Fitting the bill
Fixtures and fittings are the unsung heroes of the signage and
wide-format print markets, playing a vital role in all applications and
projects, but largely going unseen or unnoticed as consumers’ attention
is drawn to the piece that these versatile solutions are holding in
place.
Be it a series of framed film posters adorning the walls of a
cinema corridor, a large printed billboard standing tall at the side of
the road, or even a gigantic building wrap transforming the look of a
city skyscraper, fixtures and fittings play a vital role in the success
in all sorts of signage projects.
With this in mind, we take a closer look at the selection process
for fixtures and fittings, and how you can ensure you are working with
the right materials, and also examine some of the latest solutions
available to the signage and wide-format print markets.
Sensible investment
ISA-UK, one of the leading trade associations for the UK signage
industry, offers plenty of advice when it comes to installing signage
safely by using the right fixtures and fittings during the project.
Director David Catanach says it is vital that sign-makers and installers
meet the standards required when using fixtures and fittings that are
carrying a load, in order to ensure the safety of signage projects.
“This will mean forgoing the ‘cheap as chips’ products as it will
be your responsibility to ensure that any fixtures and fittings are safe
and not a potential danger to the public,” Catanach says, adding: “For
non-load bearing requirements, it will be a case of you get what you pay
for. Aesthetics along with longevity will play a major part – and the
best always comes at a cost for a reason.”
Catanach goes on to point out the dangers of under-investing with
fixtures and fittings in sign-making and installation, explaining that
by not committing enough spend to these solutions, the sign-maker is not
being responsible with their work and could potentially be putting
peoples’ lives at risk.
ISA-UK director David Catanach says under-investing in
fixtures and fittings is another example of a sign-maker not taking
their responsibilities seriously enough
“Under-investing, like cutting corners and sharpening that pencil
on materials, is just another description of a sign-maker not taking
their responsibilities seriously enough,” he says, adding: “Signs
falling off from walls, a shop front or a structure can and have killed.
“There is no excuse for not using the correct fixtures and fittings
and ignorance is not a defence and neither is ‘my client wouldn’t pay
for it’. If the client is insisting on the cheapest route, then it may
well be better to either educate them in the true value of your product
and services or simply walk away.
There is no excuse for not using the correct fixtures and fittings
and ignorance is not a defence and neither is ‘my client wouldn’t pay
for it’”
“Successful sign companies who understand and follow this guidance
tend to get more lucrative jobs on the back of their work ethic and
product quality rather than the business that couldn’t care less and is
selfish enough to think that the rules don’t apply to them.”
In terms of how ISA-UK can help, the organisation publishes its
Best Practice Guide that offers a range of advice and guidance on how to
install signage and related applications both safely and responsibly,
while the organisation also alerts members and their customers to the
pitfalls of non-compliance with standards and regulations.
“Our Technical Committee members are always on hand with advice for
our members in addition to our regular updates,” Catanach adds.
Versatile solutions
Having established how you should go about selecting your fixtures
and fittings, the next step is looking at the many different options
available to the market. Employee-owned business Gripple recently
announced the launch of a new product that it says is suitable for use
in a wide range of signage applications.
Gripple InvisiGrip offers a visually discreet and easy install
solution for the suspension of lightweight applications such as retail
signage, decorative displays, acoustic elements and signage, with
Gripple describing it as the perfect choice for instances where
aesthetics are important.
Gripple InvisiGrip is suitable for use in lightweight
application jobs such as retail signage, decorative displays, acoustic
elements and signage
According to Gripple, translucent hanger, supplied with InvisiGrip
filament, creates the illusion of ‘floating’ displays and adds
additional visual interest to the suspended object. The patented
mechanism uses a clear filament to create this floating effect and comes
in ready-to-use kits, eliminating the need for steel wire and metal
hooks.
The system is capable of working with a safe working load per
suspension point of 5kg and can hook through, or around, most objects.
Gripple also says InvisiGrip installs and adjusts in a matter of
seconds, eliminating signage rails and complex assemblies.
O Factoid: Gripple InvisiGrip offers a safe working load per suspension point of 5kg O
Will Anderson, product manager at Gripple, comments: “This product
fills a need for versatile, simple to use, easily adjustable, quick
change solution needed in the fast-paced retail, leisure and office
environments where displays are frequently changed, we believe this is
the first solution of its kind on the market.”
Gripple InvisiGrip is available in a number of options and lengths, with users able to select between end fixings
including loop, stud, mini hook, cladding hook, top hat, C-Clip and eyelet.
Elsewhere and another new signage fitting solution comes in the
form of NCFR476, a high-performance contact adhesive spray from tapes
and adhesives specialist Indasol.
Indasol says NCFR476 contact spray is an effective solution for laminating and bonding large areas quickly
Launched in response to demand from woodworking, shop-fitting and
exhibition customers, the spray comes with a Class 0 FR rating and is
non-carcinogenic, which Indasol says makes it safe to use in a wide
range of applications and jobs.
The product is also rated to 100C in use and, according to Indasol,
offers “excellent” initial tack and long-term bond on jobs in customer
premises, around members of staff and the public. NCFR476 is supplied in
500ml aerosols, 22-litre and 110-litre canisters.
“Designed to perform on almost any surface, NCFR476 contact spray
is a great product for laminating and bonding large areas quickly,”
Indasol says, adding: “It is ideal for permanent bonds that require good
initial bond strength.
“Supplied in an easy-to-use self-contained canister, the system does not
require any cleaning or maintenance and is completely portable for
on-site use.”
Bright idea
When it comes to installing certain signage applications, lighting
is also a key component to how the piece will look when completed. As
such, sign-makers should pay careful attention to the lighting fixtures
required to ensure the final product looks the part and has maximum
impact on passers-by.
Light technology specialist SloanLED recently announced the launch
of a new product in the form of SloanLED PrismBEAM24, an upgrade to its
pre-assembled stick-based LED lighting solution for illuminating new and
retrofit sign cabinet applications.
SloanLED says its new PrismBEAM24 solution is available in all standard lamp sizes, both single and double-sided
Available in all standard lamp sizes, both single and double-sided,
the entire PrismBEAM24 range features a one-piece construction with no
on-site assembly required and can easily be installed using existing
sockets.
PrismBEAM24 leverages SloanLED’s premium 24V channel letter modules
to deliver what SlaonLED says are improved optics, and four points of
light per module for optimum uniform illumination at 127mm to 203mm and a
maximum of 406mm from the face.
The product is available in 6500K and benefits from a revised
extrusion for what SloanLED describes as significantly increased
rigidity and less product flex, efficacy at 165 lumens per watt, up to
100% more lamps per power supply, and an industry-leading 10-year parts
and labour assistance warranty.
In addition, its features Constant Current Technology, which
eliminates the line loss and voltage drop issues and the need for
expensive heavy gauge hook-up wire and connectors often required with
competing products.
Barry Blythe, director of sign product solutions at SloanLED,
comments: “We’ve rebuilt PrismBEAM24 from the ground up with sign-makers
in mind. We’re proud to say that PrismBEAM24 is a quantum leap in
quality, efficacy, and ease of use compared to any other stick-based
sign cabinet lighting solution on the market today.”
Though fixtures and fittings may not steal the show when it comes
to signage applications, they play a major role in the success and
safety of all signage projects. Throw in that they can also help improve
the look of the final project and there is no excuse for any sort of
under-investment in these solutions.
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