Floor Graphics: A Pandemic Print Story
2020 has certainly brought its challenges but it has also brought about new opportunities within the print industry, especially within the sign and graphics sector. Signage explaining new guidelines and directions as well as protective screens have ensured that parts of the print industry were able to continue functioning in spite of the pandemic.
Following the national lockdown in March, many print providers were quick to produce and install this much needed signage, including those used to aid social distancing in the form of floor graphics. Floor signage marking 2m distances in public areas have become ubiquitous with the pandemic by allowing us to queue, shop and exercise safely. This explosion in the use of floor graphics allows safety information to be quickly and effectively communicated. We have become accustomed in only a few months to looking down at the floor to ensure we are following safety guidelines correctly, something that would be unheard of at the start of the year.
A solvent printer with ether integrated cutter or stand alone plotter plus the correct floor graphic media can produce floor graphics easily. A print provider does not need to invest in specialist equipment but can easily diversify using their solvent or UV roll to roll printer. A vinyl specifically for floor graphics must be used or a suitable flooring laminate to ensure a non slip surface safe for foot traffic.
Throughout the pandemic, YPS have supplied 1 part floor vinyl in the form of Floor Shark. 1 part vinyl can be more productive for business in reducing workflow demand due to its print and cut nature. However, 2 part media and laminate in a variety of R ratings was also available to help meet customer demand for those working with large retail stores and the NHS.
At Your Print Specialists, we have seen an increase in sales of floor graphic media from both Drytac and Metamark. YPS Consumables Specialist Lauren Parker explains,
"We have seen a huge increase in the interest of floor vinyls and laminates since just before the announcement of the first lockdown. We kept an amount in stock here at YPS, but not enough to keep up with the growing demand through the start of the pandemic. We were able to supply many customers with suitable substrates for their requirements, however even the manufacturers were struggling to keep up with the growing demand for these types of products as production had also come to a stop in many parts of the world, making meeting the demand increasingly difficult.”
Parker continues:
We have now stocked up on both 1 part floor vinyls including the popular Floor Shark and a range of laminates with matching vinyls to meet the ongoing demand and to ensure that customers are able to continue supplying the supermarkets and retail with social distancing prints.”
This increase in growth for flooring graphics have seen new floor products being produced including new Floor PET and Antimicrobial products from Drytac to lower the risk of leaving any traces of Covid and other germs on the surfaces.
Speak to the team on 0191 256 6889 for more information on floor graphic media for your business.