Moray-based Signworks has lauded its HP Latex 315 wide-format printer for allowing it to meet ‘crazy’ demand for temporary signage and banners relating to the Coronavirus.

Cameron Philson, who established Signworks in 2008, said that when social distancing guidelines were introduced his typical orders, which include retail signage, banners, flat-cut letter signs and magnetic panels, abruptly stopped.

However as the situation evolved he began receiving orders for temporary graphics such as posters instructing the public to stay 2m apart and banners thanking the NHS and key workers.

‘I’m a small sign maker working from home and with the lockdown and zero jobs on the horizon things were looking bleak,’ Mr Philson explained. ‘I put a little post on social media promoting social distancing signs and things started to go crazy for me. It’s a strange time we live in just now; I never thought I’d be producing multiple banners and temporary signage relating to COVID-19.’

Customers range from small businesses to global corporations, who have a presence in Moray and want to use a local company for their signage. Many place orders for next-day delivery, which Signworks is able to achieve using its HP Latex 315 printer, installed in August 2019 by authorised HP reseller Papergraphics.

‘Banners and posters printed on the HP Latex are instantly dry, so if my customers request next-day – or even same-day – delivery I can tell them ‘yes’,’ Mr Philson continued. ‘I come from an eco-solvent background where you’d have to wait 24 hours for prints to be finished, so compared to five years ago that’s unbelievable.’

As lockdown guidelines change and more people return to work, Signworks is now producing more permanent graphics. Mr Philson concluded, ‘Many of us didn’t realise how long this situation would go on for, but now we’re seeing how long term this is there is a need for more permanent signs for social distancing, stickers for hand sanitiser, and so on. Customers can add their own logos to their signs too, to personalise them for their workplace.’