PixelFLEX helps Chicken Charlie’s draw a crowd

Hitch-Hiker Mfg. works with the Nashville-based LED video manufacturer to create two outdoor, high-definition LED displays on top of a new mobile concession stand

Nashville, 1/9/2018 – Located in New Middleton, Ohio, Hitch-Hiker Mfg. leads the way in design innovations for the mobile food concession industry. When approached by Chicken Charlie’s in San Diego, California, they were asked to help create an innovative LED video display for the new “FryBQ” mobile concession stand that would surely capture the attention of patrons passing by. Needing a solution that could overcome the challenges associated with an outdoor, traveling environment, they called upon Nashville-based PixelFLEX who provided a completely IP65-rated FLEXStorm 6mm LED video system.

“I’ve been in the restaurant business for 34 years and we’ve had the mobile concession stand for 23 years now,” began Charlie Boghosian, Chicken Charlie’s Owner. “We have a season every year that last about 5 months where we travel across Southern California, and I first put LED video on a stand about 10 years ago. This year, as we were building this new trailer with Hitch-Hiker, I wanted to create an even better multimedia experience, and when we shared our vision with PixelFLEX they really helped us take it from an idea to a reality using the FLEXStorm LED video.”

Designed specifically to overcome the challenges associated with traditional outdoor LED video displays, FLEXStorm from PixelFLEX utilizes an intelligent, auto-correcting light sensor control system to ensure the perfect brightness at all hours of the day. With its safe and reliable IP65-rated connections, FLEXStorm can weather the environment, and is available in a variety of custom sizes, resolutions and configurations.

“This really was a great team project to find a custom LED video solution for the ‘FryBQ’ mobile concession stand,” explained Mark McIntosh, PixelFLEX Sales Engineer. “As we started getting into the details of the project, one of the biggest challenges was that the displays would need to be securely attached to the top as the stand traveled from one location to another. We also needed to go with an outdoor-rated, modular solution to help shave as much weight off the supporting structure as possible, so we worked with Hitch-Hiker to fabricate a custom, sheet metal structure that would secure and support the new FLEXStorm displays.”

Built to withstand adverse weather conditions while still providing a truly breathtaking experience, FLEXStorm can be utilized for outdoor advertising, entertainment, and much more. With its adjustable sensors that communicate directly with the cabinets control system, FLEXStorm has variable brightness offerings between 6500-7500 Nits to look its best day or night. Additionally, the fully front-serviceable panels allow for quick access to the electronics and data control for any onsite service.

McIntosh continued, “One of the things we pride ourselves on at PixelFLEX is that we are a solutions-based manufacturer, and a lot of our products are designed ideally for custom installations and fabrications. We are not limited in any capacity to create the exact design we need.”

As the team got to work installing the custom system, Boghosian’s vision for an even more impactful LED display began to come to life. With the weight and supporting structure no longer an issue, it was time to create an easy to manage content delivery system to truly showcase what Chicken Charlie’s could do.

“Since Charlie wanted the ability to change his content on a regular basis, we needed to implement a user-friendly content management system for video playback,” added McIntosh. “We decided to go with a BrightSign media player with an Apple TV system connected to it, and he now has the ability to create and control content for both LED screens independently directly off his iPhone. Using the raster presets we created in BrightSign, this system is very easy to use and it gives him quite a lot of capability at a relatively low cost.”

With the project now complete, the new mobile concession stand for Chicken Charlie’s has two new LED video displays; one measuring 30-feet long and 40-inches high, and the second measuring 13-feet wide and 7-feet high. In a world that is becoming increasingly reliant upon digital displays and signage, Chicken Charlie’s no longer has to worry about being lost in the crowd.

“When you have a static billboard, it’s just one sign and one message,” concluded Boghosian. “We now have two bright, high-definition LED video displays that I can easily change at any time allowing me to really show people all our products, and create a much more dynamic and eye-catching display that really draws people to us.”

An American-based LED manufacturer, PixelFLEX offers creative solutions, reliable products, and dependable service for our industry-leading LED display technologies and solutions. Driven towards excellence to meet your standards, PixelFLEX offers a one-of-a-kind design for your tour, event or installation through our award-winning line of LED video walls and video screens. Working with architects, designers, engineers and consultants, PixelFLEX is proud to develop custom LED solutions for each and every customer while also providing top-tier customer support throughout the entire experience. For more information on the complete line of PixelFLEX LED video walls and video screens, visit PixelFLEX at pixelflexled.com, follow us on Twitter at @pixelflexled or find us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

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PixelFLEX™ helps change the perception of worship at Shoreline Church

Technical team behind the worship services in Destin, Florida, experiences the advantages of FLEXLite II LED over LCD projection during renovation of a modern worship facility

Nashville, 12/4/2017 – Located in Destin, Florida, Shoreline Church has always tried to find creative and unique ways to share their message while changing the perception of a typical church. As their congregation has continued to grow, the church recently had the opportunity to continue their ministry vision with the renovation an old nightclub into a modern worship facility. Knowing they wanted to install the technical elements that would allow them to further the creativity of their worship services, they found a key component to their new design in a FLEXLite II 3.9mm LED video system from PixelFLEX™.

“We have used LCD video projection in the past and recently while visiting the WFX Conference, I began seeing how LED video has now become a viable solution for the house of worship market,” began lead pastor Eric Partin. “Since we were in the process of completing a new building, we started looking at the quality of LED video over LCD projection. Before, it seemed that only the big churches with large budgets could afford LED video systems, but once we saw it was also an affordable solution for us, we decided LED video would be the best option for our new worship experience.”

FLEXLite LED from PixelFLEX™ is an economical and dynamic solution which provides both indoor and outdoor solutions ideal for any retail environment. With its bright, dense display and high refresh rate, FLEXLite tiles are calibrated directly out of the box to ensure perfect color and brightness, and its easy access back panels allow for simple on-site repairs without the hassle of removing the entire back of a tile.

