Discover the Secret to Your Success in Las Vegas

If you want to take your sign business to the next level in 2013, then you probably already have your bags packed and ready to go to the ISA International Sign Expo in Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Convention Center (April 3-6, 2013). With more than 550 exhibitors and 18,000 colleagues under one roof, you will find the ideas and products that will make an immediate impact on your business.

For the first time ever, ISA International Sign Expo 2013's exhibit space has topped 200,000 square feet—marking the first time in the event's history that it has been a complete sell-out. The previous record holder was the 2008 Expo in Orlando with 199,900 square feet.

"This milestone proves that there is no better place to explore the diversity of the on-premise sign industry than at ISA International Expo 2013," said Lori Anderson, president and CEO of the International Sign Association. "Every inch of the floor will be filled with the latest ways to grow business and I can't wait to hear how sign industry professionals take advantage of information provided by the many exhibitors."

In addition to the size of the exhibit space, Expo 2013 will feature the Dynamic Digital Park, which will showcase the latest in digital signage, with Samsung Electronics America, Daktronics, Inc., Almo Professional A/V, and Stratacache among the companies exhibiting. In addition, the Park features an opening reception at 4 pm Thursday, April 4.

Additionally, dozens of exhibitors will be hosting receptions or meeting during Expo.

"International Sign Expo always offers important opportunities to build or enhance relationships with other sign professionals and important vendors," said Lori Anderson, president and CEO of the International Sign Association. "By offering these receptions and meeting during Expo, these exhibitors are providing yet another important networking option."

Those scheduled to host receptions or events during Expo are: 3M Center; Accent Signage Solutions; Daktronics Inc.; Denco Sales; GE Lighting; Grimco; KeyedIn Solutions; Matthews Paint; Mimaki USA Inc.; Mutoh America, Inc.; National Association of Sign Supply Distributors (NASSD); Top Value Fabrics; Universal Lighting Technologies; and World Sign Associates.

Special Focus: Digital Signage

Wednesday, April 3—also known as Dynamic Digital Signage Day—will be dedicated to education on dynamic digital signage and how it’s revolutionizing the signage marketplace. These sessions are designed with the custom sign company in mind, and provide insights on how to add this new technology to a shop’s current business model.

Separate registration is required for this educational opportunity.

On the show floor, the Dynamic Digital Park will be destination for attendees to find the latest digital signage solutions. This section of the exhibit hall will provide attendees with a one-stop-shopping experience. From custom sign companies, looking to add value to their business, to technology providers interested in finding new partners for their products, Dynamic Digital Signage Day and the Dynamic Digital Park will provide critical learning and networking opportunities for attendees.

Showstoppers

As is true every year, the trade show floor will be bursting with new products. Here are a selection of must-see new products that will be in display. (Listed in booth order.)

Mark Bric Display (Booths 311, 313)

Mark Bric Display’s ISOframe Wave is the world's first fully flexible portable display and is sure to get your attention and the attention of your customers or prospects. Flex the entire exhibit wall into the shape you need. Extend or reduce the length as desired. It can be flexed 180° at every point due to the patented Flexi-wave link. It also features easy, no tool assembly, with simple breakdown and compact transportation.

Caldera (Booth 913)

The new PrintBoard plug-in for Caldera is the first display solution of its kind to interact directly with a RIP engine. The plug-in will allow users of Caldera’s RIP software to show an overview of their production activity on screen for all employees to see, with information including which files have recently been added to the spooler, and the number of square meters processed daily by the RIP.

PrintBoard displays information such as the daily square meter production rate, the rate per printing device, the percentage of production per printer and per type of printer and the number of errors per day, alongside the sequence of jobs lined up for each device. This allows for an at-a-glance overview of the workload, and makes it easy for production managers to order jobs for optimum efficiency and productivity. 

