Corus Group

Digital Signage Proves its Mettle in Steel Mill.

Existing company communications have now been enhanced at the Lackenby Works with eleven 42-inch LCD display screens, giving staff immediate updates to latest news around the mill.

Important company updates, production data, health and safety advice and a host of other details are now communicated to the steelmakers as they work producing precision steel products that already support Canary Wharf and Sydney Harbour Bridge, and will help build our future bridges, ships and buildings.

Problem

Provide a technological change to improve on-site communication to employees of Europe’s second largest steel producer.

The size of the site was also a factor to overcome. Covering a variety of locations at the large Teesside Beam Mill some of the digital signage (DS) screens would be up to 600 metres away from their source players.

Solution

The project was approached in two stages. First, an ‘indoor’ DS system using 42-inch screens was set up for staff in the administration and engineering offices. AIT based its solution around the ViewDis digital signage media player, which allows visual content to be prepared offline and varied as required.

The successful ‘indoor’ pilot led to an extension of the system ‘outdoors’ to five industrial working areas of the plant. AIT chose Sanyo IP65-rated 42-inch LCD weatherproof screens to cope with the testing conditions encountered in these areas. Full site coverage was achieved in high resolution using ViewDis ProVision HD extension equipment and CAT5 distribution cabling.

Result

“Structural sections manufacture may be an established industry on Teesside, but our employees are used to modern means of communication, particularly of a televisual nature. This digital signage solution works on all levels. It allows us to provide information with flexibility and ease, and in an attractive manner familiar to our employees, while overcoming the practical difficulties presented by an industrial workplace,” said Simon Beaumont, Teesside Beam Mill Plant Manager.

“The digital signage system proved so successful internally that we even use it in meetings for PowerPoint presentations. We also decided to extend the system for use in our main reception area so that selected information can be on general display for our guests and visitors.”