If all graffiti could be as artistic as Banksy, people might not have such a problem with it.  Unfortunately, a lot of graffiti is rude, unsettling or just unsightly and it is something that should be abolished.  Graffiti can ruin the family friendly feel of villages or the feeling of safety in cities and is associated with crime and bad behaviour.

The cost of vandalism…

Beyond this, vandalism can destroy personal, company and local government property.  Even if the attacked item is not destroyed, it nonetheless is very inconvenient and costly to remove.  Network Rail spends approximately £5million per year cleaning up graffiti, while the London Underground spends close to a staggering £10million per year, proving that vandalism is a huge problem. Markings that obscure the purpose of the sign can be dangerous so it is essential that the messages of road signs or warnings are clear to the public.

At the Stocksigns Group we aim to reduce the inconvenience and cost associated with graffiti by offering signage that is graffiti and permanent marker resistant. These qualities are particularly useful as removing graffiti rapidly has been shown to help reduce the likelihood of re-offending, as vandals thrive off the chance to showcase their work.

How can graffiti resistant products help…

Although no sign can claim to be completely damage proof, we offer a wide range of graffiti resistant products. One of these products is Vitreous Enamel, a product that has been present for over 100 years and is renowned as one of the most hard-wearing, vandal resistant signage options.

The process of creating a Vitreous Enamel sign involves the fusion of an image onto glass coated steel in a furnace at temperatures up to 800oC, creating a sign with a lifespan of over 40 years. The finished sign has a high quality, vibrant, lustrous finish with fire retardant and fade resistant qualities,making them a popular choice for places where signs need to be long lasting in harsh environments.

Stocksigns can also supply a range of durable signs which provide many of the benefits of Vitreous Enamel. With vibrant colours, hard-wearing coatings and various metal options, they are robust and convenient vandal resistant signage and will last for over 10 years.

Extend the life of your signs…

Keen to offer products that are suitable for all applications, Stocksigns can also apply a protective overlay film (POF) on the majority of standard signs to extend the lifespan by up to 3 years. These are commonly used on construction sites and around local communities as the POF creates a surface which can be easily cleaned to rid graffiti with the use of specialist graffiti remover or just a simple microfiber cloth and water or acetone.

Managing Director of the Stocksigns Group, Danny Adamson said, “Vandalism always poses problems in society, so we aim to maintain and discourage damage to signage with our range of vandal resistant solutions, suitable for all levels of requirements. Recovering signs from incidences of graffiti creates a much longer lifespan making them more cost efficient.  Speed of removal also decreases time spent cleaning and restoring signage, diverting staff resources and money back to areas that require them.”

What makes a Wayfinding Project Work?

The key to making signage work is to involve your manufacturer from a very early phase in the planning process.

Stocksigns work with architects and principle contractors from the early design stages to try and avoid costly mistakes later on. As members of the HSSA, Stocksigns regularly carry out signage projects in both large and complex premises.

Including signage at the beginning of a project enables you to create a signage scheme that works hard for the investment. It enables development of signage that fulfils a number of functions; brand building, information, continuity, safety and way-finding all while displaying a sympathetic design to complement a premises’ overall ambience.

In today’s multilingual society, accurate, clear and engaging signage is even more important. Good clear signage should be instantly recognised, regardless of nationality, age or ability. Audiences should always be carefully considered and included in your brief with your signage contractor. Special thought should be given for DDA requirements; should Braille or products designed for Dementia patients be included?

Equally, if a building is littered with signs this can often be counter intuitive. Poorly conceived wayfinding actually hinders and confuses, while on an aesthetic level it’s important to complement the architecture.

Watch our video on wayfinding design tips

In order to find their way, people need to be able to see your wayfinding signage. Where are your signs to be viewed from? Make signs easy to see and easier still to read. Situate them at people’s eye line or in places they just can’t miss. Greater distances will need larger text sizes, but your choice of font and colours will also make a difference to viewing distances. Go for clear fonts with high contrasting colours for clarity. When planning your way-finding scheme it is best to physically walk the route, obstructions such as trees and other signage are often not marked on flat plans.

