By Digital Output Staff
The ISA Sign Expo takes place April 10 to 12, 2024 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. Hosted by the International Sign Association (ISA), the show is a must-attend event for anyone in the sign industry.
Admission to the expo includes walking the show floor to witness close to 500 exhibitors, The Wrap Experience, and Learning Lounge.
The Wrap Experience, powered by ISA and The Wrap Institute, is an interactive booth area that surrounds the Never Stop Learning Wrap Contest. The Wrap Experience brings together companies and products to inspire new revenue opportunities. During the Never Stop Learning Wrap Contest, Justin Pate moderates three instructors who train teams in wrap skills.
The Learning Lounge, booth 1770, features free 30 minute sessions, which offer high-level takeaways to grow your sign and graphics business. From business evolution strategies to tactical fabrication techniques, there’s something for everyone.
Above: ORAFOL, booth 1712, presents its premium vinyl graphic films, digital media, laminating films, reflective products, and industrial tapes used in signage, graphics, and digital printing.
Walk the Floor
Here’s a look at what some of the companies exhibiting at the ISA Sign Expo plan on highlighting at the event.
Banner Ups/Budnick Converting, booth 2245, showcases its Banner Ups adhesive tabs, which allow for the creation of durable banners. Installation is a breeze—peel and stick them onto banner corners. Clear PowerTape offers superior strength compared to standard banner hem tape. Clear PowerTape eliminates the need to hem banner edges. Experience the benefits firsthand with a discounted Banner Ups Starter Kit available at the show.
Brite Frame Fabricators, booth 1079, displays custom silicone edge graphic (SEG) frames, light boxes, and trade show displays and environments. The booth contains a range of products that are customizable, featuring over 20 different extrusion profiles, multiple lighting options, and bending capabilities. Need a quick quote or detailed CAD drawings? Look no further. The team specializes in rapid turnaround for complex projects. Frame profiles are also offered by 20-foot lengths if stocking and cutting yourself is preferred.
Brother DTG, booth 671, puts smart technology and precision engineering into all types of printing. Visit the booth to view the wide format WF1 latex printer. With proven Brother printheads and water-based latex inks, prints are sharp, saturated, and accurate on a range of materials, including PVC, paper, canvas, and wallpaper. Also on display is the GTX600 Extra Colors mass-production direct to garment printer, which incorporates orange and green inks for more vibrant prints. The direct to film GTX R2R is also on display, which prints directly onto rolls of film with a built-in adhesive applicator and infrared curing system.
CoreBridge, booth 1863, offers innovative business management software to simplify operations, boost productivity, and empower teams. From seamless order and inventory management to customizable dashboards and automated invoicing, CoreBridge is an all-in-one solution for business success. The team is on hand to provide live demonstrations, answer questions, and showcase the features that make CoreBridge a game changer for business owners, especially in the print industry.
DAF Products, booth 2641, showcases the Fedrigoni Ri-Jet C50 Ultimate Slide and Tack with Ri-Lam C30. This 12 year cast film is ideal for customizing or branding any type of vehicle or commercial fleet. Easily conformable on any three-dimensional surface.
DGS, booth 819, exhibits its BOARDers Rigid Board Finishing System, a proprietary product designed to build trade show booths, backdrops, and point of purchase (POP) displays using half-inch substrates such as Falconboard, Fomeboard, and Ultraboard. The system includes different shape connectors and trims to cover exposed edges for a professional finish as well as two types of Standee Bases that hold half-inch boards up to 96 inches high. DGS also presents BEEngo! Rigid Board Design Library, a comprehensive portfolio of structural designs such as trade show booths, backdrops, POP displays, and furniture. Each design provides material count, artwork instructions, pre-mapped Sketchup render, cut files, and assembly instructions.
Direct Color Systems, booth 1307, exhibits the Direct Jet UV-44DTS and the 1800s small format DTS system. The UV-44DTS is a 4×4-foot UV LED flatbed capable of braille, texture, as well as standard full-color printing for point of purchase, retail, event, and advertising. The UV-44DTS also offers a print height of 12 inches. The 1800s is a 12×24-inch system with a print height of six or 15 inches. The all-new Vibrahue printer line up is represented by the HUV8DR. Vibrahue is a range of flatbed, hybrid, and roll printers that can be configured with Kyocera or Ricoh Gen6 printheads to meet any application requirement.
