Pictures of cheap banner stands almost always look the same, but there are big differences between similar looking products!

When scouring the internet searching for cheap banner stands, you will, no doubt be faced with many websites selling banner stands that almost always look the same.

The fact is, at present the UK is saturated with cheap banner stands and the demand for such low cost displays is driven by demand from clients who are trying to cut-costs by purchasing economy systems.

Firstly, we would like to point out that there is nothing wrong with buying cheap banner stands. In fact, we recommend to many clients that purchasing low cost systems is actually more economical than purchasing expensive systems and replacing graphics when the displays becomes outdated.

The problem we have is that amongst the cheap banner stands on the market today, a significant portion of these systems are not really fit for purpose at all.

Recently we discovered that budget stands from one of the largest resellers of display systems were badly designed, having unfinished rivets inside the casing that in-turn caused scratching of the printed graphic. Stands from another reseller were susceptible to leaning caused by the casing of the stand flexing because of the thin metal used in the construction. Another cheap banner stand from a major UK based reseller was supplied with an unpadded nylon carry bag, offering practically zero protection for the display while in transit.

Our budget banner stands are sourced direct from the manufacturers, not from a UK middle-man. Because we buy direct in volume, we can afford to source and supply higher quality stands than our competitors whilst still offering the best prices in the UK.

Our budget banner stands will not lean, topple and come supplied with quality padded bags. Our budget banner stand prints are produced onto a 600gsm fire-rated blockout material, not the lighter weight material used by our competitors.

All cheap banner stands are not the same!

While traditional pop up stands allow for gaps which can be filled with banner stands or roller banners, the display can often be left looking rather fragmented. An ingenious yet simple solution to the issue arrives in the form of the newly launched L-shaped pop up exhibition stand, which can be pushed into any standard exhibition booth corner, thus filling both sidewalls with an attractive, continuous run of exhibition graphics.

The L Shaped pop up exhibition stand is available in a choice of three standard sizes (3×3, 3×4 and 3×5) and utilizes the tried and tested Quick Fix framework to provide an exhibition stand that is not only simple, but also conveniently fast to assemble.

The solution can also be modified to fit large exhibition stand areas where the display can be extended by simply adding on extra pop up stands frameworks. This quick fit extensions allow the display to be extended to almost any size, meaning the equipment can be reused time and time again regardless of changes to floor space booked per event.

From production through to concept and design, the creative team at Printdesigns is on hand to implement unique approaches for communicating the message of the product in the most effective way. The exhibition stand specialists have also devised a smart pricing strategy featuring low-level ad costs, which means that it is able to sell its exhibition stands and all other products at the most competitive prices on the market.

Our new cafe barrier system uses a unique gripper rail to connect the printed banner to the support rails

Introducing our new range of functional and stylish high quality cafe barriers.

Available in a choice of either 1200mm or 2000mm width, our cafe barrier banners are ideal for coffee shops, restaurants and bars or for any application where an area needs to be screened-off, for example conference and trade show booths.

Cafe barriers can be custom printed onto either PVC or heavyweight fabric for a more natural appearance. The design of our cafe barrier system incorporates a neat gripper top and bottom rail that eliminates the need for stitching or welding pockets into the top and bottom of the banner itself. Not only does this improve the outward appearance of the cafe barrier, it also reduces labour costs to produce the panels!

The design of the new cafe banner is modular which means that multiple units can be linked together to create walls of almost any length. For advice on this exciting new product, please contact one of our team who will be happy to help.

The cafe barrier system can be purchased online at our webstore www.printdesigns.com along with our other range of exhibition stands such as banner stands, roller banners and pop up stands.

The Expand monitor stand allows and LED or LCD screen to be integrated into any of our Quick Fix or Express Pop Up Stands

We are frequently asked by our customers if it is possible to integrate a flat panel display monitor into one of our pop up stands.

Until now, the only way we could achieve this was to incorporate an internal aperture shelf which due to size and load bearing limitations could support only a relatively small display.

The solution has now been provided in the form of the Expand Monitor Stand. Expand are Swedish based provider of high quality portable exhibition stands and accessories.

We really like the new Expand Monitor Stand because not only will it integrate with our great value quick fix or express pop up stands, it can also be used as a stand-alone monitor display stand.

The Expand Monitor Stand is available in three height options of 122cm, 175cm and 195cm. We like the 175cm variant because it provides a natural eye-level viewing height that can also be used with our pop up displays.

The Expand Monitior Stand can easily be integrated into one of our quick fix or express pop up stands.

The Expand Monitor Stand features standard 100mm and 200mm VESA mountings and can be used to support any compatible LED or LCD screen up to 32″ in size or 15KG in weight.

Starting at under £300 and supplied with carry bags for easy transportation, we think this product will open up the AV display arena to many small companies due to the fact that it is compatible with most affordable ‘off the shelf’ flat screen displays.

For more information on this product, please just contact one of our team who will be happy to help.

Linear Exhibition Display Stands are the ideal alternative to traditional pop up display stands.

