TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Month’s SBI Trivia Question Stumper:
In the Digital Signage Expo’s Quarterly Business Barometer Survey, technology/content providers predicted the hottest growth categories for DOOH in the next 12 months. What are they? (Hint: There are five.)
For the answer, scroll to the bottom of the newsletter.
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Industry News
[[HOT TOPIC]] Links for Maximizing Your ROI
This month, we bring you some financial resources as a special extension to Mike Antoniak’s feature, “Maximizing Printing ROI,” which explains how to get the most out of your business and your equipment. Look for the full feature in our October 2010 issue.
For those who are considering adding or upgrading production capabilities, most manufactures offer an abundance of information online to help you investigate your options for purchasing or leasing their equipment.
Some sites to help get you started exploring options:
EFI/VUTEk
www.efi.com/finance.asp
Epson America
www.epson.com
Gerber Scientific
www.gspinc.com
Hewlett Packard
http://h20338.www2.hp.com/hpfinancialservices
Mutoh
http://www.mutoh.com/products/pd_mutoh_financing.html
OcŽ North America
www.oceusa.com
Roland DGA
www.rolanddga.com/company/rfs.asp
The SGIA also offers its members online resources, articles and Webinars with advice on pricing graphics services for a more profitable business.
www.sgia.org/graphic_imagers/pricing_accuracy
A Special Visit to the FLEXcon Campus
Congressman Richard Neal recently toured the FLEXcon campus in Spencer, Massachuetts as part of an effort to show that New England-based companies are linked the Unique Identification (UID) initiative and current H.R.5136 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. The UID Platform is a federal initiative designed to help the GAO, the Department of Defense, and contractors eliminate waste and improve coordination and analysis of war fighter materials deployed to the field. UID also allows the military material command to track the history of asset repair and replacement, thereby enabling future planning and contractor accountability.
FLEXcon supplies materials for labeling face stocks of UID systems. The company works with the defense industry data management software purveyors and integrators that include the production of labels and plates that meet rigid specifications for field applications. “I am happy to visit another Massachusetts-based company that is putting hardworking people to work on such important defense related initiatives,” says Congressman Neal. “I always enjoy meeting with local employers and employees in Western Massachusetts and learning firsthand about the issues that are important to them.”
During the visit, FLEXcon President and CEO Neil McDonough led the Congressman on a tour of the company’s corporate headquarters and Massachusetts’ production facility.
McDonough noted that FLEXcon hasn’t experienced layoffs during the recent economic downturn thanks in part to several strategies implemented in past years. The company has grown in the past year, and it now looks to new business opportunities to help stimulate the local economy. “I am pleased to work with Congressman Neal to advocate for federal investment in jobs in Massachusetts,” says McDonough.
For more information about FLEXcon, visit www.flexcon.com.
Vision Sign's Display Project Takes Off
Vision Sign Inc. (www.visionsigninc.com) in Las Vegas, Nevada has been cleared for landing in a signage project for McCarran International Airport, the nation’s seventh-busiest airport. The project includes 130, 46-inch liquid crystal display screens provided by Samsung that will be engineered to create four separate video walls. Vision will design the structural framework for the walls and will engineer, fabricate, and install all the components.
“We are very excited to have the opportunity to work with Samsung, the airport, and Alliance Airport Advertising on this new project,” says Bob Failing, executive account director for Vision Sign. “We’ve worked with Alliance on many custom build-outs in the past. This one has been challenging in that it is the first of it’s kind. Nowhere else has something of this magnitude been built in an airport environment.” (Note: Alliance Airport Advertising is responsible for solidifying the McCarran-Samsung partnership and project.)
Once the panoramic video displays take shape later this year, McCarran will be the first airport to feature a state-of-the-art video wall of this size. The largest display at McCarran, and the largest display ever in a US airport, will be installed at D Concourse rotunda. The 100-screen tiled formation will measure 33 feet-by-19 feet, and it will feature an ultra-thin frame around each monitor that gives the appearance that the formation is one solid piece. Three smaller video walls measuring two feet-by-twelve feet or four feet-by-sixteen feet will be installed in the A, B, and C Concourses.
