Better Life Technology

Hi there!

I wanted to take the opportunity to expand on our media offerings. This month we are taking a look at
Print Floor. Print Floor is a well-known product in the industry and manufactured by our friends at Endutex. This proven, short term option for flooring, is a great addition to current BILD Print Media offerings. Sometimes, having the most durable and long-term product does not fit the application. In a very short-term application opportunity, we can now provide the best flooring product to our customers.

Print Floor is a PVC option which has a foam backing, polyester scrim layer and a beautiful acrylic knife coat, for the best possible ink laydown and adhesion in the market. We have learned that Print Floor is a versatile product to support our core products and it’s available in 10’ x 115’ rolls.

Print Floor can also be used to supplement G-Floor Graphic installs, as it creates an excellent padded surface. It also creates a vapor barrier in cement applications and with its white point, it reduces the amount of floor prep required for a full floor install application.

Better Life Technology stocks Print Floor and other Endutex media products. We’re proud of our relationship with our European partner. Our promise is to continue to offer you only the best in class products.

Cheers,

Bill

First and foremost, I hope you and your loved ones have remained safe and healthy during this unprecedented time.  The print and graphics industry is a small community that reaches far, and I want my friends within this industry to remain healthy so we can all cross paths again here soon!

WOW!  I have to say 2020 has been an interesting year so far. Like many of you, we started off crazy busy, and then it seems like in a moment’s notice, everything turned upside down. I feel like we’re starting to see some light with states and businesses opening and operating normally.

So… where is printing headed in this new world?  We all know social distancing markers are here to stay for a while. I have noticed all the new floor graphics for way finding and aisle directional markings. It is great to see how our businesses can truly make an impact on our communities!

Now the real question is – how do you get your money’s worth out of these wayfinding, ground markings and floor graphics?  It costs big dollars to invest in this type of signage, so why wouldn’t you use the most durable products out there. I have seen floor graphics torn up, marked up, damaged, and just showing excessive wear in just two weeks.  That is throwing money away!

Products such as our 35 Mil polyvinyl material will last for years to come. The added bonus is you can move them if needed. One of the biggest cost savings with our materials is they can be applied by your associates – it does not require a professional installation.  The material does not wrinkle during install and if you get a little air under it, just peel it up and relay the graphic. Grocery and retail stores with multiple checkouts can use free lay floor graphics to easily pick up and move to open lanes.

Another avenue that is going to open up in this new business world is redesigning workspaces. Some cubicles may reappear, and carpets will be replaced or covered with clean wipeable surfaces. Desk and conference room tables may need antimicrobial covers, allowing for easy sanitary cleaning without harsh cleaners. Restaurants can also benefit from our solid core materials with antimicrobial coating. Our solid medical flooring can be used as free lay tabletops, and with 3 different colors you can manage table placement with color code. There are so may new opportunities in this new environment! Just remember to think out of the box and look for those unique applications you can run with.

As always, if you have questions or ideas, please reach out to me and let’s talk!  Best Wishes to stay safe and healthy!

Talk soon!

Cheers,

Bill

Greetings from BILD Print Media!

In this segment I want to continue touching on the idea of a 360 design with our products and educate you on our featured fabric Sirius. Fabrics are an important product in the retail environment. As we know there is an abundance of materials available on the market for direct print fabric.

Sirius is specifically designed for light box applications and SEG graphics. Sirius, like all our fabric selections, is a sustainable/recyclable product.  This polyester coated fabric is woven with a unique fiber and weave texture to allow for brighter light transfer! Increased light is increased performance in the field. Another unique feature is the precise and smooth knife coating of the water-based resin for improved adhesion. This process allows for better coating laydown benefiting in reduced pin holing for print. A double strike ink layer is recommended as the increased light volume allows for brighter colors when lit.

Sirius is fire rated, and it’s clean manufacturing process makes this an ideal high end offering to the toughest of customers. Sirius is currently stocked in 62” widths with 124” widths available on request.  Contact us for a sample of this and other BILD Print Media products today.

Talk soon!

Cheers,

Bill

Hello!

2020 is here and to start the year off right, I want to talk about an exciting concept that will be a big part of the future in retail : Design 360°.  We have spent 10 years creating a viable, custom flooring market with great results but have decided to expand on that. Many have now made our flooring media the industrial standard in the print market and we anticipate the same with the rollout of our newest media, fabrics. As we continue to grow, we believe our offerings in fabrics can now give the advantage is single sourcing media for retail projects, pulling together a 360° design. Over the years, many times I’ve been asked what to pair our flooring with. Well, here you go! A full inventory on hand of our products now cover the spectrum.

When we look at display opportunities and cohesive environment with design, we can now truly offer the floors walls and everything in-between.

