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viscom 2007, International trade fair for visual communication 20 to 22 September 2007, Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre ? viscom 2007: There was light thanks to FVL and Co. Düsseldorf. viscom 2007 took place in Düsseldorf from the 20th to the 22nd of September. Reed Exhibitions Germany, the organizer of the international trade fair for visual communication, expects around 9,000 visitors from the trade. Almost 250 exhibitors have already reserved their stand area. viscom 2007 presents classical sign making and light advertising technology, as well as fabric printing and something that we cannot even imagine doing without, namely digital graphics for large format printing. New markets, such as those for digital signage, supplement the range. By comparison to the previous events, there is an increased presence of the neon and LED industry, not least due to the efforts of FVL Fachverband Lichtwerbung e.V. From bulbs via fluorescent tubes and neon to light emitting diodes: The luxury of being able to switch on the light when it is needed, is something that we can no longer do without. In line with the pertinent inventions, during the past two centuries, there have been changes not only to everyday life but also to the illuminated signs industry. The history of electric light began in the early 19th century with an arc lamp from Humphry Davy. The history of the fluorescent lamp began in the middle of the 19th century with the Geissler tube. Most people today, link the light bulb with Thomas Alva Edison, who took out a patent for this invention in 1880. The history of neon and more especially LED has developed in a similarly strong manner to the above-mentioned light sources. In principle, there are two variants for light generation with high-voltage fluorescent tubes: Those with a blue and red discharge. Whilst pure neon is used for the red discharge, which is where the term neon tube comes from, a mixture of neon and argon is used for the blue, currently the most common variant. The blue discharge only functions due to the addition of mercury, which is responsible for the creation of ultraviolet rays in the tube. These rays cause the fluorescent material on the inner wall of the tube to produce coloured light. The incandescent powder is normally placed inside the tube after shaping. The inside of the tube is covered with adhesive for this purpose. Glass beads, on which the adhesive initially adheres, are used for this purpose. After shaping, another possibility is to apply liquid lacquer (flushing). Glass tubes that have been pre-flushed are also available, in which the incandescent material is placed in the glass tube before shaping. The high proportion of manual labour, as well as the expertise and skill required for this are only some of the reasons why neon is considered today to be a costly trade. The fact that semiconductors produce light was known in 1907. Initially, only the colours of red, yellow and green were possible. Blue LED was only discovered in the early nineties and consequently the possibility of generating white light. By means of additive colour blending, blue LED can be combined with yellow phosphorous which the eye perceives as white. Even after additive colour blending, white light can be produced with a red, green and blue LED, whose light blends under a transparent cover. The luminous efficiency of light emitting diodes has improved in recent years, so that it can be around 45 to 50 lumen per watt with white LED. This development promises further improvements, so that it is increasingly being used as an alternative to neon systems. The discussion as to whether LEDs will displace neon light continues. One thing is certain, transportation as well as the fitting of LEDs is simpler. Whether a comparable effect to that of neon can be produced, remains questionable. In the meantime, the LED manufacturers are also marketing tubes in which LEDs are embedded, that even permit open contours. Even so, these do not always appear able to reach the level of attraction of neon. For those who want to obtain further information about the development of light advertising and its capabilities can do so from the middle of August this year in the virtual FVL Lounge with numerous pictures and texts as well as a visual time line. FVL, as a partner of Reed Exhibitions Germany, is also represented at viscom with its own stand. There are also numerous supplementary exhibitors from this sector, including Bas Neon, bocom Lichttechnik GmbH, Caralux, GE Lumination, Rosen Siebdruck + Lichtwerbung GmbH and Tecnolux Italia SAS. Light advertising is also on show in the demonstration area in Hall 8b, Stand I 140. More Information on www.viscom-messe.com. |  |
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