EP&M Intl. (Albany, NY), which produces 20 to 30 large exhibits annually, fabricates tradeshow booths, kiosks and POP. Gene Lindman, the company president, said the company works primarily in the energy and technology sectors – General Electric routinely hires EP&M to design and fabricate its tradeshow booths – though it also serves other industries.
Lindman lauds UV-cure flatbeds and their ability to print directly to hard-side substrates as a major technological development. “The ability to print over solid components has reduced our production time, as well as material and labor costs,” he said. “And, the ability to produce all-in-one graphic components has also simplified the framing systems that we use.”
The company contracts with Nomadic Displays for its pop-up and modular hardware and other accessories. Lindman said the durability and graphic quality of available components has increased exponentially in 10 years. He added, “The choices allow us to create cost-effective booth graphics for more than just 10 x 10-ft. spaces.”
He said customers increasingly integrate electronic digital signage (EDS) into their exhibitry – LCD touchscreens have become particularly popular. One forward-thinking customer ordered an interactive electronic screen with a motion sensor that, when triggered, launched a hands-free, interactive demo.
Lindman said, “Electronic screens can serve multiple purposes. First, they simply attract passing viewers. Second, they can provide product overviews to attendees while they’re waiting to speak with busy booth personnel. And, finally, when booth staff makes presentations, [EDS] can reinforce the benefits of products or services offered.”
For last year’s Bio International convention in San Diego, EP&M produced a 3,000-sq.-ft. pavilion for NY Loves Bio, a unit of the New York State Economic Development Council that promotes the state’s biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry. The space housed approximately 30 vendors, and the client needed an open, yet cost-effective, solution with better ergonomics than the previous disconnected, flea-market-style setup.
First, EP&M fabricated twin, fabric banners that hung 24 ft. high at the pavilion entrance – its location at one end of the show floor required high placement. Next, it produced uniform exhibitor signage, which comprised backlit, polycarbonate panels, which were installed 15 ft. high. At eye level, it produced custom, UV-printed graphics on Sintra® composite material. And, finally, EP&M produced a 16-ft.-tall storage unit that doubled as a 192-sq.-ft. wall for sponsor logos and product photos.
“This lightweight fabric panel helped reduce shipping costs and could be reprinted economically for future events,” Lindman said. “None of the pavilion’s signage is structurally permanent; the exhibitor’s kiosks could easily be repurposed with fresh messages.”