When it comes to the range of work on offer, it does not come much wider than wall and floor graphics. From transforming the inside of a restaurant or shop, to creating signs to directing consumers to a certain point, this type of work comes in many wonderful shapes and sizes. Cast your minds back to the pandemic for a moment and we are drawn to images of waiting in queues outside of supermarkets and following one-way systems up and down the aisles. Floor graphics made this possible, while wall graphics reminded us to keep our distance. Thankfully, those days are now long behind us, but the opportunities for winning new work related to wall and floor graphics most definitely remain. With that in mind, we speak with a number of suppliers to pinpoint some of the key areas sign-makers and wide-format printers should look to target. Growing Demand First up to offer advice is Antalis. Mike Collins, visual communication product manager, says Antalis’ biggest self-adhesive vinyl application demand at present is for wall graphics, with this area showing no signs of slowing down. “It’s an ever-popular medium for display and signage but we also find it the most problematic, with different surfaces and paint types to take into consideration and many different types of adhesives to contemplate,” Collins says. “Demand for floor graphics peaked during the pandemic for informational and safety signage, however, we have seen the demand gradually return as retailers have realised the benefit of their under-utilised floorspace.” When it comes to selecting the type of material to work with, Collins says that sign-makers should look at the application first. “Inspect the surface to adhere to, determine the expected lifespan considering its location and whether it’s an interior or exterior application, then speak to a specialist to match the requirements,” Collins says. “At Antalis we recommend you prepare, clean, and possibly coat the surface with a PVA to ensure maximum compatibility. Take into account abrasion and footfall when thinking about longevity and safety standards for liability and remember it’s often best to slightly over-spec the job MAKING AN IMPACT One of the widest-reaching markets in the signage industry, we take a closer look at the floor and wall graphics sector to analyse some of the key growth areas within this expansive sector BACK TO BASICS / FLOOR AND WALL GRAPHICS 67 Issue 248 - August / September 2023 email: news@signlink.co.uk ◄ Drytac Polar Grip is a polymeric self-adhesive PVC film with up to five years of indoor or outdoor durability
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