Business News

Latest Exhibitor news from Sign & Digital UK – Spotlight on Applelec

Tuesday 23. November 2010 - For many years now we at Sign & Digital UK have been asked for more information on exhibitors well in advance of the show so visitors can research and plan their visits better. Well for 2011 we are doing just that and in November, we spoke with Award winning sign supplier Applelec Sign Components about their company, products and why and what they are exhibiting at Sign & Digital UK 2011.

Applelec Sign Components is a confidential trade supplier to the signage industry, offering innovative solutions through a definitive range of signage, lighting and display components. Their company head office and sign manufacturing base is in Bradford, West Yorkshire, with a southern office also located in Tring, Hertfordshire. Established in 1998 the company has developed rapidly, winning numerous awards including Sign Supplier of the Year at the 2008 Sign Industry Awards, voted for by their clients.
Applelec specialises in component supply for several key areas within the signage industry, from projects utilising the latest LED technology to traditional way finding systems. Innovative products are continually integrated into their core ranges which include face and halo LED illuminated letters, built up and flat cut letters, sign tray panels, trough lights, light boxes, display fixings, way finding systems and post signage.
They will be exhibiting at next years Sign & Digital 2011 show across two stands,
Stand A20 – Applelec Sign Components and Stand A30 – LED Light Sheet. Ian Drinkwater, Applelec MD and President of the BSGA explains his views on the show; “The importance of Sign & Digital UK cannot be emphasised enough. Many shows dilute their core purpose by diversification and by attempting to attract exhibitors from loosely related industries. This provides poor returns for companies with precious little cash to splash around in these ongoing days of austerity. Not the case with Sign & Digital UK, where exhibitors and attendees form a perfect match, increasing business opportunities for all concerned. The show provides us with a once in a year opportunity to see an enormous percentage of our clients face-to-face and generate profitable new business in an environment that is professionally focused. SDUK is quite simply the nucleus of our yearly marketing activity.”
Applelec will be exhibiting across two stands at Sign and Digital 2011. A dedicated stand for LED Light Sheet (A30), which was launched at SDUK 2010, will showcase the potential of this adaptable product for signage and display systems. On stand A20 Applelec Sign Components will be exhibiting examples from their extensive product range. The Applelec Product Guide proved a huge hit at Sign & Digital 2010 and copies will be available to purchase at this year’s show. They say to expect a few surprises as new product lines are developed in the months leading up to the show.
Product highlight:
LED Light Sheet, launced at SDUK 2010 is produced using a patented process whereby a sheet of etched acrylic is embedded with high brightness LEDs to create a flat panel of evenly distributed light. Characterised by a slender 8mm profile and an LED life span of up to 70,000 hours, LED Light Sheet is an environmentally friendly, lightweight backlighting unit that significantly reduces energy consumption compared to traditional fluorescent systems. While remaining cool to the touch LED Light Sheet can be fitted with warm white, cool white or RGB LEDs with the option of dimmable controllers to ensure project aesthetics are met. Used for a variety of internal and external lighting solutions and manufactured to bespoke sizes and shapes, LED Light Sheet can be integrated into display, advertising and exhibition systems, signage, architectural and interior design features.
Case Study spotlight:
Applelec Bring Light to Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Applelec Sign Components have supplied the illuminated frames used to exhibit the winning images in this year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition at the Natural History Museum.
The high profile commission has been an unusual contract for the Bradford company who are traditionally a trade supplier to the signage industry. Display systems, including those used for exhibitions, have been a growth area for Applelec following the development of a flat lighting panel (LED Light Sheet) which can be integrated into a frame.
Applelec Managing Director, Ian Drinkwater, commented: “The success of this project has been a rewarding contract for the company and we were thrilled to our illuminated frames used to enhance the already spectacular images in this renowned competition”. As to be expected for a competition celebrating the beauty of the natural world, the environmentally friendly qualities of the frame’s internal lighting unit featuring low power consumption and long lifespan were valued by the museum.
Grant Reid, 2009/10 Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year project team, explained: ‘Applelec Signs developed the light panels for the display system through several cycles of technical improvement. In addition to the 20-40% saving in power consumption and the LED strips lifecycle, lasting approximately 100,000 hours, we also achieved an extremely slim panel that complimented the overall lightness of the exhibition design and the magnificent photographs to dramatic effect.’
Now in its 46th year, The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is an international showcase for the very best nature photography.The Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition was launched in January and the exhibition opens on October 22nd 2010 at the London museum. The new display system will ensure these inspiring photographs are exhibited with maximum impact.