Signage is an important part of workplace safety, whether you run a warehouse, showroom, or manufacturing plant. It is also an effective marketing tool and can be used to convey brand values and aesthetics at company headquarters. When it comes to safety, the only options traditionally were paint and adhesive. This type of signage may meet safety standards if installed correctly, but it can be hard to see, especially as it wears away and fades over time, requires regular maintenance that disrupts production, and comes with a hefty price tag. Fortunately, there’s a more effective way to keep workers safe.
Improving safety with projected or virtual signage
Projected signage, also known as virtual signage, uses a projector and physical stencil or template (typically made of glass) called a gobo. Whatever design is etched into the gobo is projected onto the chosen surface in black and white or color.
There are many advantages to projected or virtual signage, from cost to durability. Let’s look at 5 reasons to use virtual signage for your workplace.
5 reasons to use virtual signage in your workplace
1. Cost-effective
Compared to adhesive or painted signage, virtual signage reduces spending. Virtual signage typically has an ROI of just 1 year with an average investment of $400 to $2,000. In contrast, painted or adhesive signage, in areas with high wear, requires an annual investment of $1,000 to $4,000. You might be wondering, why such a large difference in cost? What it comes down to is longevity of the product.
Even though the cost of a projector ranges from about $300-$2K and a glass safety gobo is $100-$400, your virtual signage setup will typically last 6 years. Painted and adhesive signage, on the other hand, only lasts 3-4 months on average and in rugged environments, will often show signs of wear and tear in just a few weeks.
2. Highly visible for improved safety
Virtual signage is highly visible in a wide range of settings, from brightly lit showrooms to dark warehouse corners. High power projectors ensure the signage remains bold and bright throughout the work day. You also don’t have to worry about dirt, heat, and moisture wearing away or obscuring the image. Lastly, the ability to add blink and fade features draws constant attention to signs that workers may otherwise overlook. You can also integrate motion sensors with your virtual signage so that a sign or crosswalk is triggered as a person or vehicle approaches.
3. Unmatched durability in rugged environments
Safety signage is most often used in dusty, humid, or wet environments. This type of setting quickly wears away paint and causes adhesive to peel and chip. With the right projector, virtual signage can last for years. Our line of PCE projectors is UL/cUL approved and features passive cooling, without any fans or motors, so that dust, dirt, and water have little impact on the equipment.
4. Flexible
The same sign doesn’t work for every situation and this can be a challenge with the more permanent painted or adhesive signage. Virtual signage allows you to easily display different images in one work zone without halting production. It only takes a few minutes to switch your STOP sign gobo, for example, to a Caution sign, rather than requiring hours to strip paint or adhesive and reapply. It’s also possible to project signage from moving equipment so the signage moves with the crane or forklift as it drives throughout the space.
5. Low maintenance
Virtual signage maintenance is low-cost and low-effort. In dusty environments, projectors equipped with cooling fans require some periodic cleaning and will need their bulbs replaced eventually, but not until after 20,000 to 40,000 hours of use. When you do need to maintain or replace your projector, the process should only take a few minutes, depending on how easy it is to access the projector. Virtual signage maintenance compared to painted or adhesive signage has a minimal impact on production, optimizing productivity so you don’t fall behind schedule.
Other uses for virtual signage
Virtual signage isn’t only limited to safety applications. Project signs throughout any corporate or commercial setting in place of physical signage. Use gobo projections to promote your product, convey your brand values and aesthetic at company headquarters, or as directional signage to guide both visitors and employees throughout larger spaces.
We have a wide selection of stock safety gobos, from STOP signs to crosswalks or you can submit a custom design. Need help coming up with a custom projected signage solution for your space? Get in touch with a projection specialist today to modernize your signage.
Want to make sure you don’t miss new product releases, gobo lighting tips, and special deals? Subscribe to our Newsletter
