Trade Show Floor

Educational sessions, however, aren't the only opportunity for attendees to learn. The ISA Expo trade show floor will be full of opportunities to learn about the newest industry products—and how to best fit them into your business.

Innovation Station

Something new to this year's show is the Innovation Station. According to Anderson, this is one location on the expo floor where attendees can get overviews of the latest products. "Currently we have a dozen sessions scheduled where attendees can learn how to improve on PMS spot color matching, adding garment printing, and many other innovations," said Anderson.

Innovation Station's exhibitor-sponsored education sessions will take place on Thursday and Friday, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., in booth 2992. No registration is required. The schedule included below was current as of Friday, March 16, 2012 and is subject to change. Check on-site signage for any scheduling adjustments.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

• 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.: Small Changes, Huge Gains
  Speaker: Danielle Mattiussi, Onyx Graphics

• 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.: How to Achieve Fast and Accurate PMS Spot Color Matching for Wide Format Digital Inkjet Printing
  Speaker: Mike Ruff, Nazdar Consulting Services

• 2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.: Whippin’ the $#!% Out of Graffiti
  Speaker: Mark Rugen, Neschen Americas

• 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.: A SaaS Solution Customer Success Story
  Speaker: Roy Cox, KeyedIn Solutions Developers of DataSign

• 4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.: New Trends in Creative Signage Design
  Speaker: Jessica Heldman-Beck, ClearPath Signage Systems, a Division of Rowmark LLC.

Friday, March 23, 2012

• 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.: Small Changes, Huge Gains
  Speaker: Danielle Mattiussi, Onyx Graphics

• 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.: How to Increase Revenue by Adding Digital Inkjet Direct to Garment Textile Printing to Your Wide Format or Sign Making Business
  Speaker: Glenn Shull, Nazdar SourceOne

• 1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.: Protect Your Rear with Stone Guard
  Speaker: Joe Altman, Oracal USA

• 2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.: Removable Window Graphics: Stuck on Profit
  Speaker: Mark Rugen, Neschen Americas

• 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.: What is Induction Lighting and How Can It Be Used in the Signage Industry?
  Speaker: Dennis Wells, N. Glantz & Son, Inc.

• 4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.: New Trends in Creative Signage Design
  Speaker: Jessica Heldman-Beck, ClearPath Signage Systems, a Division of Rowmark LLC.

New Products

But what about new products? Is there going to be anything new on the show floor? What should I not miss?

According to Tim Greene, director of wide-format, InfoTrends, it's all about the wide-format digital printing hardware. "For me, those announcements and introductions tend to kind of steal the show. I think the buzz on the hardware side will be about three different technologies: Latex from Mimaki and HP; new eco-solvent technology from vendors like Epson, Seiko, Mutoh, and Roland; and new low-end UV-curable printers from multiple vendors," said Greene. "I’m really looking forward to see how attendees react to these technologies and developments once they’ve had a chance to see them for themselves."

Here are some of the highlights—and must see products—at the ISA Expo. (For more detailed information about these and other products on display, please see the ISA Sign Expo Preview Article "The Signs All Point to Orlando" in the March 2012 issue of Wide-Format Imaging.)

Also this year, attendees will be able to choose the best new product and the best green/sustainable product at the show this year. Competing products will be listed in the show program, with more detailed information on voting is available onsite.

Hardware