We’re hoping to go – its such a busy time of year for lots of people, being the end of the Financial Year for so many, but it is always worth the effort.  Signscape haven’t exhibited for a couple of years and am really looking forward to being up there this year. Jeremy and I are working on the content for the stand, but if anyone wants to anything specific from our Product Range let me know.  Once we have the stand drawn up I may post the stand design on the site to get some feedback.

It will be great to see lots of our friends and customers, especially as I don’t appear to be getting out of the office as much recently. I also hope their is plenty for everyone to see – I always come away with a few more ideas – mainly from our customers.  We will be definitely showing our new Solar Powered range, together with some of our traditional products, together with a few surprises – so looking forward to seeing you in April at the NEC.

This year seems to have flown by – or is that what happens when you start getting older? We have lots of new things planned for next year and am looking forward to sharing these with everyone. Donna will be off on maternity leave at the end of February/beginning of March. We are also delighted to let you know Mike Sergeant will be rejoining us again in January.

We will be closing on Thursday 23rd December 2010 and re-open on Tuesday 4th January 2011.

I hope you all have a good holiday and are refreshed and invigorated for 2011, from all the team at Signscape Systems, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Signscape leads the way for Zero Power

Staff and students at Gordano School recently joined together in a united gesture to see if they could cope without the use of electricity for one day. Their Zero Power Day was structured around using as little electricity as possible, other than that which they generated themselves. The aims of the day were to highlight the impact that modern technologies have on the day to day running of a modern school and to see how much energy and money they could save by being more thoughtful about the power they use.

Various guests from local businesses and industry were invited in to demonstrate how their approaches and products were helping to create a more sustainable environment. Hamish Paterson and Jeremy Reeves were asked by the head of Design and Technology at Gordano if they would spend the day there, demonstrating how their Ecovision system of illuminated signs works. Hamish and Jeremy explained to students from Yr8 right up to A level how the PV cells generate the power for the signs and how the Infra Red detectors provide a more automated approach. Students learnt how the electricity is stored and then released only when it is needed.

The visit provided an interesting, alternative approach for students who got to see how what they study in the classroom is used in a real commercial context. Plans are being developed for another similar exercise in 2010 when Gordano hope to strengthen the links they have made with Signscape and other local companies.

Paul Wison

This was an article written by Paul Wilson of Gordano College (North Somerset) after Jeremy and I spent a day with students looking at alternative energy supplies. We had a great day – with some great ideas and questions coming from the students.

Signscape Open Day signs

 A big thankyou to all those that made it for our two Open Days this year; hope you all enjoyed it and found it worthwhile. It was great to see so many faces over the two days. I was also really pleased with all the staff and friends that helped make the days such a great success. We’ve put an area of our car park to show some of our range of signs and how they can be used differently.

If you didn’t make either of the two days, not to worry, you would be more than welcome any time.

The above photo shows our Solar Powered Post & Panel (right) with our single legged sign (left). We will also be posting some of these images at night shortly, together with putting some updates on our Flickr gallery

  I think we’re just about ready for the open day now    

really looking forward to it and seeing so many people

that we haven’t seen for a while. We’re just about

ready (I think), couple more jobs and then a quick

tidy up on Monday morning, ready to see everyone

Tuesday. Hope you can make it, but if you can’t make

it on either 15th or 16th September, you are always

welcome any time. We are showing some new and

old products, together with some revamped ones;

so there should be something for everyone. Ann and

Sue are organising all the food – which I’m looking

forwared to already.

 Just to let you know we are holding a couple of Open Days on 15th & 16th September when everyone is more than welcome. We will be showcasing our Solar Powered range, together with the rest of the Signscape range, but using it in different ways.

In addition to Signscape, Boldscan, Tekcel, Groundplug and Sign Link magazine will be joining us, so there will be plenty to see for everyone. Come and meet the staff that you talk to on the phone and see our manufacturing facililty, including our updated Powder Coat plant.

If you can make it, let me know; there will be refreshments during both days, so I’d better ask Sue to get baking!

We will be highlighting our Solar Powered Sign range, including EcoVision. In addition to Signscape there will be several other companies joining us, including:

Boldscan banner suppliers

Tekcel CNC solutions

GroundPlug (UK) Ltd  Steel anchor alternative to concrete

There will be some further announcements of other local companies joining us coming soon…

Heaps of praise particularly to all the guys from Bike City who  completed the most laps in the team and solo category. Well done to everybody for all their efforts . Bike city 31 laps the real bike city 23 laps Teach 21 laps Thud 14 laps. Well done to Pete for organising everything and supporting all the local riders.

Jeremy and I went up to support, unable to ride due to other commitments, but I think we’re going to have to ride it next year – hopefully the weather will be better.

I’m definitely not of the school that tends to “rubbish” our industry exhibitions – it costs a lot of money to exhibit, particularly for some of the smaller companies, where you have to pour a lot of resources into it – well done to all those that exhibited. I also think that you take in more than you realise…from a previous exhibition I was able to track down a supplier of a laminate I was after – nine months after I saw it (and didn’t pay that much attention on the stand!) It’s great to see what’s going on, what new products are available, the change in styles – all of which ultimatley benefit you and your end customer.

Great to see a few faces I knew, hope you all enjoyed it – especially the Bar.

We will be exhibiting at The Sign Show in September showing as many products from our ranges as we can;  will let you know more details nearer the time..

What I found most interesting was that these guys  all concentrate in the traffic market, i.e.  Highway and street signs, but all wanted to do more work in what they considered the more  “lucrative commercial market”….

I was talking to one chap – who was complaining that he only worked for Local Authorities – he was always paid within 15 days of a completed job – I don’t suppose the commercial market enjoys that!

I look forward to catching up with you at Sign & Digital UK this week – I’ll be there Tuesday and Wednesday – see you there.