In years gone by, vehicle wrapping and graphics may have been seen as something reserved for promoting a business or brand. Fast-forward to the current day and the market is now packed with examples of work that go far beyond this, as consumers join in with the fun by overhauling the look of their own vehicles. Add in the emergence of popular industry events such as the FESPA World Wrap Masters, which celebrates the work of wrappers from around the world, and the new FESPA Wrapfest that debuted last year, and this demonstrates the thirst for more development in this area. With this in mind, we speak with a number of suppliers about demand for certain types of work and how sign-makers can capitalise on this, as well as a professional wrapper working on the frontline of the market to gain insight into what this sort of work involves. Increasing Popularity First up is Grafityp, which offers a range of solutions for use in the vehicle wrapping sector. Graham Jones, head of marketing at the company, says the vehicle wrap market keeps growing year-on-year and is becoming even more popular with new, funky colours and improved technology. “The steady rise in the market is helped by everyday people wanting their vehicles to look unique with eye-catching colours,” Jones explains, adding: “The market will continue to grow at a constant rate as more people utilise these tools.” Looking at the current market and the trends sign-makers should be aware of, Jones picks out some of the most popular products that are being put to use on vehicle décor jobs. These include matt finishes, which have been popular for a number of years now as a way of adding a new look to vehicles. New colour trends include pastels, with these being utilised in a range of innovative ways by both brands and consumers, while the demand for increased sustainability and greener services has pushed many wrappers to begin using PVC-free materials, of which there is now a wide range to choose from. Jones also notes that expansion in the sector has been supported by advancements in terms of adhesive technology, which he says has come a long way in recent years as a result of the ongoing development by manufacturers and suppliers. Stand-out features such as air escape and repositionable adhesives are now widely available on products, which Jones says allows for faster and easier installations when it comes to vehicle wraps. With this in mind, Jones goes on to RACING AHEAD Amongst the most exciting and fast-paced areas of the sign industry, we analyse the vehicle wrapping market and pick out some of the latest and most important trends from this sector Grafityp offers a wide range of vehicle wrapping materials ► MARKET TRENDS / VEHICLE WRAPPING 58 www.signlink.co.uk Issue 248 - August / September 2023
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