Digital Output Jun 2026 by rockportcustompublishing

BUYERS GUIDE

Constant Resource

Our June issue marks the halfway point of 2026. While many things change and evolve in the industry, our bi-annual print edition of the Buyers Guide remains a constant. The guide is a reliable resource for finding your next business partner to purchase a roll of media, router bit, or flatbed printer.

While many things change and evolve in the industry, our bi-annual print edition of the Buyers Guide remains a constant.

Starting on page 21, search for vendors by category. If you’d like to learn more about that individual company, flip to page 24 and see if they are included in the profiles. For information on additional vendors visit rcpbuyerguide.com, which is updated frequently.

Elsewhere in the issue, our Sign Business column focuses on flatbed printing and how it is expanding beyond CMYK. White ink, clear or varnish, neon, and more are increasing the possibilities when it comes to what and how graphics come to life. Read more in The Fab Four Plus More

As with any application, selecting the right media for the job means considering factors like expected lifespan, cleaning protocols, vicinity to human touch, and fire rating standards. Walls that Work takes a look at media for wallcoverings installed in retail environments. Engineered for performance, the two main categories of media used are PVC vinyl wall media and PVC-free/non-woven or polypropylene alternatives.

Touching on automation, Allies in Print is about automated finishing and material handling systems. The advantages include freeing up operators for more productive, skillful work. End-of-line automation options involve material feeders and stackers, robotic arms, and conveyors.

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Thomas Tetreault ttetreault@rockportpubs.com

EDITOR

Melissa Donovan mdonovan@rockportpubs.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Cassandra Balentine cbalentine@rockportpubs.com

WEB EDITOR

Melissa Mueller

ART DIRECTOR

Sarah M. White swhite@rockportpubs.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Marco Boer, Olivia Cahoon, Tim Greene, Melinda Tetreault, Amber Watson

ADVERTISING SALES

PUBLISHER

Thomas Tetreault

NATIONAL ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Amanda Doyon adoyon@rockportpubs.com 978-921-7850, Ext. 170

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Thomas Tetreault

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Scaling Up From Labels to Wallcoverings

by Cassandra Balentine

Pressure-sensitive adhesive media is versatile, supporting a range of applications from labels to walls and windows.

Started in 2012, Stick Em Up has run as a full-time operation since 2015. Based in Bayonne, NJ, the print provider primarily serves the New York, NY and NJ area, but also ships nationwide. It offers custom stickers, graphics and installations, packaging and labels, as well as graphic design services.

“We’re a hands-on shop run by a small team of two to four, handling everything from print to finishing in house. Our space is compact but efficient, set up to keep production tight and quality consistent,” shares Julia Macedo, coowner, Stick Em Up.

A lot of its work is generated by

word of mouth, especially within creative communities, brands, and small businesses.

From Labels to Walls

With a foundation on custom printing items like stickers, decals, and labels, it is also well adept at producing banners, signs, posters, magnets, and heat-pressed apparel.

Scaling up, Stick Em Up creates wall graphics, wraps, and installations for retail spaces, events, and branded environments. Macedo estimates that wallcoverings currently make up about 30 percent of its business. “It’s an area that we’re continuing to grow, especially as we look to expand into a larger space this year.”

People don’t just want a logo on a wall anymore, they want something that feels like an environment.

— Julia Macedo, co-owner, Stick Em Up

Staying on Trend

When it comes to wall graphics and wallcoverings, there is a noticeable shift to immersive, experience-driven

1 & 2) Stick Em Up recently worked with Newark City Parks Foundation for a rebranding project. Relying on media from GF and printers from Roland to create both exterior and interior wall graphics.

spaces. “People don’t just want a logo on a wall anymore, they want something that feels like an environment. Social media plays a big role in that. Spaces are designed to be photographed and shared,” attests Macedo.

She also notes an increased interest in temporary installs, pop-ups, and seasonal changes that makes removable materials more important than ever before.

While the opportunities of wall graphics and wallcoverings are nearly limitless, they do come with obstacles. “Every wall is different, and that’s probably the biggest challenge. Texture, paint, age, and environment all affect how the material performs, so preparation and planning are everything. Getting a clean install really comes down to understanding the surface before anything goes up,” shares Macedo.

Stick Em Up prefers General Formulations (GF) wall graphics media, which it’s used for approximately ten years.

Recently, the shop had the chance to meet the GF team at a trade show, and it really reinforced “how much we like the company, not just the products, but the people behind it,” shares Macedo.

Macedo finds GF materials to be consistent, reliable, and easy to work with. “That combination, along with being made in the U.S., makes a big difference when it comes to trusting what we install.”

Proof in the Pudding

Stick Em Up recently worked with Newark City Parks Foundation

for a rebranding project, which included both an exterior building wrap and an interior exhibition install.

The rebrand was part of a collaborative project between the Newark City Parks Foundation and Rutgers University, with design work created by Rutgers graphic design students.

Stick Em Up printed and installed graphics for an outdoor park headquarters building as well as a full interior exhibit inside Express Newark, which is part of Rutgers.

The project included large-scale printed graphics, paneling, and detailed cut elements installed across multiple surfaces.

Macedo admits the job had a tight turnaround, about a week from production to installation. This meant everything had to move quickly and efficiently.

The exterior wrap was printed on a Roland DGA Corp. TrueVIS LG-640 printer/cutter using UV inks for durability and outdoor performance. The interior pieces were printed on a Roland VersaCAMM VS-540i printer/cutter using eco-solvent inks.

The shop chose GF 223–a 6-mil matte white semi-rigid vinyl with a removable acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive—for the exterior, and a combination of GF 227 WallMark Lite 3.4-mil premium matte white calendered vinyl film and

GF 209 MetroMark 3.5-mil matte white polymeric flexible high opacity vinyl film for the interior.

The Stick Em Up team found the Newark City Parks job to be rewarding. “It was a really meaningful project to be part of. Seeing student design work come to life at that scale, and in a public space, was something special. It’s a strong example of how print can transform both a space and the way people interact with it,” shares Macedo.

Proficient in Media

Stick Em Up is focused on continued growth into larger scale work, and is always looking to take on more creative, collaborative projects that push it further. D

Solve UV Printer Adhesion Problems

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Summa Launches New F Series Vantage

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Vantage is here to transform the finishing workflow thanks to automation that anticipates errors before they happen, an open ecosystem, and the widest tool library ever created. Sign and display businesses are looking to grow beyond their core activity into new, often rigid materials like aluminum. The new F Series, with its wide tool library featuring the new high frequency 3.7kW router, Fast+ and Core+ tangential modules, and rigid material and high precision cutout tools, answers that vision through the promise of unmatched material versatility. Visit summa.com to learn more.

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The Fab Four Plus More Specialty Ink Options for Flatbeds

by Melissa Donovan

Black, magenta, yellow, and cyan—the four basic colors associated with printing. Countless hues are repeatedly produced and have been for years thanks to endless combinations. Specialty inks, however, up the game, enhancing color further for vibrant digital flatbed printing.

Beyond CMYK

White, clear or varnish, light cyan, light magenta, light black, orange, green, violet, red, gray, and neon or fluorescents inks are available.

Each is color is used for specific performance reasons, according to Rob Firestone, applications specialist, Fluid Color.

“These inks provide critical functional elements to underpin high-quality output

and expand the range of applications available to wide format printers,” notes Dieter Jancart, segment manager high-end systems DPS, Agfa.

Hugo Gonzalez, senior segment specialist, Mimaki USA, Inc., says across the industry, common additions beyond CMYK are white and clear. “White ink is critical because it allows print providers to print on any color media. They are no longer limited to white or light-colored substrates. Its opacity is key, as it maintains consistent color across different materials without requiring multiple passes to build density, which would impact productivity.”

Customers should not be locked into a ﬁxed ink conﬁguration. A modular approach allows businesses to adapt...

— Erik Norman, president, swissQprint America

Clear ink or varnish meets specific demands of high-value applications. “Visual impact is enhanced through varnish, which is used to create sophisticated high-gloss spot finishes or durable protective layers that elevate the

Layered printing using white and clear inks enables tactile graphics, like the ones shown here produced on a Fluid Color flatbed printer.

The Epson SureColor V7000 features ten-color UltraChrome UV ink, including white ink, vivid red ink, and varnish.

print’s aesthetic,” shares Patrick Donigain, senior manager, product marketing, DGS solutions strategy, Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Lon Riley, founder/CEO, Catalyst Printers by the DPI Laboratory, believes there are two sets of inks used to augment standard CMYK. The first includes light cyan, light magenta, and light black, which are often added to the base ink configuration. “This addition does not expand the color gamut but results in smoother half tones and grayscale neutrality. So, these colors are used for fine art, portraits, and other higher end retail graphics.”

“Light black helps further smooth gradients, reduce graininess, achieve clean pastels, and improve highlight detail—particularly in shadows and for monochrome prints,” adds Ted Pierpont, national sales manager - large format print, Durst North America.