For more information please call our sales team 01737 77 40 72 or email on sales@stocksigns.co.uk

Stocksigns has been manufacturing signs for more than fifty years and in that time we have been able to advise our customers on the principles of sign design. Now the range of signage applications, together with the ever growing list of materials and manufacturing techniques available, means there are an infinate number of design factors to take into consideration. Rather than going into design elements in terms of colours and fonts, here are some simple steps that can be taken to help you with sign design and choice.

These steps can be divided into;

  • Step 1 Signage function
  • Step 2 Sign Check List
  • Step 3 Do’s and Don’ts
  • Step 4 Legislative requirements
  • Step 5 Environmental considerations

Step 1 Signage Functions.

What do you want your sign or signage to do? The types of sign function can be broadly devided into.

  • Information
  • Directional
  • Brand/Corporate Image
  • Company Culture/mission statements
  • Health & safety
  • Motivational
  • Advertising

Part of the design of your sign will depend on its intended use and function, but don’t forget a sign can be designed to carry out more than one job. Your directional and wayfinding signs can also carry your logo and be designed using your company colours and fonts, helping to build  corporate brand, while carrying out its primary task of guiding staff and visitors. Even health and safety signs can be branded, as long as your company details don’t impede the delivery of the safety message or render the sign non-compliant with  safety legislation.

Step 2 Sign Check List

This step is designed as a series of questions to consider while choosing and designing your signs. They provide a framework of elements to consider to make sure you get the sign you both want and need.

Is the sign really necessary? An over use of signs can cause ‘sign blindness’. Try to avoid this by only creating the essential signs, and by making those you do create, work hard and do the job well.

Is it informative/give the right message? Different people interpret different things in different ways. Show your design to others for their opinion and interpretation. Have they read the sign in the way you intended? Adjust your text until you are sure that the message you want is being conveyed clearly.

Is the sign in the optimum position? Approach the proposed sign site from different directions. A site survey can help in this situation. From what distance does the sign need to be visiable from? Are there any obstructions to the view?

Longevity. How long do you need the sign to work for you? Most signage needs to be fixed permanently. Have you selected a material that will cope with the environmental pressures? Is the sign in a public place? Is there a lot of pedestrian traffic? Do you need something with high environmental resistance like vitreous enamel? Alternatively is the sign required for just a short time? If you are designing event signs you will probably want something that is cost effective and easy to put up and take down. Do you need to update the sign frequently? Room functions for example can often change, if so choose a solution that will offer you flexibility.

If you are using a sign system, does it fulfil all the requirements e.g. corporate identity, legisation, function and adaptability?

Step 3 Dos and Dont’s

This step is just some general advice and common sense but serves as a guide.

  • Don’t over kill – less is often more (again avoid sign blindness)
  • Do get a site survey from a reputable sign company if in any doubt about legislation or requirements.
  • Do it properly. No half harted effort i.e. plan the project, mistakes can be costly.
  • Do consider your employees and colleagues needs.
  • Do think about future developments – how easy will it be to add or update signs
  • Don’t use short cuts
  • Do try and achieve a uniform structure to the signage scheme – aim for consistancy through-out all your signs

Step 4 Legislative Requirements

Depending on the type or function of your sign there may be legislative obligations your sign needs to fulfil. Symbols used in safety signage are covered by The Health & Safety (Safety Signs and Signals Regulations) 1966 and BS EN ISO 7010. The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and the Technical Buletin 24 of the Joint Mobility Unit (now part of the RNIB’s Access Consultancy Services) may need to be consulted when considering access through your building. Some exterior signage may need planning permission particularly if the sign is illuminated or of a large size. While we can’t apply for planning permission on your behalf, we can advise you on whether you are likely to need it.

Step 5 Environmental Considerations

In step 2 we touched very lightly on some environmental considerations. The most obvious of which are is the sign to be located indoors or outdoors? what’s more does the sign have to be visible at night time? does ilumination have to be a consideration? Vitreous Enamel signs can tolerate a number of different environmental factors, resulting in long-lasting, vibrant, non-fade quality signs regardless of weather conditions or busyness of location, making them ideal for wayfinding signage and street maps.

We hope that this simple guide will give you some ideas when choosing the type and style of the sign you require guide will help you when chosing the type and style of sign you require. For more help or information please contact our Sales Team on 01737 77 40 72 or sales@stocksigns.co.uk and we would be delighted to help you find the right sign design for you.

