DISPA® – an embossed formed paper graphic display board solution newly available from 3A Composites USA – is meeting the needs of designers and fabricators requiring a smooth-surfaced printable rigid substrate that is 100 percent recyclable.
Digitype Design, Inc., a visual marketing communications company based in Tualatin, Ore., has been providing large-format printing solutions to customers in the northwestern United States and across the country for more than 25 years.
In order to offer customers a recyclable substrate option, Digitype Design had turned to fluted corrugated substrates when printing interior retail graphics. An impending increase in corrugated pricing as well as the search for a smooth-surfaced rigid substrate led David Kaiser – co-owner with his wife Deborah of Digitype Design – to DISPA® paper board when it was made available to the Americas in April 2019.
DISPA® originally was introduced in 2015 in Europe by 3A Composites following extensive analysis and profile testing to develop the unique embossed structure that forms this paper board’s central layer. This patented core and manufacturing process make DISPA® a uniquely stable board.
“DISPA® was of interest to us first because it met our price point,” said Kaiser. “It also offered smooth surfaces front and back for double-sided printing. We were able to get away from the corrugated look. Our clients were looking for the smoothness of foam board plus recyclability.”
DISPA® consists of a patented embossed formed paper core that is laminated on both sides with bright white, smooth paper surfaces – a unique composition that makes this paper board lightweight yet extremely rigid, strong and dimensionally stable. Signs created with lightweight DISPA® stay flat yet are easy to handle and hang. Manufactured with 100 percent Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®)-certified paper (FSC®-C169891), DISPA® is fully recyclable.
(The FSC® is a nongovernmental organization operating in more than 80 countries to facilitate responsible forest management in accordance with social, economic and ecological needs.)
DISPA® provides a flat, smooth surface that offers excellent printability in both digital-printing and screen-printing applications and is available in both 48-inch and 60-inch widths for large-format printing. DISPA® is easy to fabricate – even with hand tools – and can be die-cut and CNC routed. This formed paper board is ideal for pre-printed double-sided offset litho sheet lamination.
DISPA® is the ideal substrate for short-term promotional campaigns and can be used to create point-of-purchase and point-of-sale displays; hanging signs; window displays; tradeshow displays and exhibits; and three-dimensional displays. It’s also perfect for creating sophisticated packaging.
Digitype Design completes weekly print runs of short-term retail graphic interior signs, custom shapes installed as aisle markers and 4-by-4 foot double-sided posters. The company tested DISPA® in these projects, digitally direct-printing the embossed paper board on the company’s Vanguard Digital Printing Systems VK300D 5-by-10 foot flatbed printer with Vanguard UV inks. CNC routing was completed with a Colex SharpCUT SX Series digital flatbed cutter.
Digitype Design transitioned to utilizing DISPA® in these projects by testing print settings used for foam boards and CNC routing at various cutting speeds.
“DISPA® prints and cuts really well,” said Kaiser. “We had a smooth transition to DISPA®. It has produced a noticeable improvement in the visuals and has been received by our customers without hesitation.”
Digitype Design has been so well-pleased with DISPA® that it now purchases this embossed formed paper board by the pallet from 3A Composites USA distributor Sonoma Graphic Products in Portland, Ore.
“In the Pacific Northwest, we need a super-green product like DISPA®,” said John Cusack, territory sales representative, Sonoma Graphic Products, in reference to the region’s environmental initiatives. “Our customers have been asking for this solution. DISPA® is a green-friendly solution.”
Sonoma Graphic Products has been selling DISPA® to large printers for direct-to-board printing, according to Cusack.
“DISPA® prints much nicer than competitive products,” said Cusack. “It cuts, folds and scores really well and is great for creating short-term tent cards and point-of-sale displays.”
DISPA® graphic display board is available with a white formed paper core and bright white paper liners in the 3.8mm thickness and 48-inch by 96-inch and 60-inch by 120-inch sheet sizes.
For more information about DISPA®, visit www.3ACompositesUSA.com, email info.usa@3AComposites.com or call (800) 626-3365.
About 3A Composites USA
3A Composites USA specializes in the manufacturing of leading substrates for the graphic display and architectural markets in North America, South America and Central America. With manufacturing facilities in Benton, Ky., Statesville, N.C., and Glasgow, Ky., and sales and marketing offices in Davidson, N.C., our industry leading brands include: FOME-COR®, SINTRA®, GATOR®, DISPA®, DIBOND®, LUMEX® G and ALUCOBOND®.
About 3A Composites
3A Composites has developed, manufactured and marketed high-quality aluminum
composite panels, structural composite material, plastic sheets and lightweight
foam boards for architecture, visual communication and the transport and
industry markets since 1969. Following the integration of the Polycasa group in
April 2015, 3A Composites has extended its product portfolio with a wide choice
of plastic sheets to strengthen its position as a diverse and leading
manufacturer of materials for display, building and industrial applications. 3A
Composites also focuses on the wind energy and marine markets.
3A Composites is part of the international 3A Composites Group, which belongs to the listed company Schweiter Technologies headquartered in Horgen, Switzerland. 3A Composites has approximately 4,400 employees worldwide. 3A Composites’ well-known brands ALUCOBOND®, DIBOND®, FOREX®/SINTRA®, GATOR®, KAPA®, FOME-COR®,ALUCORE®,AIREX® and BALTEK® are the category leaders in the markets served.
® FOME-COR, SINTRA, GATOR andDIBOND are registered trademarks of 3A Composites USA.
® DISPA and LUMEX are registered marks of 3A Composites GmbH.