“If we were going to try and use LCD projectors in the new space, it was going to create some problems as far as the throw distance, and space required for rear projection should we need it,” continued Partin. “When looking at LED video, it was much more effective due to its high-resolution images that were more clear and crisp. The projectors we currently had were older technology, so we were going to have to upgrade anyway, and when researching the benefits of LED over LCD, it was really no comparison.”

With the decision made to move forward with the LED video solution from PixelFLEX™, the team turned their attention to the installation. In the renovation of the former nightclub, the stage would remain in place and provided the ideal location to create the focal point of the new worship design.

“Since the stage was already in place, we team installed a cross beam that holds the LED video wall in a top-hang configuration and then ran the Cat6 network cables to the back of the house which connect to the NovaStar links,” explained Matthew Metcalfe. “We love being able to use it as a more dynamic background for our worship environment with video clips, lyrics, and then also as a set design feature during our services and special events that occur each month.”

Now complete, the FLEXLite II LED video wall at Shoreline Destin measures approximately 16-feet high and 25-feet wide, but as with many congregations, the understanding of how to control the technology would fall mainly upon a team of volunteer technicians. Knowing they would need a bit of guidance to get started, PixelFLEX™ worked with the church to ensure their team could take full advantage of the creative possibilities of LED video.

“We don’t currently have a full-time tech director and when we first installed the wall, we were a bit challenged by what we knew technically,” concluded Partin. “We really relied on the team at PixelFLEX™ to help train our volunteers technicians on how to design with the LED wall, and it’s been a complete game-changer for our congregation. To have the creative potential of LED video, along with all our new production equipment, it really takes our worship services to a whole new level.”

An American-based LED manufacturer, PixelFLEX™ offers creative solutions, reliable products, and dependable service for our industry-leading LED display technologies and solutions. Driven towards excellence to meet your standards, PixelFLEX™ offers a one-of-a-kind design for your tour, event or installation through our award-winning line of LED video walls and video screens. Working with architects, designers, engineers and consultants, PixelFLEX™ is proud to develop custom LED solutions for each and every customer while also providing top-tier customer support throughout the entire experience. For more information on the complete line of PixelFLEX™ LED video walls and video screens, visit PixelFLEX™ at pixelflexled.com, follow us on Twitter at @pixelflexled or find us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

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PixelFLEX™ creates a unique lobby experience for Velocity Productions

VP of Systems Integration and Business Development Scott Carman utilizes PixelFLEX™ 1.9mm LED video to enhance the Equifax conference facility in Atlanta

Nashville, 11/29/2017 – Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Equifax is a global information solutions company with offices in 24 countries worldwide. Taking pride in their unique data and technology solutions, the company recently opened a new facility in Atlanta, Georgia, and they wanted that uniqueness to be on full display from the moment visitors entered the doors. Working with A/V Integration firm Velocity Productions, the new construction project offered a blank canvas for the creation of the new lobby environment, which was transformed through an LED video design with 1.9mm TrueFLEX provided by Nashville-based PixelFLEX™.

“We had done some previous work with Equifax and when we started discussing this project, they made it clear they didn’t want to do a traditional 16×9 LED wall to simply show content, they wanted to do something unique,” said Scott Carman, Velocity Productions Vice President of Systems Integration and Business Development. “Since this would be a public-facing digital display for the lobby of their new building, they wanted an LED video experience, so we came up with a design using the TrueFLEX LED video that would truly get people’s attention.”

Designed to create seamless convex or concave curved video displays, TrueFLEX is an ideal solution for installations requiring an ultra fine pixel pitch and a high-resolution LED video pallet in a flexible format. Now available in 1.9mm, 2.5mm, 3.0mm, 4.0mm, 6mm and 10mm indoor pitch options, the TrueFLEX LED video system quickly and securely attaches to any surface and its fanless design allows for a no-noise LED display in any space. Its slim and ultra lightweight construction needs very little space for wiring, and the external sending and receiving control, paired with quality connectors, guarantee safe and reliable module connections.

“We knew that by using the PixelFLEX™ technology we would be able to create the type of unique LED display they wanted, plus we also have a division of our company called Velocity Studios that could create the complementary video content as well,” continued Carman. “As part of proposal, we were able to offer them a complete range of services to fully integrate all aspects of the LED video design, while still staying within the shortened time frame.”

As the team at Velocity Productions began the process of designing the digital display, they were given a wide canvas to work within on the new construction project. Taking advantage of the magnetic attaching capabilities of a TrueFLEX system, Carman was able to fabricate a custom frame to serve as the backbone for the design, and simplify the installation process.

“They wanted to position the LED display next to the staircase in their lobby that leads up to the executive offices in between two doors that lead to the conference area,” explained Carman. “In the design, we were limited somewhat on our height due to an HVAC soffit, but we had a very wide space of about 20 feet between the doors. To attach the display, we designed a square-tube, steel frame structure for all of the tiles to magnetize on, which really eased the installation process. We literally pushed the tiles into place as necessary and we ended up using 50 total TrueFLEX video tiles to complete the design.”

With the rigging aspects of the design now complete, Carman turned his attention to selecting the ideal pixel pitch and control system for the new display. In the lobby environment, a vibrant and clear display at all viewing distances would be a significant factor to the success of the completed design.

“We have been speaking with PixelFLEX™ about a number of different LED video projects and we love the variety of their product line,” added Carman. “For this project, we ended up using a 1.9mm pixel pitch solution because we knew that people would be within 3-4 feet of the LED display and we needed it to be crisp and clear in a very close proximity. We then used the Sending Unit control system provided by PixelFLEX™, and the BrightSign system for content management. All of the control lives in a tech closet that also houses the audio system which runs in conjunction with portions of the LED video content.”

Now that the LED video display was ready to come to life, Carman turned to the content development team at Velocity Studios. Using a standard b-roll provided by the client, Velocity Studios then took to the streets of Atlanta to bring the community into the dynamic new environment.

Carman continued, “We designed the layout so that there was a center section that could display the traditional 16:9 content provided by Equifax while the original content that would be created by Velocity Studios could be displayed simultaneously all around it. For an additional layer of creativity, they filmed different parts of the Atlanta community that could be shown in rotation, but taking it a step further, they also created a kaleidoscope of the video images for an even more dynamic experience. The intent was for this to be more of an art installation, instead of just a constant delivery of digital information, as this would be the benchmark install used as a model for additional locations worldwide.”