For December 2009, we have launched our new range of Linear Display Stands.

Linear Displays are the ideal alternative to traditional pop up display stands and are a better solution for creating semi-permanent displays for use in shopping centres, retail environments and exhibitions.

We have a huge range of linear display stands which utilise a substantial aluminium profiles to create a framework that is more substantial than a typical pop up stand or banner stand. Linear display stands come in a wide variety of shapes and configurations measuring up to 3M in assembled width.

For clients with AV equipment such as LCD screens, it is possible to integrate an LCD monitor onto the Linear Audio Visual Display Stand by means of a standard VESA mount bracket. In addition to the support of LCD screens, some of the Linear Display Kits can be configured to include literature holders or even small tables for displaying product.

Graphics for our Linear Display Kits are produced using a heavyweight Opal Jet polyester, printed at a resolution of 2440dpi to create a stunning, photo-quality image. Furthermore the prints are laminated with a scratch resistant, crystal finish overlaminate so as to provide greater durability.

We expect that some of the most popular Linear Display kits will include the Linear Exec Wave and Linear Exec Curved kits that feature eyecatching frosted acrylic end sections and an overhead canopy.

To discuss any of the range of Linear Exhibition Stands, feel free to call or drop us an email and one of our friendly team can contact you to discuss.

The Sightmaster Whirlwind A Board is tough and durable for outdoor use

The Whirlwind Sightmaster

The Sightmaster Whirlwind Outdoor A Board is a tough, durable and great looking outdoor poster/sign holder. The Sightmaster Whirlwind features a hollow plastic base which can be filled with either sand or water to provide great stability even in moderate wind conditions. The frame of the sign holder is mounted to the base using springs that allow the sign to flex in the wind rather than blowing over.

The Sightmaster Whirlwind also features a convenient carry handle and wheels on the opposite side. This design feature allows the sign holder to be moved around easily. For customers concerned with theft of the sign holder, it is possible to thread through a chain to the handle of the base and anchor it for security!

The Sightmaster Whirlwind A Board / Sign Holder comes complete with two scratch resistant, anti glare poster covers. Posters are installed into the frame by simply opening the edges of the frame which use a simple snap-open mechanism. We recommend the use of durable outdoor posters which we can print onto blockout PVC material using our environmentally friendly UV print process. Our printed posters will last for a minimum of 3 years outdoors without fading or running.

The Sightmaster A Board is currently available at a massively discounted price of £80 plus vat (usually £149 plus vat). We have limited stocks available which at this price, we expect to sell very fast.

If you have any questions about the Whirlwind Sightmaster Poster Holder or any of our other products, please just call on 01785 224055 or visit our website www.printdesigns.com

For anyone booking floor space at a conference centre, a Shell Scheme can usually be provided by the event organiser or is in many cases supplied as standard with the floor space when you book your stand. An exhibition shell scheme is essentially a series of aluminium uprights with rigid panels sitting in-between them. The Shell Scheme creates a wall structure around the edge of your exhibition stand area which you can attach your own posters or panels.

The problem with exhibition Shell Scheme systems is that the aluminium uprights stand proud of the wall panels. This causes problems for those who want to create a large seamless back wall display rather than having a series of posters separated by the aluminium Shell Scheme Uprights.

Shell Clad solves this problem very simply. The Shell Clad fixings are designed so that they slide into the pre-existing Shell Scheme aluminium framework in order to create a stand-off onto which rollable printed panels can be fastened. As the Shell Clad fixings enable the graphics to stand clear of the aluminium uprights, multiple panels can be produced which sit edge-to-edge thus giving the appearance of a continuous wall display.

Panels for the Shell Clad system can be produced using either rollable heavyweight material (for convenient storage and transport) or alternatively, we can print directly onto rigid PVC board. The printed display panels fix to the shell clad fixings using velcro which comes pre-applied and so you can create your Shell Clad exhibition display without the help of a stand building team in a relatively short space of time.

There are several types of Shell Scheme that are commonly used in the UK as listed below. There are two types of Shell Clad adapter available and to make selecting the correct type of fixing simple, they are colour-coded. Be sure to order the correct type of fixings for your Shell Scheme. If in doubt you should contact the event organiser to confirm the type of Shell Scheme you will be provided with.

COMPATABILITY (BLACK) – Burkhardt Leitner, Crea8, Maima M1000, Maxima, Meroform, Normex, Octanorm, Pion (no locking facility), Quad 4, R8, Syma 408 and all Octanorm derivatives

COMPATABILITY (BLUE) – Agem, Aluset, Click (with adaptor, call for details), Ford+Barley, Linx, Modul, Nimlok, Nomadic Design Line, Sodem, Syma Molto 30/90 and Unibox

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The Shell Clad Exhibition Stand Shell Scheme system is now available to buy at our website www.printdesigns.com

For any queries regarding Shell Clad, please do not hesitate to call and one of our team will be happy to help.

