The Origins of T3.
Patents, Fabric Graphics & LED World Firsts.
📖 Episode 2 of 3. If you have not read Episode 1 — start here: The Origins of T3 — How It All Began →
My name is Jonathan Evitt. I am the designer, developer and sole manufacturer of the T3 range of display systems through my company, Tecna Display Ltd. This is the second blog charting the history of T3 from its initial inception.
It has always been one of my strong beliefs that products are organic. They have to grow, adapt and improve to answer the demands of the market. If you stand still, the product loses relevance and it dies. Every innovation described in this piece — the new connector, the fabric graphic system, the LED tube — was driven by that conviction. You can read the full story of how it started in Episode 1: How It All Began, and the definitive overview of what we manufacture today on our T3 manufacturer page.
The New Connector.
Stronger, Simpler, Patentable.
The Cross-Shaped Aperture
After a great deal of research and development, I changed the design of the connector to incorporate a cross-shaped aperture on the six sides of the cube. This made the system stronger, easier to build — and patentable. All three changes were fundamental to the very significant growth in sales that followed.
It is this connector that we manufacture and sell today to more than 25 countries. The system is patented throughout Europe, the USA and China among others. We own more than 30 granted patents, design registrations, trademarks and other IP. For the complete picture of our patent portfolio and what it protects, see our T3 manufacturer and patent holder page.
FESPA Madrid 2007.
A Eureka Moment in a Plastic Bag.
I had an extraordinary revelation at FESPA 2007. A true Eureka moment — and it arrived in a supermarket carrier bag.
The Plastic Bag That Changed Everything
I was exhibiting T3 Airframe at FESPA in Madrid in 2007 with my Spanish distributor, Mario Calvo. We were using roll-up panels attached to the framework with magnetic and steel. Mario asked me to leave a space of 2m × 2m on the back wall free of graphics — he had a surprise for me.
On the last day of build, the owner of a graphics printing company arrived on the stand carrying a plastic supermarket bag. Inside was a piece of printed fabric 2m square. We attached the fabric to the wall using Velcro. The quality of the printing was impressive. It looked amazing. Infinitely easier and far more forgiving than fitting roll-up panels. I realised then that this was the future for exhibition graphics — and it had arrived wrinkle-free in a little plastic bag. I have a great deal to thank Mario for.
T3 Wandlight.
The World’s First 360° LED Tube.
With the expansion of fabric graphics came the opportunity for backlit panels. I had been using fluorescent tubes during my custom build exhibition days — and they had a horrible habit of breaking. I tried another LED tube light, which also had a glass exterior sleeve that shattered at the worst possible moment.
Looking for a 360° LED — And Not Finding One
I looked for a 360-degree LED lighting tube everywhere — including lighting shows in China, the home of LED lighting. I could not find one. I realised I had to design and manufacture my own. I could not wait for the industry to catch up.
I decided the tube needed to be plastic and developed the solution — an LED tape spiralled inside the tube to give the 360-degree bright, even light I needed. The result is T3 Wandlight — patented worldwide. The first ever 360-degree LED tube light. Another world first. It is the core technology behind every backlit exhibition stand we produce today.
What Wandlight Enables
The importance of T3 Wandlight is that it enables T3 to supply fully illuminated plinths and counters, double-sided backlit walls and lightbox structures that were simply not possible before. Every backlit T3 display — from a single lightbox counter to a full backlit island stand — is powered by Wandlight. It also integrates seamlessly with the T3 Affinity counter and display system. No competitor has produced a credible equivalent.
T3 Affinity & China.
Expanding the System.
The Affinity Display System
Our relationship with Lintel in China has enabled us to develop the T3 Affinity display system — our dedicated counter, low walling and shell scheme cladding system — and a whole range of accessories to our own designs. T3 Affinity is the circular profile extension of the T3 platform: the same structural philosophy applied to lower-height display environments including conference display stands, brand activation counters and shop-in-shop display systems.
More about our relationship with China — and what it has enabled — in Episode 3.
📖 Episode 3 coming soon — covering T3’s relationship with China, the two Queen’s Awards, and the global expansion of the T3 system. Start with Episode 1: How It All Began →
Three World Firsts.
Still Manufactured in Harlow.
T3 Framework
The patented Twist & Lock connector — invented 1981.
T3 Wandlight LED
The world’s first 360° LED tube for modular displays.
T3 Affinity
Circular profile system — counters · walling · shell scheme.
Backlit Exhibition Stands
SEG fabric + Wandlight — the FESPA 2007 legacy.
T3 — The Manufacturer
30+ patents · two Queen’s Awards · Harlow, Essex.
Modular Exhibition Stands
The complete T3 exhibition stand range.
Shell Scheme Upgrades
The T3 Shell-Kit — available at every UK venue.
25,000+ Projects
T3 in action across 40+ countries.
The T3 Story
In Full.
Free 3D Design
In 24 Hours.
T3 Display Systems is the original inventor, patent holder and sole manufacturer of the T3 Twist & Lock modular display system. Tell us your brief — we return a complete 3D stand design within 24 business hours, free, no obligation.