“The dynamic nature of this landmark digital video network will allow us to communicate information to our customers in an eye-catching format,” says Director of Aviation Randall H. Walker.
Vision will use custom mounting brackets from Premier Mounts, and the system will operate on OSSI’s CineMassive’s software. “Vision has consistently delivered for Alliance, in design, fabrication and installation,” says Shauna Forsythe, president of Alliance. “They meet the deadlines we establish and the service and maintenance levels are superb. The quality and clarity of our new digital advertising network will surpass anything in the industry and we know that Vision will deliver the expertise we need to build these walls.”
HEICO Teams Up with Future Electronics
HEICO Lighting and Future Electronics have signed a worldwide distribution agreement for HEICO Lighting LED lighting solutions. Under the agreement, Future Electronics will distribute HEICO Lighting’s LED product line: the Virgolite and D-LEDbar series.
“With Future’s ability to provide strong technical support, supply management, and fast delivery
service, we are looking forward to offering our current and future clients the most advanced and competitive service and product offering worldwide,” says Vital Dumais, president and CEO of
HEICO Lighting. “With Future Electronics’ 48-hour delivery and stocking capabilities, there’s
no doubt in my mind this will change the industry.”
To learn more about the agreement or HEICO Lighting’s LED product line, visit www.heicolighting.com or www.futureelectronics.com.
DSE Elevates Industry Education
The 2011 Digital Signage Expo (DSE) has reformatted and expanded its Conference Seminar Program and made changes to its 2011 Educational Conference Program.
Seminar instruction will still feature seasoned industry professionals who offer topical, practical, and instructive information, but this year the curriculum is framed around the Digital Signage Expert Certification 7 Elements model. The model will present the information within a structured learning experience designed to illuminate all key components to successful strategic planning, budgeting, installation, and operations.
DSE’s discussions will center on curriculum that thematically addresses what business people at all levels in the industry need to know—how to be successful, fluent, and hands-on in all areas of the industry that touch their business. There will be eight educational tracks.
Instruction will be a combination of theory and applied theory as each session will team professionals from a variety of disciplines within DOOH Networks, technology and content providers, as well as advertising agencies, aggregators, demand-side platform sellers, retailers, educational administrators, healthcare, restaurant, and stadium/venue operators, and many others invited to share their real business experience.
Attendees who were previously “DS Certified” can now apply their attendance at DSE seminars toward updating not just their education, but also their professionally certified status through an organized renewal process where seminar hours will be worth points applicable for a renewable certificate.
“We believe that education is a true catalyst for industry growth in the DS sector and that by creating a curriculum path to certification renewal, we can help flatten the learning curve and continue accelerating that growth toward industry maturation by better preparing the growing number of individuals engaged in this sector,” says Richard Lebovitz, educational and editorial director for Exponation, LLC, which produces DSE.
DSE will be held February 22-24, 2011 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. For more information, call 770-649-0300, ext. 17 or visit www.digitalsignageexpo.net.
Get the Full Report on the Specialty Imaging Community
SGIA released the 2010 Market Trends Survey Report for the specialty imaging community, offering valuable information about markets served, business concerns, and steps made by companies to increase their competitive advantage. The full report is available to all SGIA members and survey participants. It includes data such as:
• Technology distribution
• Primary markets served
• Top methods to attract new customers
• Sales and promotion expenditures
The survey found that about 71 percent of imagers agree that referrals are a very effective way to attract new customers. And to increase their competitive advantage in production, 37.6 percent of all imagers are adding finishing capabilities to their businesses. Retail continues to be the leading market for 75.7 percent of graphic imagers. For garment decorators, educational institutions (77 percent) and corporate branding (72 percent) are the primary markets.
“The survey shows strong evidence that specialty imagers—garment decorators and graphics producers alike—are exploring new markets and opportunities as a way to bolster their businesses,” said Dan Marx, SGIA’s vice president of Markets and Technologies. “Further, the survey shows how specialty imaging companies are using sales, management and production initiatives to strengthen their competitive advantage.”