The other set of ink colors, according to Riley, include orange, green, red, and violet, which expand the color gamut of CMYK.

“Orange, green, and violet are used in some extended gamut systems to expand the printable color space and improve reproduction of saturated reds, oranges, and greens, which are often critical for brand colors,” notes Mark Crawford, product and business development manager, Vanguard Digital Printing Systems, a Durst Group Company.

“Red is commonly used in branded products and can be difficult to accurately reproduce with composite CMYK alone. Adding a

dedicated red ink enables closer matching for accurate brand colors and customer satisfaction,” says Mike Pruitt, product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America, Inc.

Further, according to the team at DigiTech, gray helps to enable smoother gradations, subtle transitions, and hard solid colors like blacks and blues.

Neon or fluorescent inks like pink and yellow are also popular. “Neon inks respond to market demand for high impact graphics that stand out in retail and event environments,” shares Erik Norman, president, swissQprint America.

“Fluorescent pink and yellow enhance differentiation delivering bright, vibrant colors in daylight

and a glowing effect under black light,” explains Pierpont.

Improving Accuracy

Expanded ink sets enhance gamut and color. The end result, “branded colors and high-resolution image creation insures print providers meet customers’ needs,” says the DigiTech team.

“The general rule is that the addition of light inks in CMYK improve quality of tone within the gamut, and the addition of different colors such as orange and green expand the range of available colors,” reiterates Riley.

Light colors enhance tonal transitions and subtle color gradations. “Light cyan and light magenta soften the edges of highlight tones and pastel shades, and

light black helps to maintain a neutral gray balance, especially in monochrome or low-saturation areas. This can minimize color casts that appear with standard CMYK builds. Together, these extensions provide a finer tonal structure and a broader gamut in the lighter regions of the color spectrum,” explains Jancart.

Firestone says thanks to grayscale printhead technology used in modern flatbed printers, the need for light cyan and light magenta is eliminated. “Grayscale variable droplet technology achieves smooth gradients and subtle tonal transitions using standard CMYK, reducing ink channel requirements while maintaining—or improving— perceived image quality,” continues Firestone.

Donigain agrees, citing advanced jetting technologies like Canon VariaDot variable droplet technology. “In conjunction with light colors and Active Pixel Placement Compensation, this enables density uniformity across solid color areas, helping pixels to land with precision.”

Colors such as orange, green, and violet add to the printable color gamut. “This allows closer reproduction of brand specific spot colors and reduces the need for compromise when matching corporate identities,” explains Norman.

“Red and orange ink expand the gamut and make a huge difference when it comes to hitting desired colors, especially when it comes to ‘warmer’ hues. The extended gamut with red and orange also makes matching PMS colors much easier, helping with the warmth and depth of those colors,” explains Philip Chu, UV product manager, Roland DGA Corp.

Pierpont says orange and violet inks expand gamut up to 20 percent over CMYK alone. “This enables color matching on jobs that could previously only be done with spot colors in analog processes like lithography or screen printing.”

“Additional ink colors result in more vivid, true-to-life colors, allow for closer Pantone matching, and improve overall image quality. This results in more precise, vibrant, and versatile output, and typically expands the color gamut by ten to 15 points and supports a range that can be verified +/- 2 deltaE 2000,” shares Pruitt.

Gonzalez points out that consistency is just as important as gamut. “This is where some manufacturers have emphasized stable ink behavior and repeatable output, especially in multi-layer print applications.”

“Achieving true color accuracy still depends heavily on a strong CMYK base. In my experience, if the core CMYK performance is not solid, simply adding more color channels will not necessarily solve accuracy challenges,” admits Emilio Rangel, product manager, Mutoh America, Inc.

It also depends on the ink set. Thomas Giglio, HP Latex Segment Manager, North America, HP Inc., points out that ink chemistries, like water-based HP Latex, allow for an expanded gamut within the standard CMYK ink set. “We estimate that HP Latex inks have around 30 percent more color gamut than most UV ink formulations.”

Technical Challenges

The benefits of these ink sets are not without challenges. Configuring a flatbed printer’ s color channels with additional options can present difficulties.

Luckily, modern flatbeds are built with modularity in mind, making them easily configurable to include additional color options in the future, shares the DigiTech team.

“The key is flexibility. Customers should not be locked into a fixed ink configuration. A modular approach allows businesses to adapt their setup to evolving market demands without unnecessary compromise,” advises Norman.

From a hardware standpoint, “each additional ink channel requires dedicated printhead capacity, ink delivery components, and associated maintenance systems, which increases overall printer complexity,” states Crawford.

Admittedly more maintenance is involved when more ink colors are used. “Adding ink channels increases both system complexity and maintenance requirements. Each color requires dedicated ink delivery components, including plumbing and, in some cases, additional printheads depending on the configuration,” explains Gonzalez.

Take white ink for instance.

“ Because titanium dioxide is the primary pigment used to achieve opacity, white ink must

be properly agitated and circulated to maintain consistency and prevent settling. Without proper ink management, output quality can be affected,” says Rangel.

“Overall, while these challenges are manageable and often handled behind the scenes by modern systems, proper profiling and regular calibration remain key to getting the full benefit of an expanded ink set,” suggests Pruitt.

Chu believes users should be aware that printing with colors like white, gloss, red, and orange are slightly slower than with CMYK, because they require additional printing passes.

Software-wise color management can be more complex, but advanced systems are in place to combat this. “To manage the inherent complexity of multilayered workflows without ballooning prepress time, modern systems rely on advanced software that utilizes documented application ‘recipes’ and intelligent sampling, allowing operators to transition between diverse job types while allowing for first-time-right accuracy,” explains Donigain.

Specialty Options

In summary, white ink and even varnish is accepted as standard on wide format flatbed printers, especially as more print providers branch out and print directly to other objects. Extended colors like orange, green, red, and violet; light cyan, magenta, and black; gray; and neon are more commonly used with a specific application in mind. D

3) The Canon Arizona flatbed printer is able to print in white and varnish directly on wooden substrates.

by Melissa Donovan

nd-of-line automation includes anything that eliminates that extra worker at the end of a print job manually cutting or moving material. Using it frees operators up for other tasks. Fearing automation is common, but operators shouldn’t be concerned. Not only is implementation of automated solutions

easy, the return on investment (ROI) is real.

Useful Options

Automation frees up press operators for other tasks. In a print shop, end-of-line automation options include mechanisms like material feeders and stackers, robotic arms, conveyors, and intuitive software.

“Automated finishing and material handling systems are essential for digital printers and finishers competing in sign, display, and corrugated. Feeders and stackers reduce labor dependency, enhance workplace

Above) Kongsberg PCS oﬀers end-of-line automation for cutting tables with its Feeder & Stacker and Robotic Material Handler features.

safety, and eliminate inconsistencies caused by fatigue, human error, or skill differences,” explains Steven Lueders, co-owner, Infinite Motion Control (IMC).

Using automation, stronger ROI is achieved through higher output and reduced waste, states Lueders. Take for example IMC’s Vector Feeder. Adding it to a digital printing line increases

“Pre-feeders, stackers, conveyors, bundle forming, palletizing, and inline inspection keep production continuous, efficient, and consistent,” lists Rob Casella, technical director, SUN Automation Group.

Cutter extensions as well as robotic picking and sorting devices can keep material consistently moving and free up operators

America, Inc. “This lets teams redeploy labor to areas where operators add the most value, while also improving process reliability, throughput, and overall equipment efficiency.”

easily be repositioned around the machine or moved from one Zünd cutter to another.

According to Nimil David, product manager, robotics and automation, Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems (PCS), automation is closing the gap when it comes to lost revenue. “In a print shop, true productivity is defined by how continuously the knife or blade of the digital cutting table is actually in the material. In other words, how long production is actually ‘live.’ If the machine sits idle while an operator loads or unloads a sheet, that’s lost revenue.”

Automation tools eliminate human error and ensure precision every cut, explains David. Kongsberg PCS offers end-of-line automation for cutting tables with its Feeder & Stacker and Robotic Material Handler. Also helpful, a vision system with top and under side cameras that simplify operations for print side down applications and scans registration marks or barcodes to automatically pull up correct digital files.

production throughput up to 60 percent while maximizing equipment uptime, according to the company.

from repetitive handling tasks, shares Martin Thornton, packaging business development manager, Zund

side with the operator and takes on loading/ unloadincluding

Automation is also useful for roll cutters, eliminating manual trimming of roll-type applications or even tying up a flatbed cutter with straight cut jobs. “For shops cutting square or rectangular media from a roll—wallpaper, posters, banners, magnetic

Collaborative robot (co-bot) solutions designed for Zünd by Robotfactory includes the Robot PortaTable 130, which automates the removal of cut materials. This co-bot works side by side with the operator and takes on loading/ unloading tasks, including picking and sorting, as needed. The Robot PortaTable 130 is extremely flexible. Thanks to its mobility, it can quickly and

taTable 130 is extremely flexible.

ity, it can quickly and

1) SUN Automation is the exclusive sales representative and service provider for all PARA material handling systems sold and serviced in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., and Ireland. 2) Kongsberg PCS oﬀers automation solutions that are modular, which allows for ease in adding to existing cutting tables if a print provider chooses to in the future.

film, direct to film transfers—an automatic XY cutter is the fastest and most accurate option,” states Chase Pender, operations, Supply55, Inc.

