University of Sheffield IT Department

Continuing the theme of ‘unusual projects’ The University of Sheffield called on Banner Box when it wanted something truly un-usual for one of it’s IT Suites. The Department of Geography is celebrating it’s 100th Anniversary and as part of the year there have been upgrades to a number of it’s key facilities. During the refurbishment of the IT facilities it was decided to do something special with the Curtains.

The Department required high quality black out curtains to enable lecturers to use projectors in the room. However rather than opting for a simple set of plain curtains they decided to use the curtains as a teaching aid. In consultation with the department artwork was prepared with a series of world maps showing may aspects of population & social variations known in the jargon as ‘Social & Spatial inequalities’. These maps distort the physical size of the land mass to show aspects such as ‘internet usage’ or ‘access to sanitation’ so an area with below average figures appearing smaller and vice versa.

University of Sheffield IT Department Detail

Banner Box had the job of turning the academic theory into reality. We printed the graphics on our superwide ColorBooster digital textile printers to a fire retardant display fabric. This was then lined with an opaque interliner to create the finished curtains. The curtains were hung using heavy duty tracks with pull cord closures. Despite the deadline being moved forwards by 10 days Banner Box were able to complete the project in time for the official re-opening by the University Vice Chancellor on The 3rd of December. Banner Box Offer a number of curtain and blind products including Roller Blinds, Vertical & Roman Blinds as well as Curtains.

For more info contact the team on 01246 472949 or email sales@bannerbox.co.uk

A Decotex Polyester Suit? It's Madness!

Banner Box was set a rather unusual challenge this summer by local man, Alvey Howghton. Mr Howghton was due to get married at the end of the summer and was looking for help in printing a suitable fabric material for his wedding suit.

Mr Howghton & his bride-to-be are both huge fans of the group Madness, and were given the idea by the video to the Madness song, (Waiting for the)Ghost Train. In the video, the band don white suits, covered with black newsprint. This inspired Mr Howghton to have a similar suit for his fast-approaching wedding day.

Banner Box helped draw up the newsprint graphic, which was then printed onto our Decotex polyester material, which a local tailor was then able to manufacture into a made-to-measure finished suit.

The job was finished in time for the big day, and created quite a striking effect. Banner Box would like to offer our congratulations to Mr & Mrs Howghton.

Fitting Mast To Maid of the Loch

Banner Box was contacted late last year by the committee responsible for the restoration of the Maid of the Loch. They were looking for an effective way to replace the original wooden masts that had decayed and had been taken off for safety reasons. A.J. Inglis of Pointhouse, Glasgow, built P. S. ‘Maid of the Loch’, in 1953, and is now the sole surviving Loch Lomond paddle steamer and also the last traditional paddle steamer to have been built in the UK.

After taking advice from various sources on the best materials needed for the project, it was decided that Aluminium masts would be more durable and cost effective than replacing them with wooden masts again. Nedal Aluminium a Dutch company that manufactures ships masts was contacted for a quotation, Nedal advised the committee to contact Banner Box because we are the only stockists of the 15 metre tall masts in the UK that met the base dimensions, which would be required for this job.

New Mast Fitted For The Maid Of The Loch

We carried out a feasibility study on the site to find the best way we could fit the masts to the ship, using the original schematics of the ship to manufacture the ancillary equipment needed. A 35 metre tall crane was used once the masts were assembled to lift the masts into place on the ship, once the masts were set in place a Bonsun’s chair was used to fit and connect the rigging and halyards to the ship. The whole of the project took only two days on site to complete.

The fitting of the masts drew a large number of visitors and enthusiasts, the press were also present in the final stages of fitting as the ship had become something of a local interest as the masts had been absent for a number of years. One local commented, “It looks like a ship again with its new masts”. The locals saw it as another step towards the rebirth and eventual sailing for the Maid of the Loch.