Displays2go, booth 2719, promotes purposeful, affordable, and ready-to-ship display and signage solutions. The company caters to sign shop owners with a comprehensive range of high-quality frames for all types of posters and small format signage as well as digital signage kiosks and trade show displays. Elevate displays with a diverse selection, meeting the needs of every sign shop owner and signage professional seeking top-notch solutions.
Fluid Color, booth 2108, demonstrates the R70R roll-to-roll LED printer for flexible applications such as window clings, banners, wallpapers, paper, coated stock, and vinyl. It also runs the R84F Turbo flatbed to demonstrate rigid applications such as ACM, fluted plastic signs, wood, acrylic, and point of purchase.
GBC, booth 1113, showcases SEAL precision-engineered wide format laminators with a sturdy uniframe construction. Featured in the booth is the 65 Pro MD, a high-production, versatile laminator that can run both hot and cold applications. The 65 Pro MD has the unmatched capability of running speeds of more than 15 feet per minute without sacrificing quality. Also featured is the 62 Base, which is ideal for mounting and laminating pressure-sensitive graphics up to 61 inches in length. Additionally in the booth, the GBC Foton 30 desktop laminator and its flatbed applicator.
GCC America, booth 2023, displays its LaserPro laser engravers. Whether customizing merchandise or mass production, the GCC LaserPro offers a swift and precise solution for engraving and cutting needs. The integrated material database within the machine includes preset configurations for wood, acrylic, glass, and plastic. For those seeking even greater precision and efficiency, GCC LaserPro offers optional enhancements such as the CCD module or AAS Contour Cutting Device.
General Formulations (GF), booth 725, spotlights GF 885AE RoughMark Cast, which is poised to be a definitive wall wrap material. Combining the innovative technology of GF’s High-Tack Removable adhesive with the performance of its 2-mil gloss cast vinyl, this multi-surface compatible material changes the way you think about wall wraps. Whether smooth or textured walls, indoor or outdoor, GF 885AE offers maximum conformability, durability, and removability. It’s designed for short- or long-term murals on brick, cement, cinder block, and other textured surfaces, and can be used for column wraps and traditional wall graphics.
HP, booth 1700, highlights the latest innovations in large format printing, textile printing, and cutting solutions. This includes the HP Latex R2000 Plus, the HP Latex 2700 Printer, the STITCH S1000 Printer, and the PageWide XL Pro 10000 Printer—some of the most versatile and productive printers in their categories. Also shown, the newest portfolio in the smaller latex units—the Latex 700 Printer, the Latex 800 W Printer, and the all-new Latex 630 W Printer with a cutter. These printers offer quality, speed, and sustainability for a range of applications.
Jessup Mfg. Co., booth 662, unveils its expanded line of TenaciousTac high-tack super adhesives, featuring three new products. Whether it’s indoor graphics, outdoor signage, durable labels, or hard-to-adhere-to surfaces, the company’s adhesives have you covered. Plus, it showcases ARMORLam overlaminate materials, the perfect complement to TenaciousTac for an unbeatable combination. Elevate your projects with the reliability and durability of Jessup’s adhesive solutions.
KPMF, booth 857, exhibits with ORAFOL in The Wrap Experience zone. Stop by to check out the latest color change options from the KPMF and 970RA ranges as well as the newest ORAJET and ORAGUARD products. The hood wrap contest returns for 2024 with opportunities to win big, sign up during the show to participate.
Mutoh, booth 2034, introduces the XpertJet 1462UF, showcasing captivating ADA-compliant braille printing. It also debuts the XpertJet 661UF, presenting innovative features. Explore the advanced capabilities of these printers and experience their top-notch technology. Don’t miss the built-for-professionals eco-solvent Pro Series, designed for superior prints and enhanced productivity. Discover the endless benefits of Mutoh’s UV LED and eco-solvent innovations. Plus, see the XpertJet 1642WR dye-sublimation printer creating vibrant silicone edge graphic signage.
NuCoat, booth 989, showcases direct to film (DTF) technologies designed for efficiency and precision. Leading the DTF pack is Venom, a robust machine tailored for large-scale production and quality. The Stealth is a sleek DTF model, combining speed with operation. For precision cutting, a DTF cutter offers unmatched accuracy for a variety of materials. Additionally, the booth displays two models of heat presses, each engineered to provide consistent heat distribution for flawless transfers.
