Forming part of the Airport's digital signage upgrade at their check-in desks, the screens were specified by consultant Tom Batey, while Pixel Inspiration carried out the installation of the displays, working in conjunction with Panasonic PT-D3500 single chip DLP projectors.
Since the Airport will not be using the screens as a revenue generator, their choice of concept was based on a combination of high clarity, relatively low capital outlay and predictable cost of ownership (with weight and engineering considerations).
Paradigm AV director Greg Jeffreys comments: "This is proving to be one of our most technically-challenging contracts ever. We worked hard over a long period to assist Pixel Inspiration MD, Frank Emerson (and his previous company NMT) in constructing a successful bid. The success of the integration owes much to the expertise of his site team and the supportive nature of the Manchester Airport Group themselves."
The publically-owned (but privately managed) MAG also operates three other airports - East Midlands, Bournemouth and Humberside - and its shareholders comprise the ten local authorities that make up Greater Manchester.
The rationale was that by investing heavily in technology at Terminal One, replacing the conventional hard signage and small CRT screens, passengers would be presented with clear flight and check-in information, while the airport operators would be handed unprecedented flexibility, enabling them to maximise the use of check-in desks by swapping them between carriers at the press of a button. With 90 carriers and 22 million passengers a year passing through the airport, the airlines can also take advantage of clearer branding.
The content itself is distributed from a central point over Cat 5 cable and the PC server allows the handling agents to address groups of four screens simultaneously, displaying a panorama if a single flight or carrier is using four adjacent desks, or splitting the information from a quad output card on a local PC.
This was far from being an 'off-the-shelf' solution, using standard production items. The engineering required to fly 79 butted screens in a single pelmet, hanging right over the desks, was highly advanced. Says Jeffreys: "Such lengthy runs stretching to form a 50m wide panorama made up of similar components, requires a high level of precision. We had to work to a tolerance of 0.25mm (1/4mm) and engineer the screens in a modular fashion so they could be installed quickly."
(Jim Evans)