One area I want to highlight is the Museum market, with so many opportunities to present a complete design approach for exhibits. We have a strong history with this segment and believe our Polycril and Terra Opak are strong offerings to complete your look.

Often printers go in with a “short” vision on what they should be offering. Make your presentations with a complete look and close more deals. When a complete solution is offered in design and fulfillment you can become the best source for the project producer. Think, plan, and sell your abilities. Don’t be a decorator, be a manufacture of environments to satisfy even the toughest of candidates.

Make 2020 your year. Rethink your approach. Remember, who are you? What do you offer? Why should I go with you? Come in with these questions ready for answers and I’m sure you’ll be the success we know you can be. Remember we offer tons of marketing collateral and all the education, support, assistance and sourcing for your projects. We focus on your results. We want you to be the next star in the world of interior design and production. It starts with a call!

Talk soon!

Cheers,

Bill

Hello!

We have exciting news to share regarding the next phase of our product offerings from BILD, formerly G-Floor Graphics. You may have noticed recently that our brand has expanded from BILD^® to BILD^® Print Media. While our unique line of floor graphics has been very successful, we have realized that as your product needs evolve, we want to evolve with them, which is why we are thrilled to announce a few new products!

BILD^® Print Media now offers a variety of fabrics and a short-term flooring option, all of which complement our premium BILD® Vinyl Flooring.

We are proud to offer these items as a beginning selection in our wider product offerings and promise we won’t stop here. We will continue to manufacture, source and provide the most durable and top-quality graphic material, so be on the lookout for future product releases.

Our new products are detailed below. All the offerings suited for direct UV and Latex print applications. Solvent and Eco-solvent inks should be tested prior to use.

POLYCRIL - Knife coated polyester woven fabric. Non-PVC, Black backed, wrinkle resistant, curl resistant and fire rated. Suited for back drops, roll up stands and make an excellent wall covering.

TERRA OPAK - Knife coated polyurethane/polyester woven fabric. Suited as a two-sided block out banner. This unique material is very opaque for double sided banners. Wrinkle and crease-resistant Terra Opak is the perfect material when PVC coated scrim banner isn’t desired. Fire rated and a breeze to print.

SIRIUS - Knife coated polyester with WB dispersion for precise ink laydown and color control. This direct printed fabric is perfect for light boxes and back lit applications. Image provided is double strike UV print for back lit viewing.

PRINTFLOOR - Truly the best short-term flooring option on the market. Suited for the one and done applications. BILD^® has always been known as the best in long term solutions. Now we can offer the best in short term foam backed products.

When quality counts, you can count on BILD^® to provide only the best! Please call or email with questions and pricing. Materials are on hand and in stock.

Cheers,

Bill

Hello and happy fall!

The idea of a free-floating graphic is not new; however, it has always presented some difficulty. We all know rugs and carpets can be printed or woven with custom images and branding. The printed versions are not considered durable graphics by any means. The woven products (like rugs) last for a while, but when it comes to image selection, you have to keep it simple.

Let’s look at what BILD® Print Media has to offer. We can manage a few different routes from POP display to temporary flooring, retail flooring, stages and set design. However, let’s not forget the good old door mat applications. There are a ton of uses for free lay and BILD has them covered.

In the matting world, not only does our material protect the image from damage, but we can also offer additional sundries such as Back Tract for anti-slip protection. When using for a free lay over approximately 25 sq ft, the material can stand alone, as its weight will keep it in place. When full custom flooring for spaces is required, our 75 mil products can be imaged and cut into place without adhesives. A full install would require seams to be bonded, but saves on the cost of install and allows for removal and replacement with other designs. As one example, a company has their Boardroom set up with custom flooring graphics. When one of their customers comes to their facility, they customize the floor graphics for that specific customer. When the next customer comes in, they change it and personalize it for them. They pull and save graphics for their customers return. It’s a really great idea and lets your customers know you care.

In the event industry, we have great applications for tent floorings for catered events and weddings. Solid material is perfect when just the floor is desired. BILD is a great product for large events, especially when you’re looking to cover a lot of ground, fast and efficiently.

When looking at free lay opportunities don’t forget about those counters. Our 35 mil product makes an excellent 1 piece material for durable counter mats and counter covers. Update your stores with clean fresh counter covers branded with important messages!! One of the things we are proud of here at BILD Print Media is the fact our product has so many applications -- it will never sit stagnant in the corner of the shop. There’s always a use. Call me and I’ll walk you through ways you can use BILD!

Cheers,

Bill

Greetings!

Looking back on the questions we get asked regularly, I see a lot of them are on the support items that go with our media.

What type of adhesives to use?

