The external signage installation at Derbion shopping centre has been completed. Our installation team spent most of two weeks at the major shopping centre installing 20 illuminated signs as part of the rebrand of the former intu Derby shopping centre. The new internal branding was initially implemented internally in March 2021. While the completion of external signage was set for September. Our Operations Director, Tom Hardy, led the project from start to finish.

The name change was chosen by Cale Street Investments, the new owners, who say the name “brings together the centre’s geographical location and a sense of motion, inspired by Derby’s history of ingenuity and innovation, coupled with an ambition to continually move forward and evolve.

Working on the project alongside Derbion, Savills and Mainline, it took us two weeks to complete the installation; with staff working tirelessly through the days and nights. New signage has been installed across all sides of the shopping centre, including above the entrances off Albion Street, Traffic Street, and by The Spot. Most of the signage was installed throughout the evening and early hours of the morning to ensure efficiency and health and safety.

Drone footage was produced by Laura Firth, Mini Aperture Photography

Visitors, customers and the community in Derby witnessed some incredible actions with abseiling teams climbing up and down the building using rope access.

The new signage ranged in size and height which created the need for an array of different machines to help with the installation. With the smallest sign starting at 2000mm in built-up rimless aluminium letters that spell out ‘Derbion’ and the largest being 8500mm in built-up rimless aluminium letters. Many of these signs were also mounted on full-back trays in Derbion’s brand colours.

Specialised power access was needed throughout the project, which was provided by Mainline Access & Training. Each sign had a difference in height, outreach and gradient across the shopping centre and therefore required different machinery.

The first machine that was used was a HR21 boom, which has an impressive envelope for up and outreach and covered large sections of the installations. The second machine was a 92/50 diesel scissor lift, which was required for the signage going up on the outer wall of the car park. The scissor lift made light work of the difficult spot allowing a reach of 17m as well as using the self-levelling stabilisers to deal with the slope below.

Tom Hardy said “Hardy Signs were delighted to be chosen as the preferred supplier to carry out such a prestigious contract. The shopping centre itself has a commanding presence on the city skyline and the new signage compliments that perfectly. With many elements to orchestrate, including high-level installation and temporary road closures, the process presented many challenges. However, the knowledge and experience of the Hardy Signs team proved invaluable, and the project was delivered with great success and efficiency”

Adam Tamsett, general manager at Derbion, added: ‘’We have been impressed by Hardy Signs’ enthusiasm and commitment to this exciting project. As Derbion sits in the heart of the community, it’s great to be able to work with a local company. We are delighted with the installation of our new exterior signage, which was the final step of the unveiling of our new identity.’’

 

“The whole project has been a great success overall and I’m really proud of the team for pulling out all the stops to make sure everything was ready and installed in a short time frame. A big thank you to Derbion too for trusting Hardy Signs for such a cornerstone project in Derby,” said Nik Hardy, managing director. 

This project was also covered by Derby Telegraph, Marketing Derby, Generation Next and East Midlands Chamber of Commerce.

About the company: Hardy Signs is a professional and digital signage company that designs, manufactures and installs bespoke signage products to a wide range of business sectors in the United Kingdom. The company has been awarded the manufacturer of the year in 2019 and 2020.

Like what you see here?


Get in touch with us to see how we can help your business or brand.

Call us on 01283 569 102

Contact us.