For a number of years Stocksigns has been working with the Care industry, developing signage specifically for this sector. One of the features of a care home should be to make residents feel at home rather than institutionalised.

Care home signage must be a balance of functionality and aesthetics. Signs must be designed so residents feel at home, yet give clear information or instruction. A challenge as they need to be created with an understanding of the residents’ capabilities. For example our Dementia signage is designed to help residents process the information as easily as possible. We use shape, colour and real images to communicate the message.

When creating a wayfinding signage scheme, a holistic approach must be adopted. Using consistency throughout the scheme will create familiarity for residents and help enforce the organisation’s brand. For one of our projects with Anchor Homes we worked closely with their design team, to produce aesthetically sympathetic signage, in keeping with the environment of West Hall, Anchor’s flagship property. For wayfinding signage tips, please read our blog post “What Makes a Wayfinding Project Work?“.

On a personal note, Julian Rowlandson, Sales and Marketing Director at Stocksigns said “My parents live in a development similar to Anchor, which has made me very aware of the value residents put in it feeling like home. The work we have done with Anchor helps to do just that” For more information visit our website www.stocksigns.co.uk or contact us at sales@stocksigns.co.uk

Stocksigns has been manufacturing school signs for the education industry for more than 50 years. As a result we have built up a wealth of knowledge on how schools can make the best use of their signs. We have brought together the best blog posts aimed at schools in this article to remind schools and colleges how to use and choose the right signs for them.

We have also got one of the largest dedicated schools signs catalogues on the market. Click on the catalogue cover below to view our huge range.

The Sign Catalogue is now available. Please visit our “Catalogue Request” page to request a copy.

Stocksigns has created a Pinterest page to help bring together some of the links to the industries best safety signs and general signage resources.

As we both publish our own signage information, and find the latest innovations and technologies within the industry, we will aggregate them together in our new page. Be sure to visit regularly or add it to your favourites to keep all your signage resources in one place. Also please send any signage information and resources that you would lik to be added to the page. You can contact me directly on jgodden@stocksigns.co.uk

Over the centuries Braille has had an enormous effect on the lives of millions of people across 120 countries worldwide. It is not a language but a code by which all languages may be written and read. The ability to read and write in Braille opens the door to literacy, intellectual freedom, equal opportunity, and personal security. It is an extremely important gateway to opportunity for the UK’s blind or partially sighted people, enabling them to be more independent.

Tactual from Stocksigns

The Stocksigns Braille signs range – Tactual – fully comply with Technical Bulletin 24 of the joint Mobility Unit. The JMU is a service provided by the RNIB and the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Tactual signs may be manufactured to suit individual needs including a range of text options, panel colours and layouts. We can advise you on your own legal obligations and ensure that your workplace is complying with the appropriate regulations. Braille can be incorporated into your corporate signage to extend the audience range and the reach of your signs. It can be included in information and tourist interpretation boards to extend their accessibility and contact points, such as emergency assistance points, with Braille offer help to vulnerable members of the public.

Stocksigns only supply Braille signs that we manufacture ourselves. As a result not only can we be sure that they are of the highest quality but also that we have the technology and expertise to manufacture any custom made sign with Braille to our own specification. We manufacture both Braille Safety signs and Braille Information signs in standard designs, as well as being able to add Braille to custom-made signs.

We also offer other types of disability signs, including disabled parking signs, accessible toilet signage and induction loop notices for the hard of hearing.

Jubilee Gardens – Project outline

October 2012 saw the official opening of the newly redesigned Jubilee Gardens by HM The Queen.

Stocksigns is an established signage manufacturer serving the entire UK’s sign market but specialising in various niche areas where they have grown to be the leading sign experts.

Jubilee Gardens Project

Adriaan Wijsveld is Stocksigns’ specialist in parks and open spaces. He has completed many successful projects for councils and municipal gardens etc. His design background, coupled with his in-depth knowledge of the signage market enables him to work closely with his clients, not only to successfully manage large scale projects but also take on many of the design aspects of creating new products.

Adriaan was approached by The Small Back Room design agency, Waterloo, which was aware of Stocksigns’ expertise in Vitreous Enamel sign manufacture. They wanted Stocksigns to partner with them in a project to rejuvenate Jubilee Gardens in time for the 2012 celebrations.

