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Vista Modular Signs go green too!
Vista System, the pioneer and leading sign manufacturer in the MCFT market, is proud to participate in the creation of a greener sign industry by introducing an environmentally friendly system to the market. They are committed to continually strive to develop and improve their products, as new information and technology are made available. In 2007, their design team began reviewing and redesigned most of their system to make sure it is as green as possible. They have dedicated themselves to creating a system that is designed to last a very long time and is fully recyclable.
The Modular Curved Frame Technology (MCFT) market is a relatively new market. Based on the need to fill the gap between custom fabricated sign systems and modular sign systems, it results in an eco-friendly signage solution that minimizes waste and allows for efficient recycling!
Custom designed systems restrict the ability to easily and inexpensively change sign information, often requiring the need to replace the whole sign when the text and graphics need to be updated.
Modular sign systems are flexible when updated, but generally are constructed in a limited number of components and sizes.
One of the main features of MCFT is that it acts as a frame, which can be updated indefinitely with a simple paper insert for signs that need to change often. For signs that have a permanent message, you may use any flat, flexible substrate available today. The frame system will also allow for use of substrate materials that haven't even been developed yet! With today's movement towards greener materials, Vista anticipate substrate manufacturers to improve on the existing materials to make them greener. Vista's frame system will be ready to accept those new materials as they become available.
Vista System is based on mechanical elements that allow signs to be more easily changed and broken down into their component parts, thereby offering an efficient and simplified recycling process.
Vista System is an education sponsor for the Society for Environmental Graphic Design (SEGD)
Longevity - When redesigning the Vista System, they placed longevity as a key concern. They concentrated on achieving sustainability via general material selection, the fabrication process and final disposition. Successful modular systems are based on the ability to change elements of the sign while maintaining the system over a long period of time.
Materials - Vista Systems have chosen aluminum extrusions as the basis of their system, accompanied by attachment components made from aluminum and steel, which are all protected against corrosion to promote longevity. They choose to supply the plastic parts from materials such as polycarbonate for outstanding durability and resistance to vandalism
Insert System - The frame or sign holder system allows for easy updating of the insert without the need to replace the whole sign.
Design - Designing a product that can be described over time, as having a "contemporary look" is as important as the length of time the products can physically withstand the elements.
Air & environment quality - Vista Systems have chosen to use mechanical fasteners instead of harmful out-gassing adhesives. They have invested in redesigning their system to eliminate the use of adhesives for connecting components completely!
Resource and waste management - The Vista System is based on modular components that are easy to separate into individual elements that can be taken apart and reused or sent for recycling. They have challenged their designers to come up with solutions that are both pleasing to the eye and fully recyclable.
Vista Systems reuse packing materials as much as possible, recycle the materials that are not reusable and finally, introduced recyclable, lightweight cardboard-based pallets, which have replaced the majority of wooden pallets used thus far.
Energy Efficiency - They have recently redesigned all of the extrusions to reduce their weight to the minimum necessary without jeopardizing the integrity of the product. This reduction in material reduces the use of energy used in the manufacturing process, transportation and the eventual aluminum recycling process.
Vista System, being a frame based system, allows for the use of many types of substrates. This gives great flexibility to choose the most energy efficient substrate materials available now and in the future.
Drew's Sign It Pty Ltd are 1 of two dedicated Vista System ambassadors in Australia. Samples are available on request. Contact sales@dsi.net.au for further info. |
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Greetings!
Welcome to our first email of 2009.
Unfortunately, as a nation the new year has not started very well at all. The Victorian Fires, and the Northern Queensland Floods have put Australia in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
To my readers (and I have a few) in those areas, I hope that things start improving for all of you very soon.
The Global Crisis or 'GFC' as all the politicians and financial boffins are calling it, has probably been the hardest thing to cop. I know a few readers have been laid off, or had their hours reduced. I can only encourage you to 'hang in there' and try and remain upbeat.
As a small businessman, nothing is harder to overcome than negativity, either in your own mind or those of your clients. Once negativity takes hold, you go nowhere fast... and I'm speaking from personal experience.
Keep your chin up, and hopefully we'll all get through this with some dignity. |
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Green Guardian Honor
Shane Drew, Managing Director of Drew's Sign It Pty Ltd, has been given the honor of being appointed a Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Green Guardian.
Shane and his family have donated many thousands of dollars in signage since they first formed a relationship with the CWS team in 2004/5.
Why does he do it? Shane's philosophy in business has never changed. He feels that all businesses need to be good corporate citizens. Business expects the general community to support local business, so then the community could rightly have the same expectation of businesses in their community.
The Drews are indeed animal lovers but supporting CWS seemed a good cause at the time. Drews Sign It Pty Ltd has donated signage to Cancer Charities and community sports groups too, but Shane feels animals have a very small voice in the community, and the team at Currimbin do a wonderful job without much, if any, government support.
So, what is Green Guardian?
It is Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary's conservation program - a program designed to deliver tangible benefits and outcomes for native wildlife, our partners and supporters, the community and future generations.
Funds raised through the Green Guardian program directly benefit Australian wildlife, their welfare, protection and conservation through valuable research and veterinary services delivered by the Sanctuary.
Current projects include building a new Conservation Research Centre and Wildlife Hospital to continue the Sanctuary's vital work and cope with increasing demand.