Time now to showcase the final LED video design to everyone involved in the project, Carman was anxious with anticipation. Understanding the challenges they faced with a shortened design schedule and the high expectations from their client, he was proud of the work completed by Velocity Productions and grateful for the assistance of the team at PixelFLEX™.

“Because it had been told to us that this project had a very high profile and company leadership found it critical to a successful launch of this facility, there was a great sense of enthusiasm around the unveiling of the finished design,” concluded Carman. “When everyone finally saw it, a lot of the creative team who were skeptical about what we were doing, were very impressed. PixelFLEX™ really did an amazing job and their team was fully committed to a streamlined design process. When it was all said and done, our client was extremely pleased and a large part of that was to our great working relationship.”

An American-based LED manufacturer, PixelFLEX™ offers creative solutions, reliable products, and dependable service for our industry-leading LED display technologies and solutions. Driven towards excellence to meet your standards, PixelFLEX™ offers a one-of-a-kind design for your tour, event or installation through our award-winning line of LED video walls and video screens. Working with architects, designers, engineers and consultants, PixelFLEX™ is proud to develop custom LED solutions for each and every customer while also providing top-tier customer support throughout the entire experience. For more information on the complete line of PixelFLEX™ LED video walls and video screens, visit PixelFLEX™ at pixelflexled.com, follow us on Twitter at @pixelflexled or find us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

 

Velocity Productions is an Event Production and A/V Integration company specializing in creating unforgettable experiences for companies and brands nationwide. With offices in Atlanta and California, they have served over 500 client partners since 2010. Velocity offers a Drama-free design-build process to deliver custom audio, video and lighting solutions. To learn more or to request a project review, contact Velocity Productions at Velocityproductions.com.

 

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PixelFLEX™ celebrates a history of excellence at Stanford Home of Champions

Experiential design specialists Advent creates an interactive and engaging visual experience for the new home of Stanford Athletics using FLEXLite NXG 3.9mm LED video wall 

Nashville, 11/21/2017– With more than a century of excellence filled with many talented players, coaches and champions, Stanford Athletics is heralded as one of the most successful NCAA athletic programs. Wanting to find a way to celebrate this rich history, the program recently unveiled the new 18,000-square foot Home of Champions. Designed to be a constantly-evolving guest experience, the university enlisted the assistance of the Nashville-based experiential design and consulting firm Advent to create an interactive and cutting-edge showcase using FLEXLite NXG 3.9mm LED video from PixelFLEX™.

“When first speaking with the University about the new Home of Champions, they really wanted the space to be a centralized showcase for Stanford Athletics, and to be an instigator for their brand highlighting what makes them truly unique,” began Drew Bryant, Design Principal, Advent. “Originally, the space was a basketball gym located in the middle of an office building that housed the Athletic offices, so they asked us to completely reimagine what the space could be. Since this is a program that is continuing to evolve with multiple successful teams, we knew we needed to give them the flexibility to showcase their story in a relevant and dynamic environment.”

Using front-serviceable video panels, plus seamless right-angle corner capabilities, FLEXLite NXG from PixelFLEX™ is one of the highest resolution LED video displays on the market today. Available in 2.6-6.25mm pitch options, plus a 6.25mm full outdoor IP65 version as well, the FLEXLite NXG 500mm x 500mm video tiles are calibrated directly out of the box to ensure perfect color and brightness to help realize the full potential of any LED video design.

Bryant continued, “When looking at the technology available, we knew one of the primary capabilities of the LED display was that it needed to have the ability to curve due to how it would be mounted on the wall. We also needed it to be capable of displaying high-resolution imagery, plus it needed to work with our proprietary backend display and CMS system, and PixelFLEX™ really did a great job of working with us to identify the ideal technology solution.”

As the renovation got underway, the design team began to look at how the LED video system would be mounted in the space. Using a custom framing system connected directly to the building’s sub-structure which cantilevers off the existing floor plates above, the team was able to quickly complete the installation only ten days into the one-month schedule.

“To get the LED video system installed into the space, each FLEXLite NXG cabinet is fastened to ¾” plywood which is then affixed to the steel work that is behind the visible wall,” explained John Downie, VP of Digital Experience, Advent. “Since we were in San Francisco, we also had to be very aware of the building codes as it relates to earthquake protection to make sure the LED video will remain in place should any movement occur.

With the LED video now mounted securely to the wall, Downie and team got to work configuring the control system that would bring the experience to life through the seamless integration PixelFLEX™ and Advent technologies.

“For control, the board presents as three different surfaces due to the horizontal layout and each board is then wired back via a CAT6 cable run to the server room which is only a couple hundred feet away,” continued Downie. “We then have three PixelFLEX™ sending units connected to a PC system running our software that binds all the elements together into one continuous display. This allows us to run our application seamlessly across the three displays as one colorful and dynamic canvas.”

Ready to now program the content that would achieve the visually-engaging, guest experience, the FLEXLite NXG LED display would be relied upon to set the tone of the environment. Using a combination of video highlights, accolades and an historical timeline, Advent developed a flexible series of templates, so the display was not only exciting, but customizable and easily updatable as well.

“It’s a very rich and diverse LED display that binds all the static and physical elements of the space together into one dynamic focal point,” said Downie. “The football coach can come in and show football content, the cross-country coach can show cross-country content, and then they can create messages for the public, students, or donors. It really achieves all the elements we were looking for today, but then it also allows us to keep the space fresh for future generations of Stanford athletes and fans.”

“When we first saw the imagery coming across the display, it was a great experience to see how the LED video manipulated the ambiance of the room in a beautiful fashion,” added Bryant. “It was very dramatic for all of us because at times, the FLEXLite NXG imagery can be subtle and provide a low-key ambiance, but then there are times when a coach can play a hype video with great audio to really get the heart of a high-profile recruit pounding.”

