gemini Incorporated, Booth #203
Visit GeminiÕs booth to see their full-color GiclŽe panels and inserts. Made of solid metal, the panels are produced using UV-cured, non-elastic inks at up to 1200 dpi resolution. GiclŽe products can be used as standalone metal panels or as inserts into architectural plaques as a way to accent any recognition, wayfinding, or signage project. They are available in sizes up to 4-feet-by-8-feet, and Gemini can also integrate raised borders, copy, or other graphical elements that can be blended with images into the final result. (www.signletters.com, sales@geminiplaques.com, 877-877-2922).
3M, Booth #307
The newly formed 3M Architectural Markets Department will be introducing over 50 new 3M DI-NOC Architectural Finishes and 10 new 3M Fasara Glass Finishes to offer design versatility and assist building owners seeking to reduce costs in ongoing building projects. DI-NOC Architectural Finishes are a cost-effective alternative to traditional building materials in new construction and retrofit environments. Available in over 500 finishes, the DI-NOC Architectural Finishes can be applied to almost any flat or curved non-porous and smooth substrate. Fasara Glass Finishes are translucent graphic films made of durable polyester with a matte surface. Available in 47 different patterns, they create an etched-glass appearance and disperse light softly to provide a tranquil atmosphere for interior glass partitions or the inside surface of curtain wall glass. They are ideal for applications where light dispersion or privacy is needed. (www.3Mgraphics.com/interiors, 888-364-3577).
DSA Phototech, Booth #736
DSA Phototech will be featuring DSA/LED edgelit and DSA/LED backlit light boxes that are ultra thin and provide the latest in ÒGreen Energy.Ó We will be showing a broad line of LED light boxes that include round, two-sided, and outdoor LED light boxes.
DSA Phototech will also be introducing component parts such as: LED light bulbs,
LED panels, LED fluorescent replacements, ballasts, and drivers. (www.lightlightboxes.com & www.lightbulbs.us.com, sales@dsaphototech.com, 800-327-3723).
On the last day of the show, Saturday, June 5, there will be a general closing meeting with three sessions followed by a luncheon.
If you havenÕt registered for the show yet, thereÕs still time! Visit www.segd-dc2010.com.
Avatar Now Conquers Digital Signage
Digital storefront and mall advertising innovator Inwindow Outdoor (www.InwindowOutdoor.com) launched a groundbreaking outdoor digital exhibition this past April at The Grove in Los Angeles to celebrate the Blu-ray release of director James CameronÕs Avatar. The free-standing structure, comprised of multiple digital screens and centrally located at the famous L.A. mall, used customized technology developed in-house to morph the faces of shoppers into the filmÕs blue-skinned NaÕVi alien species as they watched.
ÒThis is by far the most technologically ambitious project we've ever done and the first by our internal digital team. The morph is incredibly realistic, because the end-result retains many of the usersÕ facial characteristics. It goes well beyond augmented reality in that it isnÕt simply superimposing imagery, itÕs actually altering the underlying content in real-time,Ó said Jeff Cohen, managing partner of Inwindow Outdoor. ÒThe success of Avatar called for an eye-popping exhibition that would be as engaging as the film and is bound to not only attract attention, but draw in shoppers and drive sales of the Avatar release.Ó
The Avatar display was a 60-by-10-foot structure that featured three Òmorphing stationsÓ and one large-scale video wall surrounded by vinyl and branded in Avatar themes. As shoppers approached the screens, Inwindow's technology captured their image and transformed them into a NaÕvi. Once the morph was complete, users entered their email address via touch-screen and were sent a video of their transformation along with information on where to purchase the Blu-ray disc.
The display, created in conjunction with FOX Studios and Zenith Media, lasted approximately a month (beginning April 16 and ending around mid-May).
Ultraflex has the "Coolest New Product of 2010"
Ultraflex Systems, Inc. took home the ÒCoolest New Product of 2010Ó award at the ISAÕs 2010 International Sign Expo in Orlando, Florida this past April. Ultraflex received the award for its new specialty textile, Descor. Ideal for custom interior design and graphics, Descor can be used for decorative wall and ceiling applications. The Descor system is sold as a complete system with fabric, track, and recommended installation team equipped with tools, or it can be sold as individual components. The textile can be UV printed and the digital version, Descor Digital, can be solvent printed.
At the show, Ultraflex also displayed other medias such as Strip Mesh Plus, UltraMesh Plus, JetFlex, and DSS, a double-sided smooth blockout banner material that is ideal for banner stands. Their TEXTILE line was also on display.
To learn more about Descor or any of UltraflexÕs products, visit www.ultraflexx.com.
New SGIA Expert Advice Zone: Screen Printed Apparel Training
Things keep heating up for the upcoming 2010 SGIA Expo! SGIA has added a fifth Expert Advice Zone: Screen Printed Apparel Training.