Seiko Instruments USA (Booth 1212)

Visit the Seiko Instruments booth to see what is new in the wide format printer industry this year! We will be featuring our new Jetrix 1212FK Flatbed UV Printer, with the industry’s fastest high resolution print speeds and lowest ink costs. The Jetrix 1212FK is designed for mid size screenprinters and many other print shops. The Jetrix 1212FK produces true 1440 x 720 dpi printing resolution with CMYK and white colors. The Konica 1024 Industrial Piezo Inkjet Printheads allow the printer to achieve printing speeds of 284 sfph, the fastest speed in its class.

Zund America, Inc. (Booth 1315)

Just in time for ISA, Zund America, Inc. is introducing Zund Cut Center 2.0. The first major new release since ZCC was launched in 2010 includes these new features: a production time calculator/estimator to facilitate production planning; automatic cut path/start point optimization for the least-possible amount of non-cutting movements; automatic overcut compensation based on blade geometry and material thickness; batch processing for extended production runs with email notification for required operator interventions. ZCC 2.0 is now being delivered with all new Zünd G3 and S3 cutting systems and is also available as upgrade to existing ZCC installations.  

Teckwin International (Booth 1321)

Teckwin International and Digital Graphics Systems, booth 1321, will be demonstrating the TS-300, 8x4-foot fixed flatbed UV printer that operates at 480 square feet per hour, six colors plus white, and a 72-inch roll-to-roll feature at ISA.

Fujifilm North America (Booth 1512)

The Acuity Advance Select 8 UV flatbed inkjet printer delivers all of the market leading image quality, performance and reliability benefits of the Acuity Advance series. In addition, the Select 8 offers increased flexibility with a wider selection of color options that can provide high productivity and value added versatility. Its eight channels offer extended color, white and clear ink options. 

Durst Imaging Technology (Booth 1515)

The Durst Rho P10 320R UV Inkjet Digital Roll Printer sets a new standard for production level machines, with no compromise between speed and image quality.  Productivity of up to 1,650 sq.ft./hr. is enhanced by its ability to print two 5-foot rolls of media side by side, using individual print queues.  The 10.5 ft.-wide printer delivers sharp, clear image detail and text, and precise color matching to produce “fine art” quality output. The P10 320R allows print providers to offer creative new products and enter new markets, at levels of quality and efficiency previously unattainable.

Polytype America (Booth 1726)

Polytype will be exhibiting the 3.2 Meter swissQprint Nyala, the only UV Flatbed printer featuring six colors/varnish/white and spot colors, roll-to-roll printing, oversized board capability, tandem printing for maximum productivity and many more features. Please see us at ISA booth 1726!

Bordeaux Digital Printink (Booth 1918)

Bordeaux Digital Printink has launched a bulk ink solution for Epson Stylus Pro GS6000. The solution uses Bordeaux Mix & Match Eco Solvent ink and includes a fully automated chip emulator system that can replace original Epson chips. The product is branded InkonDemand.com and sold via Bordeaux’s distribution channels around the world. The bulk ink system for Epson Stylus Pro GS6000 printers enables users to replace the OEM chips, monitor ink level with practically 100 percent accuracy and receive alerts when to replace the ink bag in order to maximize print productivity and reduce ink waste.

Mutoh America (Booth 2111)

The new ValueJet 2638 104-inch seven color capable inkjet printer prints up to a 1,168 sqft/hr, making it Mutoh's fastest ValueJet yet. The swift print speeds offer fast turnaround times on large jobs. A simple learning curve, easy-to-navigate control panel, convenient maintenance door and sheet off function makes the VJ2638 exceptionally user friendly.  Optional one liter ink bags are available for high production environments, saving the user up to 27 percent on overall ink costs. The VJ2638 provides outstanding performance at a competitive price, making it the smart choice for shops looking to expand applications, increase production and improve efficiency.

GBC (Booth 2315)

GBC will debut the new Spire line of best in class thermal and PSA wide format laminators. With laminating and mounting capabilities, this new line promises sleek design, optimum productivity, ease of use and features today only found on higher priced machines—all at a competitive price. From a 54-inch entry-level cold only model to a 64-inch dual heat thermal machine, experience a range of solutions to produce even the most challenging indoor and outdoor applications.

