Big Picture - June/July 2017 - 28

TOP CUSTOMER CONCERNS

FOAMBOARD:
A DIVERSE AND COST-EFFECTIVE SUBSTRATE
Rigid media can come in all shapes and sizes. One of the big players in the graphics and sign industry is foamboard. Although foamboard can seem simple at first glance, there is a lot of thought,
problem solving, and technical expertise that goes into creating a
useable, printable sheet of foamboard. Typically, customers who
are purchasing boards plan on fabricating them in some way,
which could involve laminating, printing, and/or cutting. There may
be a few inherent properties in the board that the end user might
have to overcome in order to perform these processes effectively.
One property that could cause concern is the amount of
warping or bow in the board. Depending on the printer, some
board warpage could create print strikes. Warping can be
minimized by decreasing stresses in the board, such as the
environment and roller tension during lamination. The better the

board can acclimate to a controlled environment, the better it will
perform during processing. It is generally recommended to store
the board flat instead of upright, as well. Having a sheet of foamboard propped up against a wall will eventually create a warp in
the middle of the board due to the unsupported weight.
Adhesion is another characteristic that the end user could
have to monitor. Adhering to foamboard successfully depends
on surface energy, smoothness, and cleanliness of the board
surface, as well as the chemical properties of the adhesive.
These properties, and others, can be tailored to create highly
diverse boards, which is what makes foamboard such a unique
and cost-effective substrate.
encoreproducts.com

BREAKING INTO TEXTILES

BIG PICTURE

June/July 2017

TEXTILES SOLVE CUSTOMER CHALLENGES

One of the challenges of breaking into textiles is a lack of
awareness on behalf of the consumers. Customers are in the
habit of using heavy vinyl and mesh banners, unaware that
there are lighter-weight, more flexible materials to meet their
large-scale print needs.
One client was ordering backdrops that were 30 x 40 feet,
sometimes larger. They were printing on 13-ounce banner
and mesh materials and had several challenges with them.
They were too heavy, were hard to transport and store, and
produced a glare when printed on a matte material. We introduced them to a soft knit fabric that we then printed using HP
Latex technology. We can print up to 126 inches wide or stitch
panels together for an even larger finished product. The textile
material is lighter, is easily folded into a suitcase for transport,
and eliminates the glare.

Ask why they are ordering a particular material, and what it
will be used for. Also, ask if they have used it in the past and if
they have been satisfied with the outcome. As with anything, the
key to providing the right solutions is asking the right questions
and having the knowledge and resources to alleviate challenges.
Outsourcing to a wholesale printer is one way to provide your
customers with the latest technology and most innovative solutions
in both material and printing techniques.
imaginetr.com

http://www.encoreproducts.com http://www.imaginetr.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Big Picture - June/July 2017