Major industry suppliers are presenting this Zone, and it features six interactive training sessions for the garment decorating community. Industry experts will share their knowledge and proficiency on issues ranging from setting up a shop to popular printing techniques. Session topics include: considerations for purchasing an automatic press, inks, manual and automatic printing, and heat transfers. All sessions will take place on each day of the Expo.
ÒThis is a new and exciting opportunity for apparel decorators attending the 2010 SGIA Expo,Ó said Johnny Shell, SGIAÕs vice president of Technical Services. ÒItÕs a complete mini-training package for garment decorators and is being supported by some of the top experts and suppliers in the industry. Best of all, the free program repeats each day so time visiting the exhibits can be maximized.Ó
Be sure to also check out the other four Expert Advice Zones: PDAA Graphics Application Zone, Digital Apparel Production Zone, DSA Digital Signage Zone, and Industrial Application Zone.
The 2010 SGIA Expo will be held in Las Vegas from October 13-15. Register by visiting www.sgia.org.
WAC Lighting Hosted Two ALA LED/OLED Training Sessions
WAC Lighting recently hosted two American Lighting Association (ALA) accredited LED/OLED Training Sessions in March. The training sessions were held at the firmÕs corporate headquarters and training center in Garden City, New York, and they enabled participants to earn two hours of CLC Credits (CLC is the highest designation offered by the ALA).
The training sessions were designed to reveal the truth about LED technology and product applications. The programs demonstrated how LEDs function and how to be an informed buyer of this new lighting technology. Many industry professionals, such as lighting designers, electrical distributors, and electrical contractors, attended the sessions.
To learn more, visit www.waclighting.com.
New Appointments
ElmerÕs, Inc. is renaming its full range of commercial foam board products under the brand name ENCORE. The branding was necessitated by the sale of the Bienfang fine art paper line, which included the trade name. Manufacturing will continue unchanged at ElmerÕs Statesville, North Carolina facility, and product numbers associated with specific products will not change.
Mutoh America Inc. has hired Joe Terramagra as western sales engineer. Terramagra will be responsible for sales stemming from the western part of the US. He previously worked as a sales and marketing representative/active branch manager at Mimaki USA. Mutoh has also hired Chris Prince as marketing coordinator. Some of PrinceÕs responsibilities include coordinating upcoming tradeshows, and assisting in maintaining marketing elements within MutohÕs Web site and media outlets. Prince previously worked in sales and marketing at Moving Pictures and as a banquet manager at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport. Gary Rudnick has been promoted to director of sales at Mutoh. Rudnick will now oversee all sales territories in North America, as well as seek to expand Mutoh sales into new emerging markets. He previously worked as product marketing manager. Todd R Molzahn has been hired as central regional sales manager. He will be responsible for a sales territory of 17 states throughout the midwest and south. Previously, he worked as sales and training manager at Brother, and he brings over 25 years of experience to his new position.
Trans-Lux Corporation has formed a new subsidiary company called Trans Lux Energy. The new company will feature a comprehensive offering of the latest LED lighting technologies that provide facilities and public infrastructure with ÒgreenÓ lighting solutions that emit less heat, save energy, and enable creative designs. Eric Mackey has been appointed to vice president of Trans Lux Corporation and general manager of Trans Lux Energy. He will focus on developing distribution channels and key accounts for Trans Lux Energy.
Value Vinyls has hired Heidi Vaughn as marketing manager. Vaughn will be responsible for leading the marketing efforts for the industrial and advertising media sectors of the vinyl industry. She brings ten years of marketing and advertising experience to the position. Scott Ackaway has also rejoined the sales team at Value Vinyls, and he will be covering Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina. He brings over nineteen years experience to the job, with ten years previously spent as a sales representative for Value Vinyls.
Meetings and Events
MAY
May 18-20: The 2010 SGIA Printed Electronics and Membrane Switch Symposium takes place at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel. More information can be found at SGIA.org.
JUNE
June 2-5: The SEGDÕs 2010 Conference + Expo, themed ÒDesign for Change,Ó will be held at the Gaylord Convention Center, across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. For attendee and exhibitor information, or to register online, click on the blue Conference bar at www.segd.org.
June 7-9: Mutoh America teams up with graphic installer Justin Pate to present the MUTOH ÒHands-OnÓ School of Wrap class at NESCHEN Americas in Elkridge, Maryland. All classes are sponsored by Avery Dennison. For more details or to register, visit www.mutohcarwraps.com/MutohSchoolofWrap.html.
Sponsored Links
Radocy Inc --
For over 50 years, Radocy Inc has been a sign industry source for telescopic cranes that are user friendly, cost effective and dependable. www.radocy.com
This Month's Trivia Answer:
According to SGIA's first-ever 2010 Industry Technology Adoption Survey, 50% of graphic imagers use both screen printing and digital imaging processes. Only 5% use screen-only facilities, and 46% use digital-only.
