Issue link: https://nbm.uberflip.com/i/1451373
T he pandemic hit many industries very hard, but f latbed printing managed to hold its own, in large part because of all the new markets that opened up in response to COVID-19, including pandemic and ADA signage, oor graphics, and face shields. HIGH DEMAND "Demand for UV printers has been in- credibly strong," says Jay Roberts, Roland DGA's product manager, UV printers. "At rst, the sheer amount of pandemic signage needed was driving demand. e ease and speed of printing directly on rigid substrates when compared with printing, laminat- ing, and mounting other printers' output made UV printers very attractive. Many customers sought out UV print capabil- ity to keep up with the massive demand for signage from local, state, and federal government oces, as well as from grocery stores, medical centers, and other essential facilities." Demand was so high that Mi- maki sold out of its larger atbeds. Many shops were making a killing on outdoor menu boards and Lexan shields with business logos on them. A lot of print shop owners who always wanted a atbed printer but couldn't aord one used the demand for pandemic signage as an excuse to nally make the investment, says Ernie Contreras, print solutions supervisor for Mimaki. Because restaurants couldn't serve cus- tomers indoors, many opened outdoor dining areas during the pandemic. "People A Solid Base of Work FLATBED PRINTING REMAINS STRONG THROUGH PANDEMIC B Y P A U L A A V E N G L A D Y C H directly on rigid substrates when compared with printing, laminat- a killing on outdoor menu boards and Lexan shields with business logos on them. A lot of "We're also seeing demand from light industrial companies that want to customize manufactured items with a logo or other information," says StratoJet's Sohil Singh. (Image courtesy StratoJet) 4 8 G R A P H I C S P R O J U N E 2 0 2 2 G R A PH I C S - PR O.C O M S I G N A G E & P R I N T I N G