Tips for Fabrication and Installing Hanging Banners
Sunday, August 1, 2010
KEY TO SUCCESS
Company: Southern Tailors
Key to success: Fabricate a banner or flag for your own application and witness how the material or product does under real-world conditions before selling it to your customers.
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For this banner, Southern Tailors had to be sure the size was exact before installation. No size adjustments were possible because of the poles’ rigidity. Photo courtesy of Southern Tailors, Atlanta.
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CHOOSING YOUR SUBSTRATE
Before picking a substrate manufacturer, first test the material as your own application, suggests Neal Zucker, president of Southern Tailors, a flag and banner manufacturer in Atlanta. For example, fabricate a flag and then hang it outside to see how it holds up in the outdoor conditions.
There are many specifications among banner substrates on the market, Zucker explains, but sometimes the material doesn’t always work as you imagine. However, with firsthand knowledge of how that product works, you can provide better solutions for clients.
“This is a very hands-on approach,” Zucker says. “It allows you to learn as you go along. You learn from the manufacturer what are the specifications. Even within a couple of weeks, I’ll start to get an indication of how that product works.”
Mesh or flag substrates are ideal for long-term outdoor applications, notes Patrick Carrig, director of sales for Orbus, an exhibit and display manufacturer in Bolingbrook, Ill. Wind easily travels through this type of porous substrate, allowing it to withstand the tough outdoor elements.
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A large, striking image makes for the most effective design. Photo courtesy of Southern Tailors, Atlanta.
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“Outdoor scrim vinyl is what we see for a lot of the outdoor jobs,” Carrig observes. “Most of the outdoor signage we see is only going to go up for a few days to a month. It’s not permanent and can face the elements for a short period of time.”
Dye-sublimated fabric is a common substrate for indoor applications, Carrig says. Often, indoor banners, such as trade show displays, encompass large aluminum frames. Fabric snuggly stretches around these frames for a clean, smooth look. Specifically, Zucker suggests using poplin fabric for banners because of its finish and strength.
“Poplin fabric is really good for banners because photography doesn’t include hot spots from the sheen,” Zucker says. “It has a matte finish, it’s reasonably wrinkle resistant, and it’s durable.”
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Before installing a hanging banner, research the building and city ordinances. The local fire marshal is a knowledgeable resource. Photo courtesy of Orbus, Boilingbrook, Ill.
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When creating hanging banners, there are a few design tips to keep in mind. Hanging banners are popular applications because they have a large presence, cover a wide area and command attention, Zucker says. Considering these factors, the design should focus on striking graphics, rather than other design elements, for the most effective impression.
“You want to focus on something that’s large and has a total effect,” Zucker explains. “You want an image that will create the setting.”
Before printing the banner, try to leave extra material outside of the graphic, suggests Scott Freeman, president of Hang Ups Unlimited, a hanging display company in Santa Monica, Calif. During the installation, the banner substrate is attached to a hardware system. If not enough material is allotted, the graphic could be covered by the frame. An inch of material is typically sufficient.
Often, large hanging banners are constructed in tiles, which can be horizontally or vertically attached, Zucker says. Though you have to determine which direction is better with the design, Zucker finds horizontal tiles tend to work better for hanging banners.
“A lot of times we’ll do horizontal tiles, rather than vertical tiles,” Zucker says. “Horizontal works better because you have the weight of the fabric being distributed horizontally, instead of vertically.”
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Hanging banners are ideal for busy areas because they are above the crowd. Photo courtesy of Southern Tailors, Atlanta.
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Before attaching the hanging banner to the ceiling, check with the local fire marshal to ensure the structure is compliant with all building ordinances, Freeman advises. When dealing with such great a height and large aluminum structure, there could be city or building limitations to consider during the engineering process.
When speaking with the fire marshal, also ask about fire retardant standards for the substrate, Zucker says. Fire marshals commonly ask for documentation on-site, and it’s your responsibility to investigate the requirements. Otherwise, you are left with an unhappy client.
“For a trade show exhibitor, the worst thing in the world is if the fire marshal asks for their fire retardant certificate, and they say they didn’t know it was needed,” Zucker explains. “You must always make a point to find out ahead of time.”
Many hanging banners are installed by separate setup crews, especially at trade shows or conferences. With time being an issue during these events, Carrig recommends providing the setup crew with a hanging banner system that comes with the pick points, which display how the unit should attach to the ceiling and increases installation efficiency.
“Because you have the pick points ahead of time, you can get all the rigging ready before the structure even shows up,” Carrig says. “In this industry, everything is last minute, so having all the information upfront is important to have a successful trade show or event.”
Over the years, the framing systems have seen much improvement, which allows for safer, more affordable installation solutions, Freeman says. In the past, installers used ladders to change the banners, but there are now systems that operate on cables or electronic components. No ladders are needed, and there is minimal risk for the installer.
This is particularly helpful when attaching a banner to a tall ceiling, Freeman adds, because a cherry-picker truck must be used, which significantly inflates the price. But with an automated installation system, the banners can be changed without an added cost—and that can mean more business for you.
“People can change signs out more often because of the lower cost,” Freeman explains. “When that’s a possibility, they’re more likely to buy more signs from you.”
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Photo courtesy of Southern Tailors, Atlanta.
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Hanging banners have become readily available over the years, but that wasn’t always the case, Carrig points out. Some of today’s banner manufacturers keep the most popular shapes, such as circles, triangle and rectangles, in stock and can have the fabricated unit shipped in five days. In the past, it was common for shipping to take nearly 20 days.
Of course, as hanging banners are becoming more available, the price has also become more appealing. With wider availability and greater affordability, each factor contributes to continued growth in the future, Carrig notes.
“I think the availability and the prices of hanging banners have come to a point where more people can do them and offer them to their customers,” Carrig says. “Even at the last few trade shows, I noticed more exhibitors were using large hanging banners, and I expect that to continue.”
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