Innovation and entrepreneurship drive Indian companies, and this can easily be seen in the way players in print, POP and signage industry started using their resources to manufacture Covid essentials to protect common citizens and frontline workers as they go about their activities.
This year, so far, has been a testing time for businesses and professionals alike. Ever since the pandemic started spreading its wings, rapidly transcending borders, the losses started surmounting across various sectors in economies around the world. In what came as a shock to companies, who were expecting the spread to die down soon, was one lockdown after another, bringing trade and commerce to a grounding halt. Being a highly contagious disease that took the number of affected to millions within a few weeks, the world wasn’t prepared for it. What followed was a huge demand for face masks, face shields and PPEs. Unable to source required quantities, medical practitioners had to reuse their safety equipment, thus putting their lives at risk.
However, this tragic situation did not last very long as Indian companies started innovating and developed new ways to produce these safety necessities in large quantities. Players in the print, POP and signage industry too jumped on the bandwagon and started using their resources to manufacture masks, face shields, portable beds, portable sanitiser dispensers etc. in order to assist frontline workers in their activities by keeping them safe.
LPFLEX International, a full-service supplier of industry-leading static and digital signage and customer engagement solutions, has launched some really useful products for safety during the ongoing pandemic era. Its Disinfection Tunnel comes with 18 nozzles that spray disinfectant mist on the person passing through, which reportedly kills most germs and viruses. Disinfection Tunnel is user friendly, portable walk-through cabin, designed for public protection and community service to help people fight the disease. Another version of this is a Disinfection Booth that comes with one nozzle. Both of these can be used for branding purposes also and can be customised as per company logo, name and theme. It has also released a range of regulatory and precautionary graphic signs that can be customised with company name & logo, and are available in sizes A1, A2 and A3.
Amitoje India – a display firm that manufactures POS display stands, showroom fixtures and racks – took the lead by developing a ‘Amitoje anti-Covid kit’. It includes a foldable sanitiser dispenser with foot press that is sturdy and can be installed anywhere. Made of 100% recyclable plastic, it weighs just 2.5kgs, which makes it really easy to move it around. The kit also includes a Amitoje bed, AmitojeFaceX Removable Face Shield and Social Distancing Screen. The foldable bed weighs less than 10kgs and has a load capacity of 200kg, making it perfect for use in temporary Covid treatment centres. FaceX is the company’s innovation in protective face shields. Made of ultraclear PVC Plastic, it is easily retractable and lightweight to provide maximum comfort to the wearer. The social distancing screen comes in blank and branded versions and is made with heavy duty corrugated plastic and 500 micron PVC. It also has a strong foam tape at bottom for good hold on table.
Similarly, UnidosInsta Print, a company that designs and manufactures POP and POS displays, also brought forth their Covid innovations in the form of foldable and portable products. The New Delhi-based company has launched a variety of products including YesDoc – a sanitiser dispenser with foot press, as well as a safety shield that can be used in offices, restaurants, billing counters etc. Both items are made from 100% recyclable polypropylene boards. The company has also recently introduced ACXSS – Any Car Safety Shield. It is a protective car cabin partition that divides the front and rear cabin of a car, thereby blocking the direct airborne transmission of pathogens. It protects car passengers & drivers, and is a fully brandable printed PVC-free car cabin safety shield. These shields are transparent, easy to clean, odour-free, rugged, and recyclable.
Unidos’ EcoDoc is an economical and eco-friendly option of sanitiser stand. Unlike most other metal foot press dispensers, EcoDoc has no sharp edges and is rust-free. Another innovative item from Unidos’ portfolio is Covid Room – Isolation Door Safety Shield. The door shield helps block the direct transmission of airborne pathogens. It attaches easily to your room door frame using adhesive-backed hook and loop tape. The sheet is of high transparency allowing the room occupant to look outside as well as the caregiver to look inside, and one does not need to keep the door closed.
Cosign, a leader in architectural signage catering to a plethora of options, has also introduced various safety products to fight Covid19. It has launched Covid 19 precautionary messages posters with optiframe that help secure workplaces and keep everyone well informed about the do’s and don’ts. The posters have been placed in optiframes available in three finishes – Silver, Black & Wooden.
Another product – Clear Hygiene Barriers – separates the work area, which facilitates protection against sneeze and cough. Made up of aluminum and clear acrylic sheet, it beautifies the space without losing functionality. The company has also launched face shields and sanitiser dispenser units to add to its suite of safety products.
Another company that has come to the forefront in the domain of safety products is Signarama, the world’s largest sign franchise. It has taken to the task of redoing the interiors of various fact-food restaurants by equipping them with safety signs and other necessary facilities in order to make the space safe for customers.
ColorJet, one of the most prominent names in digital inkjet printing, has also used this opportunity to launch two highly innovative products – Sterling Cyber &HealthWayEcono range of Sterilization Walkthroughs and a mask-making machine called MaskJet. Sterilization Walkthroughs are modular range of disinfecting pass ways for human use, which spray herbal & natural
high-grade disinfectant sanitizer onto the passers. According to the company, the process is effective in killing 99.99% of viruses, bacteria, molds, spores and fungi. The process is neither harmful to humans nor to the environment. It is completely safe and is especially useful in pandemic situations like Covid 19.
The company’s MaskJet is a mask-making machine or a mask tablet machine, which is used for manufacture of non-woven disposable face masks. It is suitable for non-woven fabric, activated carbon and filter material from 3-4 layers. The face mask machine will finish all the processing from the feeding to nose-clip fixing, edge sealing to cutting the finished products. The face mask machine has features such as stable performance, high productivity, low error rate and easy operation, etc. The mask machine adopts aluminum frame light and firm, and automation control system. This comes especially useful at a time when the demand for disposable masks is spiraling every day.
PrintStop, an online printing solutions provider for SMEs and large businesses, has also introduced a wide range of Covid signage and protective equipment. Signage includes Covid banners, banner stands, posters, wall stickers, floor stickers and product stickers. Its array of protective equipment is very comprehensive and comprises infection-control face shield, infrared thermometer, wall mounted thermometer, hand sanitiser, gadget disinfector, metal safety key, face masks, etc.
Techworks, known for engineering innovative display solutions, has taken its suite of Covid safety solutions to another level by launching ‘VustrSafechk’, a plug & play multi-purpose kiosk. It allows contact-less temperature measurement and has a sanitiser dispenser. Not just this! It has a built-in face and mask recognition system. Other features of this kiosk include maintenance of visitor records, centralised database, integration with any existing ERP/attendance and visitor management system. The visitor management tool helps keep employees safe, and being modular, it can be customised to suit the needs residential complexes, office reception, retail stores, malls, schools etc.
The global safety signs market is expected to grow by $258.65 million as per Technavio. Steady growth is expected to continue and the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 3%. The situation will be similar in India as the market will be driven by the growth of the protective signage. Companies are increasingly focusing on product development and innovation, which is anticipated to boost the growth of the safety signs market. Personal protective signage ensures employee protection and a safe working environment, and is becoming crucial as the country gradually starts unlocking itself.