Epson Americas (Booth 2505)

The Epson SureColor F-Series printers are the first roll-fed dye-sublimation printers from Epson. Every component is designed and manufactured by Epson, resulting in a high-performance dye-sublimation transfer printing technology designed for exceptional reliability and industrial-level production with high quality output. Both the 44-inch SureColor F6070 and 64-inch SureColor F7070 support an extensive range of applications, including efficient production of high-quality soft signage. The SureColor F-Series leverage a newly optimized Epson MicroPiezo TFP print head and specially formulated Epson UltraChrome DS ink with 1.5 liter bulk ink system.

Master Magnetics (Booth 2714)

FlexIRON Sheeting is a magnetically receptive material that attracts all types of low profile magnets, including flexible magnetic sheeting and strip, ceramic and neodymium magnets. Both sides of FlexIRON (front and back) attract magnets. It is now available in 48-inch wide rolls. FlexIRON can be used as the base layer for signs, photos and graphics printed on PrintMagnetVinyl, or it can be the top graphic layer (compatible with solvent, eco-solvent, UV and latex ink), using the PrintMagnetVinyl with an adhesive backing as the base.

MACtac (Booth 2811)

MACtac Graphic Products has introduced MACmark Tuning Films, the market's widest range of carbon fiber and matte wrapping films for a variety of custom wrap applications. These films are designed for complete or partial vehicle wraps, interior vehicle trim, laptops, game consoles, cell phones, and more. The film faces are 6.9-mil cadmium-free polymeric vinyl and are available in five carbon fiber colors including black, white, silver, gold and graphite plus matte white and matte black. The black matte and white matte have a repositionable adhesive with a true zero-glare matte finish resistant to fingerprints and smudges. In addition, they are resistant to most oils and grease, fuels, aliphatic solvents, weak acids, salts and alkalis. The Carbon Fiber Tuning Film is coated with a high-performance micro-structured (bubble-free) permanent, acrylic adhesive for easy application. It also features an 80# polycoated release liner for added stability and layflat with a light grey 'MACtac' back printing.

Foster Keencut (Booth 3343)

Foster Keencut’s new On-A-Roll Lifter provides the muscle to maneuver heavy media rolls by a single person—and without the risk of back injury.  The Lifter’s sturdy steel construction allows the lifting and transport of media up to 440 lbs. and up to 16.4 feet wide.  Designed specifically for grand- and wide-format printers and sign makers, the unit allows single users to roll any size media onto the lifter and then directly onto the printer feeder.

Canon Solutions America (Booth 3353)

New to ISA this year is the Océ Arizona 480 GT UV flatbed printer that features application versatility and improved productivity while maintaining the quality favored by Océ Arizona Series customers. This new model features eight independent ink channels with support for varnish or double-opacity white ink printing, including additional cyan and magenta channels for higher print quality at faster speeds. The flatbed table includes six vacuum zones that have been configured to match the majority of standard-sized graphic arts media to reduce or eliminate manual masking, thereby decreasing operator intervention and increasing productivity.

Roland DGA (Booth 3511)

Roland will launch its newest “out of this world” innovation in high-speed digital printing technology, the SOLJET XF.  Featured in Roland’s ISA exhibit, the XF joins the rest of Roland’s portfolio of wide-format inkjet printers, printer/cutters and other powerful production tools for your sign business. 

Ultraflex (Booth 3521)

Ultraflex will be showcasing many GROOVY new products for eco solvent, solvent, latex, UV, screen, and dye-sub printing in its Woodstock themed booth at ISA. Of special interest is SuperSmooth PET GreyBack, a non-curling front-lit banner with a grey back for opacity and super-smooth print surface. Ideal for pop-up, roll-up, X displays, POP/POS and an array of other close viewing, indoor applications. It is available from 38 to 126 inches wide.

