Signs of Spring
Signs of Spring

As the days get longer and spring brings new life to the earth, we also continue to see signs of life returning to the economy. Retail sales continue to rebound which means it is a great time for fabricators to expand their sign and P.O.P. customer base.

The road to growth is still bumpy however, with many foreseeable and unforeseeable concerns ahead. National and state government financial crises will plague us for some time along with unforeseeable natural disasters like the earthquake, tsunami and subsequent nuclear power plant damage in Japan. Global economies are tied closer together than ever before and Japan plays a major roll in many aspects that will affect us in the U.S. We encourage all of our readers to donate what ever you can to the American Red Cross, or the charity of your choice, to help the people of Japan recover and rebuild.

This month we spotlight the growing need for signage and point-of-purchase displays. First up we look at how Lasers Improve Sign & Display Fabrication. Lasers offer attractive advantages for cutting acrylic and other plastics used in signage and point-of-purchase displays. Recent advances in technology have rendered laser systems more cost-effective than ever, making them increasingly accessible to even small fabricators.

Next up is our Signs & P.O.P. Spotlight. The retail sector continues to rebound and so does the need for new and innovative signage and displays. Our spotlight includes materials, machinery, tooling and accessories that will enable you to fabricate durable, high-impact products for your customers. This month we also spotlight polyolefins. Polyethylene and Polypropylene are two of the largest volume thermoplastics used today and are available in a wide range of grades and formulations. The various formulations of these popular polyolefins impart a wide range of properties making them appropriate for countless applications. They are relatively lightweight and easy to fabricate. Polyolefins find proven applications in a wide range of markets from medical and chemical to toys and sporting goods, and from oil and gas to food processing and marine.

Finally in Safety Solutions, Jack Podojil asks "Is Your Lockout & Tagout Program Working?" In 2010, failure of employers to properly ensure that their employees are following OSHA's 1910.147 Lockout & Tagout standards are still on the top ten items for OSHA citations. Are you in compliance with these OSHA standards?

The state of the U.S. economy continues to improve offering opportunities for custom fabricated plastic parts. To find even more tools and resources visit our twelve-year article archive of plastics, equipment and supplies. You can also use eReader Service to contact our advertisers or manage your subscription.

Enjoy the issue,

Coming May/June 2011
Nylon & Acetal
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Ad/Edit Close: 04/22/11
Material Close: 04/29/11