Printing SA will educate visitors about their member benefits and services at the FESPA Africa and Sign Africa Expo, taking place 11-13 September at Gallagher Convention Centre, 9am-5pm. 

Printing SA represent the interests of the printing, packaging, branding, creative design, marketing and communications industries. They ensure the industry is sustainable and that all stakeholders and, in particular, its members prosper.

Visitors will have the opportunity to speak to representatives to find out about their member benefits, such as: human resources consultancy services; industrial relations consultancy services; B-BBEE advisory and consultancy services; commercial, technical and legal expertise; industry representation and training.

With the Members’ Portal, Printing SA members now have exclusive access to a host of great online tools from industry research, tenders, RFP’s/Q’s, marketing material, templates and so much more.

FESPA Africa and Sign Africa Expo, taking place from 11-13 September 2024 at Gallagher Convention Centre from 9am-5pm, is sponsored by Stixo and Roland. Entrance is free, please register online.

LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR  PRINTING SA Tel: +27 11 287 1160 Email: info@printingsa.org Website: http://www.printingsa.org

According to Lachlan Ross, Marketing Manager, Mandoe Media and writing for Digital Signage Today, in a digital signage world crowded with brands, making a display stand out is crucial and crafting impactful content is the key.

Here Are The Top Five Ways You Can Create Engaging Content For Your Digital Signage:

1. Use Video Graphics For Your Digital Display

If you really want to capture attention, add a little video to your digital display. Motion is something humans are drawn to. If there’s a digital slideshow or video in the vicinity, shoppers are going to engage with it. So why not use this chance to really tell a story?

With high-quality, targeted video content, you give your business the best chance at attracting the eye of potential customers and letting them know what your brand is really all about. And, if you have the ability, shooting your own content is an even deeper way of building a connection with your loyal customers. With short, sharp videos and moving graphics, you’ll keep your playlists fresh and interesting, something customers simply can’t ignore.

2. Promote Customer Success Stories On Your Digital Display

A little social proof goes a long way when it comes to building trust with your customers. By including past success stories, potential customers can get a good glimpse of what you do and how well you’ve been doing it for others just like them. And if you decide to include photos or videos of your products or services in action, you can strengthen your brand credibility and attract more customers who feel confident in what you can do.

3. Use Social Media Widgets On Your Digital Display

A step in the direction towards interactive digital signage, social media is now playing a huge part in getting the public involved with your brand’s content. Using social media widgets, you can quickly upload a YouTube clip, Instagram feed or Twitter review for all of your customers to see.

Got a happy customer who loves their new shoes? A group of friends who’ve enjoyed their Friday night meal? Get them to take a photo, tag your business on your platform of choice, and share it on your digital signage displays for everybody to see – it’s that simple.

4. Use High-Quality Images

Using the best quality images that you can find is key to making your digital display pop. It gives you the best possible chance of leaving a lasting professional impression. If you have the means, bringing in a professional photographer to snap some unique, branded imagery will definitely make you stand out from the crowd. If you don’t have access to a photographer, there’s a universe of high-quality stock photos available online. You can also check if your digital signage software provider offers a built-in image solution.

5. Rotate And Schedule Fresh Content

To keep your audience truly engaged, updating your content on a regular basis is the way to go. With a consistent rotation of news, specials, social media feeds and all the other awesome happenings in your store, your customers will never feel left out or fall behind with what’s going on with your business.

This article appears in Digital Signage Today.

Somesh Adukia, Managing Director, Canon Central and North Africa, outlines the opportunities for print service providers (PSPs) in the booming African print decor market.

In recent years, Africa’s interior decor industry has witnessed a remarkable surge in the demand for printed decor solutions, a trend that shows no signs of slowing down. With the African printing industry projected to reach a staggering value of US$235.3 million by the end of 2031, the timing couldn’t be better.

The market remains vibrant and promising, offering lucrative growth prospects for PSPs across various sectors of interior decor, including wallcoverings, fine art prints, and applications in both residential and commercial settings. According to Big Picture Magazine and Keypoint Intelligence’s 2022 ‘Application and Utilisation Survey’, interior decor and wall coverings were among the top five most profitable applications for PSPs in the current market landscape.

This flourishing trend is driven by a confluence of factors tailored to meet evolving consumer habits in Africa. The surge in e-commerce popularity has compelled global retailers to focus on delivering seamless online and in-store shopping experiences. Simultaneously, the importance of enhancing the aesthetic appeal of retail spaces and creating immersive customer experiences has soared. From wayfinding and point-of-sale solutions to floor and display graphics, retail decor is evolving rapidly. Brands are increasingly employing colourful signage and banners to support seasonal celebrations and events, aiming to draw customers back into physical stores.

The rise of pop-up shops and markets presents new opportunities for PSPs to provide turnkey print-based solutions that empower small businesses to create a captivating brand identity and engage in effective guerrilla marketing strategies.

