At first glance the challenge seems insurmountable. Design and engineer from original concept a solar powered sign at the entrance to Eastern Washington University located in Cheney Washington to last 100 years.
“This will be a huge endeavor,” said Jim Risher, President, Sign Factory. “The university is seeking to highlight their efforts toward sustainability and a smaller carbon footprint.”
The project is complicated enough by itself. What makes it even more challenging is the environment in Eastern Washington. The sign will need to contain its own gigantic storage capacity to provide power during the long winter months of darkness.
The Sign Factory won the business after the university received bids from companies throughout the Pacific Northwest. Work is underway and the project is expected to be completed by mid October. “I am not aware of any sign company in the Pacific Northwest that has taken on a solar powered sign in a tough environment,” said Risher. “We look forward to creating this prototype to serve as a sustainable energy model for the future.”
Originally published at PR Buzz.
Coach Carroll’s intent to simulate an actual game environment at Seahawks training camp in time for the first practice was no easy project. He wanted a new scoreboard that was big enough to see from all 3 practice fields. The Sign Factory was the only local company with the needed equipment and personnel readily available to complete the job under a tight timeline and without damaging the field.
“Installation consisted of standing up 2 huge pipes in concrete without penetrating the membrane mesh protecting the field,” said Jim Risher, President, Sign Factory. “We were able to deploy our own excavator, crane truck and flatbeds to remove dirt and create the footings large enough to hold the pipes and not destroy the field.”
Seahawks Equipment Director Erik Kennedy was put in charge of the project and wanted a company with a proven track record. “We chose All American Scoreboards because of their work with teams such as the New York Jets, Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns, “said Kennedy. “It was All American who recommended we hire the Sign Factory to handle what figured to be a tricky installation based on the water and sewer systems, hills and slopes.”
The Sign Factory and Everbrite, the parent company of All American Scoreboards, have a long history of working together to install and service signs for brand name companies such as Subway and Mc Donald’s. Microsoft’s search engine Bing, which is quickly gaining market share, is the official sponsor of both the training camp and the new scoreboard. Everett Steel was able to supply the two 12″ square tube pipes to hold the scoreboard in place.
“The team from the Sign Factory, Dennis and Tom, did a phenomenal job of navigating the tough terrain and tight timelines to get the job done,” said Kennedy. “They were very organized and detailed. The entire process went smoothly.”
The scoreboard is 24′ tall overall; 8′ tall x 24′ wide with two 3′ x 24′ panels. The Sign Factory is uniquely positioned to handle the toughest installations. For more information, call Dennis at 425-822-1200.
Article originally published on PR Buzz.
Bruce Stanley, Director of Marketing for Madrona Digital, a new technology company providing the next generation of home entertainment, security, and energy management renewal, asked 5 locally-well known sign companies to create his storefront sign. Ultimately, he was most impressed with the Sign Factory. “My representative Wade Brown really made the difference,” said Stanley. “He was the only one who was knowledgeable, responsive, timely and dependable.”
Stanley says Wade helped him tweak his initial concept from formed non-illuminated letters to account for the importance of back lighting for gray days and nights. “The night time marketing ended up to be the right choice even though it was a little more in terms of budget. Since we are located in a retail strip on busy NE 20th in Bellevue, it made sense.”
Bruce was also pleased with the fact that the sides of the letters were painted the same color as the letters. “Usually the sides are black, gray or white. I also really liked the fact that the color of the back box on which the letters were mounted matched the color of the front of our building. It’s the attention to details that really makes for amazing aesthetics,” he said.
Madrona Digital team members were impressed how quickly the sign was installed with zero hassle or complaints. The Sign Factory can provide the same level of design, installation and customer service for your company. For more information, call Wade Brown at 425-822-1200.
Article originally published in PR Buzz.
The Sign Factory creates lively in-park signage for the Seattle Mariners.
By Steve Aust, Signweb.com
ING Direct, the Dutch-based financial-services giant, elected to sponsor the Hit It Here Cafe at Seattle's Safeco Field, home of the Mariners. The firm hired The Sign Factory (Kirkland, WA), which it had contracted for numerous sign installations throughout the Pacific Northwest, to fabricate the project.
It’s not your father’s ballpark anymore. Gone are the days when the only advertisements were whatever graphics could fit on the outfield walls or scoreboard, or when concessions involved a tepid hot dog, stale peanuts and flat beer or soda. Not only are Major League Baseball (MLB) clubs constantly seeking new advertising platforms, but fans are seeking a more upscale experience with better amenities and more palatable dining options.
The Seattle Mariners, which arguably cater to one of the more sophisticated constituencies among MLB cities at its Safeco Field, hit a home run on both counts when ING Direct, the Dutch-based, financial-services conglomerate who operates its West Coast headquarters in greater Seattle, decided to sponsor the Hit it Here Café at Safeco Field, which allows fans to watch the home team while dining on angus-beef burgers of salami-and-hummus platters while enjoying one of 99 beers offered.
Of course, successful on-premise branding required effective signage. ING hired The Sign Factory (Kirkland, WA), which had installed signage at ING headquarters, after reading its proposal for the Hit It Here sign. The Sign Factory executed the design based on the signframe’s original, angled grid background, and used half of this structure.
Jim Risher, The Sign Factory’s president, said, “”Based on our lighting, engineering and design experience, we convinced ING’s representatives the neon provided the only realistic illumination choice for the sign. The exposed light source wouldn’t be covered by a lens or cove. Energy consumption was a concern, but, using high-efficiency, electronic transformers minimized the difference versus using LEDs, he said.
The Sign Factory creates lively in-park signage for the Seattle Mariners. By Steve Aust
To illuminate the 4 x 60-ft. sign, The Sign Factory implemented 18 Transco UTX Service Pro Transformers, which power 680 linear ft. of neon tubing, which comprises a mix of 15mm, cobalt-blue and orange-citrus Tecnolux tubing for the letters, and EGL6500CL bright-white tubing for the background. To accent the backdrop, the shop coated the face with Matthews satin-finish, acrylic-polyurethane paint.
Risher said installation proved a challenge. Because of the tight confines, The Sign Factory built a staging area on a sloped section of bleachers. To transport the sign to the staging area, the shop packed the sign in six, 10-ft.-long sections.
At first glance the challenge seems insurmountable. Design and engineer from original concept a solar powered sign at the entrance to Eastern Washington University located in Cheney Washington to last 100 years.