Supply55 distributes the KalaXY, which reads cut marks from a print file and handles both cross cutting and lengthwise trimming automatically. “This keeps your flatbed cutter free for jobs that actually need contour cuts, kiss cuts, and routing,” shares Pender.

Easy Peasy

Not all solutions are created equal. It’s important to work with reputable vendors when considering implementing an automation solution. The majority of the time these vendors have the staff, training, and tools available to minimize any downtime during installation as well eliminate most of the learning curve.

“The ease of implementing endof-line automation depends on the equipment being automated, the automation options available for that equipment, and which part of the production workflow the customer wants to streamline,” advises Thornton.

David suggests shops considering an investment in finishing automation “ensure their tables integrate with their current systems and printer speeds to cause the least disruption to current operations.”

For example, Kongsberg PCS automation solutions are modular, which allow for ease in adding a loading or loading/unloading

#15

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solution to an existing Kongsberg PCS cutting table. Installation and training is completed in a few days because the products are intuitive in nature.

Because of the modularity of Zünd systems, workflow automation—both in terms of software and hardware—can easily be added after the fact, even years after the initial installation. “This allows shops to scale gradually without having to purchase more than their immediate needs dictate, which helps reduce the

initial investment in finishing equipment,” adds Thornton.

“Most automation is modular and easy to integrate, with operators typically up to speed in days. Brief downtime may occur during installation, but longterm uptime improves thanks to fewer jams and automated handling,” admits Casella.

IMC’s automation offers a scalable foundation for modular growth, allowing print providers to expand capacity gradually, one device at a time if desired. The printer or cutter

can be upgraded with initial feeding, followed by a stacker, and potentially a flipper for two-sided printing or print side down cutting.

“With power and air drops already in place, IMC’s Vector Feeder is usually installed and ready to operate in under one day. Similarly, the Telestacker can be set up and functioning in less than half a day, with training completed the rest of the second day,” explains Lueders.

With Supply55 and the KalaXY, both onsite and remote installation and training is available depending on a print provider’s level of experience. Pender admits there is a learning curve, but it is manageable. “Once it’s built into your daily workflow, most wonder why they didn’t automate sooner.”

An Ally in Business

When we think of automation, many get concerned about machines taking over. However, it’s best to think of automation as a friend or ally.

“Automation should not be considered a threat but rather an ally that takes away manual, repetitive tasks so you can focus on more productive and skillful work. For instance, instead of being the worker who simply moves material, you become the person who manages the process and maximizes the potential of the equipment. This allows you to be more creative and engaged. Ultimately, automation helps you work smarter, not harder,” suggests David.

Thornton agrees. “Zünd automation is designed to support operators, not replace them. It tends to make their job easier and takes over the most repetitive, physically demanding material handling tasks so they can focus on quality control, fine tuning operations, and other higher value responsibilities. In most shops, this ultimately makes the operator’s role safer, less strenuous, and becomes essential in maintaining a smooth, consistent production workflow.”

“Automation enhances operators’ roles, replacing repetitive tasks with higher value work in setup, quality control, and optimization. Production becomes safer, less physical, and more technical,” attests Casella.

When automated feeding and stacking is integrated the possibility for workplace accidents is reduced, as is the risk of injury. Tasks like manual lifting of heavy or oddly shaped, oversized boards is likely eliminated, adds Lueders.

“In many cases, the real risk is waiting too long while competing shops are already investing in automation and gaining that productivity advantage,” states Penders.

It’s the Future

Automated stackers, feeders, conveyors, pickers, etc. integrated with finishing devices are

considered the next generation of finishing for sign shops.

“Automation in finishing isn’t new, but it’s increasingly important for sign shops as rising volumes and persistent labor challenges make manual processes harder to sustain. For many customers, adding material handling automation to their Zünd systems is simply the natural next step in scaling production to meet higher demand, without continually adding more staff—or additional equipment,” says Thornton.

Print providers that automate end-of-line production are able

to deliver applications faster, more accurately, and with greater cost effectiveness, according to David. This is imperative as printers reach higher speeds and labor becomes tighter. “Automation is no longer considered a luxury, but rather a necessary and logical step for any sign shop that wants to stay competitive and grow profitably.”

As printers get faster, it’s natural for finishing to become a bottleneck. This makes automation on the finishing side of things increasingly important, states Pender. “Automated feeders, cutting systems, and

stacking solutions help keep production moving by reducing manual handling and maintaining consistent output. For many sign shops looking to scale production, these types of systems are becoming less of a luxury and more of a necessity.”

Natural Next Step

No longer a luxury, automating components of the finishing process is a necessity for print providers. Feeders, stackers, pickers, robotic arms, and much more push through the clutter and maximize productivity on the back end in a digital printing environment. D

Printing to Magnetic Media Fabric for Soft Signage Heat Presses

Textile Printing ...and More!

ndoor retail and point of purchase (POP) environments use wallcoverings and wall graphics for both aesthetics and performance.

“Vinyl is the industry standard for achieving both; you have flexibility to customize a solution for your brand while also providing durability from scuffs and scratches,” shares Alex Wixted, commercial innovation platform manager, Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions.

However, demand for PVC-free films as well as fabric-based and paper-based options is growing.

When selecting wallcovering media, sustainability is a consideration, as well as the adhesive system and durability requirements.

Media Mix

The two main categories for wallcovering media include printable PVC vinyl wall media and PVCfree/non-woven or polypropylene (PP) alternatives.

“Both categories are engineered for performance, but each comes with tradeoffs related to things like sustainability, disposal, and

Left) Sticker Universe created this wall graphic using GF 885AE RoughMark Cast.

by Cassandra Balentine

long-term environmental impact,” comments Julie Brannen, director, sales and sustainable solutions, Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc.

Traditionally a high percentage of pressure-sensitive vinyl is utilized with a balance of traditional Type I and Type II fabric-backed vinyl in retail environments. “Lately

we have seen interest in evaluating PVC-free options across the market, along with an interest in non-woven backed commercial products that increase the efficiency and quality of installation,” shares Jamie Riley, technical director, Faze 3 SMS.

Vinyl-based wallcoverings are still widely used due to durability, print quality, and their ability to handle a variety of surfaces, explains Mike Richardson, business development manager, graphics media, Jessup Manufacturing Company.

Jay Kroll, director of product education, General Formulations, says vinyl is a workhorse when it comes to indoor retail and POP wall graphics. “It checks every box that matters—cost effectiveness, durability, flame resistance, and excellent printability.”

“At the same time, PVC-free options such as non-woven paper fleece and PP are gaining traction, especially where sustainability goals or softer interior décor aesthetics are a priority,” summarizes Dennis Leblanc, senior product and business development manager, Drytac.

Fabric-based materials are growing in popularity, especially where ease of installation and removability are important. “Fabrics tend to be repositionable and are often chosen for short-term campaigns or where installers want a more forgiving application,” notes Richardson.

Walter Gierlach, president, Photo Tex Group, Inc., says the shift to fabric-based materials is driven by stricter fire rating requirements, advancements in paint and

ink technologies, and a growing emphasis on low toxicity, environmentally friendly materials.

Fiber-based substrates also gain traction as advancements in material engineering improve durability, print performance, and versatility. “In retail applications, these materials serve as a drop-in replacement for traditional vinyl, delivering comparable print quality, opacity, installation performance, and recyclability without relying on PVC,” comments Brannen.

Additionally, fiber-based substrates support broader sustainability initiatives by using renewable, FSC-certified fiber, reducing reliance on plastic, and offering more favorable end-of-life pathways than synthetic materials. “For brands with ESG goals, material selection is becoming a paramount part of the decisionmaking process,” adds Brannen.

Cleaning Chemicals

Exposure to cleaning and disinfecting chemicals is a crucial factor in selecting wallcovering media for retail interiors because repeated cleaning can degrade ink, coatings, adhesives, and the base substrate. “Areas that are cleaned frequently—such as checkout counters, fitting rooms, restrooms, and food-adjacent spaces—require media that can tolerate both mechanical scrubbing and chemical exposure,” explains Riley.