Magnum Magnetics (Booth 3558)

Use your digital press or wide format inkjet to create car sign magnets using Magnum Magnetics’ MuscleMag high energy printable magnetic material. MuscleMag is specially formulated to be very thin to allow for smooth feeding and easy cutting, while having stronger holding power than a refrigerator magnet.  This thinner material allows the magnet to contour to the surface it is being applied to, and also reduces wind resistance.

Asphalt Art USA (Booth 3701)

Asphalt Art USA will introduce TexWalk fully repositionable textured, non-slip media.  No lamination or adhesive residue.  It is ideal for trade show & retail POP graphics on carpet, tile, wood, metal, concrete, and painted floors & walls. It is compatible with solvent, UV, and latex printers.

Continental Grafix USA (Both 3701)

Continental Grafix USA’s 80/20 Window Perf  is available in panoRama 1520 self-adhesive and panoRama Film non-adhesive for inside mount with our panoRama Tape. The Universal Print Liners are engineered for latex, UV-curable, and solvent.  It is also available in 50/50, 60/40, & 70/30.

Kernow Coatings (Booth 3701)

Kernow Coatings’ 205STLR – 8mil Satin Textured LightBlock contains 30 percent post-consumer recycled bottles in the polyester base at the same cost as other polyester films.  HydroSol offers a full line of non-curling, temperature stable polyester films for roll-ups, pop-ups, backlit and window displays, menu boards, and other signage applications. 

ATP Adhesive Systems (Booth 3701)

ATP Adhesive Systems will introduce BANNERBOND, “the strongest connection” permanent acrylic adhesive for vinyl banners and PVC coated textiles. Available in 1-, 1.5-, and 2-inch-wide rolls. 

EFI (Booth 3721)

The EFI VUTEk QS2 Pro is a robust, two-meter, production-level UV printer combining true grayscale print quality, color accuracy and consistency for print service providers looking to grow their businesses with color-critical and higher-premium jobs. The printer offers P-O-P image quality with up to 1000 dpi, six colors and three-layer white ink print capability. Grayscale technology offers higher ink yield with some imagery, lowering you cost per print. The VUTEk QS2 Pro printer’s user interface allows users to run multiple jobs at once without RIPing larger layout files. The printer, which now comes standard with roll-to-roll functionality, prints on rigid, sheet and flexible media up to 80 inches wide and up to two inches thick.

Herculite Products Inc. (Booth 3748)

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 701 Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Propagation of Textiles and Films, reissued in 2010, assesses the propagation of flame of various textiles and films under specified fire test conditions. The test methods included in this standard apply to textile materials used extensively in interior furnishing for public occupancy buildings including architectural fabric structures and banners.

Herculite has developed a highly effective solution to mitigate this potentially costly liability issue. Bantex Curl Free 13 Ounce banner fabric is made in the USA and certified to the NFPA 701 flame standard.

Esko (Booth 3759)

The Esko Kongsberg XN is one of the most versatile digital finishing device ever introduced. Working with just about any material from vinyls to boards to wood, it’s perfect for any application. It’s available in sizes up to 87x258 inches. Five tool heads and a full assortment of insert tools guarantee versatility, configured for the widest range of applications: from kiss-cutting to heavy-duty milling. The powerful 3kW MultiCUT-HP milling spindle offers up to three times more routing productivity. Add-ons include a material conveyor, AutoFeeder and a Roll-Off unit. Integrated with i-cut Vision Pro, Kongsberg tables can assure cutting contours match printed images.

Sihl USA (Booth 3815)

Sihl Permovable is a 2 mil, NON PVC, pressure sensitive film developed for use on walls, sidewalks, roadways, parking lots and other unsealed outdoor surfaces for short term event promotion.  With quick and easy installation, the graphic will conform to the texture of the surface to which it is applied, creating the look of permanent painted graphics, rather than applied signs or decals.  A standard pressure washer can be used to wash away the graphic when the event or promotion is over.  Sihl Permovable films exceed the coefficient of friction requirements under ASTM C-1028 testing.

