Concept visuals of the new store revealed curved surfaces running along the front of the entire shop fascia. This gave World Duty Free Group and Blynk Digital Media's Neil Muir the idea to fill the surfaces with LedGo's innovative FLEX curved LED panels, to display eye-catching, moving content, visuals and tailored messaging to visitors in the new terminal.
Blynk Digital Media approached A.C. Video, a specialist sales division of A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET) Ltd., to supply them with the LedGo FLEX curved LED solution. In addition, A.C. Video supplied LedGo's Blackface high-contrast, LED video panels for the project's six other separate screen elements.
The project involved extensive collaboration between Blynk Digital Media, A.C. Video and LedGo over a period of two years. During that time, Blynk Digital Media arranged several demonstrations to WDFG of the proposed LedGo video screen solutions - including a huge LedGo video wall on the A.C. Entertainment Technologies stand at PLASA London 2012, and a visit with A.C. Video to two major broadcast studios in Holland featuring the LedGo FLEX curved LED system.
One major consideration was to ensure the LED panels specified, passed strict British Standard requirements concerning flammability and would therefore be approved by the airport authority. A.C. Video worked with LedGo to have samples of the video panel materials undergo the necessary lab tests. As a result, the manufacturing process and materials were altered slightly to ensure that all LedGo video products now meet the most stringent British Standards.
The digital content for the entire location is delivered, controlled and scheduled remotely using the ~sedna software system, provided by Blynk Digital Media, which is already in use at many WDFG locations.
In addition to specifying, sourcing and installing the entire audio-visual infrastructure, Blynk Digital Media's dedicated in-house scheduling team also programmed all the digital content for the screens and continue to provide real-time remote control over the entire system from their Yorkshire base.
AC-ET's audio visual director, Peter Butler, comments, "AC-ET were appointed the exclusive UK dealer for LedGo back in October 2012 - we really like their products, but also their company philosophy. LedGo are rare in that they have extensive experience working in broadcast environments, as well as entertainment venues."
Blynk Digital Media's senior project manager, Neil Muir, comments, "World Duty Free Group are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is technically feasible and that's one of the reasons why they lead the field in airside retail. We've provided the technical expertise and 24 / 7 backup for most of their locations for a number of years and this installation using the remarkable LedGo products is just another step - albeit a very significant one - forwards in innovation. We've learned a lot from the LedGo team and there's no doubt we'll be specifying their products again as the results are just sensational."
LedGo's Business Director, Winnie Meijer, comments: "LedGo were delighted to work on this prestigious project in collaboration with Blynk Digital Media, AC-ET and WDFG. Our in-house team worked hard to ensure that the LedGo video solutions fully met Blynk Digital Media's brief, were delivered on time, and were within the project budget."
(Jim Evans)