Richardson feels cleaning protocols should play a big role in material selection. “Many retail environments are cleaned daily with a range of chemicals, including disinfectants. If the media cannot

2 All Printheads 16 allprintheads.com

3 Alpina Manufacturing, LLC 16 fastchangeframes.com

4 Alpina Manufacturing, LLC 16 bannergrip.com

5 Banner Ups by Budnick 16 bannerups.com

7 Canon U.S.A., Inc. 27 usa.canon.com

8 Colex Finishing, Inc. 15 colex.com

9 Continental Grafix USA 18 cgxusa.com

10 Flatbed Tools 13 flatbedtools.com/summa

11 General Formulations 2 generalformulations.com

12 ImagineThis 5 imaginethisprinting.com

17 Newlife Magnetics 25 newlifemagnetics.com

13 Renolit 19 renolit.com

6 Sign Guardian 16 signguardian.com

14 Signs365 28 signs365.com

15 Summa 13 summa.com

1 Supply55, Inc. 7 supply55.com

16 swissQprint 9 swissqprint.com

handle that, you can see premature failure or degradation,” he stresses.

Antenucci believes identifying this detail at the specification stage is critical. “When you know cleaning chemicals are going to be used to clean media after installation, you can make an educated selection from the start. There’s the potential to choose a media that can handle these chemicals for the length of time of the graphic installation. We see this in shortto mid-term wallcovering quotes. If the media needs additional protection, there’s the potential to add an overlaminate. But the key

is knowing that cleaning chemicals will be used on the wallcovering so you can plan for and choose the right media or combination of medias to meet the requirements.”

Speizer and Wilton say wallcovering material should be able to withstand regular cleaning, wiping, and general maintenance without fading, peeling, or deteriorating. “It’s important to choose a material with good moisture resistance and strong stability so it holds up well and keeps its quality over time. Type II materials are ideal for this because they are suitable for scrubbing and

wiping while offering stain resistance and durability.”

Leblanc adds that cleaning can affect both the print surface and the adhesive performance of wall graphics. “For routine care, graphics should be cleaned with a soft cloth and water or mild detergent, avoiding harsh chemicals that can degrade the media or adhesive over time. Take care around exposed edges, as liquids can migrate under the film and affect adhesion. If a graphic is unlaminated, the ink technology plays an important role in how well the print withstands cleaning and abrasion. In areas with frequent cleaning, a protective overlaminate can help extend the life of the graphic.”

Adhesive Systems

Adhesive solutions are another consideration for wallcoverings. Permanent or high tack and removable adhesives are available for wallcovering media, along with standard wallpaper paste.

Brannen feels that it’s also worth noting that some wallcovering systems use water-activated adhesives, which can offer a different installation profile and clean removal benefits depending on the application.

Pressure-sensitive adhesives are common. “Within that category, you will see a range from removable and repositionable adhesives for short-term graphics to more aggressive, permanent adhesives for longer term installations. The key is matching the adhesive to the surface and the expected duration of the campaign,” offers Richardson.

Leblanc says removable systems are preferred for seasonal campaigns, promotions, and brand refreshes because they allow cleaner removal and easier repositioning during install and permanent or repositionablepermanent systems are more common when the installation is intended to stay in place for longer periods.

Speizer and Wilton explain that there are two types of wallpaper paste—clear and clay adhesives. Clear adhesives are used for a more lightweight wallcovering and non-woven materials, whereas clay adhesives are used for heavier wallcoverings like a Type II wallcovering.

In addition, the evolution of dimensionally stable, non-woven backing materials laminated to non-woven facing stocks has opened the door to using the paste-the-wall technique first pioneered in Europe, according to Riley. “The choice really depends upon the skill of the installer, the scope of the installation, and the intended duration of the message.”

In any scenario, Kroll points out that the goal is simple—a graphic that goes up easily and stays put for the life of the project.

Wallcovering Considerations

When selecting media for a wall graphic or wallcovering, many considerations apply. Adhesive systems and how the material will be cleaned are important features that every print provider should think of prior to

install. D

BY PRODUCT CATEGORY

Swartz

Dave Haan 855-661-2388

JDS Sign

Ultraflex Systems, Inc. Sales 973-627-8608 Riverview FL, U.S. s

Banner Stands

Display Source Inc. Sales 888-756-5447 Kennesaw GA, U.S. s

GBC and SEAL, (part of ACCO Brands) Edwin Ramos 847-796-4851 Lake Zurich IL, U.S. s

JDS Sign Supply Dave Haan 855-661-2388 Sioux Falls SD, U.S. s

Orbus Patrick Carrig 630-755-7701 Woodridge IL, U.S. s Showdown Displays Sales 800-528-8846 Brooklyn Center MN, U.S. s Banners

Aberdeen Fabrics Kenneth Bach 910-944-0461 Aberdeen NC, U.S. s Book Binding

Standard Finishing Systems Don Dubuque 978-470-1920 Andover MA, U.S. s Clip Art

MR Clipart Dirk Moebes +49 172 5106750 Bad Nenndorf

Digital Diecut

Valloy Incorporation Christin Park +82 2 6082 5022 Seoul Korea s

Digital Imaging

Supplies

800-771-9665 Rolling Meadows IL, U.S. s

Panel Processing Inc. Tim Witucki 989-358-4209 Alpena MI, U.S. 26

PrePress Express Ian Mazursky 646-652-6448 New Rochelle NY, U.S. s

PrinterBiz, a DTG Connection company Paul Crocker 703-505-3497 Fountain Valley CA, U.S. s Viesus AG Sofiia Kaminska +41 44 84 35 539 Dielsdorf Switzerland s Digital Service Provider ImagineThis Sales 330-481-1102 Massillon OH, U.S. 5, 25

Supreme Color Graphics Sales 985-875-7800 Mandeville LA, U.S. s Displays

Aberdeen Fabrics Kenneth Bach 925-829-5018 Aberdeen NC, U.S. s

Alpina Manufacturing LLC Sales 800-915-2828 Chicago IL, U.S. 16, 24

Expand International of America Inc. David Nanamaker 203-870-2031 Stratford CT, U.S. s

Panel Processing Inc. Tim Witucki 989-358-4209 Alpena MI, U.S. 26

Supreme Color Graphics Sales 985-875-7800 Mandeville LA, U.S. s Displays - Portable

Expand International of America Inc. David Nanamaker 203-870-2031 Stratford CT, U.S. s Orbus Patrick Carrig 630-755-7701 Woodridge IL, U.S. s

Engraving Equipment

Trotec Laser Inc. Sales 866-226-8505 Plymouth MI, U.S. s

Engraving Systems

Trotec Laser Inc. Sales 866-226-8505 Plymouth MI, U.S. s Vision Engraving & Routing Systems Sales 888-637-1737

Supply55, Inc.

Nekoosa Sales 800-826-4886 Appleton

Panel Processing Inc. Tim Witucki 989-358-4209 Alpena

Grommetting

Banner Ups by Budnick Converting Sales

Imaging Software

Techkon USA Martin van Balkom 978-777-1854 Danvers MA, U.S. s Inkjet

Premex Solutions Inc. Christen Gilmartin 678-324-6172 Marietta GA, U.S. s Inkjet Canvas

Aurora Specialty Textiles Group Jennifer Schane 630-708-5195 Yorkville IL, U.S. s Inks

All Print Heads Jaime Ghisays 949-378-5638 Anaheim CA, U.S. 16, 24 Asia Ink Expo Cody Xie +86 19120395413 Guangzhou China s

INX International Sofia Machain 510-326-9941 Schaumburg IL, U.S. 25

Nazdar Ink Technologies Jay Tharp 913-422-2255 Shawnee KS, U.S. s

NuCoat Marcel Schwendimann 763-278-0000 Plymouth MN, U.S. s

Nutec Digital Ink Martine Goodchild 07 1611-0880 W. Cape South Africa s Supply55, Inc. Chase Pender 734-668-0755 Ann Arbor MI, U.S. 7, 26

Inks - Aqueous-Based

All Print Heads Jaime Ghisays 949-378-5638 Anaheim CA, U.S. 16, 24

Nutec Digital Ink Martine Goodchild 07 1611-0880 W. Cape South Africa s Inks - UV LED

Marabu North America Sales 888-253-2778 North Charleston SC, U.S. s Inks - UV-Curable

Marabu North America Sales 888-253-2778 North Charleston SC, U.S. s Nutec Digital Ink Martine Goodchild 07 1611-0880 W. Cape South Africa

Supply55, Inc. Chase Pender 734-668-0755 Ann Arbor MI,

Laminates - Film Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions David Korvah 800-282-8379 Mentor OH, U.S.