Opened to the public in September 2017, the new Stanford Home of Champions now houses over 40 displays which highlight the story behind a tradition of excellence in an interactive and engaging environment. More than just a museum, the team at Advent stands proud of the design behind the experience, and they are continuing to implement LED video into more of their innovative designs.

“It really is amazing how LED video allows your space to be dynamic and flexible while creating very impressionable moments, and the value of those moments can go much further than you could with a static display,” admitted Bryant. “The ability to customize information can be so powerful. If you have the right story, set up at the right time, then whoever is in the space has the ability to create the display that will best fit their needs for a much greater impact.”

“Since we are also based in Nashville, we’ve had the opportunity to work with PixelFLEX™ on a few projects now,” concluded Downie. “It’s very convenient to have a partner we can visit in their facility to test a few different solutions, and they always provide us with great engineering insight and technical expertise to design the exact LED system we need.”

 

An American-based LED manufacturer, PixelFLEX™ offers creative solutions, reliable products, and dependable service for our industry-leading LED display technologies and solutions. Driven towards excellence to meet your standards, PixelFLEX™ offers a one-of-a-kind design for your tour, event or installation through our award-winning line of LED video walls and video screens. Working with architects, designers, engineers and consultants, PixelFLEX™ is proud to develop custom LED solutions for each and every customer while also providing top-tier customer support throughout the entire experience. For more information on the complete line of PixelFLEX™ LED video walls and video screens, visit PixelFLEX™ at pixelflexled.com, follow us on Twitter at @pixelflexled or find us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

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PixelFLEX™ goes deep into the ocean at Moody Gardens Aquarium Pyramid

1220 Exhibits oversees a complete A/V renovation for the 1.5 million-gallon aquarium which includes a dynamic lobby display with FLEXLite NXG 3.9mm LED video

Nashville, 11/7/2017 – Inspired to create unforgettable client experiences, 1220 Exhibits has become a nationally recognized leader in the production and installation of exhibits and commercial environments. Having worked with some of the most widely-known Museums, Universities and Sports Hall of Fame’s, 1220 Exhibits recently got the opportunity to work with Moody Gardens located in Galveston, Texas. Wanting to completely renovate the A/V and exhibit hall experience inside their Aquarium Pyramid, Moody Gardens needed a dynamic, new display for the lobby so 1220 Exhibits installed a FLEXLite NXG LED system from Nashville-based PixelFLEX™.

“We typically do the interior renovations for a number of different corporate environments, but this was our first time working with Moody Gardens,” began Dan Chadwick, Director of Interactive Services, 1220 Exhibits.  “With the project, we won the bid to oversee the complete A/V installation for the renovation of the Aquarium Pyramid where the original design for the lobby called for a 25K projector system. Once we ran the numbers, we were able to show how using a LED video system would be a better long-term solution while giving them a much more compelling digital display for the lobby experience.”

“One of our primary goals with this renovation was to create a dynamic, immersive experience for guests the moment they stepped foot in the Aquarium Pyramid,” said John Zendt, President/CEO Moody Gardens. “The clarity and crispness of the image on the PixelFLEX™ video wall helps us achieve this goal and is exactly what we hoped for from this design.”

With fully front-serviceable video panels, plus seamless right-angle corner capabilities, FLEXLite NXG is one of the highest resolution LED video displays on the market today. Available in 2.6-6.25mm pitch options, plus a 6.25mm full outdoor IP65 version as well, the FLEXLite NXG 500mm x 500mm video tiles are calibrated directly out of the box to ensure perfect color and brightness to help realize the full potential of any LED video design.

Chadwick continued, “Since all of the exhibit houses at Moody Gardens are built in a pyramid-style with the outer façade being made of glass, we knew there would be an uncontrollable amount of natural light that would bleed into the space. Because of this, they would need to install a fairly large projector to counteract the natural light, and even at its maximum capacity, a projection system would not provide the image quality that we could achieve with the high-definition FLEXLite NXG 3.9mm LED wall.”

As the system installation got underway, the LED video panels would be mounted high above the crowd on a curved wall greeting guests as they arrive. In a busy A/V renovation schedule where time is an asset, the design features of the FLEXLite NXG system added an additional benefit to the project, allowing it to install quickly and easily.

“The completed video wall now measures 20-feet wide by 10-feet high and is mounted over a stairwell approximately 15-20 feet above the ground,” added Chadwick. “To connect the panels to the curved mounting wall, we first removed the drywall and fastened ¾” plywood to the metal sub-structure underneath. We then bolted the panels directly to the plywood with about a 5-degree curve. We ended up using 72 total FLEXLite NXG panels and it went pretty smooth as we completed the full LED video system installation in only three days.”

Now ready to begin sending content through the LED video system, the digital display would become both an informational and an excitement generating element to the renovated Aquarium Pyramid. Wanting a true, attention-grabbing experience for the guests, Chadwick knew the high-definition capabilities of FLEXLite NXG would give Moody Gardens exactly what they needed.

“The content for the lobby display is being driven by a custom-built Watch-Out computer with a full HD signal being sent through a PixelFLEX™ sending unit,” explained Chadwick. “The video itself shows a short intro movie to the new Aquarium Pyramid, then it switches over to the daily schedule for the events taking place throughout the exhibit. The video then plays in a loop as part of the completely renovated lobby experience and it’s doing a great job of getting visitors excited from the moment they walk in the door.”

With the full project complete, Moody Gardens opened the doors to the renovated Aquarium Pyramid, allowing guests to now explore the oceans of the world in a 1.5 million-gallon aquarium. Operating in a busy theme park environment, system integrators must be able to ensure the product solutions durability, which is another reason Chadwick took a look at PixelFLEX™.

“We chose PixelFLEX™ because they were a trusted LED video manufacturer and we wanted to have a partner that we could count on to help us create the design we wanted,” concluded Chadwick. “As the entrance focal point for the renovated Aquarium Pyramid, the feedback we have received has been amazing. Everyone has been extremely pleased with how crisp and clear the high-resolution imagery comes through, and we have had multiple comments that the FLEXLite NXG LED video was a fantastic solution for the new lobby display.”