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For in-depth coverage of these topics and other
sign industry topics, check out
www.signshop.com
ATTENTION SUBSCRIBERS:
Coming up in the June SEGD 2010 issue of
Sign Builder Illustrated,
feature articles on:
Awards Fabrication
Architectural Identity
ADA Design
Digital Printing- Backlit Displays
EMC Marketing
Engravers-ROI
Vinyl Lamination
ATTENTION ADVERTISERS and SUBSCRIBERS:
Coming up in the July Readership Survey issue of
Sign Builder Illustrated,
feature articles on:
Awnings Installation
Banner Fabrics
CNC Router Projects
Franchise Management
LED Power Supplies
On-Site Service Equipment
Vehicle Graphics Design
Video Displays Installation
Contact your ad sales representative to reserve your space today.
As the premier e-newsletter for the sign industry, SBI Update encourages readers to send 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 Ashley Bray at abray@sbpub.com.
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© 2010 Simmons-Boardman Publishing
345 Hudson St., 12th Floor • New York, NY 10014
212-620-7200
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Looking to lower your cost? Stock the new Gyford StandOff Systems two piece adjustable Panel Edge Grips. Consider reducing your parts inventory and lowering your installation cost with these remarkable new edge grips. Now available in two sizes: The 1" diameter (SO-APEG9), will accept 1/8" to 1/2" panel thickness. The 1-1/4" diameter (SO-APEG3), will accept 1/8" to 3/4" panel thickness. Developed to mount materials in variety of designs, even circular and four-sided designs. Functional, economical and designed for you. Contact us at info@standoffsystems.com or: Gyford StandOff Systems
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Increase Your Profits by Attending the GERBER EDGE¨ Roadshow Free Seminar & Free Package Valued at Over $1000! Challenging times call for creative action! Gerber can help you get the most out of the tools you already have in your shop and show you some great ways to expand your business! There are two seminars each day: 9:30-11:00 am and 1:30-4:00 pm. When will the next show be in your area? To find out, click:
GERBER EDGE Roadshow
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ShopBotÕs BT32 and BT48 Buddy ShopBot Tools, Inc. has scaled down the technology and mechanicals of its full-size PRSalpha and PRSstandard CNCs into the more compact PRS CNC systems, the BT32 and BT48 Buddy (designated PRSalpha or PRSstandard). They incorporate many of the same features of ShopBotÕs full-size systems, but weigh less than 1000 lbs and occupy less than 20 sq. ft of floor space. The PRSalpha provides speed and accuracy for precise cutting, milling applications, and 3D carving. It has cutting speeds of up to 600 ipm and an optional 12-inch Z axis. The PRSstandard allows small-production shops to incorporate a CNC into their projects and includes microstepping drivers and low-backlash gearhead stepper motors on all axes. For more information, visit:
ShopBot
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CAPS AND STANDOFFS For over 55 years, METOMIC Corporation, a family-owned business, has been supplying over 10,000 brass and aluminum components to numerous industries, including Lamp and Lighting, Furniture Display, and P-O-P. Call us at 800-847-8342, or visit our Web site: METOMIC
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Simply Secure. Panelclip¨, Kingclip¨, and VClipz¨ are extruded aluminum mounting hardware products that have a 100% positively stopped interlock, providing the strongest, simplest solutions for your installation needs. One piece simply attaches to your paneling, artwork or sign and the other piece attaches to the wall. To order custom-cut sizes of Panelclip¨, Kingclip¨ or Vclipz¨ products, contact Brooklyn Hardware at 503-232-1151 or 1-888-232-1151 or fax 503-232-1141. We have no minimum order. Stock sizes are available through our distributors. A list of distributors is located on our Web site at:
Brooklyn Hardware
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New AXYZ Oscillating Knife Tool for Print Finishing Applications AXYZ routers can now be used with the ICS camera registration system and oscillating knife tool as well as a router. When graphics are printed directly onto rigid substrates such as acrylic, aluminum, or MDF, it requires a powerful router, which has always been a strong feature of the AXYZ machines. The new oscillating knife tool means that the same machine can be used for even more finishing operations and significantly widens its appeal in the print finishing and graphics market. Email enquiries@axyz.com for more information, or click here for a video:
AXYZ
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Sign Builder Illustrated
Buyer's Guide 2009
Published twice per year in October and April, the Buyer's Guide lists manufacturers, distributors, and sign companies that comprise the industry in the U.S. and Canada. SBI Buyer's Guide
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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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Sign Builder Illustrated presents:
It's a Wrap! Check out this special SBI supplement for all the information you need to get started, get good, and get profitable in the world of vehicle graphics. From wrap schools and required tools, to marketing your skills and paying the bills, this How-to supplement has it all. Check out the digital version here:
It's a Wrap!
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Avatar Digital Signage