Laminators,

GBC

eurolaser GmbH Nicholas Gerstein +49 (0) 41319697500 Lüneburg Germany 25

Trotec Laser Inc. Sales 866-226-8505 Plymouth MI, U.S. s

LED

Expand International of America Inc. David Nanamaker 203-870-2031 Stratford CT, U.S. s

Magnetic Sheeting All Weather Products/AW Specialty Phil Rossi 847-981-0386 Elk Grove Village IL, U.S. s

Magnum Magnetics Corporation Sales 800-258-0991 Marietta OH, U.S. 25

Newlife Magnetics Inc. Sales 865-233-3899 Alcoa TN, U.S. 25, 26 Magnets

Magnum Magnetics Corporation Sales 800-258-0991 Marietta OH, U.S. 25

Newlife Magnetics Inc. Sales 865-233-3899 Alcoa TN, U.S. 25, 26

Stouse LLC Sales 877-764-5757 New Century KS, U.S. s

Xcel Products Inc. Brian Ebenger 440-409-9421 Champlin MN, U.S. 26 Management Information Systems

Avanti Duncan Ellis 416-445-1722 North York ON, Canada s Media

AGL Inc. Sales 800-276-2664 Deforest WI, U.S. 24

American RENOLIT

Flexcon Company Inc. Sales 508-885-8200 Spencer MA, U.S. s

Folex AG

Sales +41 (0)41 819 39 39 Seewen Switzerland s GBC and SEAL, (part of ACCO Brands) Edwin Ramos 847-796-4851 Lake Zurich IL, U.S. s

Grafityp Selfadhesive Products nv Sales +32-11-600850 Houthalen Belgium s

Graphictac Sales 949-988-0077 Cypress TX, U.S. s

Natura Media Inc. Sales 470-359-2111 Lawrenceville GA, U.S. 26

Neenah Inc.

Jason Leonard 772-349-4565 Alpharetta GA, U.S. s

Nekoosa Sales 800-826-4886 Appleton WI, U.S. s

Neschen Inc.

Sales 877-NESCHEN West Columbia SC, U.S. s

Newlife Magnetics Inc. Sales 865-233-0067 Alcoa TN, U.S. 25, 26

NuCoat Marcel Schwendimann 763-278-0003 Plymouth MN, U.S. s

Premex Solutions Inc. Christen Gilmartin 678-324-6172 Marietta GA, U.S. s

PRESTOTEX Sales 800-331-1373 Bensalem PA, U.S. s

Substance Incorporated Daniel Velez 800-985-9485 Claremont NC, U.S. 26

Media - “Green”

3A Composites Americas Inc. Sales 800-626-3365 Davidson NC, U.S. 24

DAZIAN Karl Segall 949-547-3007 S. Hackensack NJ, U.S. s

DreamScape Lisa Schultz 973-625-7923 Rockaway NJ, U.S. 25

Fisher Textiles

Sharon Roland 800-554-8886 Matthews NC, U.S. s Neenah Inc. Jason Leonard 772-349-4565 Alpharetta GA, U.S. s

Neschen Inc.

Sales 877-NESCHEN West Columbia SC, U.S. s

Xcel Products Inc. Brian Ebenger 440-409-9421 Champlin MN, U.S. 26

Media - Direct to Film

All Weather Products/AW

Media - Fine Art

Folex AG Sales +41 (0)41 819 39 39 Seewen Switzerland s

Media - Inkjet

Big Systems LLC John Peterman 262-703-9000 Menomonee Falls WI, U.S. s

GBC and SEAL, (part of ACCO Brands) Edwin Ramos 847-796-4851 Lake Zurich IL, U.S. s

Tekra Rebecca Fuhrman 800-448-3572 New Berlin WI, U.S. s

Media - Magnetic Receptive

Magnum Magnetics Corporation Sales 800-258-0991 Marietta OH, U.S. 25

Media - Solvent

TVF Sales 855-618-4500

CATEGORY/COMPANY

Outdoor Signage, continued

Ultraflex Systems, Inc. Sales

Papers/Substrates

973-627-8608 Riverview FL, U.S. s

3A Composites Americas Inc. Sales 800-626-3365 Davidson NC, U.S. 24

All Weather Products/AW Specialty Phil Rossi 847-981-0386 Elk Grove Village IL, U.S. s

Beaver Paper & Graphic Media Inc. Bryon Iwane 770-935-5080 Lawrenceville GA, U.S. s

Brand Management Group Rhian Arvidson 941-256-7917 Sarasota FL, U.S. 24

Monadnock Paper Mills Inc. Lisa Taylor

603-588-3311 Bennington NH, U.S. 25

Neenah Inc. Jason Leonard 678-566-6500 Alpharetta GA, U.S. s

NuCoat Marcel Schwendimann 763-278-0003 Plymouth MN, U.S. s

Photo Tex Group Inc. Walter Gierlach 330-360-0019 Boardman OH, U.S. 26

Red River Paper Sales 888-248-8774 Plano TX, U.S. 26

Tekra Rebecca Fuhrman 800-448-3572 New Berlin WI, U.S.

Yupo Corporation America Ryan Kight 757-312-9876 Chesapeake VA, U.S.

Curbell Plastics Inc. Sales 888-287-2355 Orchard Park NY, U.S. s

Spartech Suzanne Fenton 314-569-7400 St. Louis MO, U.S. 26 Point-of-Purchase Displays Supreme Color Graphics Sales 985-875-7800 Mandeville LA, U.S. s

Xcel Products Inc. Brian Ebenger 440-409-9421 Champlin

Durst Group Co. Sales 470-326-3790 Lawrenceville GA, U.S. s

Printers - Grand Format > 95 Inches

All Print Heads Mike Fernandez 800-616-0584 Anaheim CA, U.S. 16, 24

DIGITECH Patric Coldewey

Digital, a Durst Group Co. Sales 470-326-3790 Lawrenceville GA, U.S. s

Printers - Hybrid

MUTOH America Inc. Sales 800-99-MUTOH Phoenix AZ, U.S. 25

swissQprint America Erik Norman 224-802-2770 West Dundee IL, U.S.

Printers - Large Format > 24 Inches

Big Systems LLC John Peterman 262-345-6301 Menomonee Falls WI, U.S. s

Canon U.S.A., Inc. Sales 844-502-2666 Melville NY, U.S. 24, 27

Epson Sales 800-GO-EPSON Los Alamitos CA, U.S. s IT Supplies Sales 800-771-9665 Rolling Meadows IL, U.S. s

LogoJET Inc. Susan Cox 337-330-8471 Lafayette LA, U.S. s Mimaki USA, Inc. Sales 888-530-3988 Flowery Branch GA, U.S. 25

Paradigm Imaging Group Randy Geesman 888-221-7226 Orange CA, U.S. s StratoJet USA Sales 562-758-3018 Ontario CA, U.S. s

Printers - Roll-to-Roll

Canon U.S.A., Inc. Sales 844-502-2666 Melville NY, U.S. 24, 27

HP Inc. Sonia Grobanopoulos 416-473-2135 Alpharetta GA, U.S. s Mimaki USA, Inc. Sales 888-530-3988 Flowery Branch GA, U.S. 25

MUTOH America Inc. Sales 800-99-MUTOH Phoenix AZ, U.S. 25 Roland DG Americas Yadira Cepeda 800-542-2307 Irvine CA, U.S. 26

StratoJet USA Sales 562-758-3018 Ontario CA, U.S. s

Valloy Incorporation Christin Park +82 2 6082 5022 Seoul Korea s Printers - Textile

Epson

HP Inc. Sonia Grobanopoulos 416-473-2135 Alpharetta GA,

PrinterBiz, a DTG Connection company Paul Crocker 703-505-3497 Fountain Valley CA, U.S. s Rigid Sheets

Scanners

Paradigm Imaging Group Randy Geesman 888-221-7226 Orange CA, U.S. s

Techkon USA Martin van Balkom 978-777-1854 Danvers MA, U.S. s

Sign Boards

Xcel Products Inc. Brian Ebenger 440-409-9421 Champlin MN, U.S. 26

Sign Frame

Display Source Inc. Sales 888-756-5447 Kennesaw GA, U.S. s

Sign Making Equipment

SAi Bennett Federico 800-229-9066 Salt Lake City UT, U.S. s

Software Development

Enfocus, an Esko Company Sales +32 9 216 92 11 Gent Belgium s

Significans Automation Marc Raad 877-463-4465 N/A SC, U.S. s

Synthetic Paper

Yupo Corporation America Ryan Kight 757-312-9876 Chesapeake VA, U.S. s

Systems Integration

Significans Automation Marc Raad 877-463-4465 N/A SC, U.S. s

Transfer Tape

Jessup Manufacturing Company Mike Richardson 815-307-6826 McHenry IL, U.S. 25

Vehicle Templates

MR Clipart Dirk Moebes +49 172 5106750 Bad Nenndorf Germany s

Vinyl

ASLAN Selbstklebefolien GmbH Rene Bourgeois 904-215-1411 Overath Germany 24

Better Life Technology Kristin Swartz 913-894-0403 Lenexa KS, U.S. s

Continental Grafix USA Laura Antenucci 704-872-2216 Statesville NC, U.S. 18, 24

DreamScape Lisa Schultz 973-625-7923 Rockaway NJ, U.S. 25

FDC Graphic Films, Inc.

