SGIA Journal Graphic November/December 2016 - 51

producing soft signage graphics at record
speeds. Other exhibitors were displaying
how quickly their machines could finish
a garment, or highlighting the newest
techniques in dye sublimation. Vendors
were working to make deals and close
out 2016 as another record year. The
show floor was buzzing with interest and
activity. Nevertheless, a few key trends
emerged as we concluded our exploration
of the show. These include:
1. The key workflow takeaway is that
all printers in this space, regardless
of size, should be evaluating their
current solutions for accepting,
onboarding, and tracking jobs,
as well as evaluating the ROI on
these jobs.
2. Automation is just beginning, as
the market shifts from low yield to
higher yield manufacturing-driven
applications. This will continue to
expand, as convergence of different
digital applications reach across
once separate market segments.
3. Prototyping and proofing
applications were the introduction
points to manufacturing. That
said, the market accepts digital
image qualities - so ramping
up production is the next logical
transition.
4. Once separate markets: textile
printing, décor, and packaging
design are now being offered by
multiple media decorators and
design-driven industrial printing
companies.
The Wide Format Market is Growing

According to InfoTrends' most recent
forecast data, the wide format printing
market is experiencing healthy growth. The
growth in latex, UV, aqueous single-pass,
and sublimation volumes is expected to
more than offset the decline in solvent and
conventional aqueous graphics volumes.
Digital printing technologies continue to
exhibit strong growth, due to the discovery
of new markets and the development of new
business areas. InfoTrends believes that the
diversity of the sign and graphics industry
will keep it on an upward growth trajectory.
Total print volumes for wide format
production graphics in North America are
expected to rise, from about 458 million
square meters (over 4.9 billion square feet)
in 2016, to nearly 751 million square meters
(almost 8.1 billion square feet) by 2020.
InfoTrends predicts solid growth and
movement within a number of sectors
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in the wide format industry, due to the
many different ink types that are available.
Despite the strong growth that is occurring
in the market, there is still a great deal of
untapped potential in the wide format
market. Businesses that can leverage this
opportunity will be well-positioned for
future success.
Product of the Year Awards

For about ten years now, SGIA has been
conducting its Product of The Year Awards.
This allows various manufacturers to
compete against one another in a number
of categories. The selection of winners is
based largely on print quality. The vendors
that participate in this competition usually
go to great lengths to create a stellar image
of an SGIA test chart that will show
off their capabilities. Industry vendors
take great pride in winning these awards,
and will often prominently feature their
offerings as "Product of the Year" winners.
Supporting the Leaders of the
Digital and Screen Printing
Communities

The term "specialty imaging" encompasses
digital imaging, screen printing, and a
number of other imaging technologies.
Imaging processes and technologies that
are employed to create new products and
enhance existing ones include point-ofpurchase displays, printed electronics,
membrane switches, signs, advertisements,
garments, industrial textiles, décor,
packaging containers, and vehicles wraps/
enhancements.
The Widening World of Workflow
at SGIA

Exactly 20 of the exhibiting companies
identified themselves as purveyors of
web-to-print software, and many of
these vendors listed themselves in the
production workflow, color management,
prepress, and RIP categories. Savvy visitors
were attending demonstrations, asking
questions, and walking away from the
booths with lots of notes and brochures.
All of the major hardware players had
software solutions, especially when it
came to web-to-print and production
ma na gement. Ma ny of t hem had
established partnerships to bring their
customers an integrated solution. Firms
like Caldera, EFI, Ergosoft, Esko, Media
One Digital Imaging Solutions, ONYX,
and Tucanna enjoyed healthy foot traffic
in their booths as the event progressed.
Judging by the crowds in these booths,
the key workf low takeaway is that all
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November/December 2016 | 49
SGIA Journal Graphic November/December 2016

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