An American-based LED manufacturer, PixelFLEX™ offers creative solutions, reliable products, and dependable service for our industry-leading LED display technologies and solutions. Driven towards excellence to meet your standards, PixelFLEX™ offers a one-of-a-kind design for your tour, event or installation through our award-winning line of LED video walls and video screens. Working with architects, designers, engineers and consultants, PixelFLEX™ is proud to develop custom LED solutions for each and every customer while also providing top-tier customer support throughout the entire experience. For more information on the complete line of PixelFLEX™ LED video walls and video screens, visit PixelFLEX™ at pixelflexled.com, follow us on Twitter at @pixelflexled or find us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

 

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PixelFLEX™ LED makes a true retail connection for Vionic Beach

VP of Creative Direction David Warwick creates a relaxing beach environment for the Vionic Shoes showroom at 1370 Avenue of the America’s using FLEXLite II 3.9mm LED video

Nashville, 11/2/2017– Bringing together style and science, global footwear brand Vionic Shoes has seen a continued growth which prompted a recent move into a new showroom space located at 1370 Avenue of Americas in New York City. In this new environment where reps and buyers would be enticed to purchase the latest innovative shoe designs for their retail locations, a new brand was also being launched, Vionic Beach. Needing a way to make sure the latest in life-changing footwear didn’t get lost on the showroom floor, the retail presence and showroom designer David Warwick created a unique and immersive LED video beach experience using FLEXLite II 3.9mm LED from PixelFLEX™.

“With the growth of the Vionic Shoes brand, we were very fortunate to secure the showroom space at the Avenue of the America’s, and we wanted to create a space that would build the brand for our reps,” began Warwick. “At the same time, we were also introducing a new, beach lifestyle brand called Vionic Beach which is based on our heritage from Australia. In the large showroom space, I didn’t want Vionic Beach to get missed when reps or buyers came through, so we designed a unique space with its own personality using the FLEXLite LED to really make it stand-out.”

FLEXLite LED from PixelFLEX™ is an economical and dynamic solution which provides both indoor and outdoor solutions ideal for any retail environment. With its bright, dense display and high refresh rate, FLEXLite tiles are calibrated directly out of the box to ensure perfect color and brightness, and its easy access back panels allow for simple on-site repairs without the hassle of removing the entire back of a tile.

Warwick continued, “Once we started working with the layout of the showroom, there was a central area that really stood out as the best location for the Vionic Beach display because it was a lovely, blank wall that was about 10-feet high and 8-feet wide. From there we started looking at what type of technology we could to use to create the wow-factor for the buyers and draw their attention to the new brand. Since this would also serve as a prototype for what we could do at the retail locations, we didn’t want the normal product stands and static displays. That wouldn’t give us the excitement I was looking to create which is why we decided to go with an LED video solution.”

Knowing now he wanted to use LED video for the retail design, Warwick began to take a look at industry examples of what the technology could do.  Searching online, he came across one solution that was right in line with what he was looking to create, and that also led him to PixelFLEX™.

“I have been wanting to use LED video in the retail environment for a while now, so I did some reconnaissance. One of the locations that really jumped out to me was a Nordstrom’s in Toronto that had a wall of PixelFLEX™ LED in the shoe area reinforcing the product with dynamic video of a trail runner. It was so immersive, and a really nice way to showcase product, capture attention and tell the story much better than static displays.”

Ready to move forward with a PixelFLEX™ solution, Warwick began to work with the team in Nashville to find the right technology. Not wanting to be held back by product limitations, he was happy to find the many PixelFLEX™ options available that would be powerful enough to create the new environment, while simple enough for a showroom manager to control.

“Once I got into looking at the product lines, I saw the multitude of creative options with PixelFLEX™ which was great because we didn’t want to be constrained by having to design around the LED solution. I wanted something thin with an intensity of color that was easy to install. Plus, it needed to be a solution that the IT department could do a simple plug-and-play for the content, and one that would work consistently for the showroom manager each morning with the flip of a switch.”

With the FLEXLite II LED video solution identified, the team got ready for the installation in the new showroom, but as part of a larger installation, the LED video needed to go up quickly and easily in order to keep the opening on schedule.

“The service we received from PixelFLEX™ was excellent from day one,” added Warwick. “We ended up building a freestanding structure that stood in front of the wall and then attached the FLEXLite LED to the back of the unit. The whole installation was completed in only a couple of hours, and for the control, it’s wired perfectly into the showroom so that all the manager has to do is walk in, turn it on, and away it goes.”

Now open to customers, suppliers, business partners and media members wanting a look at the latest Vionic Shoes innovations, the new LED video design for Vionic Beach is performing beautifully. Taking visitors on a quick trip back to a relaxing memory of sand between their toes, the FLEXLite II LED display is using the power of digital media make a true connection in the retail experience.

“The entire goal of the project was to have the LED video immerse the viewer into the brand of Vionic Beach so the content is a relaxing beach environment with palm trees swaying in the breeze and the ocean rolling in behind it,” concluded Warwick. “When you look at it, it’s one of those magical moments in retail design where it all simply comes together as it was meant to be. We have had numerous buyers who will literally stop to take it all in.  Anytime you can incorporate movement into the retail space it always works better because with everyone being so bombarded with brands and digital information, LED video cuts through and allows you to connect very quickly.”

An American-based LED manufacturer, PixelFLEX™ offers creative solutions, reliable products, and dependable service for our industry-leading LED display technologies and solutions. Driven towards excellence to meet your standards, PixelFLEX™ offers a one-of-a-kind design for your tour, event or installation through our award-winning line of LED video walls and video screens. Working with architects, designers, engineers and consultants, PixelFLEX™ is proud to develop custom LED solutions for each and every customer while also providing top-tier customer support throughout the entire experience. For more information on the complete line of PixelFLEX™ LED video walls and video screens, visit PixelFLEX™ at PixelFLEX™led.com, follow us on Twitter at @PixelFLEX™led or find us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

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PixelFLEX heads downtown to Macy’s Brooklyn with Reflect

Senior Systems Engineer Chas Thornhill creates a new LED video display for a renovated consumer environment using FLEXLite NXG 3.9mm LED video technology

Nashville, 10/18/2017 – In recent years, few cities across the United States have seen the type of revitalization that has occurred in Brooklyn, New York. Included in this revitalization, retailers located in the New York City borough have also begun to undergo renovation projects of their own expanding the attention of their retail environments. As Macy’s Brooklyn Downtown began their renovation journey, they wanted to expand their digital media to enhance the consumer experience, so they called up longtime partner Reflect who installed a new FLEXLite NXG 3.9mm LED video display from PixelFLEX.