Unlike other major zoos, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is not government-funded and relies on its commercial activities to support its purpose - wildlife education, conservation and research.
By becoming a Green Guardian, Shane will join a growing number of individuals and organisations who want to leave a positive effect on the environment around us by doing something worthwhile through practical initiatives that will make a direct and dramatic difference.
More information can be found at www.cws.org.au.
Can you help?
Checkput their latest news here |
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Murrays are going greener!
 Murrays recognises the importance of addressing climate change and are considering a range of effective policy responses to ensure flexible ways of achieving greenhouse gas abatement in the transition to a carbon constrained future.
They are exploring a range of strategies for further improvement of their environmental performance as a whole and therefore a reduction of their carbon and environmental footprint.
A carbon reduction programme will form an important part of their overall Environmental Management Systems (EMS), Policies and Procedures. They believe it to be in the interests of all stakeholders that they work toward the reduction of their carbon footprint. Sustainability is one of Murrays core values to which the entire organisation is committed and they recognise this to be one of the growing needs of the community and in particular their customers. They are currently working with partners to develop a Carbon emissions offset strategy that will enable their clients to offset the carbon emissions generated by their individual transport requirement.
Murrays have commenced the process of achieving the ISO 14001 EMS standard. They see this as a systematic method of improving their all round environmental performance. This status will enable them to demonstrate to their customers the market advantages of using a carrier holding an internationally recognised and certified EMS. Just some of their current practises include:
- Significant investment in Euro 4 and 5 standards technology in the near future.
- National reservation and logistics systems designed to be paperless. Operating from a computerised system all records are retained in an electronic format. All reporting and audit trails have been manipulated into on-screen displays. Resulting in a real-time environment.
- In the area of water conservation, Murrays have already installed large rainwater tanks in all locations and this, together with water recycling systems and the introduction of high pressure gurneys, have reduced water usage in bus washes to almost nil.
- An ongoing depot improvement program has been in place for sometime and includes the reduction of risk in fuel storage with the safe removal of old tanks, conservation of energy and reduction of waste outputs from the workshop area in part through the re-cycling of waste oil, batteries, tyres, air-conditioning and other vehicle parts. Coach wash, toilet chemicals and an increasing proportion of other chemicals used in the cleaning and maintenance of coaches are environmentally friendly and in all compliant with local, sewer and stormwater regulations. Washing of vehicles only takes place within bunded areas with all discharge to sewer regularly tested.
- Their Environmental Management System is an on-going commitment. Murrays do take the position of corporate environmental responsibility seriously and see this as a part of the way we will do business into the future.
Murrays are one of Drews Sign It Pty Ltd's biggest corporate clients, and we commend Ron Murrays and his team for their proactive stance on this issue. |
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An Important Date to mark in your Diary..
Please make a note in your Diary that Drews Sign It Pty Ltd will effectively be closed from April 22nd to May 9th.
Several overseas sign industry friends and associates, who clearly don't know me that well, have invited me to visit them in Birmingham, UK, whilst they attend one of Europes Largest Sign Trade Shows.
I'll be going with a good mate of mine who is from Birmingham originally, so he'll see his family whilst I do my best to have these people believe that I'm actually not a bad bloke. I'll be meeting up with various friends from Scotland, England, America and other parts of Europe, to enjoy their company and no doubt solve the worlds financial problems over a beer or two at the local bar.
Now, before anyone assumes I've been making too much money to afford such an extravagant luxury, I should warn you that it comes at a cost.
The cost is... my wife isn't going. I think it pertinent to say at this point that on my return, I may well be sharing the dog house with our two four legged friends, for some time :(
Anyway, please note these dates. My parents will still be around taking messages, and I'll arrange some backup sign shops for anything urgent, but if we can work around those dates, it would be appreciated..
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Well, thats about it for this Newsletter. Let me know what you think about the new format at newsletter@dsi.net.au.
Forgive me if you got this email and you've previously unsubscribed. I'm using a backup email list, so you may have been included if I forgot to remove you before backing the file up previously.
One last thing before I go though.
In this present finacial downturn, price rises are inevitable. I am constantly reviewing my operating costs to try and remain competative. I have received price rises on some items of upto 45% in the last 6 months, and clearly I can't absorb that sort of increase, but please be assured, I appreciate your business and will do whatever I can do to remain competative.
That said, some things are way out of my control.
It does remind me of an old English proverb 'A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner.'
Those younger ones amongst my readers have probably not experienced such a downturn in business, but most older ones have been here before. Invariably those that make it through a 'rough sea' come out the otherside stronger and smarter.
Unfortunately few jobs are 'safe', not even mine, but if we the business community work together, it will be easier than trying to go it alone.
I'll be looking at doing 'specials' at regular intervals anyway. If you need a price on an item, and the budget is tight, please discuss it with me and we'll see what we can do together.
Please take care. |
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Sincerely,
Shane Drew
Shane Drew
Managing Director
Drews Sign It Pty Ltd |
| Save 20% |
Promotional items are always a good investment when things start getting a bit slow. To help with an incentive, we are happy to offer a discount on a new 850w x 2000h pull up display. So, instead of paying $220.00 for a full colour promotional free standing pull up, you get one for $180.00 with the presentation of this coupon.
*conditions apply - not available with any other offer or discount - limit 6 per customer - artwork extra
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| Offer Expires: April 15th 2009 |
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When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
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