Manufacturer Launches New Laminate Range

Drytac Europe, one of the leading manufacturers of display and finishing products in the high-end graphics industry, has unveiled a new series of laminates.

The HCW (high coat weight) laminates have been designed to improve the quality of UV laminate printing, which is prone to a number of problems.

Sales director at Drytac Europe, Steve Broad, explained: “As UV printers are now regularly used in the creation of permanent and semi-permanent signage, we have introduced our HCW laminates to extend both the life expectancy and colour integrity of all UV-printed output.”

Broad added that the new laminates developed by Drytac feature anti-graffiti and anti-scratch properties, making them ideal for use in high-traffic areas. In developing the new range, Drytac attempted to overcome one of the major limitations of UV prints: fading caused by exposure to sunlight.

Broad explained that the adhesives used in the new laminates include UV inhibitors, that aim to protect signs from sunlight. That means the quality of UV-printed signs can be maintained to a high standard for an extended period, even in brightly lit areas.

Here at The Sussex Sign Company, we produce long-lasting, high-quality signage that can be used in all weather conditions.

New ‘Knifeless’ Cutting Tape Showcased at FESPA

In June, Knifeless Technology Systems unveiled a new cutting tool at FESPA 2013 in London. The product is being marketed as a replacement for the plotter blade, which is used to cut vehicle wraps. What makes the new product so special is that it is a type of tape that cuts through vinyl and laminate wraps, negating the need to use a knife to cut edges that have been applied to bodywork.

Cutting tapes are hardly new to the market, but DesignLine, Knifeless Technology Systems’ latest product, provides a finish that is every bit as good as knife-cut designs.

Jason Gunnlaugson of Knifeless Technology Systems, explained: “With Finish Line, which was our standard thin-finishing product, we were finding that for some jobs it wasn’t as easy to get the absolute best cut possible. There was a little bit of difference between a tape and the plotter.

“With DesignLine we guarantee that it will be the same quality as a knife or plotter. That is why we developed this tape.”

The obvious benefit of using DesignLine is that vehicle wrap specialists need not risk causing damage to surfaces by cutting edges with a knife.

Here at The Sussex Sign Company, we provide high-quality vehicle wrapping for both private and commercial customers.

Owner of Craft Store Demands Improved Signage

The owner of a boutique store in Sheerness, Kent, has threatened to close her business if the local council continues to ignore or reject her applications for new signage.

Seventy five year-old Ann Burbidge owns Crafts and Gifts 4 U, which can be found on Hope Street. The problem for Mrs Burbidge, who has been in business for the past six years, is that relatively few people are actually able to find her store.

The shop owner has requested permission from Kent County Council to install a sign on the high street that points shoppers in her direction, but council officials deny having received a completed application.

Mrs Burbidge explained: “It’s going to put me out of business if I don’t get a sign. I love doing it and don’t want to give it up, but it’s a real struggle.

“They say no but they never say why and there’s never anyone available to talk to. The council says it is trying to help little shops but they don’t seem to be doing anything.”

Here at The Sussex Sign Company, we sympathise with proprietors whose small shops are being overlooked by shoppers on the high street. Appropriate signage really can make all the difference.

New type of road sign called for by councillor

Councillor Armand Toms has proposed a change to the law that would prevent motorists in Cornwall from becoming lost or trapped in rural areas.

Cllr Toms wants a new type of road sign to be included in the Highway Code. The sign would warn road users that satellite navigation systems are unsuitable for use in certain areas, especially where roads narrow unexpectedly.

He explained: “If you had a sign that said, ‘don’t use this route’, it would help. But the Highway Code doesn’t have that at the moment and we would like the government to take notice and put in some common sense and say, ‘switch your sat-nav off”.

Cllr Toms, of East Looe Council, added that the “quickest route is probably not always the safest route”.

In 2012 a survey carried out by Halfords revealed that 68 per cent of motorists in the UK use satellite navigation systems to plot daily routes such as travelling to work or driving to the supermarket. Mr Toms wants to ease reliance on the technology in rural areas because many drivers end up lost or stuck after following the least suitable route.

Here at The Sussex Sign Compnay, we wonder what a ‘no sat-nav’ sign might look like if the motion is successful.

New Signage trialled by Morrisons

New-look bulkhead signage has been installed by one of the largest supermarket chains in the UK, in its stores in Rothwell and Croydon.

Morrisons commissioned a Leeds-based design firm to create the signage, which aims to foster a sense of novelty and community. The new signs, many of which contain 3D elements, have been designed as part of a branding exercise for Morrisons Market Street.

Charlotte Dewhurst, of Morrisons, explained that the new signage captures the essence of Market Street, which is “such an important element of Morrisons’ offering.”

The signs contain persuasive language and eye-catching straplines, such as the ‘just the way you like it’ sign, which hangs above the fresh fish counter. Union Jacks are positioned for optimal effect and an old-fashioned charm is evident in signs such as “OVEN FRESH,” featuring 3D lettering and homely symbols and shapes (i.e. of cooking pots and utensils).

Elmwood, the design firm tasked with creating the new signage, described its approach as aiming to recreate the “style of the corner shops of yesteryear.”

Here at The Sussex Sign Company, we always consider how a brand might be viewed in its environment when we create in-store signage. The aim is to communicate the most appropriate message and atmosphere. And that is exactly what Morrisons and Elwood appear to have achieved.

Sign costing £76K causes uproar in Bournemouth

Bournemouth Borough Council has been accused of wasting money after it spent £ 76,000 on a new road sign.

