Sign Builder Illustrated - October 2008 - (Page 120)

Q A Questions & Answers We created this column to give our readers a forum for questions about sign building techniques, materials, and processes. Forward all questions to: Editor, Sign Builder Illustrated, 323 Clifton Street, Greenville, NC 27858, e-mail jwooten@sbpub.com, or fax 252/355-5690. UV Inkjet’s Wide Ride There seems to be more acceptance of UV inkjet printers in the wide format market. What can you tell us about this growth? Factors that have, in the past, inhibited the growth of wide format UV inkjet printer sales include the higher cost of the equipment and inks and the lack of floor space needed to accommodate installation of these systems. But while solvent and eco-solvent inkjet printers have dominated the wide format digital printing market, UV inkjet systems appear to represent the fastest-growing segment of the industry. Sales of UV inkjet systems and ink are projected to grow over 20 percent each year for the next three years. The reason: Competition seems to be driving the cost of UV inkjet printers down. The cost of HP’s new Designjet H35100 printer is only about $57,000—mere chump change for most of you. “Considering the consumables cost (including ink and replacement bulbs), it only costs about 20 cents per square foot to print full-color images,” responds HP Field Engineer Dan Reese, when I asked him about this. “And newer ink formulations have the flexibility required for banner and vehicle graphics applications.” As sales of the UV inkjet system increase, some forecast that the growth rate for sales of solvent printers will slow. Don’t get me wrong: Sales of solvent and eco-solvent printers are (and will continue to be) strong and growing. Low-cost Asian UV inkjet printers are expected to drive down prices. While that’s bad news for printer manufacturers in Europe and the U.S., it’s good news for those shop owners who’ve waited at the edge of the water. Now may be the time to take the plunge. “Before taking the plunge, determine how you’ll use the printer and what types of substrates you’ll print on,” advises David Merrick of BIGraphics (www.bigraphicsinc.com) in Nashua, New Hampshire. “Then make sure the printer satisfies your production requirements.” In any business, cash is king. Merrick emphasizes that when making a purchasing decision, you should carefully analyze the impact that your purchase will have on your shop and administrative costs, as well as your cash flow. Finally you should make sure that you can generate the sales to justify your investment. For more details about the advantages (and disadvantages) of UV inkjet systems, check out my column (“Hingst’s Sign Post”) next month. — Jim Hingst White LED Outlook What are the current (near-term) and longterm applications for white LEDs? The majority of applications for white LEDs have been in what you would call “near-field” applications. These are applications where the light output of the fixture (or lamp) is used to light items or areas within close proximity of the source—for example under cabinet lighting, display case lighting, refrigeration lighting, cove lighting, or box/menu backlighting. The cost/efficiencies of the present LED sources are aligned best with these applications. As you look at larger spaces or longer distances, the cost/performance of traditional sources are better aligned. You’ll see white LEDs become more prevalent in more traditional general lighting applications, such as down lighting, indoor/outdoor area lighting, architectural accent lighting, etc. There are products in the market now. The price, performance, and TCO models are still being developed, but it’s clear that end-users see a distinct advantage to using this technology. —Eric Bobbitt LED Systems Product Marketing Manager OSRAM SYLVANIA 120 Sign Builder Illustrated October 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Sign Builder Illustrated - October 2008

Sign Builder Illustrated - October 2008 Contents SBI Agenda Quotes & Comments Contributors Revving Up for WrapQuest Dispatches Sign Show Sandblasted and Dimensional Sign Rescue, Part Three UV Ink and Printer Update, Part One Black is Black! Makin' Money With Molded Letters Making a Monster A Custom Built Sign Shop The Evolution of Architectural and ADA�Signage Finishing That Makes the Cut Maximizing In-store Signage and P-O-P Displays Wide Format Opportunities Panel Saws: A Precise Cut SBI Marketplace Q&A

Sign Builder Illustrated - October 2008

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