New Town Entry Signs

Over 66 signs 3 x 3.6m, 12 x 3m, 10 x 2.4m and 40 post mounted signs were manufactured by Hi-Vis Group in Newcastle and transported over 600kms to be installed by our intrepid team. Pylons were double sided digitally printed Class 1100 mounted onto 3mm aluminium sign faces with an anti-grafitti over laminate for additional, long term protection.

Hi-Vis was able to meet and exceed the selection criteria for this project with previous town entry signage experience, large scale manufacturing & installation capability in combination with their status as Transport for NSW Approved Manufacturer.

BACKGROUND

Bordering both Wagga Wagga and Albury, the Greater Hume LGA is a key connecting region for southern NSW, holding an estimated population of 10,764 residents in 2019. Greater Hume’s position as a key road network conduit between major regional and capital cities in NSW and VIC provides the necessary basis for sustainable ongoing growth and overall regional performance. PRD Research Division has for the second consecutive year, nominated the Greater Hume LGA as one of 3 NSW top major regional areas alongside Port Stephens and Federation, based on affordability, positive property trends, investment, project development and low unemployment rates.

Furthermore, in 2018 Greater Hume Council conducted a major corporate branding review in order to redefine the LGA’s identity and positioning as an appealing and attractive rural alternative to the big cities. Albury based design agency, Kindred Design, was engaged to create a new brand for GHC and to support Council in the implementation and roll out of the brand on city assets and infrastructure including the new Town Entry Signs.

Kindred created designs for over 66 high impact, GHC branded town and entry signs including 3.6 m large pylon signs, 3.0m and 2.4 m pylon signs plus 40 post mounted signs throughout the smaller townships in the area with the overarching purpose to invite & welcome visitors and evoke a feeling of the region rather than simply label or identify the local government boundary. Hi-Vis Group won the contract to manufacture 66 signs across the region and install over 25 pylons.

THE CHALLENGE

With a footprint of over 5764 square kilometres [to compare the City of Newcastle is 187 sqkm], the challenge for GHC was to initially conduct a signage audit throughout the region including the upgrade of many out of date and deteriorated signs.  Through a collaborative effort between many departments, Economic Development Co-ordinator, Margaret Killalea visited close to 90% of the actual sites forming a strong understanding of the need to engage an experienced signage company who were skilled at manufacturing as well as the physical installation of the signs.

Hi-Vis Group were up for the geographical challenge with several large scale projects already completed for many councils throughout NSW including City of Newcastle, Kyogle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Cessnock naming but a few.

THE PROJECT

After winning the tender, our Hi-Vis Sales Manager, John O’Gorman visited the site and the project delivery team to discuss requirements and geographical locations.  John also made several recommendations on the overall project and material specifications to enable greater visibility, stability and longevity of GHC’s investment.  Hi-Vis Group then worked with the client collaboratively providing unique recommendations strengthening the original specifications and providing the best solution to the client’s needs. Key considerations Included:

• Geographic location of each sign
• Enhanced visibility by using reflective materials
• Anti-graffiti coatings
• Custom colour matching process
• Consistency of colour throughout all signs
• Increased safety of each sign if there were vehicle collisions

Through the company’s Perfect Colour matching system, Hi-Vis was able to match Kindred Design’s PMS brand colours and send digitally printed colour swatches to GHC  for approval prior to printing. Following print approval, Hi-Vis then manufactured hot dip galvanised frames including custom slip based fastenings to the signs, to enable greater frangibilty and overall safety of the roadside signs were vehicles to collide with the signs in the future.  Digitally printed Class 1100 reflective material was applied to 3mm aluminium sign faces to enhance night time visibility and then over laminated with an anti-graffiti film to enable easier cleaning. The back of each sign was clad in 3mm ACM panels, colour matched and digitally printed with the hashtag #movetogreaterhume to enable further key messaging for the area.  Produced simultaneously as the pylon signs were 40 post mounted, town entry sign panels to be installed by Council.  These were printed on 1.6 mm aluminium with Class 1100 reflective and anti graffiti laminate, giving the signs a 10 year warranty.

Ms Killalea said, “The Greater Hume Council are really happy with the new signs, they look great! The Hi-Vis team were always very responsive to our requests, colour matching our new logo and very accommodating when we had to make additional changes during the production phase. The company delivered the project on time, within our budget and the installation process was very smooth. I would highly recommend their services to other councils out there working on similar signage projects.  We can’t thank them enough.”

With the current wave of population shift to regional Australia, Greater Hume is now well placed to position itself to share in this exodus of people searching for a better work/life balance and affordable living, with a little help from the Hi-Vis Group!

If you would like to discuss this project or a project of your own with our team, please contact Customer Service on 1300 857 500 or email sales@pilot.hivis.com.