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Vol. 2, No. 6 |
January 22, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Month's SBI Trivia Question
Stumper:
By
illuminating outdoor advertisings all night long,
advertisers can increase audience impact by what
percentage?
For the answer, scroll to the
bottom of the
newsletter.
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Industry
News
[[HOT
TOPIC]] CHEAPER LEDs ??????
Zinc Oxide
Nanowires May Offer Cheaper LEDs
Engineers at the
University of California San Diego have synthesized a semiconducting
material that may pave the way for an inexpensive new kind of LED
that could compete with today's widely used gallium nitride LEDs,
according to a new paper in the journal Nano
Letters.
Deli Wang, an electrical and computer
engineering professor from UCSD's Jacobs School of Engineering, and
colleagues at UCSD and Peking University, report synthesis of high
quality p-type zinc oxide nanowires that, for years, have been the
missing ingredients preventing engineers from building LEDs from ZnO
nanowires. In contrast, making "n-type" ZnO nanowires has not been a
problem.
"Zinc oxide nanostructures are incredibly well
studied because they are so easy to make," said Wang. "Now that we
have p-type zinc oxide nanowires, the opportunities for LEDs and
beyond are endless."
Wang has filed a provisional patent for
p-type ZnO nanowires and his lab at UCSD is currently working on a
variety of nanoscale applications.
"Zinc oxide is a very good
light emitter. Electrically driven zinc oxide single nanowire lasers
could serve as high efficiency nanoscale light sources for optical
data storage, imaging, and biological and chemical sensing," Wang
said.
Billboards: They're Hazardous, Nearly
Extinct, and Google Wants In
Safety experts
are saying that the new wave of digital billboards add yet another
distraction for drivers.
While there are currently only about
400 digital billboards across the country, there may be as many as
4,000 within 10 years, according to the Outdoor Advertising
Association of America. The billboard industry claims that the signs
are not dangerous, but driving safety researchers say there isn't
enough research to know for sure, and that digital signs may tax a
driver's awareness more than static signs.
Deanna Singhal,
research associate at the Traffic Injury Research Foundation, a
driving safety group in Ottawa, believes that not only do digital
billboards keep drivers' eyes away from the road more, but that they
are also more "cognitively demanding." A study commissioned by the
Federal Highway Administration has recommended more research into
whether the signs present risks to drivers, and the federal
government has also allotted $150,000 for a study of digital
signage.
Meanwhile, in Scottsdale, Arizona, billboards are on
the verge of extinction. According to an article by Casey Newton in
The Arizona Republic ,2006 saw the removal of the
second-to-last billboard in the entire city. The last billboard in
Scottsdale now sits on a narrow strip of land separating the
entrance of a strip mall from a Denny's parking lot, and "the city
is one redevelopment away from being rid of billboards for
good."
"We're always looking for that opportunity to take
care of the final sign," Mayor Mary Manross told The Arizona
Republic . "If there is an effort in the future to redevelop
that property or the land around it, that would be a time where we
might possibly be able to include elimination of that sign within a
development agreement. I hope to have that opportunity. The
community would certainly appreciate it, I'm
sure."
Scottsdale declared war on large signs in 1969 when it
passed an ordinance that banned new billboards. The ordinance, one
the first of its kind, was among the toughest in the nation. It was
designed to preserve views of the McDowell Mountains and to
differentiate Scottsdale from other Valley cities, especially
Phoenix, where the roadways were cluttered with signs. In 1973,
residents voted to amend Scottsdale's charter to empower city
officials to condemn existing billboards without compensating the
owners.
As harsh as that sounds, Google still wants in on the
billboard biz. The mega-company has reportedly filed for a patent
that will allow them to build kiosk-type billboards that would be
connected to the internet, according to a report by
Trendhunter.
One use for such billboards would be to
allow local stores to advertise products that are currently in
stock. Advertisers will be able to purchase space on the billboards
by logging into a system online.
In the patent application
itself, Google wrote that its technology could eliminate the need
for the manual loading of looped ads. Merchants could create
campaigns for available goods and services, the ads would be
displayed in rotation, and could be shut off automatically when a
product is sold out.
Manchester Arena Adds Daktronics Display
System
Daktronics is taking its digital displays across
the pond.
The Manchester Evening News (M.E.N.) Arena in
Manchester, England, recently installed a state-of-the-art ProAd¨
digital display system, manufactured by Daktronics Inc., of
Brookings, South Dakota.