To see the full results of the survey, visit www.sgia.org, keyword: survey.
New Appointments
GMG announces that Micha Moses has assumed duties as vice president Strategic Alliances. Moses will be responsible for strengthening and expanding the company’s strategic partnerships with the primary global players of the graphic arts industry and other potential strategic partners. Previously Moses worked at Adobe Systems and co-founded a software company.
Russ Fragala, COO of IDS Menus, has reached a deal with Stephen Lee of Techknow Inc. to use Techknow exclusively for their order confirmation system. Restaurants will be able to have all their drive-thru technology needs met through IDS since the company will not only represent its own products but Techknow’s line of offerings as well. This will make IDS the main point of contact for restaurant managers on everything from orders to installation and service. The deal covers two of Techknow’s product lines: the OCS-300 order confirmation board and the CTS-1000 drive through management system.
Inca Digital has appointed Dr. Nigel Sherman as its first business development manager. Sherman will work to identify and develop commercial prospects for Inca’s inkjet technology in a wide range of new sectors. He previously worked with Videojet on new product development and then in business development for an optical switch company.
MK Products announces Chris Westlake as its new president. Westlake joined MK Products in 1994 as director of Engineering before becoming vice president of Operations.
MultiCam, Inc. has promoted Becky Mullis to customer service manager. She will be in charge of Customer Service for all of MultiCam’s customers and Technology Centers worldwide. Mullis was office manager of MultiCam for eight years.
OSRAM Opto Semiconductors announces that Aldo Kamper will succeed Dr. RŸdiger MŸller as President and CEO. Kamper previously served in executive positions within OSRAM Opto Semiconductors, and most recently as Executive Vice President & General Manager, Specialty Lighting at OSRAM Sylvania.
Ultraflex has appointed John Sharkey as northeastern sales manager. He has 20 years of experience in the printing industry. Ultraflex Europe has appointed Bernd Tischer to managing director. Tischer brings over 40 years of international photo and graphics industry experience to the position.
Meetings and Events
SEPTEMBER
September 20-22: Stan Deutsch Associates will host the “SDA Lighting Showcase 2010” at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City. SDA is a leading New York-based specification and architectural lighting sales agency. The three-day event is open to New York-based trade only and over 30 premier lighting manufacturers will be exhibiting. For more, visit www.sdalighting.com.
September 22-23: The Illinois Sign Association Fall Conference will be conducted at Eastland Suites Hotel & Conference Center in Bloomington, Illinois. For more information, dial 414/529-4235.
September 27-October 1: The Manufacturing Makes it Real Tour, sponsored in part by ShopBot Tools, will travel to each of North Carolina’s seven Economic Development Partnership regions and will stop at two-three sites each day for mini-celebrations. Presented by North Carolina State University’s Industrial Extension Service, manufacturers from around the region will be recognized for the products they make. VIPs from state and local government, the university system, and state organizations will be taking the tour. For more information, visit www.ies.ncsu.edu.
OCTOBER
October 3-6: GRAPH EXPO 2010, the year’s largest graphic communications exhibition and conference in the Americas, takes place in Chicago’s McCormick Place South. For additional details, check out www.graphexpo.com.
October 7-9: Digital Signage Expo (DSE) will hold its first Industry Forum at Rancho Bernardo Resort & Spa in San Diego, California. In addition to educational workshops and motivational industry keynotes, the two-day program will provide networking opportunities. To learn more, visit www.digitalsignageexpo.net/digitalsignageexpo/industryforum.aspx.
October 13-14: The Signage Foundation, Inc., in collaboration with the University of Cincinnati College of Business, Architecture, Art, and Planning will be conducting the 2010 National Signage Research & Education Conference (NSREC) at the Kingsgate Marriott in Cincinnati, Ohio. For details, visit www.thesignagefoundation.org.