ORAFOL, booth 1712, presents its range of premium vinyl graphic films, digital media, laminating films, reflective products, and industrial tapes used in signage, graphics, and digital printing. Visit the booth for an opportunity to try its latest products in a variety of demonstration applications and check out its latest wrap films being installed daily on a vehicle in the booth.
Orbus, booth 1171, debuts the Orbus Display Café, featuring a new custom booth with many of its most popular portable products. From custom light boxes and backwalls to banner stands and outdoor displays, experience all that Orbus has to offer. Stop by to see new products including the Blaze SEG Light box, MODify Retail Merchandising System, and Acusti-Fi acoustic felt. The company’s best-selling display products are also in the booth, such as the Orient, Blade Lite, and Mosquito banner stands; Hopup collapsible display; Ace-2 A-frame outdoor sign; and Zoom Popup Tent.
Photo Tex Group Inc., booth 1313, demonstrates its Photo Tex Self-Adhesive Fabric with enhanced tack Photo Tex Block-Outs. It also shows the Photo Tex Original (S) version for outdoor windows with no need to laminate along with Photo Tex High Tack using UV inks, which also needs no lamination and is now certified for smooth floors.
PrestoTex, booth 2152, manufactures adhesive-backed, digitally printable wall media. Stop by to see its wall media in person, receive free removable and repositionable printed sample posters, talk with the team, create your own swatch book, and request a free sample roll to be shipped out after the show.
Roland DGA Corporation, booth 1423, exhibits the new EU-1000MF—a high-productivity UV flatbed wide format printer for the first time in North America. Also on display, the recently launched VersaOBJECT MO-240, a productive and versatile UV benchtop flatbed printer. In addition, Roland demonstrates unique, three-dimensional wallcoverings created using the DG DIMENSE printing solution; and advanced eco-solvent, UV, and resin/latex inkjets from the TrueVIS family.
Rollover AS, booth 309, demonstrates its Rollover Flatbed Applicators. Regardless of media type—such as self-adhesive vinyl applications, road signs, glass application, or banners up to 85 millimeters in thickness—the Rollover ensures an ideal result in minimum time.
SAi, booth 2617, encourages attendees to visit its booth to discover new, yet-to-be-announced software features, including game-changing advancements, and witness the unveiling of other top-secret information. The company showcases the latest and greatest in Flexi print-and-cut software and EnRoute CNC software.
swissQprint, booth 2308, showcases the Kudu high-end flatbed printer. It delivers output at up to 3,272 square feet per hour. Designed for 24/7 operation, it features ten color channels and 1,350 dpi resolution. A user-friendly workhorse, Kudu features solid Swiss mechanical engineering that ensures trouble-free operation through shift after shift.
Trotec Laser, booth 1855, spotlights the Speedy, Rayjet, and SP series laser cutters, designed specifically with signmakers in mind. Its lasers stand as the epitome of speed, precision, and versatility in the laser engraving and cutting industry, enabling professionals to elevate their sign-making projects to new heights. Attendees see the benefits of integrating Trotec’s lasers into their workflow, including increased productivity, reduced turnaround times, and the capability to execute complex, high-quality signs.
UPM Raflatac, booth 1189, promotes its new line of graphics solutions. UPM Raflatac acquired AMC AG in Germany, which includes this line of high-quality self-adhesive films and laminates, large format versatile printing and sign films. The booth features an interactive application station where expo attendees can test the material on various surfaces.
Vision Engraving, booth 451, offers desktop-size systems to larger CNC routers and engravers to fit every signmaking need and budget. In the booth, the 2525 CNC Router/Engraver with oscillating knife performs print to cut, and 1624 Pro Engraver creates ADA braille signs. The 25 Series Routers feature multiple options like an auto braille inserter, oscillating knife, and DACS for improved digital finishing. The 1624 Pro Engraver has a 16×24-inch T-slot table and is ideal for light to heavy-duty applications.
Yard Sign Ninjas (YSN), booth 2527, is a premier wholesale supplier of fast, top quality, and affordable signage solutions, including recyclable corrugated plastic, polybag, poly-coated cardboard, and magnetic signs, plus innovative, cost-effective, and patented wire stands. With YSN, expect the shortest turnaround times, thanks to digital single-pass printing technology, resulting in unmatched clarity and color vibrancy, coupled with rush service and extensive customization options.
There’s More!
The aforementioned vendors are just some of the many exhibiting at the ISA Sign Expo in April. Our April issue includes a second show preview with additional exhibitors’ plans.
Mar2024, Digital Output