Neschen Americas (Booth 3915)

The SEAL 65 EL is a high quality, affordably priced wide format cold roll laminator designed for new users to confidently create professionally finished graphics. Its durable uniframe construction requires no assembly and minimal maintenance. With simplified controls and easy material loading, featuring our unique auto-grip rollers, and flip-up in-feed table for fast webbing, it provides the means to efficiently finish inkjet prints. Built for ease of use, it is ideal for mounting and laminating pressure sensitive graphics up to 65 inches wide.

ONYX Graphics, Inc. (Booth 3949)

Stop by to see the latest advances in ONYX Graphics workflow products including ONYX Thrive production workflow software, the only true end-to-end PDF workflow product for large format digital printers based on Adobe PDF Print Engine technologies. ONYX Thrive software manages the wide format print production workflow process offering print service providers accurate, predictable, high quality printing results, and reducing costly errors. It seamlessly handles varied file formats and reproduces your client’s intent in an accurate, predictable manner. Print shops can be confident in the printed output and avoid the costs associated with handling unexpected results.

Clear Focus (Booth 3951)

A versatile solution for short- and intermediate-term retail and commercial window graphics, Clear Focus PromoVue is a value-priced perforated window graphics film having a 60/40 perforation pattern, 1.6-mm holes and a clear removable adhesive. PromoVue features the company’s patented dual-layer release liner for enhanced ink absorption. The window film is compatible with solvent, eco-solvent, UV-cure, latex, screen printing and other print technologies.

MultiCam (Booth 3953)

The MultiCam Digital Express uses digital registration with routing and knife cutting on a sheet-fed cutting platform to register, route, and knife-cut at high speeds for digital finishing. The MultiCam Digital Express is fully capable of three-dimensional cutting. The three axes on a MultiCam Digital Express are capable of moving simultaneously, which allows for 3D cutting.

3M Commerical Graphics (Booth 4113)

3M Envision Translucent and Diffuser Films are the first graphic films that optimize LED light. Enjoy richly colored backlit signs with even sign illumination and no hot spots. These films allow you to achieve the same level of brightness with fewer LEDs so you can use fewer light sources and less energy—a greener solution without sacrificing performance. Available in several standard colors, custom colors and as an inkjet printable film, 3M Envision Translucent and Diffuser Films offer an increased number of construction options. The films are also backed by the 3M MCS Warranty.

AGL (Booth 4126)

AGL, Inc. will showcase its new Print-Smart Digital Print Media line of aqueous and solvent compatible printable media to its line of industry proven materials. This new line includes a variety of Litebloc and Backlit medias, as well as a Premium Photo Satin Paper and a Printable Polypropylene film.

Agfa Graphics (Booth 4253)

At ISA, Agfa Graphics will demonstrate several UV inkjet printing systems, including the :Anapurna M2540FB, a robust, entry-level, flatbed system, specifically designed for printing on rigid substrates. The durably-designed system has features typically found in high-end engines such as retractable pins and foot pedal operation. The :Anapurna M2540 FB’s quick-change vacuum bed technology is divided into dual zones, allowing printing on different-sized media without taping off the whole bed. The :Anapurna M2540 FB can print on most any rigid and sheet material and provides high-quality printing on a wide variety of indoor, outdoor, and uncoated rigid media.

Mimaki (Booth 4515)

Mimaki’s new UJV500-160 is the latest in UV LED roll-to-roll printing technology. It’s capable of printing 645 sqft/hr while producing high quality images, as well as 258 sqft/hr when using white ink. The maximum printing width is 63 inches.

The UJV500-160 uses Mimaki’s LUS-200 UV ink, jointly developed with 3M and carries the “3M MCS Warranty” which ensures outdoor durability up to 6 years, a first in inkjet printing. LUS-200 can stretch up to 200 percent after curing. LUS-150 UV ink, which includes white ink, cures fast, stretches up to 150 percent and can print on clear substrates and film is also available. 

