Reusing display hardware
Most display hardware outlives the message it first carried. With a simple inventory and a little foresight, the next campaign may only need new print.
Start with a stock take.
Before you order anything, get every stand, frame and bar out of the cupboard and check what you really own. Many offices are paying for new kit while a perfectly good stand sits unused in a store room.
| Item | Check | What you can reuse it with |
|---|---|---|
| Roller banner base | Spring retracts cleanly, pole straight, feet firm | A new print to the same width |
| Pop-up frame | Hubs intact, arms lock, magnetic bars firm | New panels to the same layout |
| Hanging bars | Straight, with grips or clips working | New paper, fabric or poster of the same width |
| Drop systems and wall rails | Still fixed firmly, nothing loose | Fresh graphics to the same fitting |
| Picture frames | Glazing clean, corners tight | A new print to the same size |
| Struts and Velcro | Adhesive still grips | Often better replaced, as they are minor items |
| Rigid boards | Flat, clean, corners sound | Overlay a new vinyl print: ask us |
Make a one-page register.
Hardware only gets reused if somebody knows that it exists. List each item with its make, model, visible graphic size, how many you have, where it lives and who looks after it. Add a photo. This also makes the next quote faster, as the sizes are already known.
Design for the hardware you own.
- Keep your templates. A saved template for each stand makes new artwork quick and avoids a costly mismatch.
- Take the dates off the big pieces. Use short-life pieces for the details that change, so the costly parts last.
- Pick a house size. If all your frames take the same size of poster, any new campaign can use all of them.
- Plan for modules. Graphics that work as separate panels can be used in rooms and stands of different sizes.
When to let go.
Reuse has limits. A stand that looks worn on a client's floor can cost you more in lost impression than a new one would. Safety matters more. Anything bent, cracked or unstable should be retired, particularly if it stands in a public area. Old frames can have sharp edges. Ask whoever runs your venue if you are unsure about something overhead.
Fitting a new graphic to another maker's kit
We may well be able to print for hardware that we did not supply, but the fit depends on the make and model. Give us those details along with photos and exact sizes, and ask before you assume. Looking after it between uses helps as well, and our guide to storing a roller banner applies to most portable kit. Reuse of this sort is also among the simplest ways of reducing print waste.
Hardware with a long working life.
Your questions.
Can you work with stands we bought elsewhere?
Usually that is worth a try. Send the make, model, photos and sizes, and we will tell you what can be done.
Can an old Foamex board be used again?
Sometimes, if it is flat and clean. New vinyl over an old print can show marks or edges, so ask us before planning on it.
Should we repair a stand or replace it?
Compare the cost of the repair with a new unit, and take the age of the stand into account. A worn spring tends to be the end of the road for low-cost stands.