Do I need a backer material?

What do we recommend?

Our materials can be used in so many different ways, I often forget how confusing it can be. We have tried and seen most all the ideas out there, or it seems anyway. We do know the answers, you just have to ask. There’s no reason to reinvent the wheel. “We got you covered”!

Back Tract: is a peel and stick PVC material designed to reduce slip on free lay mat products. Best suited for tile applications, it can also be used on carpets. Applied to the bottom side of graphic it both protects the ink layer from scratching and water and increases slip resistance.

Carpet: is always a tough one. Even though Back Tract does a good job it can still allow the mat to move. On shorter nap carpets we recommend the hook side of Velcro. Small strips mounted on the bottom will dig in and grab the carpet holding the mat in place. Another option would be good old carpet tape on the bottom.

Peel and Stick: For short term applications, use an intermediate tack mounting adhesive. It’s good practice to choose an aqueous based adhesive, not rubber or solvent. Acrylic adhesive is also necessary when working with PVC. Although most are, be sure your adhesive is plasticizer resistant as well. As your term of application increases or if challenging environments are involved, increase the strength of your adhesive. Please keep in mind, sensitive finishes (like hardwood floors) need a light tack adhesive. BILD™ Print Media is heavy enough and strong enough to stay in place and last like no other.

Permanent Install: This topic on permanent install is important. If you have an install job we do recommend using a qualified sheet vinyl installer. We have a few recommendations around the country so let us know and we’ll help you source the right person for the job. For permanent installs, you must use a top-quality adhesive. If the subfloor is wood, be certain it is solid and dry. Fully cured, and dated concrete is best. Fresh poured cement must be no less than 12 weeks old. A moisture and alkaline test will be necessary as well. Here’s a good article to help describe how to test if your concrete is ready to receive resilient flooring. https://www.randrmagonline.com/articles/83592-concrete-when-do-you-know-its-dry

We need to be sure to protect ink layer from excessive hydrostatic vapor pressure (water) and alkalinity from cement. A vapor barrier may be recommended in sensitive areas. BILD™ Print Media is by far the best option for long lasting permanent graphics that will handle the millions of people for years to come. If you would like to learn how to install BILD ™Print Media, we can train you as well.

Edge trims/transition strips: Many people like to add edge trim to their mats and/or floor transitions. We do offer a few selections from BLT, however we don’t recommend them very often because you can print the border in the graphic floor. Edge transitions are not used to identify trip hazards but an identifier of the edge of the mat or floor. Save the dollars, bevel cut on your Zund and you’re good to go!

Seam Tapes: For free lay multi-panel jobs we recommend our white nylon seam tape to join multiple mats. This unique tape is designed not to tear or give up on you. Waterproof, with aggressive hold, we can assure the bond will be strong and tight. With free lay multi-mat installs, we recommend carpet tape around border of the flooring.

Seam Welding: Seams can also be joined for permanent applications in two different ways. One is a chemical weld. Basically, a super glue for vinyl flooring. Simple and quick for medium term installs. The other option is a heat welded seam. The seam is grooved, and a clear filler material is melted to join the seams. This is a long-term solution but is noticeable in finished graphic.

When looking at your projects just be sure to ask yourself some basic questions. How long, where is it installed, and will it be moved? We are here to answer any of your questions and guide your way to profitable endeavors with BILD.

Cheers,

Bill

Hi there!

Well, it’s been a busy month. We had a great showing at RetailX (GlobalShop) in Chicago at the end of June. The retail folks were out in full force. RetailX is a great show for Better Life Technology, as we have the opportunity to meet and talk to the end users for our BILD Print Media product line. We don’t sell at these events, but instead, we have the chance to provide a hands-on explanation of the numerous applications for our material.

While all of our products can be utilized in unique applications, long-term floor graphics were by far the top interest. Retailers are looking for long-term, economical ways to use BILD Print Media in wayfinding, pop up display’s and high traffic areas. What many found most appealing was the pick and place install, as well as repositionable/removable applications.

We were pleased to learn of several retailers already in trials in their locations and loving the products thus far. I believe with a little focus and a complete understanding of the manufacturing process and applications, BILD 35 mil for floor markings can be the most popular product to grow your sales. There is a very high interest in LONG- TERM (6 months plus) floor graphics. The focus was not on cost, but long-term applications. Simple items like “Online Pick Up” or “Customer Service” are the buzz. Directional graphics were second on their minds. Counter mats are always good.

Another great part of seeing our customers is hearing of the success we’ve had in the field. We had several previous customers who are now in the redesigning stage for remodel and are including BILD Print Media in their concept! This is great news to us, as we heard sales in branded area’s rose up to 20% in-store. Yes, this is the only flooring you can achieve an ROI on your investment. You have to put something in place, so you might as well use it to drive revenue.

