just how many

[Geneva Olson]

different sizes and variations are there for retractable banners?

they seem to all be the same crappish construction.

 

[White Haus]

lots

 

[Geneva Olson]

if there could just be a standard, that would be great.

 

[Boudica]

Like Whitehaus said, there are LOT's of them. We typically get them from Orbus stands, and they seem to be pretty durable. We often put in new graphics from year to year for customers and re-use them many times (until the leader get's too short). The only time we've had issues is when the end customer is being stupid and mis-treating them. Getting drunk while taking down their tradeshow booth and wrecking them.
We use the Orient 920 the most and sometimes the Bladelite.

Orient 920 Retractable Banner Stand

Simple in design, yet impactful at events, trade shows and more. The Orient 920 retractable banner stand effectively conveys messaging to your audience and is usable in many settings. A padded carry bag is included, increasing portability and making shipping and storage easier.

www.orbus.com

ETA - you have the power to choose your own standard. Tell them what stands you stock and give them the template/dimensions for that banner stand.

 

[White Haus]

ETA - you have the power to choose your own standard. Tell them what stands you stock and give them the template/dimensions for that banner stand.

This. For new requests, find a good/better/best option and stock a couple of those, keep templates saved somewhere handy to send to customers. (They still won't use them, or understand bleed/safe area/leader on the bottom)

For replacements, we tell customers to drop them off then base template/print file size off what's already in their cheap chinese stand.

These used to really frustrate/confuse me too but I've recently realized that as long as your banner isn't too wide for the stand, most "common" size inserts will work with most stands.

We've gotten lucky on the last handful of insert changes where the customer brings us stands that have adjustable/telescoping poles, those are sweet. Makes the overall length of the banner a lot less critical since the end use can adjust the height with the pole.

 

[Geneva Olson]

This. For new requests, find a good/better/best option and stock a couple of those, keep templates saved somewhere handy to send to customers. (They still won't use them, or understand bleed/safe area/leader on the bottom)

For replacements, we tell customers to drop them off then base template/print file size off what's already in their cheap chinese stand.

These used to really frustrate/confuse me too but I've recently realized that as long as your banner isn't too wide for the stand, most "common" size inserts will work with most stands.

We've gotten lucky on the last handful of insert changes where the customer brings us stands that have adjustable/telescoping poles, those are sweet. Makes the overall length of the banner a lot less critical since the end use can adjust the height with the pole.

what material do you print on to put in them? I've only made one ever and used 13 oz scrim. Now I just buy them from firesprint or b2signs. they seem to be cheap enough and less headache to just farm it out. (that one I made was a doozy back when I was still green behind the ears...I suddenly had flashbacks to my youth with those tension shades on the windows. LOL)

 

[Boudica]

We use Ultraflex Super Smooth PET

 

[White Haus]

what material do you print on to put in them? I've only made one ever and used 13 oz scrim. Now I just buy them from firesprint or b2signs. they seem to be cheap enough and less headache to just farm it out. (that one I made was a doozy back when I was still green behind the ears...I suddenly had flashbacks to my youth with those tension shades on the windows. LOL)

We use 13oz GB PET...ultraflex and most manufacturers make some sort of version of it. Nice and smooth, blockout, doesn't curl and doesn't fray because it's PET and not PVC/scrim.

 

[Geneva Olson]

ok. so, what else is that material used for beside the retractable banners?

 

[Humble PM]

I've been know to use it to make supergloss prints, with a polyester (?cast?) optically clear laminate, then mounted to ACM with face mount adhesive.

Mostly it's used for either retractable, or trade show 3D stands* - really good dimensional stability -

* Can't think of the proper name for these.

 

[White Haus]

ok. so, what else is that material used for beside the retractable banners?

Nothing else here, that's the only thing we use it for.

 

[signheremd]

PET Banner material. We use stands much like the Orbus stands. We use 24" and 30" wide units the most

 

[Smahoney81]

There are a lot of “throwaway” stands, I manufacture a few for that market. I also manufacture our patented retractable
called the smart roll banner, see attached pdf. This one of the best bang for your buck buck.