HP has set out plans to use The Sign Show 2026 as a platform to showcase how its print technology can help visitors to the event – as well as attendees at the co-located The Print Show – access profitable work in new markets.
One of many exhibitors returning to The Sign Show this autumn, HP will be located on stand S100, right at the front of the hall near the main entrance. The manufacturer took a similar position at the 2025 show, where it reported a high level of interest in its solutions among visitors from both print and signage backgrounds.
This year, HP is aiming to build on the success of its appearance in year one, with its main objective to connect with signage companies and printers that are looking for practical, profitable ways to grow, either through expanding applications, improving productivity, or simplifying operations.
“The aim is not just to show machines, but to show how those machines fit into modern print and sign businesses,” says Colin Easton, UK and Ireland large-format print channel manager at HP.
“Last year’s show delivered strong conversations with printers who are actively investing, diversifying, and modernising their businesses and that made it a clear priority to come back. Exhibiting again allows HP to build on established relationships, continue meaningful discussions started last year, and demonstrate long term commitment to the UK print community.”
Large-Format Commitment
While the two events are still several months away, HP already has a strong idea as to the machinery it will showcase at the NEC. Highlights on the manufacturer’s stand will include several solutions from its diverse large-format portfolio.
For the first time at a UK trade event, HP will demonstrate the HP Latex FS70W. Aimed at higher‑volume, industrial‑style production, the machine can run at up to 117sq m/hr in colour in outdoor mode or 91sq m/hr in colour mode for indoor quality prints. Add in a maximum printing with of 3.2m and this opens up opportunities across a range of markets and applications such as wallcoverings and both indoor and outdoor display pieces.
“The introduction of the Latex FS70W to a UK audience is a key highlight, alongside deeper storytelling around white ink, rigid applications, and production efficiency,” Easton says.
Among the other printers on display will be the HP Latex R530, the only compact all-in-one rigid and flexible machine within the HP Latex portfolio. The device can print at a top speed of 24sq m/hr in indoor mode and can run materials up to 1.6m wide and 5cm thick. It can also run a range of colours, including the popular white ink option.
Also on display will be the HP Latex 630W Print and Cut and HP Latex 830W machines, which Easton says demonstrate high-impact colour, white ink capability and production efficiency. The HP Latex 630W has a top speed of 14sq m/hr in standard six-pass mode and can print on materials up to 1.63m, while the is the faster of the two models at up to 36sq m/hr in outdoor mode, also with a maximum print width of 1.63m.
In addition, aside from its leading hardware solutions, HP will invite visitors to learn about the HP PrintOS Production Hub and how this software can help simplify job management, improve visibility, and support smarter decision making for both print and sign businesses.
“Together, these solutions reflect HP’s focus on scalable growth, from entry level expansion to industrial performance,” Easton says, adding: “Rather than novelty for novelty’s sake, HP’s focus is on showing what’s new in terms of capability, opportunity, and business impact.”
HP Talks Up UK Shows
Easton also addresses the role both The Print Show and The Sign Show have to play in the UK market. He says that UK‑focused show play a “vital” role in the industry and create an environment that is “accessible, practical and directly relevant to local market conditions”.
“UK printers face specific challenges around labour, energy costs, sustainability expectations, and turnaround times,” he explains, continuing: “A national show allows those conversations to happen in context and enables suppliers like us to respond with solutions that make sense for the UK market, not just global trends.”
On this, he talks up the benefits of co-locating the print- and sign-focused events alongside each other, saying how as the boundaries between print disciplines continue to blur, many printers today operate across commercial print, signage, décor, packaging, and industrial applications.
“A combined print and signage event reflects this reality,” he says, adding: “It encourages the cross‑pollination of ideas, discovery of new applications and business diversification. For HP, it mirrors how HP Latex technology is used in the real world, enabling customers to move between applications without changing platforms, inks, or workflows.
“The Sign Show and The Print Show are an opportunity for printers and sign companies to see technology running live, ask direct, practical questions and explore new business directions.
“Visitors should come to the HP stand to see how versatility, productivity, and software integration come together in a way that supports real business growth. Whether they are looking to expand into new applications, improve operational efficiency, or simply stay competitive, HP’s stand will offer clear, actionable insights and not just hardware.”
