2018 Wide-Format & Signage Readers' Choice Top Product Awards

Each year, Wide-Format & Signage turns to the industry to help us name the winners of our Readers’ Choice Top Product Awards. More than 150 products were nominated across an array of categories by readers and print service providers worldwide, as well as the industry and our own editorial staff. The result: an exceptionally strong lineup of more than 20 winning products – as voted on by the members of the visual-communications industry. Our congratulations to the winners!

Finishing: Cutters / Routers                              

Zünd LM 100W Laser by Zünd 

With the LM 100W, Zünd has introduced a laser module for sign & display applications. The purpose of this new laser-cutting system is to cut polyester fabrics and seal the edges at the same time. This addition further amplifies the versatility of Zünd's modular, wide-format cutting systems.

Soft signage offers tremendous potential in the vast and diverse world of visual communication media. Polyester fabrics are beginning to conquer applications previously ruled by paper and PVC substrates. To facilitate cutting this material, Zünd has developed the LM 100W laser module. It is designed to cut polyester textiles and simultaneously seal the edges. Frayed edges become a thing of the past. The LM 100W automates what has long been a separate, manual operation and thereby also eliminates the need for seaming.

Finishing: Fabric Finishing Equipment                       

Cronos Ultimate by Media One Digital Imaging Solutions

The highest quality and most flexible solution for sewing textiles in the digital market to product Flags, Displays, Banners, Tents and Curtains. Easy to use and fast, the CRONOS sewing system allows users to achieve consistently high-quality flat seams, reduces production time and increases output. Place fabric on conveyor belt, introduce material into guide, and watch the Cronos Ultimate operate with controlled and continuous speed. Sensors detect the end of fabric and the conveyor belt automatically returns the finished textile to the start position. No fabric hits the floor, a puller device will direct light and heavy fabrics consistently through the guide, and settings for different applications can be stored, making the Cronos Ultimate an optimum solution for sewing textiles in today’s digital market.

Finishing: Laminates, Coatings, & Equipment           

Easymount Air EM-A1600SH Wide Format Laminating System by Vivid Laminating

The new Easymount Air laminates stunning wide-format graphics and board mounts, on one of the most advanced concepts ever seen in a wide format laminator.

Pneumatic air pressure controls the laminating rollers, allowing you to mount and laminate with incredible accuracy and speed. Rollers can be locked in place at the exact thickness of the board to prevent crushing the front edge and giving rollers a longer life. The roller 'floats' down to sit on the board without damage. The revolutionary Easymount Air features 1.18-inch mounting thickness for even more applications and at 33-feet a minute, is over 50% faster than most other wide format laminating systems.

Ink & Toner: Aqueous / Durable Aqueous / Latex Ink/Dye-Sub & Output Devices: Engineering Printer

imagePROGRAF TX-3000 MFP T36 by Canon USA

Canon continues to innovate and build on its award-winning technology, year after year. These advances have allowed Canon to design solutions to help improve productivity, maximize use, and enhance security features in a seamless system that can put you at the forefront of the large-format printing industry. Built for today’s culture— where more is asked with less— Canon now offers a multifaceted advanced solution for the high production, technical document inkjet printer market -the 36-inch imagePROGRAF TX-3000 MFP T36 Large format Scan-to-Copy/File/Share System.
 

Media: Fabric/Textile

Renew by Magic 

Printable, lightweight, durable, non-woven PET banner with a textured, matte surface. RENEW can be hung from ceilings, fences, scaffolding, etc. It can also be used to create customizable pennants. It is the perfect alternative to vinyl (which is known for being environmentally harmful) and other banner materials.

Media: Fine Art & Photography

Deco-Structure 7582FLBS by Top Value Fabrics 

Top Value Fabrics Deco-Structure is constructed with a unique textured surface making it the perfect choice for fine art printing and fine art reproduction providing the classic look and feel of artist canvas displaying rich, brilliant colors when printed. This fabric is an excellent choice for printing and displaying artwork for interior decor, museums and a wide variety of applications.