The products included in the project were:

  • Vitreous Enamel pan trays
  • Vitreous Enamel Lecterns 
  • Vitreous Interpretation boards 
  • Engraved Slate
  • Engraved Stainless Steel

Door Signs

Door signs can be customised with your logo or your corporate fonts. They create a unified design throughout the whole building and door signs help reinforce your company or brand values. We can offer you a huge variety of internal signs in materials including metal, plastics, glass and layered effects. Many have matching interior panels, signposts and external signs. Call us to discuss your ideas, and we can help guide you towards the best solution for your building. Visit our You Tube channel for more films about gettingthe nest from you signs.

Stocksigns’ sister company Messagemaker has completed a high profile project at JD Sports flagship store.

Messagemaker have created a full colour display and looping video content is designed to capture the attention of passers-by on both sides of the street, helping to promote the JD Sports brand 24/7 while drawing attention to current promotions and offers.

Messagemaker stepped in to assist JD Sports who were looking to maximise brand awareness and boost the store’s presence at this prime shopping location during one of their busiest trading periods. The installation, including the initial site survey and system training, was completed in just six weeks.

Read more

Directories and wayfinding sign systems aim to make navigation around unfamiliar grounds and buildings as simple as possible. These signs are often the first point of contact a customer has with your company and first impressions count.

This short film is a “How to” guide to creating the best designs for directories and wayfinding signs.

We have produced a short video clip of some of our examples of care home signs. Stocksigns have been working with care providers for many years and as a result our product range within the retirement living sector has grown substantially.

We have a large range of care-home signs available from our on line shop. Or for more information contact our dedicated Care Home Team.

Here are some factors to think about when choosing your flag pole:

  • Your location
  • Height of pole
  • Wind speeds
  • Foundation
  • Security

 

A question we are often asked is “How much space should I allow around the pole?”…Your flag size will dictate how near you will need to be from the nearest object. It is a good idea to allow plenty of space, particularly if you want to fly a larger one at a later date. It is also a good idea to consider proximity to trees and bushes. Visit our digital catalogue for more flag ideas and inspiration. They can be use to advertise your premises, special events or enhance your surroundings. Call us know if you wish to find out more about ways to promote your company. Tel 01737 764764

Stocksigns has been manufacturing street name plates for many years. Over this time we have seen not only the style of signs change but also some of the roads’ actual names change. So we thought we would take a look at how some streets have gained their names.

According to the BBC, The City of London contains no roads. There are plenty of streets, squares and alleys, but traditionally not a single road. The reason for the historic anomaly is because the word ‘road’ was not coined until the late 16th Century, after nearly all the thoroughfares in the ancient City had already been named.

Before the 19th century, street names were typically generic and descriptive, usually named after the goods sold in them e.g. Bread Street. After this it became commonplace for streets to bear the name of renowned figures from British history. But while it is obvious where some streets derive their names, others have been corrupted over the centuries and have altogether less obvious roots. Just for fun we have listed some of the London road names and their origins. To find out more about London’s historic roads visit http://www.londononline.co.uk/streetorigins/.

Godliman Street, (EC4)  

It is not easy to account for the origin of the name as applied to this street, but “Godelmynges” were a kind of cordwain made from the skin of a young animal, this name being apparently derived from Godalming, where the trade of tanning is still carried on (Lib. Albus, I. 231, and III. 323).

From: ‘Globe Yard – Gofairlane’, A Dictionary of London (1918). URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=63143  

Cannon Street, (EC4)

A corruption of Canwick, or Candlewick Street, which took its name from being the abode of candle-makers. In this street also, many weavers of woollen cloth were settled in business, having been brought from Flanders by Edward III, and their meetings were held in the churchyard of St. Lawrence Poultney. (Reference: Smith’s Streets of London, p. 381)

Leadenhall Street, (EC3)

So called from “Leaden Hall,” a large and ponderous-looking mansion inhabited about the year 1309 by Sir Hugh Neville. In 1408 it was purchased by Whittington, Lord Mayor of London, who presented it to the Corporation. (Reference: Jesse’s London, vol. II, p. 341)

Downing Street, (SW1)

Derives its name from Sir George Downing, Secretary to the Treasury in the reign of Charles II. Here stands the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury, conferred by George II on his favourite minister, Sir Robert Walpole, and on his successors in that high office for ever. (Reference: Jesse’s London, vol. I, p. 165)

Stocksigns  manufactures high quality street nameplates for many councils and boroughs. Signs can be manufactured using a variety of materials and techniques. Using traditional sign making techniques such as die pressed metal or vitreous enamel, not only look good, but are often the most long lasting solutions.  Contact our Sales Team for more information.

