boards along with numerous other indoor and outdoor uses.” When it comes to working with these substrates, Conway stresses that it's important to choose the right material for each individual use case. “With any foam-based products some expansion can occur in heated conditions and direct sunlight, causing the product to warp if there is no room for expansion such as when in a frame,” says Conway. “Of course, for many of our customers one of the advantages of working with Venture Banners is that they have access to lightweight fluted board, and aluminium composite material (ACM) boards,” says Scott Conway, director and co-founder of Venture Banners. “These are all printed direct-to-substrate with UV inks, can be printed as singlesided or double-sided, and are extremely durable,” Conway adds. When it comes to the popularity of board materials, Conway points to the durability of these products and their adaptability for long-term installations and regular reuse. While the packaging sector has turned to paper-based products in order to avoid unrecyclable plastics, the signage industry has worked with numerous recyclable materials for a significant amount of time. Conway explains: “ACM Board is fully recyclable in the UK. The aluminium composite panels are separated from the core material and can then be shredded and smelted for use in new aluminium products, while the polyethylene core material can be granulated and reused in other polyethylene products.” Conway also points to PVC foamboard as a solid and strong yet lightweight option, which continues to be popular due to its M1/B1 fire-ratings, which makes it compliant with UK and European fire safety standards. Another option used by Venture Banners is fluted board, with Conway adding: “Fluted board is a flexible and durable, lightweight yet rigid twin-walled polypropylene with a corrugated centre and is commonly used for estate agency a wider range of substrates than they might if trying to stock the materials in-house. As a result, they can combine their customer knowledge and our expertise to ensure that every printed board is the right one for the job.” From Packaging to POS One of the big drivers of the embracing of fibre-based materials has been packaging, due to the increased use of materials that can be recycled by consumers at home. A company that would have seen the use of these solutions in both packaging and display products, would be PACFORT, a specialist manufacturer of engineered paper products which it says are great alternatives to wood, plastics, and foams. Marie Lunt, who works in business development and growth at PACFORT, says her recent appointment at the company has meant helping introduce the brand to the UK market. “Our offering provides the signage industry with a fully recyclable, durable, and printable cardboard panel that meets both sustainability and performance needs,” says Lunt. When it comes to the products PACFORT offers in this space, Lunt says the business offers two products specifically for the large-format and display industries. “The first product is Hexblanc, a versatile honeycomb core product available in various sizes to meet the unique needs of our clients. “The second option is our patented Ahblanc product, which features a durable NDC core that provides exceptional strength and longevity, making it ideal for more permanent structures. Each product boasts its own distinct advantages.” Lunt also says that PACFORT is in the process of developing a premium product for sign50 www.signlink.co.uk Issue 258 - April / May 2025 ▲ [L to R] Scott Conway, and Wayne Bodimeade, directors and founders of Venture Banners ◄ PACFORT is based in Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, and Warrington in the UK LARGE-FORMAT BOARD
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