October 13-15: Go all in at the 2010 SGIA Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada and see the broadest range of innovative technologies and applications driving the specialty imaging industry. Register now at www.sgia.org/events/current_expo/sgia10.
October 18-20: Mutoh’s “Hands On” School of Wrap classes will be held at Avery Dennison at 250 Chester St, Building 8, in Painesville, OH. The Basic/Intermediate Class runs from October 18-19 and focuses on the essentials of vehicle wrap installation with an emphasis on fundamentals. The advanced workshop on October 20 is for those looking to work on problem areas, challenging sections, speed, and efficiency. To sign up, visit www.mutohcarwraps.com.
October 22 SEGD will present its first international symposium at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. “Minding the Gap: Views on EGD from Both Sides of the Pond” will focus on the broad contemporary practice of environmental design, the range of disciplines represented in the SEGD community, and the role of EGD in the build environment. For tickets, visit www.segd.org/#/news/index.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:
The predicted hottest growth categories include retail, restaurant, education, transportation, and healthcare.
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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 October SGIA Show 2010 issue of
Sign Builder Illustrated,
feature articles on:
Dye Sublimation Digital Printing
RIP/Digital Printing Software
Vehicle Graphics Installation
Video Displays Marketing
Polycarbonates Fabrication
ATTENTION ADVERTISERS and SUBSCRIBERS:
Coming up in the November 2010 issue of
Sign Builder Illustrated,
feature articles on:
Architectural Letters
LED Border Lighting
Monument Design
Neon Transformers
Vinyl Installation
Special Section: Vehicle Graphics
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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The new OcŽ Arizona¨ 550 XT UV flatbed offers an extra-large table for printing oversized rigid media or continuous printing of 4’ x 8’ boards without interruption. A new express mode provides production speed printing of more than twenty-two 4’ x 8’ boards/hour. Optional white ink and roll media capability.
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Get New Clients with ADA Signs Welcome to the most powerful sign engine on the web, signmojo.com! Over 30 styles, 56 colors, and 1800+ products. Customize, proof, and order your signs online! Go to www.signmojo.com/signup. By adding our link, you & your customers can place orders. We make the signs and then send you a check!
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Cutting out digital prints has never been easier! With the MultiCam MultiVision Digital Registration System, easily cut print files without worrying about image rotation or distortion. One of the easiest digital registration systems to use, MultiVision lets your business speed up workflow without sacrificing quality. 972/929-4070. To learn more, click here: MultiCam SGIA Booth #3847
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AXYZ International has added two powerful machining enhancements to its range of routers. The new network-based A2MC controller, which delivers much faster and smoother motion is said to offer the highest possible control capabilities. While the upgraded ATC (Automatic Tool Change) facility, now offers a choice of 7 or 21 different stations. Both will radically extend the capabilities of all AXYZ routers used in multiple sign making and digital printing applications involving a wide range of materials.
Click here for more details: http://www.axyz.com/ctrl_n_soft/a2mc/index.html or email: enquiries@axyz.com for more information.
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Going Green? Go LED Power! Class 2 / UL 879 SAM / UL 8750 (LED Power Source)
Mean Well’s 3,000 Power Supply models have been serving worldwide customers, since 1982. If you are thinking green, Mean Well’s LED Power Supplies have 9 series with dozens of models, which will provide the best power solutions for your needs. Click here for more information: Mean Well
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2010 SGIA Expo Reveals Specialty Imaging Innovations Hit the jackpot this year during the 2010 SGIA Expo (Las Vegas, October 13–15), where you’ll see the broadest range of specialty imaging technologies and applications from the industry’s leading suppliers. The Expo is vital for graphic imaging companies who want to stay competitive in the changing marketplace.
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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:
Installing ADA! CCheck out this special SBI supplement dedicated to the installation and implementation of effective ADA and wayfinding signage. Learn how sign builders are working creatively within ADA codes to make some appealing signage, as well as what regulations you’ll need to know before installing these types of signs. Check out the digital version here:
Installing ADA!
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FLEXcon Visit