"As the busiest live entertainment
venue in the world, it's essential to the success and reputation of
the Manchester Evening News Arena to work with like-minded
established partners," said Matt Ward, Head of Event Marketing and
Public Relations at M.E.N. Arena. "Daktronics came highly
recommended from colleagues in the United States and has more than
lived up to its reputation for both innovative technology and
outstanding service."
Daktronics designed and manufactured
three ProAd¨ digital displays for the venue. Each of the three
M.E.N. Arena's displays measure approximately 1 meter high by 8
meters wide with full-color pixels on 20 millimeter spacing. ProAd¨
technology uses RGB LED technology to present images and information
with wide-angle visibility. When not recognizing sponsors, the
display can show full-color text messages, real time sports data,
vivid graphics and animation, and cropped video clips, to add
entertainment value at the venue's wide variety of
events.
"Up until now we've only been able to communicate
with our concertgoers through audio and pre-recorded visual
channels. However, the introduction of the new ribbon board from
Daktronics means we can now communicate and interact in real time
with our audience," Ward said. "Not only does this provide an
enhanced entertainment experience to our customers but also keeps us
one step ahead of the competition in providing advertising,
sponsorship and promotional opportunities to connect with a captive
audience enjoying our live events."
IKONICS Corporation Acquires Image Mate™
From Franklin International
IKONICS
Corporation, a Duluth,Minnesota-based imaging technology company,
announced today that on December 29, 2006, it acquired, from
Franklin International of Columbus, Ohio, its Image Mate™ line of
screen printing products.
For 2006, Image Mate sales are
estimated to be $600,000. The Image Mate assets, including
inventory, were purchased for $380,000 in cash, plus other
considerations, including a long-term agreement to purchase key raw
materials from Franklin International. The purchase was funded with
available cash.
Bill Ulland, CEO at IKONICS, said that the
acquisition will grow sales by bringing new and complementary
products to the company's domestic Chromaline Screen Print Products
division, as well as strengthen international offerings.
"Franklin International has done an admirable job of
formulating and promoting the Image Mate line," Ulland said. "We
look forward to advancing the brand by providing enhanced sales,
marketing and product development support to the Image Mate
distributor network."
All Image Mate production will be moved
to Duluth; and employment offers have been made to two Image Mate
employees. Additional manufacturing staff will be required in
Duluth.
Evan Williams, President, and COO at Franklin
International, expressed optimism in reaction to the Agreement:
"This asset sale represents a great opportunity for Franklin's
technology to find a more strategic home and for Franklin and
IKONICS to thrive together in an important new
relationship."
New Appointments
Nippon
Carbide Industries (USA), Inc., manufacturer of
Nikkalite Brand reflective sign sheeting and commercial graphic
films, is pleased to announce that Charlie Bond is
celebrating his 20th year of service in the reflective sheeting
industry and has been appointed to Director of Sales and Marketing,
responsible for sales development, government relations, and product
marketing from the Carrollton, Texas office. Tom Imai was
named the Managing Director over NCI-USA North America operations,
and John Machad, CPA, CIA, CGFM, has been appointed to
Director of Operations and Controller, responsible for corporate
operations and finance at their Corporate Office in Santa Fe
Springs, California.
CADlink
Technology Corporation is pleased to
announce the appointment of Meltarrus (Mel) Washington as
North American, West Coast Regional Sales Manager. Mel will work
with CADlink resellers West of the Mississippi, and in the Canadian
provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and
Manitoba.
Sheffield Plastics Inc., a Bayer
MaterialScience Company, announced the promotion of Karl
Wiecking to the position of Architectural Market Segment
Manager, Americas, where his primary role will be to direct new
technology that Sheffield Plastics and Bayer MaterialScience have
developed together to expand the influence of polycarbonate sheet in
the Architectural Glazing Market as it exists today.
Meetings and Events
FEBRUARY
February
21 - 22: The Strategy Institute's conference "Out-of-Home
Digital Networks, Contact Strategies, and Awards Summit" will be
held at Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. For
more information, call 866/298-9434, e-mail
registrations@strategyinstitute.com, or browse
www.strategyinstitute.com.
MARCH
March 2
- 4: Graphics of the Americas 2007 will be held at the Miami
Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida. For additional
information, call 305/558-4855.
