21 www.signlink.co.uk Issue 267 - October | November 2026 2026 REVIEW ▼ The Sign Show took place from September 29th to October 1st at the NEC in Birmingham Meanwhile, The Knowledge Zone speaker area covered some of the most important topics, not just for the sign and print industries, but for other markets. Experts from the fields of AI, cybersecurity, and sustainability were in attendance, while organisers have confirmed that the programme next year will also host several signage-specific sessions. As for the show’s three new features, the PPF Knowledge Hub showcased the fastgrowing paint protection film (PPF) sector and the commercial opportunities it presents to those in the vehicle graphics sector. Avery Dennison, All Print Supplies (APS), and SPACE Architectural Interior Films carried out demonstrations on a Mercedes CLA and Aston Martin DBS, which certainly caught the eye of visitors and exhibitors alike. The Latest Kit Looking now to some of the technology highlights from the show and there was plenty for visitors to get their teeth into. While most of the latest innovations came from the world of wide- and large-format print, this was highly relevant to many in the signage market, with a large portion providing this as part of their service offering. We will be back in 2027 with plans to grow the event with more exhibitors and special features – watch this space Pro Hybrid, the GZ Thunderjet AQ1084s, a brand-new GZ1602 eco-solvent machine, the Sinocolor FB0906s with camera, the Dlican Rotary and 3325 flatbed, the Hapond double-sided printer, and the Kartech GK1625 and GK2530 cutters. “This reflected the demand we’ve been seeing from customers; the larger stand gave us the space to demonstrate machines properly rather than just having them on display,” Clutton said, adding: “The Print and Sign Shows have become the best chance for UK businesses to see and compare the latest technology.” Making Waves As for actual signage, there were all manner of innovations to explore at the show. Stand-out booths included Signwaves, a specialist trade supplier to the sign industry, which had a large presence at the centre of The Sign Show. The company took more than 50 products to the show in an effort to capture interest from a wide range of visitors. Among the products on display were staple signage materials such as the Ecoflex range, Swinger range, and feather flags. On top of all this, Signwaves challenged visitors to its stand to construct one of its Ecoflex 2 signs in the fastest time possible – with the lucky winner taking away a voucher for £100 store credit with Signwaves. Signage materials were also represented with several suppliers and manufacturers making an appearance. One such company was Soyang Europe, which was located near the front of the hall and, in addition to showcasing three, large-format print products from the Platinum Technologies LIYU range, invited attendees to learn about its wide range of material solutions. Soyang’s portfolio includes various PVC and PVC-free materials, textiles, self-adhesive vinyls, wallcoverings, backlit media, and banner products, with options covering everything from short-term promotional campaigns to longer-term installations. Roland DG encouraged visitors to ‘Make Your Mark’, displaying five products on its stand at the show. These included the newly launched TrueVis VG4-640, which Roland DG says has been designed for premium sign and graphics production. Featuring integrated contour cutting, advanced automation, and smarter workflow features, it supports efficient everyday print-and-cut production. Also new was the TrueVis MG2-300, which combines high-definition UV printing with vivid colour and advanced special effects for creative scope across applications such as window graphics and distinctive signage. “Bringing five of our latest product launches together at the show gives visitors a fantastic opportunity to see just how broad the possibilities of digital print have become,” said Rob Goleniowski, regional general manager for the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia, and Baltics at Roland DG. Also representing larger-format work at the show was China Print Supplies, which displayed its widest line-up of machinery to date. Among the many impressive solutions on its stand were the GZ HB18UV The Print Show, the event co-located with The Sign Show, celebrated its tenth anniversary edition this year, drawing in exhibitors such as Agfa, swissQprint, and Fujifilm Factoid
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