Vitreous enamel signs have been used for over a 100 years. However the enamelling process is believed to date back much further. We are often asked why people still choose vitreous enamel signs over more modern products. The answer is simple, nothing can compare to vitreous enamel signs in terms of;

  • Fire retardant properties – Vitreous Enamel signs are chosen for underground applications
  • Low maintenance – Very hard wearing
  • Environmental resistance – ideal for corrosive industrial or severe atmospheres
  • Long life – look as good as new for forty years or more
  • Vandal Resistance – graffiti and impact resistance

These exceptionally hard wearing and aesthetically pleasing signs are often still the preferred choice for many designers. The typical hard wearing qualities associated with Vitreous Enamel are created during the skilled manufacturing process. We have created a short film to give you a brief idea of what is involved.

The Vitreous Enamel Signs Manufacturing process

Stocksigns is delighted to publish their new edition of the School Signs Catalogue. Available on-line, it boasts the most comprehensive range of safety signs for schools, along with “easy order” sign guides for the most commonly required custom-made signs for schools.

An ideal school reference guide for Head Teachers, Bursars, Local Authorities and Contractors. For more information or advice on our School signs ranges, view our online safety signs catalogue or call our Sales Team on 01737 77 40 72.

All too often important announcements or vital bits of information are lost or go unnoticed. A Noticeboard can help to improve communication and can become a central focus, or even a meeting place for employees or communities.

Top Uses for Noticeboards

  • To post public messages for people
  • Help build company brand
  • As a Bulletin Board for company updates
  • Advertise upcoming events
  • Promote communication between administration and other staff
  • Announce company results – which can enhance productivity and build staff motivation
  • Create unity and a common purpose between staff members and help team building

Where Should You locate Your Noticeboards?

  • Chose a central and prominent position
  • Having dual or multiple locations work well
  • Create a hierarchy of notice boards i.e. general company info, departmental down to social events and news – this could form part of a well structured internal communications project
  • Look for places where people naturally gather, the photocopier & coffee machine are popular choices

Choosing Your Noticeboards

  • Where is your noticeboard to be displayed? We can provide noticeboards and display cases that are sympathetic to your environment. We can also offer advice on the levels of weather or vandal protection your external notice boards may require.
  • What information are you going to display? Is the information permanent or will it require updating regularly? We offer notice boards with fabric covered pin boards which are also Velcro friendly, magnetic or for fixed permanent display. Locking notice boards give flexibility and security. These can also be simple tamper proof snap frames / clip poster frames that allow very quick access to update your display.
  • When will the information be viewed? Illumination can be incorporated, extending optimum viewing conditions. Lighting increases the functionality of your sign or noticeboard, not only making viewing easier, but also adding to the aesthetics of your display.
  • Consider LED signs – LED displays communicate high impact messages which can be easily updated.

How To Be Creative with your Noticeboards

  • Try theming your noticeboards, tie in with seasonal celebrations like Christmas, Halloween or even a company anniversary
  • Run regular competitions through your noticeboards and publish the winners on the boards too
  • Be creative with the display – use colourful borders,  and cut-out letters to add impact. Why not add texture with other objects to create a collage effect? A school supplies company will be able to provide you with a huge range of colourful materials to create a truly unique and creative noticeboard

By spending some time planning your noticeboards you can turn them into a valuable resource. Experiment with the types of information displayed and the way it is presented. Ask for feedback from staff, by asking them what they would like posted on the boards they are more likely to take notice and absorb other company information that you publish.

Choosing the right post for your signs is often an area that most worries our customers. This simple guide will help you choose the right signpost, giving you the optimum viewing position for your new signs, whilst making them sturdy and secure. A signpost elevates your signs to give optimum viewing to pedestrians and cars.

right post height, sign posts

When selecting your post height consider other obstructions such as hedges and fences etc. Posts are better sited in flower beds or soft ground, as a third of the post needs to be fixed below ground. However,  if you don’t have any suitable soft ground posts can be mounted on a base plate. The base plate is a 10mm thick sheet of galvanised steel.

