Going Green – sustainable sign products

Longtail AD is committed to playing its part in supporting sustainability

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Digital Printing Inks
Once among the more toxic products, ink offerings have become more eco- (and people!) friendly. For all our digital printing needs, Longtail AD uses UV curing inks.
UV printing is fast becoming the new industry standard in signage production. Because there are no solvents used, this system produces no dangerous VOCs, requires no ventilation, has a higher percentage of recyclable content, and cuts cost because of reduced drying time. In addition, UV printed foil-type metallic inks on paper and plastic yield a fully recyclable product.
UV lamp manufacturers continue to upgrade their manufacturing process to extend the life on UV lamps, along with providing upgrades and recycling services on the lamp housing units. The printing industry can also expect to see less energy used with UV ink curing in the future.
In addition, UV opens up a new world of green substrates, and specialty boards.
Substrates
Some sign customers do desire sustainable products, whether to meet LEED certification requirements or simply to satisfy personal beliefs.
There’s a lot that goes into finding a sustainable material that works for the printing industry. Materials need to be tested to see if the white point of the material will be white enough to match customers’ colors, if it will hold ink properly and if it can be cut without chipping.
As your print partner, we are doing our part in finding the greenest and most renewable materials that exist. We have sustainable options for PVC Foam Signs, Foam Board Signs, Styrene Signs and Backlit Signs
LED Lighting
With LED technology for new and some retrofitted signs the energy savings can be as much as 80%, and LEDs last considerably longer than other lighting elements. Even though LEDs cost more upfront, they offer considerable energy savings in the long run.
Waste Management
Old lighting components, scrap plastic, vinyl, metal and other materials used in sign & print manufacturing are disposed of through the proper channels, even when that often involves more than one refuse, repository or recycling company.