These are tried and true avenues for new sales growth for your business as well as a far less competitive arena to sell in. Those who have focused on using our materials in their stores are happy, they’re enjoying robust sales, and they become return customers desiring additional applications. What more could you want in a media? Again, we would love to get out and train your staff on the path to purchase!

Cheers

Bill

                   

Hello,

Bill with BILD Print Media here. As I mentioned in my introductory letter last month, my focus will be to provide the information and resources needed to find total success when using BILD Print Media Products.

Before jumping into all of the products and application process, I find myself stepping back and wanting to review the very basics that must be followed for successful printing. When trouble shooting with customers, most of the time the issues can be addressed through the following run conditions:

These 8 tips will help ensure you have a successful run conditions with BILD products.

1. Material alignment. Squaring up your roll is key. The slightest offset can bring big issues in the run.  Remember, a little offset in the beginning is a lot offset down the roll. BILD is thick and can’t accommodate slight offset like say a banner or a pressure sensitive vinyl.

2. 6” core adaptors. BILD is supplied on 6” inner cores rolled print side OUT. The material is supplied on 6” core  to ensure you get the most yield possible. We provide free adaptors which are reusable. Also remember when printing, it’s important to support the center of the core for best results. Core adapters come with instructions in the box, but you can always call if you have questions.

3. Room conditions. Print as close to the actual install temperature as possible. The material grows two ways – up and out. 75° F is a safe zone.

4. Print settings. We recommend a profile for gloss vinyl banner. It is ideal on roll devices to make a profile to accommodate the thickness on stepping. Vacuum’s start around 60%. We also recommend raising your print carriage an extra 0.20” in height.

5. Rerolling. When rerolling on a print device, be sure to roll the material textured side OUT, displaying the image rather than white. Referencing back to the 6” core, this will make follow thru production and help speed up installs as well. Keep your rolls wound tight and square to prevent distortion of the image. Take your time and plan ahead!

6.  Finishing. Material should be delivered on a core, properly wound. You want the product to go flat as soon as possible, so rolling the image out is ideal. Be sure to cover the entire image if you are using shrink wrap, as this will help with lay down, 6” core rolled image out will provide the best results.

7. Packing. When shipping in cold weather, we recommend a thin layer of padding to ensure rough handling will not shock or crack material. The way our material arrives to you is the same way it should ship out to customers!

8. Project guidance. Better Life Technology offers free services to help guide you on your projects and processes. No one knows printed vinyl flooring better than us, so we hope you trust in our expertise. We want to help you achieve the best results and the most profitable avenue.

These tips are simple but absolutely necessary to begin successfully printing BILD products. We are happy to visit your facility and provide hands on training if you would like.

Stay tuned for next month, when we begin looking into the different market segments and how to position your company for success with BILD Print Media.

Cheers,

Bill Rothe

Hi,

Bill Rothe here, VP of BILD Print Media product line. Now that we have matured into the premium graphics category in the digital, screen and offset industries, I wanted to create a series of articles to review the past, present and future of our expanded product offering. Over the last few years, I have had the good fortune of sharing our expertise on printed flooring with many of the best print houses in the US and around the world. As an expert in this field, I wanted to be able to disseminate honest, accurate and complete information more quickly, and to a wider audience. So now I have a column in our monthly newsletter!

My upcoming column is going to focus on things like manufacturing process, tools and sundries needed to provide a complete turn key offering and all the ins and outs of installation. These are critical pieces of the puzzle that must be considered when looking at various print medias for the floor graphics market. As the creator and manufacturer of this unique print media, we want to be sure everyone has access and knowledge to be successful and enjoy the benefits (including increased margins) of this premium product.

This first newsletter is simply an introduction into many of the typical applications where BILD is frequently used. The printed flooring and durable long-term flooring markets are growing at a rapid pace. Many companies are taking advantage of new ways to engage with their customers and using BILD Print Media in the following applications:

• P.O.P Applications
• Long Term Floor Graphics
• Graphic Flooring
• Temporary Flooring
• Mat Programs
• Unique Applications

I also want you to know we extend our marketing efforts to end user candidates. I believe it’s important to educate clients on all features and benefits of our products over traditional offerings. Many of our most successful partners have asked us to join in product presentations to their clients, which has generated an 80% closure rate for our print partners. We know our products inside and out, so we welcome the opportunity to work with your sales organization. If you get us involved, we will help educate your clients, generate interest and help close projects. That’s a fact!

I look forward to any feedback or direct inquiries on our product offerings. We listen. We learn. We improve. It’s that simple.

Cheers,

Bill Rothe