With such a plethora of vibrant printed decor applications available and the market projecting continued growth, it’s a great time for print businesses to dive into this expanding market and show customers just how effective print can be.

Printed Decor In Hospitality And Workplaces

Printed decor plays a pivotal role in the hospitality sector, contributing to branding, ambiance creation, and enhancing the overall guest experience. A similar trend extends to the workplace, where employers are increasingly turning to digitally printed decor elements to create more attractive and inspiring environments for their employees. This strategy is designed to entice staff back into the office, marking one of several approaches taken by organisations to adapt to evolving work dynamics.

Africa’s Dynamic Print Decor Market

However, thriving in the African printed decor market demands adaptability. The market is dynamic, and characterised by ever-changing design and fashion trends, meaning that décor service providers must remain agile, responsive and adaptable to remain competitive.

Moreover, adopting a consultative mindset is critical for PSPs. They must proactively engage with prospective customers, presenting them with creative solutions and showcasing the myriad of available options. This involves inspiring clients with achievable ideas on how to refresh their spaces and explaining the practical and cost advantages of print-on-demand over traditional decorating and renovation methods.

PSPs can further inspire clients by going beyond printing customer designs and providing them with creative interior décor content ideas. This collaborative approach opens up opportunities for partner artists, photographers and designers to showcase their work through an expanded network of online marketplaces.

The New World Of AI In Design

The emergence of generative AI presents an exciting opportunity for PSPs to create and inspire by bringing new visual concepts to life. Whether starting from scratch or updating previous images and concepts, generative AI can facilitate innovative design processes with relative ease.

With an array of vibrant printed decor applications available and the market poised for continued growth, this is an opportune moment for print businesses in Africa to immerse themselves in this expanding market and demonstrate to customers the remarkable effectiveness of print in transforming living and working spaces.

CANON
https://www.canon-cna.com

Beith Cape Town launched its T3 Frame Systems, a modular framework system, at the FESPA Africa and Sign Africa Expo, which ran from 13-15 September at Gallagher Convention Centre.

The T3 Frame features a patented, modular twist lock assembly method, developed to be one of the most versatile and innovative solutions in the creation of display units.

From dynamic and engaging exhibition environments to point of sale units and conference sets, T3 Frame can be used to fulfil every need. A wide range of accessories and varied extrusions allows for innovative and versatile display solutions. Beith’s stand at the exhibition was built out of the T3 System.

The event was sponsored by Platinum sponsors Roland DG South Africa and Stixo Signage Supplies.

BEITH
+27 21 534 0910
www.beith.co.za

Graphix Supply World (GSW), the exclusive Mimaki distributor for Africa, reported numerous sales of the TxF150-75 during the FESPA Africa and Sign Africa Expo, which ran from 13-15 September at Gallagher Convention Centre.

Mimaki’s new TxF Series, including the TxF150-75 and TxF300-75 models, are Mimaki’s first DTF printers. Packed with Mimaki technology, they have been designed to overcome the common ink ejection and ink sedimentation issues of current DTF printers in the market.

Using genuine Mimaki heat transfer pigment ink, which acquired ECO PASSPORT certification, it assures skin friendly printing at the highest image quality. This unique combination ensures a highly reliable and stable DTF print workflow.

While both printers in the series offer the same superior Mimaki technology, the TxF300-75, with two staggered printheads, delivers new levels of productivity with speeds up to three times faster than the TxF150-75 (one printhead), helping to expand opportunities in the market.

Mimaki’s TxF300-75 DTF printer.

Those interested in viewing a demonstration of the TxF150-75 can contact Graphix Supply World directly.

Rob Franco, Managing Director at GSW said, ‘With more than ten units sold already, GSW recommends you urgently place your orders for this unique DTF system, as it is the only one in the world that works with minimal servicing, and the degassed inks prevent head blockages.’

LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR  Graphix Supply World Tel: 27 21 511 5340 Email: marketing@gsw.co.za Website: http://www.gsw.co.za

Midcomp showcased Canon’s new Colorado M-series at the FESPA Africa and Sign Africa Expo, which ran from 13-15 September at Gallagher Convention Centre.

The new Colorado M-series is a modular 1.6m roll-to-roll printer with two speed configurations that also features Canon UVgel white ink, boosting the printer’s unmatched productivity and substantially expanding the range of applications that customers can create.

Retaining Colorado’s industrial build quality, the new M-series design is based on a single platform that can be configured to customers’ needs and grow with their business, with easy in-field upgrades. The scalable series includes two base models (M3 and M5) offering a choice of output speeds – cruising speed of 29sqm/hr (312 square feet/hr) and 40sqm/hr (427 square feet/hr) and a maximum print speed of 111sqm/hr (1195 square feet/hr) and 159sqm/hr (1709 square feet/hr) respectively, with the option to upgrade from one model to the other. Both printers can be easily upgraded to ‘W’ versions for white ink (M3W and M5W).

