banner-printing

Banner printing services remain relevant today despite the emergence of Internet marketing and other newer promotional strategies. However, it would be unwise for business owners to stop their traditional advertising projects and just focus on the latest marketing methods. Hoisting a banner is still one of the easiest ways to promote products and services. Banners have come a long way from being made of cloth and hand painted. Vinyl is now the medium of choice for banner printing companies, who are also armed with the latest in printing technology. These technological advancements have made banner printing projects faster and more cost-effective.

The Environmental Impact of Printing

The printing industry employs more people in the United States but it is also among the industries that contribute heavily to pollution. According to University of Illinois design professor Eric Benson, “the printing industry is the single largest air polluter and the third-largest consumer of fossil fuels in the world after automobiles and steel manufacturing. On a typical day, [printers] use trillions of gallons of water that must be treated for its toxic chemical content and released back into our waterways.”

Different types of inks are used to cater to many printing processes and desired finished products. Inks have four main components: varnish, solvent, colorant, and additives. Varnish preparation is the greatest source of odorous emissions. Solvents used in the printing industry produce the fifth highest emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) among 18 industrial sectors studied by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). VOCs contribute to smog, irritate your eyes, lungs, skin, and throat, and are associated with birth defects, cancer, cancer, and neurological damage. Colorants may contain heavy metals that could cause serious health issues to humans and wildlife. Additives often comprise less than 10 percent of the ink but can still contribute to pollution.

Eco-friendly Technology for Banner Printing and Other Advertising Needs

Recognizing the need to help minimize the environmental impact of printing, Los Angeles-based large format printing company Arete Digital Imaging (ADI) recently switched to revolutionary latex printers, which use ecologically-friendly inks that do not compromise printing performance and quality. The acquisition of this green technology allows ADI to continue delivering quality products while reducing health and safety concerns during production, handling, transport, and application.

Aqueous-dispersed polymer or latex inks are water-based, odorless, ozone-friendly, non-flammable, non-toxic, free from biocides or hazardous air particles, and have very low VOC levels. The display permanence and print durability provided by latex inks are comparable to eco-solvent and low-solvent inks. Latex inks are also more cost effective to produce, making them ideal for banners, transit signage, and other indoor and outdoor applications.