“Looking to add digital media to the new Brooklyn store design, the executives at Macy’s brought us on early in the project where they were originally concepting a large video wall composed of 55” LCD displays,” began Chas Thornhill, CTS, Reflect’s Senior Systems Engineer. “I took one look at that and immediately started working to change the design from LCD to LED. In the end, we were successful in proving that LED would look better while being more cost-effective when considering the full installation and maintenance costs, and the FLEXLite NXG looks great in the new space.”

Now with fully front-serviceable video panels, plus seamless right-angle corner capabilities, the FLEXLite NXG is one of the highest resolution LED video displays on the market. Available in 2.6-6.25mm pitch options, plus a 6.25mm full outdoor IP65 version as well, FLEXLite NXG tiles are calibrated directly out of the box to ensure perfect color and brightness and will help you realize the full potential of your retail LED video environment.

“Macy’s has a few corporate owned LED displays, mostly in the Herald Square flagship store, so they weren’t completely unfamiliar with the technology, but they did have the idea it would be much more expensive over LCD,” continued Thornhill. “Using the entirety of the project cost including installation, maintenance and content creation, I was able to show them that we could bring in the LED wall at a little lower cost than the LCD.”

Getting started on the install, the new LED video display would be placed on a concrete wall of the escalator well, between the first and second floors.  Measuring 5 meters high x 2 meters wide, Thornhill would need to decide how to best attach the display to the actual concrete, and in the end, he developed a completely custom solution.

“The installation was pretty interesting in that in between the escalator wells there is a 2-foot thick, 3000 psi concrete sheer wall that runs from the basement all the way to the top of the building,” explained Thornhill. “We wanted to hold the LED wall as close to the concrete as possible, so I designed a custom bracket that we fabricated here in New York, and then attached it to the concrete wall. We then attached the top row of the FLEXLite NXG LED tiles to the bracket and hung the remaining panels from the top row. When we got the bottom, we attached a couple of bolts to tabs so that the LED wall couldn’t be swung out without an authorized employee.”

With the install complete, the design team was ready to start sending content to the new display which would use the proprietary ReflectView™ system for digital content management that is standard across all Macy’s locations.

“The content is mostly experiential and promotional with beauty shots of clothes models and graphical messages to promote sales and other store announcements,” added Thornhill. “The signal is provided by our ReflectView system which Macy’s adopted a few years ago to drive digital content to all their locations. We then have an IDF room on the floor above the LED wall with the ReflectView media player and PixelFLEX sending unit, and the entire system is powered from only three 20A power circuits.”

In today’s consumer environment, LED video is quickly becoming recognized as an affordable and creative design tool to capture the attention of shoppers and drive sales. When showcasing the new Macy’s LED video display to the executives in charge of this design, Thornhill was excited for them to see for themselves what he had known from the beginning.

“They absolutely loved it,” concluded Thornhill. “They really liked the brightness and the image quality. Even the general contractor who installed the mounting bracket talked about doing similar LED walls in his other projects. They love the fact that it is extremely easy to create the content, and the final design with the FLEXLite NXG LED, instead of LCD, was very well received.”

An American-based LED manufacturer, PixelFLEX offers creative solutions, reliable products, and dependable service for our industry-leading LED display technologies and solutions. Driven towards excellence to meet your standards, PixelFLEX offers a one-of-a-kind design for your tour, event or installation through our award-winning line of LED video walls and video screens. Working with architects, designers, engineers and consultants, PixelFLEX is proud to develop custom LED solutions for each and every customer while also providing top-tier customer support throughout the entire experience. For more information on the complete line of PixelFLEX LED video walls and video screens, visit PixelFLEX at pixelflexled.com, follow us on Twitter at @pixelflexled or find us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

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PixelFLEX LED deepens the impact at Cathedral of Faith

Director of Operations Kurt Foreman oversees the installation of a FLEXTour 3.9mm LED video system as a dynamic replacement for the sanctuary’s LCD video wall

Nashville, 10/4/2017 – In San Jose, California, the Cathedral of Faith has been providing powerful and encouraging worship services for its congregation since its inception in 1965. Believing in the power of multimedia arts to help convey their message, the technical team behind those services is asked to create the ideal worship environment each week. Knowing that they needed to renovate their production design with LED video to maintain a high level of creativity and performance, the church recently worked with Nashville-based PixelFLEX and installed a new FLEXTour 3.9mm LED video system.

“I initially looked at LED video technology about 8-10 years ago, but at that time it was too cost-prohibitive so we ended up installing and LCD TV wall for our worship design,” began Kurt Foreman, Director of Operations, Cathedral of Faith. “It worked well, but it had its limitations, and we couldn’t send a live video feed to it. As LED video has now become more cost-effective, we started looking at manufacturers that could meet the challenge of our HD cameras for the live IMAG video feed, and that’s when we discovered the FLEXTour system from PixelFLEX.”

FLEXTour is a robust, high-definition and curve-able LED video display designed specifically for the high demands of live entertainment production. With its unique rigging capabilities that allow for traditional and off-set configurations, each 500mmx1000mm tile is fully front-serviceable and its integrated climbing ladder allows for quick access to displays flown high overhead. Built with the highest standard in components including the new NovaStar A8s receiving card, FLEXTour is completely flicker-free making it one of the premier LED video design solutions available today.

“We saw that other churches have been using PixelFLEX technology in their worship designs, and they were actually the last manufacturer we looked at during our search for the right technology,” continued Forman. “Although they assured us their video screens would look great with our HD camera’s, when we saw their demo it was more than we could ever had dreamed, and the impact that it now has on our worship environment is amazing.”