Media: Floor Graphic Media

SpotOn Floor 200 by Drytac  

The latest introduction to Drytac’s product line is 8mm (200µ) embossed printable white matte monomeric PVC film for short-term, indoor floor graphics applications. Thanks to a unique dot pattern printed pressure-sensitive polyacrylate adhesive, the new film can be applied to multiple flooring surfaces including floor or ceramic tiles, sealed wood or concrete, waxed vinyl, marble, terrazzo surfaces, and more. It also boasts a post-printed anti-slip rating of R10 which allows for vibrant, slip-resistant floor graphics without the need for over-lamination.

Media: Semi Rigid / Rigid

Everyday Blockout Display Film by HP Inc.

HP Everyday Blockout Display Film is an economical display film compatible with both HP DesignJet and HP Latex ink technologies. It has an innovative three-layer construction with polyester and polypropylene that produces rigid, durable displays with excellent lay-flat properties. HP Everyday Blockout Display Film is designed with the environment in mind and is REACH compliant—a regulation of the European Union adopted to improve the protection of human health and the environment. HP Everyday Blockout Display Film is a 9.8- mil composite polymeric film with a light-blocking opaque layer that prevents show-through so viewers see clean, crisp images.

Media: Vehicle Wrap Media

3M Print Wrap Film IJ180mC-10UR by 3M 

In a world where trends seem to change every day, it can be difficult to keep up with what’s hot and what’s not. 3M is excited to introduce a new product that makes it nearly impossible to fall out of fashion. The new 3M Print Wrap Film IJ180mC-10UR is an ultra-removable print wrap film that comes off quickly and cleanly. Truly the best of both worlds, this innovative film combines 3M’s trusted quality and durability with the ability to remove or replace graphics at a moment’s notice. 

Media: Wall & Window Graphic Media

MPI 1405 by Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions 

Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions North America launched a new PVC-free film, MPI 1405. The new MPI 1405 is an ultra-conformable film with a long term removable (LTR) adhesive. Its reliable and superior print quality and instant adaptability make it suitable for a broad range of applications, from car wraps and outdoor graphic needs, to textured surfaces like brick walls or cinderblock.

The new film is warranted for cement, brick, and concrete surfaces, making it ideal for indoor and outdoor architectural applications. Easy Apply air egress technology helps eliminate wrinkles and bubbles while Easy Apply RS provides repositionability and slideability, allowing the film to be moved easily before pressure is applied.

Output Devices: Aqueous Printer / Durable Aqueous / Latex (24-95 inches)

HP Latex 570 Printer by HP Inc.

The HP Latex 570 Printer provides cost-effective production and is easily integrated into your fleet.

Sustain high productivity, load rolls in one minute or less, print up to 248 ft2/hour, print 328-foot SAV rolls with heavy-roll support up to 121 pounds. Vivid color, consistent quality, highly-saturated prints, up to 50% more ink density allowing you to manage your fleet easily and cost effectively. 

Output Devices: Flatbed Printer

Nyala LED Printer by SwissQprint

Nyala LED is the flagship model of the swissQprint product line. With its 126 x 79’’ flatbed it produces up to 2217 ft2/h. The real flatbed printer offers a roll to roll option as well as a board option for oversized board printing. A loading and unloading robot is also available as an option and integrates seamlessly with the swissQprint output software. The Nyala LED is built individually to the customer’s needs. It offers 9 freely configurable color channels and is upgradeable in the field. If your business changes the printer adapts to the new needs.
 

Output Devices: Grand-Format Printer (96 inches+)

VUTEk 3r and VUTEk 5r Printers by EFI 

Printing at speeds up to 4,896 sq.ft./hr. in resolutions up to 1,200 dpi, the 5-meter EFI VUTEk 5r printer maximizes performance, efficiency, and quality. Featuring high-resolution, 7-picoliter EFI UltraDrop Technology, the printer offers the fastest throughput in the market, superior image quality, and a lower total cost of ownership for premium graphics work. The printer is also available with a complete range of options for high productivity and versatility, including light colors and white for multi-layer printing; inline finishing for all-in-one printing, cutting, slitting, and collecting; auto backlit and blockout printing, and more.