Formulations

Arlon

General Formulations

800-253-3664 Sparta MI, U.S. 2, 25

Grafityp Selfadhesive Products nv Sales +32-11-600850 Houthalen Belgium s Graphictac Sales 949-988-0077 Cypress TX, U.S. s

JDS Sign Supply Dave Haan 855-661-2388 Sioux Falls SD, U.S. s

Jessup Manufacturing Company Mike Richardson 815-307-6826 McHenry IL, U.S. 25

Mactac Sales 800-321-8834 Stow OH, U.S. 25

Neenah Inc. Jason Leonard 772-349-4565 Alpharetta GA, U.S. s

The Griff Network Alex Phinn 215-428-1075 Fallsington PA, U.S. 26

Vinyl Cutting Equipment

MR Clipart Dirk Moebes +49 172 5106750 Bad Nenndorf Germany s Wallcoverings

Faze 3 SMS Sales N/A New York NY, U.S. s

Monadnock Paper Mills Inc. Lisa Taylor 603-588-3311 Bennington NH, U.S. 25

Natura

704-872-2216

NC, U.S. 18, 24

DAZIAN Karl Segall 949-547-3007 S. Hackensack NJ, U.S. s

Infinity Media Company Russell Nicoletti 708-352-1086 Countryside IL, U.S. s

Jessup Manufacturing Company

Neenah Inc. Jason Leonard 678-566-6500 Alpharetta GA, U.S. s

The Griff Network Alex Phinn 215-428-1075 Fallsington PA, U.S. 26

Vanguard Digital, a Durst Group Co. Sales 470-326-3790

Significans Automation

Viesus AG

Kaminska +41 44 84 35 539 Dielsdorf Switzerland s

COMPANIES BY PROFILE

Find more detailed information on all listings at digitaloutput.net

Two Harbour Pl., 721 Jetton St., Ste. 325, Davidson, NC 28036 U.S. 800-626-3365 • 3acompositesusa.com/display

With domestic manufacturing excellence rooted in KY and NC, 3A Composites Americas manufactures a wide array of rigid substrates for display, signage, and graphics. Solutions include—paper-faced foam boards, high-performance foam boards, expanded PVC boards, aluminum composite materials, and recyclable, rigid paper boards. Industry leading brands include FOME-COR, SINTRA, GP APEX, GATORFOAM, DISPA, POLAR, SWEDBOARD FIBRE, DIBOND, and LUMEX G.

AGL, Inc.

801 Burton Blvd., Deforest, WI 53532 U.S. 608-846-1025 • aglinc.com

For decades, AGL has delivered more than just American-made, custom-built laminators; it provides a complete solution. As one of the few companies offering media, laminates, and laminators designed to work together, it makes it easy to produce vibrant, durable graphics with confidence. An expert team guides you in selecting the perfect combination of media, overlaminating films, and mounting adhesives, so every project is a success. AGL is also a leading producer of custom industrial laminators, providing innovative solutions to customers in aerospace, automotive, converting, foam and gasket, graphics, glass, and solar. Since its inception, AGL has remained committed to engineering American-made products, offering first-class customer service, and building precise, reliable custom laminators for customers worldwide. Experience the AGL difference.

All Print Heads

1162 N. Knollwood Cir., Anaheim, CA 92801-1307 U.S. 800-616-0584 • allprintheads.com

The allprintheads.com concept was born from an idea to bring to market a comprehensive list of essential spare parts and accessories to make any wide format printing operation run smoothly and efﬁciently. It offers a vast selection of spare parts, inks, and materials for every large format printer out there. See our ad on page 16.

Alpina Manufacturing LLC 6460 W. Cortland St., Chicago, IL 60707 U.S. 800-915-2828 • fastchangeframes.com

UL LED light box, ﬂip up, silicone edge graphics, slide in, acrylic, or banner grip frames made any size or quantity to hold graphics or banners. Change graphics without removing frames from wall. Beautiful presentation, low cost. Indoor or outdoor use. 24/7 online quote and ordering website. No minimums, great customer service, fast shipping, and manufactured in Chicago, IL. See our ad on page 16.

American RENOLIT Corporation

1207 E. Lincolnway, La Porte, IN 46350 U.S. renolit.com

UV-resistant, durable, dimensionally stable, and easy to process—RENOLIT offers a range of calendered soft PVC films and films for a variety of applications, from graphic films and advertising prints to protective and luminescent films, or adhesive tapes and labeling. Other products with permanent surface protection are ideal for poster, digital printing, or vehicle advertising. See our ad on page 19.

ASLAN Selbstklebefolien GmbH Oberauel 2, Overath 51491 Germany 904-215-1411 • aslanvinyls.com

Since 1950 ASLAN Selbstklebefolien GmbH has successfully developed, produced, and distributed self-adhesive films for a variety of applications. As a specialist in self adhesive films, ASLAN offers innovative and high-quality branded products with the quality assurance of being made in Germany. A comprehensive product range offers self-adhesive films for highly diverse markets and applications such as graphic applications, painting and spraying, sandblasting, architecture and interior design, office and organization, lamp shade production, book protection and repair, arts and crafts, industrial applications, and contract coating. In addition to a comprehensive range of standard products, ASLAN also provides fully customized adhesive coatings, developed in dialogue with customers. Customers can choose from a variety of materials, liners, and adhesives or have their own materials coated with the adhesive properties specified by them.

Aurora Specialty Textiles Group 2705 N. Bridge S., Yorkville, IL 60560 U.S. 800-864-0303 • auroratextile.com

Aurora Specialty Textiles Group, Inc. is a U.S. manufacturer, coater, and ﬁnisher providing a full range of high-quality textiles and canvases for today’s wide format digital printing market. Aurora’s fabrics are custom coated to deliver outstanding color reproduction when printed with latex, solvent, and UV inks. Aurora produces all of products in widths up to 126 inches. Aurora has the technical knowledge to customize products to best meet your digital printing needs.

Banner Ups by Budnick Converting 340 Parkway Dr., Columbia, IL 62236 U.S. 800-869-9601 • bannerups.com

Banner Ups offer a variety of adhesive grommet tabs and tapes. Its products may be used to create super-strong banners instantly without the hassle or expense of sewing or grommeting. Products include KederTape LITE and SEGDesign frames. KederTape LITE is for no-sew silicone edge graphics (SEG) sign ﬁnishing. SEGDesign modular frames are made of strong ABS plastic and have snap-together corners. SEG frames have never been easier to cut, paint, and assemble. See our ad on page 16.

Brand Management Group (BMG)

4728 S. Tamiami Tr., Sarasota, FL 34231 U.S. 888-893-4668 • globalbmg.com

BMG, a subsidiary of S-One Holdings Corp., provides research, development, manufacturing, and distribution of printing supplies to digital imaging, design, and print professionals. BMG is the brand licensee for HP Large Format Printing Materials and KODAK Wide-Format Inkjet Media. BMG brands deliver image quality, consistency, performance, durability, and value—with every print. Its print media portfolios are based on technological expertise developed over years in materials and digital imaging science.

Caldera

1 rue des Freres Lumiere, Eckbolsheim, Alsace 67201 France 612-604-4266 • caldera.com

Caldera is a software company with more than 30 years of experience in developing, marketing, and supporting high-quality technological software for wide format imaging with a commitment to increasing productivity, cost efﬁciency, and color output. Caldera’s suite of award-winning, production-orientated print and print-to-cut workﬂow solutions offer color management, imaging, and driving solutions for large and grand format peripherals.

Canon U.S.A., Inc.

1 Canon Park, Melville, NY 11747 U.S. 844-502-2666 • usa.canon.com

Canon U.S.A., Inc. is a leading provider of consumer, business to business, and industrial digital imaging solutions across the U.S., Latin America, and Caribbean. Its parent company, Canon Inc., reported $28.5 billion in global revenue and has ranked in the top ten for U.S. patents for 41 consecutive years. See our ad on page 27.

Colex Finishing, Inc.

100 Bauer Dr., Oakland, NJ 07436 U.S. 201-265-5670 • colex.com

Colex offers precision cutting equipment with premier service. The Colex Sharpcut Flatbed Cutter features a triple interchangeable tool head, energy efﬁcient six-zone vacuum system, and vision registration. The company also offers Fotoba X/Y cutters, bubble-free applicators, and roll laminators. See our ad on page 15.

Continental Graﬁx USA

1855 Weinig St., Statesville, NC 28677 U.S. 704-872-2216 • cgxusa.com

Continental Grafix USA is a manufacturer and supplier of adhesive-backed graphic film solutions for windows, walls, and floors. Designed to tackle the most demanding challenges, its quality products and industry expertise provide clients with peace of mind. With a focus on performance and evolving market needs, Continental Grafix delivers solutions that help customers execute high-impact visual applications with confidence. See our ad on page 18.

DIGITECH

2121 Mannix Dr., San Antonio, TX 78217 U.S. 210-545-6000 • digitechusa.com

Ready, Set, AUTOMATE! Whether you are a small company or one of the largest companies producing in wide format graphics, the time to automate is now. DigiTech TruFire wide format UV ﬂatbed printers come standard with an automated unloader. Pair it with a modular conveyor system to any variety of cut, crease, stack, and ﬁnishing machinery. TruFire is built for speed, durability, and precision, capable of producing a 4x8-foot double-sided simple yard sign sheet in under two minutes.

