A market for everyone
Levey Industries in Oakville, Ont., never used to be a printing company, but as an established provider of wallcoverings, upholstery, seating and other décor, it
too has turned to latex inkjet printing.
“Now that you can print on PVC-free films, graphics are being wrapped onto tables, benches and walls,” says Monika Lal, marketing and communications specialist for HP Canada. “The latex inks are also Greenguard-certified for indoor use, such as at hospitals and schools.”
Another non-traditional example is Formica Group, which has manufactured laminates for more than 100 years and has offices in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. Today, Formica prints patterned graphics on its high-pressure laminates, which then become the surfaces of doors, reception desks, wall panels and other décor.
“We capture granite, stone and wood patterns for a lifelike, durable surface,” Annie Fournier, regional marketing manager. “We take a digital photo of the selected slab of granite, stone or wood and process it on a laminate at actual size. This way, we can offer laminates in a wide variety of colour and pattern options for residential and commercial clients.”
Advances in design software and digital printing have made it feasible to customize short-run and even one-off wallcoverings for large spaces. Photo courtesy HP Canada
Homeowners use Formica’s printed laminates for countertops, backsplashes, cabinets and islands in kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms and mudrooms. Commercial clients use them in offices as partitions and stores as retail fixtures, among other applications.
“We partnered with well-known interior designer Jonathan Adler to launch one of our new collections,” says Fournier. “We are also seeing the desire for custom design. We can take designs, photography, logos, illustrations or paintings and create custom laminates for commercial clients. Any space can become more individual. The possibilities are really endless. If we can imagine it, we can make it.”
Fortunately, there is plenty of room in these markets for PSPs and sign companies to work with established interior décor businesses, rather than against them in heated competition.
“We network with wallcovering companies so we can offer their customers something completely different,” says Global Printing’s Toscano. “Interior designers also bring us into their client meetings. It’s been a big shift. The main challenge is educating clients about what’s possible.”
