During the winter months, it’s harder for businesses to maintain the visibility and vibrancy of their outdoor signage. With increased hours of darkness, images, text and logos can easily blend into the background of a building without the use of illumination.
Leading large format printer Leach, based in Bradley, Huddersfield, is a manufacturer of display lightboxes. Aluminium frames in a range of sizes, thicknesses and shapes house bright, uniform LED illumination and are fronted by interchangeable fabric graphics to deliver a stunning, long-lasting display solution that remains bright and eye-catching, especially when the light is low. They are suitable for a wide range of indoor settings, from retail stores, to offices, to exhibitions and museums.
However, with a number of upgraded elements, from the frame finishing to the electric components, Leach’s lightboxes can also be installed externally, an offering the printer is currently expanding following the success of a lightbox project completed this summer – right on time for the dark days of winter.
On July 1st, the Embassy of Spain and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the UK participated in London’s 2023 Pride festivities, which took place across the capital. With the 3rd of July marking the 18th anniversary of legal same-sex marriage in Spain, the Pride celebrations were an ideal opportunity for the two institutions to make a bold statement.
The co-organisers planned a photographic exhibition with a difference, looking to showcase some of the most iconic images of Gay Pride in Spain outside their offices in Belgrave Square, London. In a collection named “PROUD OF OUR PRIDE”, the chosen photos – curated by the EFE Spanish News Agency – covered the evolution of the LGTBQI+ movement in Spain over five decades.
The Spanish Embassy and Chamber of Commerce turned to Leach to help bring to life the temporary photographic exhibition and express their pride in full technicolour splendour, day and night.
Leach crafted ten 1-metre square lightboxes and high-definition printed tension fabric graphics featuring the chosen photographs, each backlit by bright LED illumination. The aluminium frames were powder coated to a matt black colour to ensure that the attention of passers-by was focused on the colourful images within, whilst the finish also prevented rusting. Each graphic was carefully secured with discreet grub screws to withstand any inclement weather conditions and IP67-rated LED modules were fitted to ensure the lightboxes were robust and safe for outside use.
Leach’s dedicated team of installers fitted the frames at intervals along the wrap-around fencing of Belgrave Square, using bespoke hidden fixings and clamping brackets that delivered the illusion of each lightbox “floating” in mid-air above the railings.
From design through to manufacture and installation, Leach’s external lightboxes helped to deliver a picture-perfect backdrop to represent Spain’s inclusivity at what was a high-profile, internationally acclaimed event. Each of the printed elements reflected a snapshot of a diverse, forward-thinking society that is at its most colourful when its people are free to express their pride.
Julio Manuel Fenoy Muñoz, Deputy Head of the Communication Office, Embassy of Spain to the UK, enthused; “Pride weekend is an important annual event in our official calendar, a chance for Spain to be seen and heard in the important conversations about the fight for LGBTQI+ rights. I was keen to ensure that our offices displayed our firm support for Pride with a special spotlight on Spain’s inclusivity journey so far. The lightboxes captured that journey flawlessly in what was a truly stunning outdoor installation. Many thanks to Leach for pulling out all the stops on this project.”
Delighted with the results of the Proud of our Pride project, Leach is currently working to widen its range of external lightboxes, ensuring more businesses will benefit from the eye-catching branding and signage opportunities they can offer, especially during the winter months.
If your business is looking to light up an outdoor event or add branding to its building, contact Leach today on 01484 551200 or visit weareleach.com.