HP (Booth 4357)

The HP Scitex FB7600 Industrial Press delivers fast printing speeds, optional automatic or multi-sheet loading and high-quality results across a range of applications. The press—combined with HP programs, services and care—is designed to maximize uptime and provide a scalable platform for growth. HP FB225 Scitex Inks are GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certified and color inks meet AgBB criteria, helping customers print with an improved environmental profile. The HP Scitex FB7500/FB7600 White Ink Kit lets customers add white to process colors and produce high opacity white prints on clear or colored materials without switching inks.

E.L. Hatton Sales Co. (Booth 4527) 

E.L. Hatton Sales Co. has announced new Banner Ups BravoTabs, a streamlined version of the  banner hangers. BravoTabs are made of a super-strong polymer and adhesive system as PowerTabs, but are square rather than the triangular shape of previous products. BravoTabs have no “neck loop” which improves their appearance and eliminates extra labor of cutting off the neck loop if unused. BravoTabs are economical to produce, significantly lowering their cost. Square BravoTabs work great on both corners and along banner edges, making BravoTabs a “one size fits all” solution. 

Verseidag seemee US (Booth 4551)

3P Value Premium Backlit was developed for LED lightbox and backlit applications using direct or transfer dye sublimation print outputs. Its premium treatment, tight weave and wrinkle, crease resistant yarn, make this product a perfect solution for a number of high-end interior applications including backlit/ lightbox frames, exhibition/tradeshow, POS/retail, and indoor banners.

Hexis USA (Booth 4738)

At ISA, Hexis USA will showcase the new FLEX marking films (color and digital) for heat transfer on textiles and the upgraded line of textured cast films for wrapping applications with long durabilities (up to 10 years).

Miller Weldmaster (Booth 4763)

Specifically designed for the sign and digital textile markets, the Miller Weldmaster Impulse Extreme 3.0 has been enhanced with a fully automatic folding function and sleek open design. The new fully automatic folding function increases productivity by eliminating operator set up time prior to welding. The folding bar creates the precise fold for a perfect weld every time.

The simplistic design applies pressure to the seam area; pulses heat through the heat elements and holds the seam under pressure allowing it to cool through a liquid cooling process.

Fisher Textiles (Booth 4844)

GF 9766 Poly Cube (FR) for Dye Sublimation printing is unlike any other style Fisher Textiles carries and is unique in allowing users to create customized office environments.  It is 6.6 oz/yd2 and 118 inches wide.  This bright white woven fabric is flame retardant and passes NFPA 701.  It is 100% Polyester.  In addition to office cubicle walls and partitions other applications include ceilings and conference room walls.  Free sample rolls are available for testing. 

Top Value Fabrics (Booth 4964)

Top Value Fabrics is featuring 15 oz. Double Sided PET Blockout Banner at ISA. This Anti-Curl material is the best choice for indoor double sided display graphics applications where a super smooth image is required for high-end and close-up viewing. This material is engineered to achieve 100 percent opacity to blockout images on the reverse side or image washout due to lighting behind the sign. Popular applications include banner stands and roll-up displays where full bleed printing without curl is required.

Value Vinyls (Booth 4966)

Value Vinyls’ Rio 18 oz. Opaque Matte can be used for printing on one or two sides. It is compatible with screen printing, digital printing, and pressure-sensitive lettering. It is intended for indoor displays and outdoor displays for long-term usage (greater than one year). This durable, heavy-duty product has a width of up to 126 inches to accommodate Grand Format printing. Its opaque barrier helps to eliminate image show-through.

CET (Booth 5764)

CET Color will be demonstrating a brand new 5x10-foot UV flatbed printer capable of producing astonishing print quality at speeds up to 700 sqft/hr.  This UV flatbed printer redefines print excellence by utilizing a seven-level grayscale print head and variable dot technology with a minimum dot size of 3.5 pl.