3A Composites Americas, Inc.

Direct Color Systems (DCS)

99 Hammer Mill Rd., Rocky Hill, CT 06067 U.S. directcolorsystems.com

DCS engineers, manufactures, and markets small and mid-format UV LED printers that utilize cutting-edge technology to deliver rich, full-color images directly onto rigid and ﬂexible substrates. DCS has brought to market advanced UV LED printing features and applications like a patented ADA/braille signage printing process, cylindrical printing with EasyCyl, bulk white ink circulation system, TEXTUR3D, and conductive ink/additive manufacturing printing.

DreamScape

40 Vanderhoof Ave., Rockaway, NJ 07866 U.S. 973-625-7923 • dreamscapewalls.com

DreamScape, a division of Roysons Corporation, manufactures textured, digitally printable wallcoverings, specialty ﬁnishes, and protective topcoats. With over 40 years in the wallcovering industry, it offers the largest selection of high-quality, certiﬁed Class A commercial-grade vinyl and PVC-free solutions, including Declare Label listed, Red List free options, for commercial and residential spaces. Available in roll format for UV, latex, eco-solvent, and solvent printers. Ask about repositionable peel and stick WALL + FLOOR WRAPS.

eurolaser GmbH

Borsigstraße 18, Lüneburg, 21339 Germany +49 4131 9697 500 • eurolaser.com

eurolaser is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of CO2 laser machines for cutting, engraving, and marking non-metals. From consultation and material sampling to user training and worldwide service, it offers everything from a single source. Process a range of materials with its laser systems, such as plastics, foams, textiles, adhesive ﬁlms, wood, acrylic, and composite materials. The laser systems are suitable for all standard sheet, roll, and plate formats.

Flatbed Tools

518 Sara Ln., Racine, WI 53402 U.S. 262-800-6500 • ﬂatbedtools.com

Backed by over 25 years of industry innovation and experience contributing to numerous patented technologies, Flatbed Tools delivers premium blades, router bits, conveyor belting, and underlayment, speciﬁcally tailored for Colex, Kongsberg, Summa, and Zünd. Its solutions help boost precision, reduce downtime, and maximize return on investment, all with the support of its industry experts. The company is now a distributor of Summa ﬁnishing equipment. See our ad on page 13.

Fluid Color LLC

2610 Arbor Tech Dr., Hebron, KY 41048 U.S. 859-371-5120 • ﬂuidcolor.com

Fluid Color offers innovative LED ﬂatbed, hybrid, and roll-to-roll printers, delivering high-quality performance and reliability. Renowned for exceptional service and technical expertise, it supports businesses with scalable solutions tailored to their growth. The printers combine cutting-edge technology with energy efﬁciency to meet diverse needs. With a focus on customer success and decades of industry experience, Fluid Color is a trusted partner for elevating print production capabilities.

General Formulations (GF)

309 S. Union, Sparta, MI 49345 U.S. 800-253-3664 • generalformulations.com

GF is a leading global manufacturer of pressure-sensitive media, film, and laminates, headquartered in the U.S., since 1953. GF offers a cross-platform portfolio of print and cut film as well as laminate solutions, including rolls for wide format printers and sheets for narrow format digital printers and offset printing technologies. These products are designed for a variety of applications, including windows, walls, floors, point of purchase, outdoor signage, vehicle, and fleet and transit applications. See our ad on page 2.

Graphic Finishing Partners, LLC (Gfp)

P.O. Box 1097, Maryland Heights, MO 63043 U.S. 800-986-2005 • gfpartnersllc.com

Gfp has shipped thousands of machines through a network of dealers and distributors covering all of North America. Gfp machines are proven to shorten production time, increase proﬁtability, and produce consistent, professional results. They are simple to operate, full of labor-saving features, and easy on the budget.

Find more detailed information on all listings at digitaloutput.net

ImagineThis

1147 Oberlin Ave. S.W., Massillon, OH 44647 U.S. 330-481-1102 • imaginethisprinting.com

ImagineThis is a premiere large format digital print shop. It specializes in going large. Whether large quantity orders or the largest outdoor graphics, ImagineThis delivers customers with the highest quality and quickest turnaround at competitive pricing. The company prides itself on meeting customers’ large format printing needs. See our ad on page 5.

INX International

150 N. Martingale, Ste. 1000, Schaumburg, IL 60173 U.S. 630-382-1800 • inxinternational.com

INX International is a global manufacturer of high-performance printing inks, coatings, adhesives, and integrated technologies for packaging, commercial, and digital print applications. With more than 50 locations across four continents, INX combines global manufacturing capabilities with regional technical expertise to support demanding production environments worldwide. The company’s portfolio spans paper, ﬁlm, rigid container, metal packaging, textile, industrial, and specialty print markets through offset, ﬂexographic, gravure, digital inkjet, advanced coating, and adhesive technologies. INX also provides color management systems, functional technologies, digital print integration, and application support that help converters and brand owners improve production consistency, supports circular packaging objectives, and maintains alignment with evolving global regulatory requirements.

Jessup Manufacturing Company

2815 W. Rte. 120, McHenry, IL 60051 U.S. 815-385-6650 • jessupmfg.com

Looking to grab attention and enhance your brand messaging in unconventional places? Look no further than Jessup graphics media. The materials offer the versatility and brilliance to make a statement on indoor and outdoor ﬂoors, stairs, walls, pathways, streets, and parking lots. Plus, Jessup materials are the preferred choice of both printers and end users and many come with trusted slip-resistant certiﬁcation. Explore the range of top-quality brands, including Asphalt Art, TexWalk, CatWalk, GloBrite, SideWalk, TenaciousTac Smooth-N-Groove, ARMORLam, and more.

Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems (PCS) Kortrijksesteenweg 1087 B, Gent, 9051 Belgium kongsbergsystems.com

Kongsberg PCS fuses passion, technology, and creativity to manufacture and distribute best-in-class digital cutting and CNC solutions through two brands, Kongsberg and MultiCam. The Kongsberg range delivers robust and reliable digital cutting solutions to packaging, signage, display, and manufacturing markets worldwide.

Mactac

4560 Darrow Rd., Stow, OH 44224 U.S. 866-622-8223 • mactac.com/graphics

For more than 60 years, Mactac has been a leader in pressure-sensitive adhesive materials development for digital printing, mounting, laminating, screen printing, and cut vinyl. Printers, distributors, exhibit houses, and others use Mactac products to transform windows, walls, ﬂoors, and vehicles. Created with superior quality and lasting durability for short- to long-term applications, they are ideal for indoor and outdoor signage, ﬂeet and vehicle wraps, trade show displays, retail signage, environmental graphics, and other everyday applications.

Magnum Magnetics Corporation

801 Masonic Park Rd., Marietta, OH 45750 U.S. 800-258-0991 • magnummagnetics.com

Magnum Magnetics is a leading U.S. manufacturer of ﬂexible magnetic printing materials, including DigiMag digital magnetic sheeting and wide format printable magnets. Made in OH, its products are engineered for clean print performance, lasting durability, and consistent results across commercial, wide format, retail, and specialty applications, with responsive service and dependable lead times to keep projects moving.

Mimaki USA, Inc.

4851 Thurmon Tanner Pkwy., Ste. 100, Flowery Branch, GA 30542 U.S. 888-530-3988 • mimakiusa.com

Mimaki is an innovator and a pioneer in digital printing and cutting products offering a complete line of wide format printers and cutters, and a total workﬂow solution for applications in sign and graphics, textile and apparel, industrial printing, and three dimensional printing. In 2024, Mimaki USA celebrated 25 years of service to print service providers in the Americas. It is an operating entity of Mimaki Engineering of Japan.

Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc.

117 Antrim Rd., Bennington, NH 03442 U.S. 603-588-3311 • mpm.com

Monadnock Paper Mills is a global leader in paper products, offering a diverse portfolio of technical/specialty papers and premium printing/packaging papers to renowned brands worldwide. Its commitment to sustainability includes FSC certiﬁcation and carbon-neutral manufacturing powered by 100 percent renewable wind energy, under ISO 14001 standards.

MUTOH America, Inc.

4405 E. Baseline Rd., Ste 120, Phoenix, AZ 85042 U.S. 800-99MUTOH • mutoh.com

MUTOH America, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of wide and small format printers and plotting cutters, including ValueJet and XpertJet models. Its line of wide and small format inkjet printers are known for their quality, speed, and Smart Printing technologies.

Natura Media Inc.