Ready to move forward with PixelFLEX, Foreman knew the technical specifications and performance capabilities of the FLEXTour LED would be exactly what they needed, but he was a bit surprised at how easily it integrated into their existing system.

“Our FLEXTour LED video system is about 13-feet high and 26-feet wide in a 16:9 ratio, and we knew we wanted to be in the 3-4mm pixel range because we wanted an impressive finished design,” explained Foreman. “It was interesting, given the different manufacturers that came in, that the PixelFLEX system was the only true plug-and-play solution. It really didn’t take any time at all to get the FLEXTour LED video fully integrated it into our production environment.”

With the LED video system now ready to join the congregation, Foreman was excited to see how it would meet the challenge of the live HD camera feeds. Having already had a demo of the FLEXTour LED, he was confident they had made the right choice, and its performance certainly did not disappoint.

“We are currently using the FLEXTour as one massive wall directly centerstage in our worship design and it has exceeded everyone’s expectations,” added Foreman. “For playback, we are using ProPresenter and ProVideoPlayer, and for our live shots we have an HD 4A switcher with six Hitachi HD cameras. With the PixelFLEX system there is no moraying, and it looks great due to its high refresh rate. It’s one thing to see a demo of the product, but when you get the full LED wall in your space, it’s amazing. The FLEXTour system really looks phenomenal.”

In a worship environment where the production team is dedicated to creating a dynamic experience, the introduction of the FLEXTour LED video would be a wonderful addition to the services at Cathedral of Faith. Understanding how many people today live in an increasingly digital world, Foreman knew the LED video wall would only deepen the impact of the church’s message.

“At Cathedral of Faith we have four weekend services and we put a big emphasis in using all the multimedia arts to present the gospel in an interesting and engaging way,” concluded Foreman. “The FLEXTour LED really helps us create a whole new level of immersion where the congregation is locked in with the worship leader. It really has provided opportunities for a unique worship experience, and it speaks to the relevance of the church in how we communicate the message to today’s generation.”

An American-based LED manufacturer, PixelFLEX offers creative solutions, reliable products, and dependable service for our industry-leading LED display technologies and solutions. Driven towards excellence to meet your standards, PixelFLEX offers a one-of-a-kind design for your tour, event or installation through our award-winning line of LED video walls and video screens. Working with architects, designers, engineers and consultants, PixelFLEX is proud to develop custom LED solutions for each and every customer while also providing top-tier customer support throughout the entire experience. For more information on the complete line of PixelFLEX LED video walls and video screens, visit PixelFLEX at pixelflexled.com, follow us on Twitter at @pixelflexled or find us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

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PixelFLEX takes the stage at the Scottish Rite Valley of Boston

First Lieutenant Commander Eugene “Cappy” Capobianco works with the Nashville-based LED video manufacturer to install a new theatrical backdrop using FLEXLite LED

Nashville, 9/25/2017 – As one of the several Scottish Rite Valleys located in the state of Massachusetts, the Valley of Boston is steeped in the rich traditions of the Scottish Rite and Freemasonry dating back to the 17th Century. Dedicated to promoting personal character, leadership, and family values, the four bodies of the Valley of Boston come together twice a year in the spring and fall to welcome new members to the fraternal organization. In a ceremony that includes a high level of theatrical production, the Valley of Boston wanted to heighten the experience behind the ceremony so they installed a new FLEXLite LED video system from PixelFLEX.

“At the Scottish Rite Valley of Boston, we have a stage in Gothic Hall with full scale production equipment that you would expect to see in any regional theatre,” began Eugene “Cappy” Capobianco, First Lieutenant Commander, Massachusetts Consistory Scottish Rite Valley of Boston. “We rely upon these production elements for our new candidate orientation where each of the four bodies within the organization produces an allegory for the benefit of the candidates to understand all of the ‘32 Degrees of the Orders’. As part of the productions, we were spending a lot of money and storage space on the various backdrops, so one day we came up with the idea to begin renting a LED wall for our stills and video backdrops. This eventually led us to the purchase of our own FLEXLite LED video wall which has been a great addition for our production crew and our entire membership.”

FLEXLite from Nashville-based PixelFLEX is an economical LED video solution for both indoor and outdoor video designs. With its bright, dense display and high refresh rate, incorporating FLEXLite into any production takes little effort, and its easy access back panels allow for simple on-site repairs. Built with a die cast aluminum frame, FLEXLite is available in two sizes, 500mm x 500mm or 1000mm x 500mm, and is also available in 2.6mm-6.25mm pixel pitch options.

“I’m an electrical contractor by trade and when I initially discussed the idea of using LED video over traditional backdrops with the heads of the four bodies and our technical director, everyone agreed it was a good idea,” continued Cappy. “We began by renting an LED wall for our productions and everyone liked it so much we started looking at purchasing the technology for ourselves. At our next meeting, PixelFLEX joined us via conference call and then we took a trip to Nashville and decided to install our FLEXLite LED video wall that now measures 18-feet high by 30-feet wide for a beautiful, full-stage backdrop.”

With the decision to move forward now made, it was time to install the LED video wall in Gothic Hall, located on the 7th floor of the Grand Lodge. Using their electrical and theatrical design experience, Cappy and the production team were confident that they could capitalize on the design innovation of a PixelFLEX system for a quick and easy installation.

“It was actually a piece of cake to install the FLEXLite LED video wall,” he added. “First, we set up the piping per the specs to hang the wall, and then as the panels arrived, we were able to easily connect them together down the line. We then built a breakout box to connect power, installed the cables into our plug-and-play system from PixelFLEX, and away it went running entirely off six 220-volt 20A circuits.”

Excited to have the LED video wall in place, the Valley of Boston got right to work to create their new production designs. As each of the four body heads would be producing their own piece of the production, the FLEXLite system immediately created boundless opportunities that could not be achieved with static backdrop.

