Part 1 of 2
By Cassandra Balentine
Printing and engraving technologies are used for a variety of applications, including tactical offerings that can even include ADA-compliant braille. Introducing this type of work into your portfolio brings in new revenue while still producing more traditional jobs like directional signage, architectural graphics, dimensional lettering, backlit displays, and point of purchase and retail displays.
“Offering these applications helps shops maximize equipment utilization while expanding revenue opportunities beyond regulated signage work,” shares Corey Kelly, marketing director, Trotec Laser.
Todd Rhinerson, senior specialist, production planning, DGS Solutions Strategy, Canon U.S.A., Inc., agrees that offering these applications makes good business sense because they utilize the same flatbed technology but often command price premiums in high-end interior décor, fine art, corporate branding, and luxury consumer packaging.
Applications such as donor recognition walls, branded office interiors, dimensional lobby signage, directional graphics, retail displays, and custom décor make excellent complementary offerings because they often utilize the same substrates, finishing equipment, and customer base as ADA signage, notes Adam Tourville, CEO, Fluid Color.
For example, hospitals, universities, hotels, and corporate campuses that require ADA-compliant room signage frequently also need branded environmental graphics, wayfinding systems, wallcoverings, and dimensional architectural signage. “Offering both allows providers to become a full-service signage partner rather than a niche supplier,” comments Tourville.
Above: Photo courtesy of Canon.
On the Market
Many presses are capable of specialty printing/engraving braille/ADA signage and/or offerings like directional signage and office numbers.
Canon
Canon offers professional, production-grade wide format solutions that are designed to help drive high efficiency and versatility for print service providers.
Its premier hardware offering for directional signage includes the Arizona series flatbed printers.
Canon’s Arizona Series includes the GT configurations (49.2×98.4 inches) and XT configurations (98.4×120.1 inches). These devices allow flat rigid media to remain stationary on a vacuum table, allowing for outstanding dot registration and layer alignment.
These Arizona series are powered by advanced software platforms, PRISMAguide XL and PRISMAelevate XL, which help automate the complex layer mapping required for tactile graphics.
Canon provides a combination of workflow automation and final durability. With PRISMAguide XL software, it features recipe-based automation, designed so the heavy lifting of complex file setups only occurs once. Then, on the print side, the printer utilizes its hard, glossy IJC357 UV-curable inkjet with varnish to encapsulate the raised elements. This is designed to help users create a smoother, more rounded, and highly durable finish that helps with scuff resistance.
Direct Color Systems (DCS)
DCS offers a range of systems for the manufacturing of ADA/braille, wayfinding, and directional signage in a variety of format sizes from 24 to 96 inches in width.
While DCS systems can produce anything that is possible on other UV flatbeds in the market, the system is also optimized for the production of braille by focusing on printhead layout for fast, precision placement, durable inks, and ADA-specific software. The process of digital ADA fabrication was patented by DCS in 2018.
DPI Lab, LLC
DPI Lab provides a range of UV flatbed printers, which can be used for various texture applications or applying custom graphics to pre-produced ADA compliant signage, directional signage, and office numbers.
When it comes to building aggressive textures profitably, the key is speed. DPI Lab’s fully staggered-head configuration on its Aventra UV printers means that entire printhead is available for ink output on every pass. As compared to single-head systems or those with a linear head configuration, the Catalyst Aventra is substantially faster, generating more profitable units per hour.
Additionally, it can use white or varnish to build texture, giving more flexibility with color applications.
Epson America, Inc.
Epson offers two SureColor V-Series UV flatbed solutions capable of printing ADA braille and specialty signage applications on a range of materials.
The SureColor V4000 is a wide format solution that touts three PrecisionCore Micro TFP printheads to deliver crisp detail, clear small text, and single-pass multi-layer printing for enhanced productivity. It offers a print area of 27.5×38.5 inches and supports media up to 7.8 inches thick. Leveraging a ten-color UltraChrome UV ink set—including red and gray for an expansive color gamut, opaque white and gloss/matte varnish for bright, colorful, and textured prints—the SureColor V4000 can produce output in compliance with ADA specifications.
The Epson SureColor V4000 wide format printer features a compact footprint, while still providing an expanded color gamut, media versatility, and production-focused features specifically for sign shops. The unique print area size fills a mid-range gap between smaller UV printers and large format industrial flatbeds.