Base plates can be sprayed to match your sign and or company colours, or you can add your own finish around the base i.e. decorative stone work or block paving. sign with base plateCoach bolts can then be used to mount the sign onto a solid surface such as tarmac or concrete etc. Standard posts come in lengths of 1.75m or 3.5m. They come in black, grey galvanised, or silver anodised finishes. End caps for the posts will also be required.

Finger posts are ideal directional systems for creating ambiance. They are great for large complexes or towns, giving at “a glance” guidance and creating a traditional village feel. When choosing your post height there are several considerations to make. You will need a minimum of 2.4m between ground level and the bottom of your lowest projected sign. This is to avoid the obvious problem of injury as it is well above the average head height. As with all post-mounted structures, you will need a third of the total height of the post or pole to be fixed under the ground for stability, so remember to allow for this in choosing your pole height.

way finding, sign post, finger post

Top Tip: When choosing the position of your fingerpost, ask someone who is unfamiliar with the site to walk the route to ensure they are positioned in the most appropriate location.

This article is dedicated to the different application methods used for applying/installing self adhesive vinyl signs and window graphics. Many of our safety signs come with a self adhesive vinyl option making

frosted vinyl screen, glass highlighting

them very versatile and easy to install. We also offer a range of frosted vinyl window graphics in both standard and custom-made designs. Glass Highlighting can also help you comply with Regulation 14 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. The Regulation requires the marking of windows and glass doors to make them conspicuous.

  

  

How to apply your vinyl signs and graphics

Before applying any self adhesive graphics make sure that the application surface is clean and free from contaminants. To apply your self adhesive graphics, use one of the following methods:

For Small Sizes (up to approximately 20 x 20cm)

1. You will need a squeegee.  ( a small rigid plastic card designed for sign applicating, if you can’t get one, a small professional window cleaning one will do, or even an old credit card)

2. Remove the backing paper from the face material.

3. Position the sticker/sign on the surface and press in place with finger tips.

4. Apply the sticker to the surface with squeegee, using overlapping strokes. Puncture any air bubbles with a needle and press in place.

mobile phones, prohibition, safety signs

For Medium Sizes

1. You will need a squeegee (see above).

2. Remove 3-5cm of the backing paper from one edge of the sticker and fold back.

3. Position the sticker to the surface and press the exposed adhesive area in place with finger tips.

4. Apply the sticker to the surface with squeegee, using overlapping strokes, removing the backing paper little by little with the other hand puncture any air bubbles with a needle and press in place.

Wet application method for large sizes

1. You will need a squeegee (see above), sponge or cloth, water plus a little liquid detergent (i.e. washing up liquid), agitated to produce foam bubbles.

2. Temperature of the application surface and in the workshop should be 15°C or above.frosted glass, room divider, glass highlighting

3. Wet the application surface entirely with foam bubbles.

4. Remove the backing paper, keeping the sticker flat.

5. Apply the sticker to the wet surface and bring into position.

6. Remove any excess foam bubbles from underneath the sticker with a squeegee, using light pressure in overlapping strokes, working from the centre. Dry the sticker with a cloth.

7. Secure the sticker to the surface with a squeegee, using overlapping strokes and firm pressure, paying particular attention to the edges, to ensure a firm bond.

8. When possible, check and re-squeegee firmly after 24 hours.

*note – With this application method ultimate adhesion of the sticker/sign is reached later than with a dry method. The sticker/sign will obtain ultimate adhesion about 24-48 hours after application.

We have been working hard to bring you the widest range of high quality signage products in 2012.  The Catalogue has over 30,000 standard signs for you to choose from and a custom section that aims to provide inspiration for choosing signs from proven designs created for others and steer you to design your own should you wish. This year we have extended our capabilities and product range even further to include LED signs.

 What’s new in this years sign catalogue?

Our recent acquisition of Messagemaker Display ltd has enabled us to bring to you a brand new range of programmable LED signs available off the shelf. The new range includes static and programmable display systems in a range of sizes and text colours. These easy to use signs add high impact to your advertising or information messages.

