We hope to see you at ISA's International Sign Expo, where you'll be able to meet attendees from every corner of the sign industry – and, in fact, from all over the world. This year's event will be held in sunny Orlando, Florida, from March 22-24. More than 19,000 sign professionals and 550 suppliers and distributors will be in attendance, and more than 75 educational sessions will offer insider tips, training and best practices for every aspect of the sign business.

As you explore ISA's massive exhibit hall, be sure to stop by booth #1836, where DCS will be demonstrating our UV and solvent Direct Jet printer lines.

SPECIAL OFFER FROM DCS: To attend the ISA Sign Expo free, click this link and enter promotion code 30154.

See you in Orlando!

With a Direct Color Systems^® printer, you can "sign" anywhere. Indoors, outdoors, in the factory, in the lab – even on the side of your car – we have a printer to fit your needs.

The Direct Jet 1024UV uses the newest technology in ink and LED UV light to create a system that will print signs that cure instantly, allowing you to print opaque white on even the darkest substrates and maintaining resistance to UV light. While single-panel signs can be as large as 10" x 24", Direct Color's Color Byte design software also makes it easy to create and print multi-panel signs of any size.

When used in conjunction with our InkMark™ plastic substrates, the Direct Jet 1300 series can be used to create any number of full-color indoor signs without the need for precoating or pretreatment.  These signs can be created in sizes as large as 13" x 24".  When the Direct Jet 1300 printers are used with Horizons' DuraJet system, the result is a full-color image on anodized aluminum that is sealed inside the material to give a perfectly smooth surface. These signs are virtually impervious to chemicals, moisture and humidity, making them perfect for sterile environments. They can also be used worry-free in outdoor environments thanks to their resistance to abrasion and salt spray.

The Flex33* will print to vinyl and other flexible roll media to produce signs measuring as long as 10 feet. The six-color, UV-stable, pigment-solvent ink set produces vibrant, durable signs that are ideal for indoor or outdoor use. The Flex33 also prints to media such as t-shirt transfer film and self-adhesive vinyl (for vehicle graphics) so that you can wear your sign or even take it out for a drive!  

As you can see, signmaking applications for a Direct Color Systems printer are limited only by your imagination. Wondering if a small-format DCS printer is right for your sign shop? Contact DCS or your nearest Authorized Representative today for additional information, to receive custom samples or to schedule a demonstration.

* The Flex33 is sold in the USA, Canada and Mexico exclusively through SignWarehouse.com as the PrismJetDT. Visit their website or call 800-699-5512 for more information.

Direct Color Systems is constantly striving to expand the applications possible with a Direct Jet printer. Our latest offering is an optional Y-Axis Stepper Motor for our UV printers. With this motor, the printer has the option for slow table movement, pinpoint drive accuracy and repeatability for a load of up to 20 lbs (9.1 kg).

Existing UV owners also have the option to upgrade to this stepper motor. The printer must be sent to DCS for modification. Upgrades will not be done in the field.

Contact Direct Color Systems or your distributor for pricing and additional information.

Each month, Direct Color Systems features a different TSS (Technical Sales Specialist) based in the USA and Canada. These regional associates are your local link to sales, installation and technical support for all DCS products. Our featured TSS for the month of March is Brian Roberts, Director of Visual Resources, LLC. Brian represents DCS in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland and Tennessee.

Brian has worked for more than 25 years in sales and marketing management roles in the commercial printing industry. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with several technological leaders in the industry.

Brian has been a Direct Color Systems TSS for nine months. He first heard about the company while speaking with a customer that was planning a visit to a trade show. "They described research that DCS had completed for a new system and mentioned that a visit to DCS was at the top of their list," Brian says. After seeing firsthand how DCS printers "provide a complete solution to customer marking, branding and creative needs," Brian decided to pursue a working relationship with the company. "The DCS offering clearly fills a need for an affordable and highly flexible printing device," Brian states. He now sells both the solvent and UV versions of the Direct Jet printer series.

"Our customers are primarily drawn to DCS printers' flexibility and reliability. Our customer base is rapidly expanding into the industrial space, as well as making strong advances within the traditional markets. In any manufacturing environment, reliable, predictable equipment assures the user that consistent quality is delivered with each order. Additionally, working with a small technology company like DCS provides our customers with a personalization of both the product and process, and it provides them with the opportunity to stay well ahead of their competitors."

DCS is glad to have such enthusiastic representation in the mid-Atlantic. If you are located in Brian's region and would like further information about DCS printing equipment, you can contact him at  704-650-1596, or email him at brian@visrco.com.

DCS is happy to feature a unique customer of ours: Community Controls of Salt Lake City, Utah. Community Controls is a wholesale supplier of garage door and gate remotes and transmitters.

Digital Print Manager Tracey Peterson explains the decisions that led Community Controls to begin working with Direct Color Systems five months ago. "We chose DCS over their competitors due to our quality requirements. We needed a machine that would allow us to print on a large variety of object sizes in order to brand all of our controlled entry technology."

Printing a tray of golf balls at Community Controls

The DCS DirectJet 1024UV fit the bill. "We use our machine primarily for branding of our gate and door access products, but also for awards, gifts and trade show giveaway items. We've also been able to utilize it in other ways for some of our clients, who have asked us to print wedding invitations, golf balls and christmas ornaments.

"The biggest benefits of working with DCS have been their honesty in pricing, installation and functionality of the machine; the speedy help we've received whenever we've needed it; and the fact that the machine puts out top-end quality prints for less than competing machines. TSS Tom Keyes has been an amazing resource for us, and I want to thank him here, as well."

We are extremely happy to share such a positive endorsement in our newsletter, and look forward to working with Community Controls in the future. You can visit the Community Controls website at www.communitycontrols.com.

This month's featured DCS distributor is SilvaBlac International, Ltd, based in Nairobi, Kenya. Paul Wamwea, Director of Marketing at SilvaBlac, learned about DCS printers through his network of business associates last year. Seeing that DCS printers would offer a complete product solution to the promotions and advertising needs of his market, Paul signed on as a DCS distributor. SilvaBlac International now offers its customers all printer models from the DCS product line.

SilvaBlac's customers commonly use DCS printers for wood crafts and ABS promotional products, including gift items. Paul says that his customers value the DCS printers' flexibility in printing on varied substrates, directly and without pre-treatment. Consistent print quality is also a major plus.

"Flexibility in production capabilities and consistent quality have been a familiar story told by our customers," Paul says. "DCS printers are dependable additions to their inventory and have proven to be a good return on their investment. Our customers look forward to future upgrades on the Direct Jet UV and solvent models."

Direct Color Systems likewise looks forward to providing SilvaBlac with new innovations and dependable support. You can email SilvaBlac at sales@silvablac.com, or contact Paul directly at pos@silvablac.com. Please visit SilvaBlac's website at www.silvablac.com.