“For the content, we have been using a combination of both moving and still graphics,” explained Cappy. “To decide which content is used, the head of each body sits down with our technical director during the design and rehearsal process, and they develop the imagery for their specific production. We really are having fun exploring the all capabilities of the video system because the FLEXLite LED wall gives us unlimited opportunities to create any imagery we need.”

Ready for the productions to take flight with the FLEXLite LED video wall in place, Cappy was eager to see the reaction of the new and current membership. Knowing their dedication to creating true theatrical productions at the Scottish Rite Valley of Boston, the dynamic capabilities of an LED video system made an immediate impact.

“Our productions have always been theatrical in nature, no different from any community or regional theatre nationwide,” he concluded. “We do this for the benefit of our current and prospective membership, so when we came to the crossroads of being able to update our technical system with the latest technology, we had to take it. With four different bodies, putting on different plays throughout the course of the day, the FLEXLite LED video wall allows us to do so much more than a traditional backdrop, and it really takes our productions to a new level.”

An American-based LED manufacturer, PixelFLEX offers creative solutions, reliable products, and dependable service for our industry-leading LED display technologies and solutions. Driven towards excellence to meet your standards, PixelFLEX offers a one-of-a-kind design for your tour, event or installation through our award-winning line of LED video walls and video screens. Working with architects, designers, engineers and consultants, PixelFLEX is proud to develop custom LED solutions for each and every customer while also providing top-tier customer support throughout the entire experience. For more information on the complete line of PixelFLEX LED video walls and video screens, visit PixelFLEX at pixelflexled.com, follow us on Twitter at @pixelflexled or find us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

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PixelFLEX LED sets the tone for the 2017 MLB All-Star FanFest

MSI Productions Technical Director Tom Bollard works with BaAM Productions to create a truly memorable LED video tunnel experience using 3.9mm FLEXLite Plus

Nashville, 9/21/2017 – As part of the annual Major League Baseball All-Star Game festivities, the FanFest is an indoor baseball theme park experience dedicated specifically to the fans of the game. With opportunities to take photos with MLB Legends, get free autographs, plus pitch, hit and run on an indoor baseball diamond, the FanFest is an event like none other. Continuing the implementation of technology enhancements designed to heighten the fan experience, the producers once again worked with BaAM Productions and MSI Productions at the 2017 event, and together they created an LED video tunnel entrance using 3.9mm FLEXLite Plus from PixelFLEX.

“Major League Baseball made it known three years ago that they were going to implement a tiered series of capital improvements to the annual FanFest experience at the MLB All-Star Game,” began Tom Bollard, Technical Director, MSI Productions. “They wanted to bring more technology into the show to make it more dynamic for our younger audiences. Last year, we implemented the LED tunnel walls during phase one of the capital project, and this year we implemented phase two with the integration of the LED tunnel ceiling, both of which used the FLEXLite Plus 3.9mm LED video.”

FLEXLite Plus from PixelFLEX is one of the highest resolution curve-able LED displays on the market and is capable of a 15-degree curve in any direction. With its bright, dense display and high refresh rate, FLEXLite Plus photographs and videos extremely well and its tiles are calibrated directly out of the box to help decrease failure, and ensure perfect color and brightness of your LED screen.

“The nice thing about our relationship with PixelFLEX is that they can pretty much do anything with an LED video design,” continued Bollard. “When BaAM Productions started designing the show, we knew with confidence that we could handle any design they wanted. When we received their sketches, we sent them over to the PixelFLEX design team, and immediately got the word back that we could make the FLEXLite Plus LED ceiling a part of this year’s lineup.”

Ready now to implement the technology into the design, the LED video tunnel would be the first attraction experienced by fans as they entered the Miami Beach Convention Center. Wanting to immediately set a tone of excitement for the 2017 MLB FanFest, Bollard knew the addition of the LED ceiling would be a huge hit.

“The design structure was called the arrival module and it was positioned where guests enter the show floor to really create a dynamic first impression,” added Bollard. “Last year, the curved wall screens we did with PixelFLEX were a huge success, so as we added in the ceiling as well, we knew it would truly make the design unique. The curved screens stood about 19-feet tall and were approximately 35-feet wide. The ceiling structure ended up being approximately 30-feet wide and 36-feet deep with a nice, gentle curve to it as well, and it hung directly over the walls to complete the tunnel experience.”

With the load-in date now approaching, it was time to focus their attention to the rigging aspects of the design. Since the design called for a top-hang solution, the team created a custom, metal frame which would also allow for quick installation of the FLEXLite Plus LED video panels.

“Knowing that the LED ceiling would need to hang straight down, it would be a bit of an engineering challenge,” explained Bollard. “We ended up creating a metal ‘superstructure’ to get the rigging points needed, and that enabled us to get the ceiling loaded in and ready to go in only two days. Once it was up, you could tell it would be a dynamic, in-your-face, Miami-style baseball experience, and the fans absolutely loved it.”

As more live event production companies continue to integrate LED video experiences into their productions, the desire to push the boundaries of creativity only grows as well. When looking for technology a partner to reach these new heights, Bollard knows this is a crucial aspect to the success of a dynamic and memorable LED video design.

“We first worked with PixelFLEX a few years back, and when I first started speaking with them, it was clear that they had the ability to do almost anything we needed with creative LED video builds,” concluded Bollard. “We have since done several projects with them where we needed an out-of-the-ordinary solution, and they have come through every time. They really seem to understand the nuance of the big project with nothing forgotten and nothing left out. As a technical director, when I am thinking of how we’re going to install such creative solutions, they always have it thought through, and it works.”

An American-based LED manufacturer, PixelFLEX offers creative solutions, reliable products, and dependable service for our industry-leading LED display technologies and solutions. Driven towards excellence to meet your standards, PixelFLEX offers a one-of-a-kind design for your tour, event or installation through our award-winning line of LED video walls and video screens. Working with architects, designers, engineers and consultants, PixelFLEX is proud to develop custom LED solutions for each and every customer while also providing top-tier customer support throughout the entire experience. For more information on the complete line of PixelFLEX LED video walls and video screens, visit PixelFLEX at pixelflexled.com, follow us on Twitter at @pixelflexled or find us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.

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