To compliment our 3D pictorial signs we have created some pictorial stickers for displaying on cupboards and drawers. These signs can aid recognition and help dementia sufferers and those with learning difficulties.

We are continually looking for ways to make the catalogue as easy as possible to use. This year we have introduced many more photographs so you can see exactly how best to display and locate your signs. Listening to our customers has led us to re-arrange some of the pages to help you find the right signs more quickly.

How to get the best out of your signs catalogue

Our many years in the signage industry has allowed us to develop an easy ordering system to help you decipher the complicated world of safety signs and general signage. The catalogue itself is divided into two main sections. The first section covers our standard signs, which is made up of all the various safety signs, traffic signs and information signs available off the shelf. The second section displays some of our products and capabilities for creating custom-made signs. This section is merely intended to be a guide, to give you a small insight into what we can create for you, and by no means includes everything, so if you don’t see what you want, please contact our sales team.

Safety Signs and Standard Information Signs Section

Our standards signs section is packed with over 30,000 safety signs and general information signs so, to make choosing your signs a little less overwhelming, we have lots of hints and information to help you make an informed decision. We show many of our signs in working situations so you can best see how the safety message can be applied. We have included as many facts and figures as we can to educate and promote safety awareness. We always include the necessary legislation covering the safety issue, so you can be sure you will be meeting your legislative obligations. Our easy reference price grids make ordering simple and our “have you seen” cross references make sure you won’t miss anything you might need.

Custom-made Signs Section

Our custom made signs section has been designed to educate and inspire. We give you hints and tips on how best to choose your signage products in terms of size, design and materials. We point out the potential pitfalls and provide solutions for getting the optimum results from your signs. We highlight the benefits of different styles of product. Each of our product sections has some general information to help you decide if you are looking at the right products for your needs. Also for each product section we have tried to include as many photographs as possible, not only to give you some idea of the depth of our ranges but also to inspire you. Lastly, where we can squeeze them in, we have included customer testimonials to promote our service, so you don’t have to just take our word for it, you are in experienced and safe hands choosing Stocksigns.

Our safety signs catalogue is designed to give you the best choice of products backed by relevant information but don’t feel you have to go it alone, our Sales Team are always ready to guide you and help you get the best from your signs.

 

“As technology moves ever forward it has become increasingly more confusing as LCD displays are using LED for back-lighting and are being termed LED displays, they are not, they are simply LCD displays with LED-backlighting” emphasises Harry Filer, managing director of Messagemaker Displays, which manufactures a range of full colour and variable LED signage displays.

What are the differences between LCD Display and LED Display

Filer continues’ “A ‘pure’ LED display is using LED’s to create pixels. LED is a much more flexible technology that can handle different size screens, larger formats and brighter screens. LCD screens on the other hand are the preserve of huge multinationals, so if we got involved in them we would just be a value added reseller at best. We are in more control of our product and destiny with LED”

Filer also believes that LED and LCD when properly defined will remain as separate display mediums explaining “Occasionally LED and LCD will compete for digital signage application and the main overlap area is in large-format internal screens, but there are surprisingly few areas of overlap. Sometimes we will see a client initially specify an LCD screen for an application, for example digital foreign exchange rate-boards, then switch to LED”

Which Digital Display System is Right For me?

Filer also points out that when LCD and LED vie for custom, the project planning can often lead to some previously unconsidered factors: “The thought process goes something like this: ‘I need a screen, a large-format LCD/Plasma is cool, let’s have one of those, they’re for sale at Curry’s for about £500 how can I go wrong?’ Then they realise they need a dedicated PC or player and dedicated software.

“Furthermore, if they are going to do it properly they need high quality content, and if it’s a professional application they need high quality content, and if it’s a professional application they need a professional quality screen which is more expensive, and a decent quality bracket system. Then they realise they need the screen bright enough to deal with window light and so it will be more expensive still. Suddenly the project is £1,500 to £2,000 per screen, double what an LED alternative would have cost.”

“A rough rule of thumb I give to clients looking to use LED for a big video or digital signage screen is that if they are indoors, and the screen is a standard size and under 2sq m, then they are better off with LCD, any other application really requires using an LED array” concludes Filer.

Messagemaker Displays are now part of the Stocksigns Group.