1750 Lakes Pkwy., Lawrenceville, GA 30043 U.S. 470-359-2111 • naturamedia.us

Natura Media is a global manufacturer of premium digital printing media for walls, windows, and floors. Alongside proven photo papers, banners, and backlit films, it offers EASYTEX polyester textile wallcoverings, easyto-install FLAT DOT air-egress films, FLAT ON GLASS DECOR solutions, PRINTPROTEC CLEAR—a scratch-resistant clear PET film for window graphics, and EASYGRIP for impactful floor applications. Products are distributed nationwide through trusted partners.

Newlife Magnetics Inc.

3440 Northbend Cir., Ste. A, Bld. 6, Alcoa, TN 37701 U.S. 865-233-3899 • newlifemagnetics.com

Newlife Magnetics is one of the largest ﬂexible magnet and print media manufacturers, specializing in wide format magnetic media. It manufactures printable magnet sheeting up to 60 inches wide. Its Platinum line of magnet-receptive print media offers high quality, ideal print results, and low prices. According to the company, Cling King Spider Mat is quickly becoming the industry standard for counter top displays and graphics. See our ad on page 25.

Panel Processing, Inc.

1030 Devere Dr., Alpena, MI 49707 U.S. 800-433-7142 • panel.com

As a custom flat panel fabricator for over 50 years, Panel Processing can punch, cut, paint, laminate, and machine a multitude of wood substrates to create digital print media, chalkboard, markerboard, slatwall, laminated panels, pegboard, and pegboard skinz, that can be found in store fixtures, schools, and ready to assemble furniture. The flat panels, slatwall, chalkboard, pegboard, and markerboard can receive its digital print media, creating an excellent surface for high-quality digital or screen printing.

Photo Tex Group Inc. 4030 Simon Rd., Boardman, OH 44512 U.S. 330-360-0019 • phototexgroup.com

The exclusive distributor of patented Photo Tex polyester self-adhesive removable inkjet fabric for the past 22 years, a trusted solution for peeland-stick graphics worldwide. Easy installs on walls, windows, doors, and ﬂoors; printer-ready versions for both short-term promotions and long-term displays; safe removal anytime without damage or residue. Whether you are a retailer, designer, or brand builder, Photo Tex offers unmatched versatility and reliability.

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Red River Paper 2317 La Vida Pl., Plano, TX 75023 U.S. 888-248-8774 • redrivercatalog.com

Superior photographic and ﬁne art inkjet papers that meet the needs of professionals in the photo, graphic arts, prepress, and design communities.

Roland DG Americas 15363 Barranca Pkwy., Irvine, CA 92618 U.S. 800-542-2307 • rolanddga.com

Roland offers digital inkjet printers and integrated printer/cutters that empower creators and businesses to “make your mark” including TrueVis eco-solvent, UV, and latex wide format inkjets; VersaObject ﬂatbed UV printers; the TY-300i direct to ﬁlm (DTF) printer; and VersaStudio desktop eco-solvent, UV, and DTF devices. All come with easy-to-use RIP software and several models offer unique ink options, including orange, red, green, white, and gloss.

Sign Guardian

P.O. Box 103, Sadsburyville, PA 19369 U.S. 302-647-9760 • signguardian.com

Sign Guardian designs and manufactures vibration resistant and anti-theft sign brackets that provide a safe, reliable, and cost-effective way to mount signs and banners to chain link fences, ornamental fences, square channel posts, U-channel posts, and round posts. See our ad on page 16.

Signs365

51245 Filomena Dr., Shelby Township, MI 48315 U.S. 800-265-8830 • signs365.com

Signs365 is a grand format, trade-only wholesale printer. It offers a variety of full-color, high-quality printed products all produced in 24 hours. $10 Overnight Anywhere shipping is available on all products. See our ad on page 28.

Spartech

11650 Lakeside Crossing Ct., St. Louis, MO 63146 U.S. spartech.com

Spartech is a plastics processor. Materials include polycarbonate, acrylic, printable HIPS, co-polyesters for indoor/outdoor use, and sustainable/recycled content options. Products include materials for printing, forming, and ﬂat panel fabrication in many colors, opacities, sizes, and gauges. Brands are SunGard, Crylex, Tuf-Glas, PrintMax polystyrene substrates, WeatherPro, Spectar and UltraTuf printable PETG, PolyPrime polyethylene and polypropylene products, and TerraCard sustainable substrate.

Substance Incorporated

3000 Frazier Dr., Claremont, NC 28610 U.S. 800-985-9485 • substance.com

Substance develops and manufactures high-performing print media and overlaminates for critical graphic applications. It is on a mission to advance material science and enhance the customer experience.

Summa

Rochesterlaan 6, Gistel, W. Vlaanderen 8470 Belgium 463-999-8282 • summa.com

Summa is a leader in digital cutting solutions, delivering innovative technology for signage, packaging, textiles, and industrial applications. Its product portfolio includes state-of-the-art vinyl, ﬂatbed, and laser cutters that ensure precision and quality. Leveraging more than 50 years of experience, it continues to pioneer cutting-edge technology that redeﬁnes precision cutting. See our ad on page 13.

Supply55, Inc.

P.O. Box 1522, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1522 U.S. 734-668-0755 • supply55.com

Supply55, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of workﬂow products for the digital printing segment of the sign, screen, graphic arts, exhibit, home décor, corporate identity, and athletic apparel markets. See our ad on page 7.

swissQprint America

4100 Canterﬁeld Pkwy. E., W. Dundee, IL 60118 U.S. 224-802-2770 • swissqprint.com

swissQprint UV large format printers are made in Switzerland. They are precise and extremely versatile in terms of applications, including varnish, neon, white, 3D, and tactile effects. The range includes six modular flatbed printer models and a dedicated roll-to-roll printer, each with top-in-class energy efficiency and Greenguard Gold certified inks. See our ad on page 9.

The Griff Network

275 Lower Morrisville Rd., Fallsington, PA 19054 U.S. 215-428-1075 • thegriffnetwork.com

The Griff Network is a manufacturer of decorative vinyl used in craft, sign, floor graphic, tape, and privacy film. Create innovative products with its eco-friendly materials. The company produces a range of vinyl, including rainbow, oil slick, glitter, and holographic. Its films have excellent wrapping abilities for long-lasting, bubble-free applications.

TVF

401 W. Carmel Dr., Carmel, IN 46032 U.S. 855-618-4500 • tvﬁnc.com

TVF is a 100 percent employee-owned supplier of print media, apparel, home décor, and industrial fabrics. With more than 50 years of expertise, TVF provides solutions for dye-sublimation, latex, direct disperse, UV, eco-solvent, and screen printing. Known for an unmatched breadth of product offerings, warehousing capabilities, and personalized customer experience, TVF serves as an extension for growing businesses.

Vision Engraving & Routing Systems

17621 N. Black Canyon Hwy., Phoenix, AZ 85023 U.S. 888-637-1737 • visionengravers.com

Proudly made in the U.S. since 1983, Vision Engraving manufactures quality-made precision machines offered at best-in-class pricing. From desktop-sized engravers on up to larger 4x8-foot CNC routers/engravers, Vision has a machine to meet your engraving and routing needs.

VTX Tools

904 E. Pleasant St. 2, Milwaukee, WI 53202 U.S. 414-939-3277 • vtxtools.com

VTX Tools provides high-quality carbide cutting tools—knife blades and coated/ uncoated router bits—for flatbed digital cutting systems such as Colex, Cutworx, Kongsberg, Summa, and Zünd. VTX blades and bits are “rocket fuel for your cutting table” and will keep your cutter running at peak performance. In addition, VTX offers free phone support, conveyor belts, sacrificial cutting mats, accessories, and PM/service for most major flatbed digital cutting systems.

XCEL Products, Inc.

8900 109th Ave. N., Champlin, MN 55316 U.S. 763-231-3040 • xcelproducts.com

For over two decades, XCEL has been at the forefront of designing and producing innovative graphics solutions for all types of business environments. Featuring several specialty medias including magnetic vinyl, magnetic receptive, static cling, and blockout paper. XCEL recently launched Excellent, Mako, and Xanita rigid paper boards to support companies where a strong “green” initiative is critical. XCEL also manufactures silicone edge graphic framing systems, utilizing 40 proprietary extrusions. All can be produced to current speciﬁcations or custom designed through its in-house engineering team and SOLIDWORKS software system.

Digital Output Jun 2026

BUYERS GUIDE

Constant Resource

Scaling Up From Labels to Wallcoverings

From Labels to Walls

Staying on Trend

Proof in the Pudding

Proficient in Media

Solve UV Printer Adhesion Problems

Summa Launches New F Series Vantage

The Fab Four Plus More Specialty Ink Options for Flatbeds

Beyond CMYK

Improving Accuracy

Technical Challenges

Specialty Options

Useful Options

Easy Peasy

An Ally in Business

It’s the Future

Natural Next Step

Media Mix

More Sustainable Solutions

Cleaning Chemicals

Adhesive Systems

Wallcovering Considerations

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DreamScape

eurolaser GmbH

Flatbed Tools

ImagineThis

COMPANIES BY PROFILE

TVF

VTX Tools