The overall success Twist Banners have achieved is in-part down to the unique patented design that has so far had no serious competition from other comparable portable exhibition display products.

The Twist Stand differs from the majority of stand-alone banner type displays in the respect that it can be linked together to create much larger backwall displays without unsightly gaps in-between each section. This is achieved by using a magnetic strip down the rear edge of each Twist Banner graphic over which an equivalent magnetic channel bar is placed. The principle itself is no different than that of the regular pop up stand other than the mag bar is free-floating rather than being anchored to a framework.

One of the patented features employed on Twist Banners is the tensioning system. Most roller banners are tensioned from top to bottom with a spring at the base that pulls a downward force, most non-roller banner stands are tensioned using either bendy supporting rods or a telescopic pole. Twist Banners use a fixed top rail with a perpendicular bendy rod that is pulled into an arc-shape over the rear support pole. The tensioning rod does a good job of pulling the Twist Stand graphic taught whilst allowing for a rocking motion designed to compensate for irregularities in the floor.

Twist Stands are supplied generally with soft bags and a tube bag for the storage of the graphic. There is also an optional hard, wheeled case which can accommodate two stands at the same time. The optional wheeled case for Twist Banners can also be converted into a podium by means of adding a graphic wrap-around panel and a table top lid.

Twist Banners are a great product for those customers who would like to create a larger display backwall but would like the flexibility of a display that can be broken-down into smaller, more manageable sections for future use. In fact, it is possible for two Twist Banner graphics to be hung back-to-back on one single frame in order to create a double sided Twist Stand.

Cost-wise, the Twist Stand is never going to compete with an economy or budget display for two reasons. Firstly because so far the stand has no competing products, prices from the manufacturer have remained stable whereas prices for generic roller banner displays have tumbled dramatically due to competition and lower cost imported products. Secondly, the graphics for Twist Stands have to be printed onto a heavyweight material to cope with the manual rolling/unrolling and handling which in-turn increases costs.

There have been few negative comments regarding Twist Banners from customers other than some clients do not like the exposed tensioned rod at the top of the graphic and the relative bulkiness and weight of each stand can be restrictive if larger walls are being created.

If you would like any more information about Twist Banner Stands our sales team would be happy to help. We also offer a free CAD design service whereby we can create a virtual model using Twist Stands to fill your display area!

The Polar Outdoor Banner Stand weighs around 6.6KG when the hollow plastic base is empty and a whopping 19KG when filled with 18 Litres of water, making it stable enough for use in wind speeds of up to 12MPH. For even greater stability an optional base ring is available, this ‘donut’ shaped tube can store an extra 10 Litres of water and may be positioned over the already water-filled base increasing weight by another 7KG.

We like the Polar Banner Stand because the unit can be used single or double sided (by purchasing an additional graphic print). For maximum stability the graphics for the Polar Outdoor Banner Stand are printed onto a mesh material. This is a PVC which is perforated so wind can diffuse through it rather than the print itself acting as a sail! It’s worth noting that many suppliers print these displays only using standard PVC material which is not ideal.

Polar Banner Stands do not come with any carry bags, instead the graphics are supplied in a suitable carry tube/box for transport and the framework is also supplied in suitable carry boxes. Optional carry bags are available and the cost for these is £20 plus vat.

The Polar Outdoor Banner Stands are available to buy from our website from October 2009. For any queries or questions please contact us on 01785 224055.

The original Barracuda banner stand was a strong, reliable single sided banner stand which featured a no-nonsense wide base design that did not require stabilising feet. The tough metal casing of these stands was capable of taking some fairly rough treatment. In fact we have customers who are still using the original Barracuda banner stands 10 years after purchasing them.

In 2007 the barracuda banner stand design was revised. The new unit kept a similar sized footprint but did away with the rough ’sandpaper’ paint job, replacing it with a satin anodised aluminum finish. Although the overall shape of the new barracuda banner stand is close to the original, perhaps the biggest change was that of the end plates which rather than being constructed from metal are now made from plastic with a smoked translucent finish.

There is no question that the new barracuda banner is aesthetically more pleasing to the eye than the old model but the style improvements come at a price and the new model lacks the bullet proof robustness of the original design. This is not to say that the new model is weak, far from it the new barracuda banner stand is tough enough for frequent use over many years providing it is treated with the proper care.

The operation of the barracuda banner stand is very straight forward and simple. Like most roller banner stands, the unit is assembled by simply pulling up the graphic and hooking it over the top of the pole which inserts into the base mechanism. The pole itself features a twist-lock mechanism that allows the height of the stand to be varied from around 1M up to 2.13M.

The carry bag of the Barracuda banner stand is strong and well padded however we would still advise that additional packaging should be used for those customers who have the need to transport the stand by courier service.

All in all we would give the barracuda banner stand a solid 8/10 score. It’s a nice looking, easy to use, reliable banner stand that should provide years of service.

If you would like to purchase a barracuda banner stand you can find it amongst the products on our website. We offer great pricing and guarantee to beat any like for like quote!