Printed Proof

BACK IN MAY I spoke with the head of a major printer manufacturer, who expressed some worry that digital-sign options were replacing printed signage in certain markets. He was nowhere near panicked, but he felt there was cause for concern.

With the PRINTING United Expo happening Oct. 20-22 in Orlando, FL, that printer OEM and hundreds of others will showcase their latest and greatest, which, if our Brain Squad is any indication, shops clearly see as part of their future in signs. Fully 5 out of 6 squad members reported their sales of printed signwork increasing over the past three years, with 9 in 10 expecting similar sales to increase the next three years.

That doesn’t suggest too terrible a concern for the immediate future of printed signage…

Also back in May we asked the Brain Squad how long had it been since their company last purchased a new digital printer. Nearly 2 in 5 had done so within the last two years, suggesting a decent number of shops are keeping quite current.

Put it all together and printed signwork looks pretty good from here for the time being, and why wouldn’t it when, just for example, a cool wrap can vault even a kick-ass car to the next level (see page 22)?

Signs of the Times will be at Printing United working out of booth #480. If you’re at the show, come by, subscribe, join the Brain Squad or just say “hello.” We’ll be covering everything “fit to print.”