The SureColor V1070 desktop UV flatbed printer offers a compact, space-saving design and leverages MicroPiezo printhead technology, featuring variable-sized droplet control, coupled with a six-color UltraChrome UV ink set to deliver stunning bright, colorful, textured prints, including ADA-compliant braille signage. A user-friendly design offers simple operation and automatic maintenance, making it ideal for entry-level, ecommerce businesses, maker markets, sign shops, promotional goods manufacturers, and retail/kiosk businesses.
Unlike competitors, Epson develops its solutions from the ground up, leveraging proprietary technologies engineered to work seamlessly together, ensuring long-term reliability and consistently high-quality output for customers.
Fluid Color
Fluid Color offers several industrial LED-curable flatbed printer solutions specifically designed for ADA/braille and tactile signage production.
Its primary platforms include the RF53 Braille Monster, RF84 Braille Monster, and RF105 Braille Monster. The RF53 features a compact production footprint ideal for smaller format ADA signage and office identification systems, while the RF84 and RF105 are true industrial wide format systems designed for high-volume sign manufacturing.
The RF84 features a 4×8-foot print area, while the RF105 offers a 5×10-foot production platform for larger architectural and directional signage projects. These systems are engineered to produce high-build tactile text, raster braille dots, dimensional graphics, and wayfinding signage directly to rigid substrates using specialty formulated UV/LED curable inks. The platforms support a range of applications including room identification signs, directional signage, stairwell signage, evacuation maps, donor walls, corporate branding, and custom architectural signage.
Fluid Color is focused on industrial production speed, reliability, and true high-build tactile printing capability. The braille Monster Series was engineered specifically for ADA and tactile signage manufacturers rather than adapting a general-purpose printer to perform tactile work.
Mimaki USA, Inc.
Textured small signage is a strong application for UV flatbeds. While some shops may use engraving, routing, or photopolymer processes, UV printing offers a digital workflow that can combine color, texture including clear ink effects, and raised tactile elements in one streamlined process.
For Mimaki, this application range fits across two families of UV flatbed platforms based on production needs. The UJF Series is well suited for smaller signage including directional signage and ADA-compliant signage. This includes the UJF-3042 MkII e/UJF-6042 MkII e with print areas of 12x 16.5 and 24×16.5 inches, respectively. And the UJF-7151 plusII e with a larger capability at 20×28 inches. It also has advanced texture features including fully automated 2.5D Emboss that can build a flat wall texture up to five millimeters.
For customers requiring higher throughput or larger panel production, the JFX200-1213 EX offers a medium format 50×51-inch print area and the JFX200-2513 EX provides a full size table at 98×51 inches for higher production larger panels or multi-up workflow.
The Mimaki Braille App and 2.5D Texture Maker simplify tactile workflows, while the range of machine sizes allow customers to choose anything from compact short-run production to larger multi-up signage production.
Mutoh America, Inc.
Mutoh offers two UV flatbed printers well suited for braille/ADA signage, directional signage, office numbers, and other specialty printing applications. The XpertJet 661UF features a compact 19×23-inch print area ideal for ADA room signs and personalized applications, while the larger XpertJet 1462UF offers a 55.9×27.5-inch print area for higher volume production and larger signage. Both support textured printing, raised lettering, and durable ADA-compliant output using Mutoh’s UH21 rigid UV ink.
The main differentiator of Muoth’s ADA-capable flatbed solutions is its ink technology. When it comes to ADA signage, adhesion and durability are critical. The UH21 rigid UV ink gives shops confidence that the signage they produce will maintain its tactile quality, appearance, and long-term durability once installed. Combined with precise layering and reliable print performance, it allows users to consistently produce ADA-compliant signage built to last.
Trotec Laser
Trotec’s full line of Speedy laser systems are capable of laser engraving and marking various signage. Its products range in working area from 12×24 up to 28×49 inches. It also offers materials such as wood, plastic, and acrylic.
Rather than a single piece of equipment, Trotec provides a full ecosystem built around your workflow. From lasers and materials, to software and local support, the company has everything you need for confident operation and scalable production.
Aug2026, Digital Output