UVgel Ink

The introduction of a white UVgel ink maximises the scope for customers to benefit from UVgel’s renowned performance advantages for a full spectrum of premium graphics and décor applications – for example window graphics, labels and wallpaper. With this addition, and with new media detection sensor technology for easy media handling, Colorado M-series customers can expand their typical product offering using heavy structured, transparent, coloured, reflective and magnetic materials.

The unique gel formula of Canon UVgel ink translates to fast build-up of dense and opaque white images in fewer passes than with conventional printing technologies, and printed output maintains its original whiteness over time. UVgel’s particular properties also eliminate many of the production, nozzle-cleaning and maintenance issues commonly associated with white ink, offering smooth, error-free printing, minimising ink usage and waste, and maximising productivity.

Customers can also choose the popular FLXfinish+ option with their Colorado M-series printer, allowing them to add matt, gloss or mixed matt and gloss on the same print, without additional varnish. High-volume customers can automate the print-to-finish process with a UVgel Print Factory or UVgel Wallpaper Factory configuration, which seamlessly integrates the Colorado M-series printer with cutting, rewinding, taping or sheet stacking to manage volumes of at least 50,000sqm (500,000 square feet) per year with minimal operator time.

Canon UVgel ink delivers pin-sharp image quality and consistent colour, while its instant drying properties enable immediate cutting and finishing, and its ultra durability removes the need for lamination. Like previous Colorado models, the M-series is designed to handle the workload of multiple legacy roll-to-roll printers, with industrial-grade round-the-clock reliability and unattended printing with minimal operator intervention. The new M-series Colorado printers are supported by PRISMAguide XL, the easy and powerful make-ready software which results in effortless production runs with consistently high quality.

Compared to other ink technologies such as latex or eco-solvent inks, UVgel technology consumes up to 40% less ink to build up the same image quality and colour intensity. The low-heat, energy-efficient LED curing system and ‘instant-on’ operation results in reduced energy use compared to other technologies. Furthermore, with UVgel technology, customers can print on environmentally responsible materials such as PVC-free and paper-based media, even uncoated. This means the Colorado M-series printer fits perfectly in a sustainability-conscious organisation.

The Colorado M-series is designed with low total cost of ownership and rapid return on investment in mind, thanks to the lowest operating costs in its category, the ability to produce high-value applications, and the unique modular upgrade options.

Suitable For A Wide Range Of Print And Signage Businesses

The Colorado M-Series is aimed at print service providers (PSPs), such as sign makers, who already have large format print businesses, or those who see an opportunity for large format, roll-to-roll applications. With the Colorado M-series, they can expand their in-house graphic arts production capabilities, increase their efficiency or explore new business. Because the Colorado M-series can be upgraded in the field, it can scale up with them as their business grows. The Colorado M-series offers an extended application range through its breakthrough white ink and even more versatile media range (structured, black backed, reflective, transparent and coloured media).

The printer is also ideal for producers of wallpaper, packaging, and other specialised high-volume items. Print companies like these are dedicated to specific applications that are produced in very high volumes. The cost efficiency and productivity of the Colorado M-series are important factors in the purchasing decision, along with the unique high quality that UVgel brings in terms of print robustness, colour consistency and dimensional stability of the printed products.

With the M-series, Canon are offering an extended application range because of the white ink and broader specialty media range that can be handled. For very high volume users, they are offering the UVgel Print Factory that allows reliable handling of jumbo rolls.

Mass customisation is here to stay and typically leads to the production of larger batches of similar products, where each product is tailored to the end-user’s needs. This type of production, enabled by digital printing, is often done at large scale in central print factories, which could even be part of larger corporations with multiple regional production locations. Print factories can easily produce volumes of more than 1,000,000sqm per year. With the white ink option and expanded media range capabilities of the M-series, these print factories can now produce applications, such as window graphics, much more efficiently than with their existing equipment.

New Sensor Technology

The new sensors, in combination with new markers, (for structured and white ink-based) extend the wide media range of the Colorado M-series even further. Challenging media, such as fully transparent, reflective, coloured or black back media, are now also supported. This enables products such as window graphics, structured and shiny wallpaper, fleet graphics, transparent decals, magnetic applications for example in retail environments, multi-layer applications (like 5-layer), pre-coloured media types, and block-out films with black backings.

The unit is up and running in Midcomp’s iHub and it is ready for sample testing and demonstrations on request online nationwide or onsite at the iHub.

The event was sponsored by Platinum sponsors Roland DG South Africa and Stixo Signage Supplies.

Yusrie Adams, Adnaan Abrahams and Gary Stockenstroom, Canon South Africa.

LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR  MIDCOMP Tel: +27 11 789 1222 Email: sales@midcomp.co.za Website: http://www.midcomp.co.za