March 7 - 9:
GlobalShop 2007, the largest retail design and in-store marketing
event of the year, will be held in the Sands Expo Center at The
Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, check out
www.globalshop.org/globalshop/index.jsp.
March 9 - 11:
Fred's Letterheads will host the Sasekalahewata Oklahoma
Letterheads meet at Fred's Sign Company, Inc., in Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma. For registering information, call 405/235-8696 or e-mail
FREDSSIGNCO@aol.com.
March 14: Electric Signs:
Designing for Compliance to UL 48. Brea, California. Topics include
general information about UL and the electric sign program, and
requirements for all electric, fluorescent, incandescent, high
intensity discharge, neon, and LED signs. Additional courses: May
22, Orlando, Florida; September 25, Northbrook, Illinois; and
November 14, Dallas, Texas. Private on-site courses are also
available. To view more details and register, visit
www.uluniversity.com or call 888/503-5536.
Sponsored Links
M2 Lighting Solutions, LLC -- NEW epoxy-encapsulated UL
recognized LED channel letter lighting system that will stay bright
even in your most challenging conditions. www.M2Lighting.com
Elliott Equipment Corporation -- Award-winning HiReach
& BoomTruck aerial-workplatforms and cranes. Elliott products
increase your productivity, and give you the highest ROI available.
Do more with Elliott. www.elliottequip.com
This Month's Trivia Answer:
Nationally, overnight
(11PM- 6AM) car audiences reach 36.2 million people and
increase advertising impressions by 16%. *
( *
According to Arbitron National In-Car Study)
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For in-depth coverage of these topics and
other sign industry topics, check out
www.signshop.com
ATTENTION
ADVERTISERS and SUBSCRIBERS:
Coming up in the
February 2007 issue of
Sign Builder
Illustrated,
feature articles
on:
Dimensional Adhesives
Digitally Printing
Banners
Dimensional Monuments
LED Message
Centers
Vinyl Magnets
Neon
Lighting
ATTENTION ADVERTISERS and
SUBSCRIBERS:
Coming up in the March 2007
issue of
Sign Builder Illustrated,
feature
articles on:
ADA Architectural Signage
Awning
Installations
Dimensional CNC Routing
LED
Lighting
Design Software
Vinyl for Vehicle
Graphics
Contact your ad sales representative
to reserve your space today.
As we
shape SBI Update into the premier
e-newsletter
for the sign industry, we encourage our readers to send
us feedback on what you like, what you'd like to see,
and any other comments you might have. To do so, send an
e-mail to Associate Editor Chris Ytuarte at
cytuarte@sbpub.com.
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ATG Electronics, Inc.A Leading
LED Signage Products manufacturer! Product range: LED
standard flex strip, SMD flex strip, ribbon flex strip,
3LEDs, 4LEDs & 6LEDs waterproof modules. Color
range: red, yellow, blue, green, white, pink, purple,
amber, jade, RGB.
Toll Free: 800-495-8630.
Email:
sales@atgelectronics.com www.atgelectronics.com
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Mutoh's ValueJet line-up, starting at $14,995,
includes a 48", 64", and a 100", generating print speeds
up to 185 square ft/hr in production mode. Standard on
the ValueJet is Mutoh's Patented I(2): Intelligent
Interweaving Printing Technique. Revolutionary in piezo
printing, this technique allows for increased print
speeds and virtually eliminates banding. For more
information, click on:
Mutoh ValueJet
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Sign Builder Illustrated
Buyer's Guide
2007
Published twice per year in March and
September, the Buyer's Guide lists manufacturers,
distributors, and sign companies that comprise the
industry in the U.S. and Canada. For information on
advertising and free company listings, call 212-620-7233
or e-mail Sales
Representative
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Sign Builder Illustrated Goes
Digital
With live hyperlinks to video
clips, advertiser information, and other features,
SBI Digital offers the newest online technology
with the familiar layout of a hardcopy issue. To view
an example, click on:
SBI Digital Magazine
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Sign Builder Illustrated:
The
How-To Book Vol. 1
Learn secrets to
fabricating neon, illuminating with LED, sandblasting
signs, applying paints, cutting and printing vinyl, and
more in this 288-page, full-color reprinting of Sign
Builder Illustrated's trademark How-To articles.
To visit the How-to Book Web site, click on:
SBI How-To Book
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