Home
Product
Embroidery Machines
SWF Embroidery Machines
- Single Head Machines
- KX Multi-Heads new
- ES Multiheads
Ricoma Embroidery Machines
Direct to Film Printers
- About DTF Printers
- Prestige R2 Pro
- Digital HeatFX 24H2
- Digital HeatFX 24H4
UV DTF Printers
ColDesi UV 24H3R
Transfer Printers
Ricoma Luminaris Printer
Learning Hub
Articles & Education
- Latest Articals New
- DTF (Direct to Film) Printing
- Industrial Embroidery Machines
- UV & UV DTF Printing
- DTG (Direct to Garment Printing
Taining
- Pre Training Portal
- Frequently Asked Question
Support
- Create A Support Ticket
- After Sales Support
- DTF Printer Support
- UV Printer Support
- Heat Press Support
- PTM Support
- DTG M2 Support
- Embroidery Machine Support
About Us
Supplies
- DTF Supplies
- DTG & UV Supplies
- Embroidery Supplies
- Parts & General Consumables
- Embroidery Software
Equipment
- Transfer Printers
- Spangle Bling Machines
- Heat Presses
- Pre-Treaters
- Tunnel & Draw Dryers
- Fume Extractors
What You Need to Start Printing In-House Posters and Event Graphics
Every tradeshow booth, theatre lobby or expo stand relies on bold, eye-catching graphics. For businesses in the print, décor or promotional sector, having the ability to produce those visuals in-house gives you speed, control and margin. Rather than outsourcing to a print shop and managing delays or markups, a wide format eco solvent printer lets you deliver directly on your terms.
This guide will show you what you need, how to think about costs, and why a machine like the Gongzheng ThunderJet AQ1602S makes sense as your entry point.
Why Eco Solvent Works for Event Posters
Eco solvent inks are designed to bond with coated media, giving sharp, durable results even outdoors. Because the inks resist smudging and fading, they’re ideal for posters, signage and point-of-sale graphics that need to last more than a few hours.
Compared to water-based inks, eco solvent is more robust in real-world conditions. Compared to UV, it often has advantages on flexible media (vinyl, banner stock, coated paper) and can be more cost-effective for the types of posters used in events and exhibitions.
If you’d like more detail on eco solvent printers, see our overview here.
What You’ll Need to Get Started (Checklist)
- Wide Format Eco Solvent Printer – A model like the ThunderJet AQ1602S offers 64-inch print width and dual Epson i3200 heads, giving a balance of speed and quality.
- Design / RIP Software – Tools like Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW paired with RIP software (e.g. Maintop) ensure your artwork is accurate and production-ready.
- Media – Stock coated poster paper, outdoor banner material and vinyl rolls to cover different customer needs.
- Finishing Tools – Start with a trimmer, then add laminators or mounting tables as your workload grows.
- Workspace – Plan for a clean area with good ventilation and storage for rolls of media.
- EcoSolvent Inks – Making sure you order inks that match your printer and colour profile is vital
Costs and Payback
Bringing poster printing in-house isn’t only about convenience, it’s about capturing more value. To give some context, a single tradeshow poster sized around 1.5 m × 2 m (3 m²) can cost between £50 and £70 to outsource depending on provider, media and finishing. Larger pieces, such as 3 m × 2 m theatre posters, are often priced at over £100 each (BannerWorld, VC Print).
When you own the equipment, those costs stop going to outside vendors and start flowing into your business. You can quote jobs with confidence, respond faster to urgent requests and keep control over both the schedule and the quality of the finished work. That combination is what turns a printer from an expense into a profit centre.
Applications That Drive Demand
- Tradeshow booths and backdrops – wall graphics and display posters for exhibition stands.
- Theatre event posters – foyer displays, street posters and promotional runs.
- Retail campaigns – shop windows, in-store displays and seasonal promotions.
- Conferences and seminars – schedules, directional signage and branded visuals.
- Community and charity events – fundraisers, awareness campaigns and local festivals.
These jobs are needed every week by organisations of all sizes. Having the ability to produce them quickly and reliably means your business can take on work that others have to turn away.
Why the ThunderJet AQ1602S is a Good Fit
The ThunderJet AQ1602S is designed for businesses ready to step into wide format production.
- Supports print widths up to 64 inches
- Dual Epson i3200 heads for consistent quality at production speed
- Eco solvent inks for durability on flexible media
- Straightforward setup and integration with existing workflows
For print shops, embroidery businesses or promotional product companies, it’s a practical way to expand into posters and event graphics without overextending your budget
See It in Real Life
The best way to understand what a wide format eco solvent printer can do for your business is to see it in action. At YES Group, we offer live demonstrations in our Manchester showroom. You’ll see the ThunderJet AQ1602S running, review media options and get advice from our team on how to set up your own workflow.
Book your demo today and explore how in-house poster and event graphics printing can save money, expand your services and create new revenue opportunities.
