PVC has grown to become the most commonly used material for banner printing both in the UK and worldwide. PVC banners have become a very popular outdoor sign choice, due largely to the modern capability of the high-tech industrial inkjet printers, which allow more advanced printing companies to print large full colour designs on a single piece of material.

The chemical make-up of PVC used in PVC banners

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a plastic compound which is both durable and versatile. The thermoplastic polymer has one hydrogen atom replaced by a cholride atom which helps strengthen the material, comma as well as turning the resulting material into a flexible one – making it extremely useful in many industries, including of course PVC banners printing.

PVC banner printing

The production process of accurately producing a high-quality PVC banner with a full spectrum of colours is highly skilled and can be done using a variety of methods:

Originally, before printing technology caught up with the innovative PVC banners, the only way to create any kind of design on banners was by hand painting. This was, of course, a labour-intensive and expensive method of PVC banners printing and couldn’t achieve anywhere near the quality or range of design the modern machines are capable of Plastic lettered PVC banner. This produces a raised, 3D effect to the lettering on the banner. The process involves a computer- controlled PVC cutter which can accurately slice up any letter or shape . These shapes/letters are usually cut out of self adhesive and then manually applied to the PVC banner to create the necessary look/wording.
Screen printing.This process relies heavily on the use of stencils and is attractive because it is the least energy -consuming (hyphen) method of PVC banners printing. However, screen printing is not commonly used as the end result isn’t quite as polished as is the case with other methods, such as digital printing
The final mainstream method of PVC banners printing is DIGITAL printing. Whilst still limited in some areas, this is widely considered to be the most effective method for 2 key reasons:
i) It’s the most cost-effective method of high-quality printing. Although there is an initial high cost of investment in equipment, there is a saving in the cutting out of labour and efficient running costs.
ii) The high quality finish, combined with the ability to produce a diverse array of patterns, has resulted in most advanced printing companies adopting this method.

Applications for PVC banners

PVC banners have a vast array of different practical uses. Their light weight, low-cost, high-quality finish, portable and flexible characteristics mean PVC banners are used for companys’ logo signs, special promotions, events and team sports’ banners.
More recently, as the usability of PVC banners has become apparent, other applications have followed and they can now be seen in trade shows, on hoardings/billboards and the sides of buildings and in many other contexts.

PVC banners and politics

Over the past century, as democracy has worked its way through the western world, the importance of ‘the people’ themselves being heard has become increasingly important. This has opened up another avenue for PVC banners. Political marches and rallies are full of people bearing banners who are able get across their message despite being in a loud crowd.
The banner, seen on many a front page across the world ,has become a powerful symbol of democratic expression.
Traditionally these banners have been homemade and of low quality, but as companies, such as ‘Spiral Colour’, have made custom PVC banners more affordable and more easily available to the public (through innovative technology and the utilisation of of the internet), PVC banners have, to a degree, replaced homemade banners.

PVC banners are surely amongst the most diverse and useful applications of PVC plastic, utilising their quality of flexibility and durability in the service of broadcasting a message With modern machines and innovative business making this product more accessible, PVC banners have become an everyday sight , whether it be on hoardings/billboards, in team photos or even outside the local animal testing laboratory.