Installed on a bridge over the A338, the prominent sign reads: “WELCOME TO BOURNEMOUTH.”
Ben Grower, a Labour councillor, is reported to have said: “Jobs are being cut and services not expanded. This is the biggest two fingers to the people I have seen in many years.”

But council officials are adamant that the sign will prove to be cost-effective in time. Lawrence Williams, a councillor for the Conservative party, said: “First impressions are everything and this is why it’s important to make the gateway into our town as welcoming as possible.

“This type of signage makes a statement about our town and the community it represents as well as a significant contribution to the way [the] area is perceived.”

£76,000 may seem a little steep for what is essentially a large welcome sign, but Bournemouth Borough Council explained that the cost included design, planning, installation, traffic control and power.

Here at The Sussex Sign Company, we believe that the new sign in Bournemouth will achieve its objective of stimulating tourism. But even large signage need not be so expensive. We provide cost-effective solutions for all kinds of customer.

Wide-Format Sign Printer Showcased at FESPA 2013

A leading manufacturer of printing equipment has showcased its latest wide-format printer at FESPA 2013, which took place in London between 25th and 29th June.

Reprographic Technology International (RTI) unveiled the Vortex 4200 to a captive audience at an event in Bedfordshire earlier this year. But FESPA 2013, which brings together the biggest names in the print industry, was an obvious choice to stage a follow-up launch.

The Vortex 4200 uses five print heads to exploit the potential of Memjet technology. Printing wide-format documents in a single pass, the printer offers exceptional speed. Yet quality is not compromised in the slightest.

Describing the many benefits of the new printer, Erik Norman, vice president of sales at RTI, said: “Momentum with the Vortex 4200 from both a technical and commercial perspective, has been exceptional. Our partner, OWN-X, has already incorporated our initial voice-of-customer feedback from February… [and the] response has been positive.”

CEO of Rowe Israel, Yaacov Viedas, added: “With the game-changing Vortex 4200 wide-format printer… I can see big opportunities to help my customers streamline their print workflow and give them big savings in running costs, manpower and space requirements.”

Here at The Sussex Sign Company, we welcome the addition of the Vortex 4200 to the market.

Illuminated signage for Tesco store rejected by council

Tesco Does Not Want to Be Kept in the Dark

Tesco has made an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate after plans to install illuminated signage outside its store in Saffron Walden were rejected by council officials.

Matthew Magee, corporate affairs manager at the supermarket, said: “The gantry sign is an important part of the store which provides information for our customers. We’ve worked hard to provide an appropriate size, design and location for the signage and we hope for a resolution of this issue soon”.

Uttlesford District Council turned down the planning application by Tesco in June. But Magee hopes the decision will be overturned by the Planning Inspectorate.

Residents in Saffron Walden are not happy about the prospect of an illuminated sign appearing outside Tesco.

68-year-old Trilby Roberts explained: “I don’t think Tesco needs an illuminated sign because everyone knows it’s there. The place is a glaring eyesore on the corner and they have a great big fascia with Tesco on it, so I can’t understand [the desire to install an illuminated sign], especially when the store is in a residential area”.

Here at The Sussex Sign Company, we do believe that companies have a responsibility to preserve the environment in which they operate, and sometimes illuminating your signage is not appropriate.

Road Signs Hidden by Overgrown Hedges

Road users in Bedfordshire have called on the district council to trim overgrown grass and hedges that cover important road signs in the county.

Val Penfare, a resident of Potton, said that only roads in Bedfordshire are affected, adding that council workers in Cambridgeshire appear to be on top of their maintenance duties. Penfare said: “The road sign on Potton Road The Heath indicates a junction with a give-way instruction. I know that fact because I use the road frequently, but any newcomers would be unaware of the hazard ahead”. She added that overgrown grass is just as serious a problem in the county as overgrown hedgerows. But Central Bedfordshire Council appears reluctant to accept responsibility for the task of maintaining certain stretches of land.

A spokesperson for the council commented: “Most of the rural hedges in Central Bedfordshire are owned by third parties and are therefore the landowner’s responsibility. Of course, if the hedge is a hazard to road users… we can ask the landowner to cut or prune it within 14 days”. Here at The Sussex Sign Company, we urge our customers to maintain their signage on a regular basis. A sign may not be able to do its job if it is excessively dirty, damaged or obscured by overgrown foliage.

Sign with Marine Theme Causes Offence to Shoppers

A shop owner in Vancouver, Canada, has had to remove a pair of signs from his store after a shopper claimed they were offensive.

Sharon Arnold visited Lulu Island Designs in Steveston earlier this month and was horrified when she saw a handwritten sign above XL and XXL clothing that read, “Whale.”

Outraged by the shop owner’s apparent insensitivity, Arnold posted a picture of the offending sign on Facebook. The majority of users offered their support to Arnold, while many claimed the sign was unacceptable, calling on the authorities to provide more rights for larger folk. One or two people called for calm, suggesting that the shop owner had probably not intended to cause such a stir.

Speaking to The Vancouver Sun, the proprietor of Lulu Island Designs said the ‘Whale’ section sign had been around for years, but following the complaint he removed it. The shop owner also took down the “Shrimp” sign that had been hanging above the petite clothing range.

Arnold commented: “I found it offensive. And I’m not the only one.”

Here at The Sussex Sign Company, we recognise that shop owners have to be very careful when deviating from the standard copy used on signs. “Shrimp” and “Whale” may not be the most sensible descriptors of female clothing sizes.