Output Devices: Hybrid Printer/Solvent Printer

ValueJet 1638UH by Mutoh America, Inc. 

Mutoh America, Inc. ValueJet 1638UH 64-inch hybrid printer provides real production based UV-LED performance at an affordable price. Its staggered dual print head design provides high-print speeds and the dual UV lamps, on either side of the print heads, provide exceptional cure times, allowing for higher-production capacity.  Print on material up to a half inch thick and save valuable floor space with its dual function and multiple application design. The CMYK plus white and varnish ink options are ideal for printing packaging prototypes, POP displays, and indoor signage.

Output Devices: Textile Printer

SureColor F9370 by Epson 

Epson America introduced its latest wide-format textile printer designed to deliver high-speed, reliable productivity for digital dye-sublimation transfers for a range of polyester textile and apparel applications. The new 64-inch Epson SureColor F9370 delivers industrial-level production with speeds up to 1,169 square feet/hour and features an integrated new fabric wiping system coupled with a highly accurate roll-to-roll media support system to handle economical lightweight transfer papers.

Output Devices: UV Printer (24-95 inches)

Fujifilm Acuity LED 3200R by Fujifilm 

The Fujifilm Acuity LED 3200R is a superwide format printer designed to produce high quality display and exhibition graphics in the most cost-effective way. Fujifilm technology in LED UV curing and ink chemistry work in conjunction to give a profitable solution. Produce a wide range of applications on flexible media with this dedicated roll device: Banners, window displays, wall graphics, backlits, even customized wallpapers – all with the benefits of low energy consumption and efficiency of fast start up.

Prepress: Color Management Hardware & Software

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2017 by Corel 

Introducing CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2017, the latest version of Corel's flagship graphics software that offers designers a new, hands-on creative experience that's unlike any other vector application. With LiveSketch, hand-drawn strokes are intelligently interpreted, adjusted, and combined with existing vector curves, making it simple to sketch and draw directly on a pen-enabled device. The industry's most powerful graphics solution built specifically for Windows, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2017 also offers new workflow enhancements, plus support for the latest technologies including advanced stylus and touch-enabled devices, the Microsoft Surface Dial, and Ultra HD 5K monitors.

Software: MIS Software

ONYX Hub by Onyx Graphics

ONYX Hub software is designed to bring real-time, historic and trend data to business owners and production managers, enabling them to make better business decisions. Licensed through any ONYX Thrive workflow software key, customers can use the browser-based dashboard and reporting features to gain visibility into their entire production environment. ONYX Hub software is a business intelligence tool with a browser-based dashboard that provides easy-to-understand data across a print service provider’s entire site, enabling better business decisions.

Software: RIP Software

V11 RIP Software from Caldera 

Caldera invites users to celebrate its 25th anniversary with a landmark edition that introduces a variety of improvements for wide-format print houses. Leveraging Caldera’s partnership with Adobe, V11 incorporates the latest version of Adobe PDF Print Engine (APPE 4), as well as practical advances in image and business control options that are typical of its major biennial updates. Compliant with macOS Sierra, V11 will be available in multiple languages from September this year, launching officially at SGIA Las Vegas.

Software: Web-to-Print

Webshop 1st Edition by Caldera 

Caldera Webshop is a robust e-commerce platform, providing a fully-featured solution which allows you to tailor your store to your individual set-up. This SaaS product integrates seamlessly with Caldera’s RIP software, creating a complete sales-to-production solution that saves you time and makes you money. The only web-to-print solution developed specifically with wide-format printers in mind, Caldera WebShop helps you promote your products online, opening up new sales opportunities and increasing the number of orders coming into your business. 

Software: Workflow Software

ONYX 12.2 by Onyx 

Onyx Graphics Inc. released ONYX 12.2 software, the latest version of the company’s wide-format print workflow and RIP products. ONYX 12.2 software features improved RIP and data transfer processing speeds, new multi-roll functionality, job scaling and rotation, and cut workflow enhancements. ONYX 12.2 software is available for the full ONYX software product line including ONYX Thrive workflow software; and ONYX ProductionHouse, ONYX PosterShop and ONYX RIPCenter RIP software.