COMPANY SYNOPSIS:
For almost 100 years, Kewpee Hamburger has been serving fresh ground hamburgers with high quality fixings, fresh baked pie, frosted malts, and much more to many happy customers across the mid-west. The first Kewpee restaurant opened in 1923 in Flint, Michigan. Burger Beast notes that “Kewpee Hamburgers is the 2nd oldest Burger Chain in the United States after White Castle.” According to the Cleveland.com website, “during the 1940s, there were more than 400 Kewpee locations nationwide.” Today, Kewpee Hamburgers has locations in Lima, Ohio, including the downtown, westside, and eastside locations, and two out of state locations (Lansing, Michigan & Racine, Wisconsin). In addition, Kewpee has been recognized for having one of the first drive-thrus in the country. It is rumored, in the industry, that Wendy’s copied the square burgers made famous at Kewpee!

HOW DID KEWPEE BURGERS FIND ITSENCLOSURES:
Scott Shutt, Kewpee Hamburgers owner/operator, found the ITSENCLOSURES website while performing an online Google search for drive thru digital signage. He was interested in a menu board for the drive-thrus at his three Lima locations. Once he found the solution that would work for his needs, he called ITSENCLOSURES and talked to a salesperson about his options.

PROJECT:
Mr. Shutt was in pursuit of an all-weather, outdoor digital menu board to be installed at Kewpee Hamburgers in Lima, Ohio. He researched various digital signs and monitor solutions available on the market. His main goal was to determine what competitors were utilizing at fast food/quick service restaurants in the United States. The most important function of the digital signage would be displaying the restaurant’s menu for Kewpee’s breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert selections. Mr. Shutt wanted the ability to change out advertising on the screens, as well as update pricing and promote best-selling food items and seasonal items, like holiday pies.

CHALLENGES:
The current static signage would need to be removed, new heavy-duty bolts installed in existing concrete, and updated wiring would have to be fed into the building under the ground. Also, the digital signage would be deployed in a tight area in the existing drive-thru lane.  Mr. Shutt was concerned about drivers being able to maneuver around the drive-thru without hitting the sign. He also wanted to make sure that the sign was bright enough in direct sunlight. In addition, two of his locations would need special mounting, as the signs were in close proximity to brick walls.

SOLUTION:
Kewpee Hamburgers reviewed a few different solutions over the course of a few months and, after visiting ITSENCLOSURES in Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania, chose the VS-6 2×1 digital menu board with two high bright Samsung outdoor monitors. Kewpee and ITSENCLOSURES mounted the all-weather menu board in the drive-thru of the downtown Lima Kewpee Hamburgers. The innovative solution includes two 55-inch, 2,500 nit high-bright LCD monitors (in portrait orientation) encased in a mount/pole configuration with housing for media players and other necessary electronics. The signage encasement is marine grade aluminum with a polyester powder paint finish and stainless steel fasteners. For the locations with limited space, ITSENCLOSURES designed a custom ‘swinging arm’ mount for the menu boards installed near brick walls. This built-to-last structure would make it easier to access the monitors, while keeping air circulation intact.

SUMMARY OF PROJECT:
Scott Shutt, Kewpee Hamburgers owner/operator, summed up the digital sign project, “Like much technology today, there are considerations to be made with hardware and software. Many vendors have a background in software and it becomes apparent that they are more interested in selling software licenses than how the menu board will perform. The engineering of the ITS VS-6 2×1 is superb and the quality of the fabrication is unsurpassed. The ITSENCLOSURES’ VS-6 2×1 gives us the flexibility to use a media platform of our choosing knowing that the structure will provide us years of outstanding services.”

ADDITIONAL PRODUCT INFORMATION

• VS-6 2×1 Outdoor Digital Menu Board

HAVE QUESTIONS?
Let us know how we can best assist you! Contact an ‘ITSENCLOSURES expert’ at 1-800-423-9911 -OR- send us an email: info@itsenclosures.com

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CENTRAL OHIO TRANSIT AUTHORITY (COTA) SYNOPSIS:
Since January 1971, COTA (Central Ohio Transit Authority) has been the official bus service for the city of Columbus, Ohio and surrounding areas. COTA is currently in the process of deploying CMAX, an all-new rapid transit service. CMAX is a limited-stop service and will connect passengers to major destinations in and around downtown Columbus. According to the official COTA website, the new service will improve service, improve mobility and reliability in congested areas, be less expensive for travelers, provide more travel options, and improve pedestrian access and safety.

HOW DID COTA FIND ITSENCLOSURES:
In the summer of 2014, COTA reached out to ITSENCLOSURES, whom they had worked with before on a different outdoor digital signage solution, to glean pricing on fabricating an all-weather, LCD enclosure for a bus stop shelter makeover across the city of Columbus, Ohio. The plan was in the initial stages, but it was anticipated that the overall project would take place over the course of a few years. COTA’s proposal included a prototype bus shelter at the company’s headquarters, located at 1333 Fields Avenue in Columbus, Ohio.

PROJECT:
COTA desired to install eye-catching outdoor digital signage at every CMAX bus stop and the project entailed a custom, environmental LCD enclosure to be housed in a large pylon, attached to a bus shelter. Considering the complexity of the project and having successfully worked with ITSENCLOSURES on previous transportation projects, COTA felt confident that the new CMAX signage strategy would become a reality with ITSENCLOSURES’ durable, heavy-duty products.

CHALLENGES:
Being in Columbus, Ohio, a city that experiences all four seasons of weather, COTA required various thermal management options as they were concerned about freezing, snowy winters, and humid, sunny summers. In addition, COTA required high bright, commercial-grade monitors, so that passengers could view the bus routes at all hours of the day. Another critical concern for COTA was the possibility of vandalism and destruction of the screens.

SOLUTION:
After weighing different options, COTA decided to install a custom, fan-cooled, outdoor digital signage that is recessed into a bus shelter. To study and review the enclosure in various weather conditions, COTA built a fully functioning CMAX shelter to prototype in the winter of 2016. COTA plans to install a combination of pylons, single and double sided, at each CMAX bus stop to display real-time information, including arrival and departure times. Each outdoor digital sign is equipped with a 47-inch, high bright LCD and a thermostatically controlled fan/heater system to protect the electronics in the extreme, central Ohio weather conditions. The enclosure houses a media player to ensure seamless content delivery.

SUMMARY OF PROJECT:
In all, COTA purchased 77 LCD enclosures designed for 47-inch monitors, which were installed throughout 2017 and into the Spring of 2018. The innovative outdoor digital signage will be housed in a total of 64 pylons throughout Columbus. COTA anticipates that the digital signage will help passengers find the correct bus route and arrive at their destination in a timely manner. CMAX bus stop shelters and busses will change the way that people travel in Columbus.

HAVE QUESTIONS?
Let us know how we can best assist you! Contact an ‘ITSENCLOSURES expert’ at 1-800-423-9911 -OR- email: info@itsenclosures.com

The post Central Ohio Transit Auth. – Outdoor Digital Signage appeared first on ITSENCLOSURES.

Many customers exclaim, “I will just provide my own LCD monitor for my outdoor digital signage project.” But, will the monitor be an effective solution installed outdoors? When deploying outdoor digital signage, the LCD chosen really does matter! For many customers, it might be desirable to purchase the “best deal” or least expensive monitor on the market, whether online or at a big box store. The simple truth: consumer-grade monitors found at big box stores or on the web will most likely be too dark or fail if installing outdoors in the elements. A consumer-grade television will not perform in the same way as a commercial-grade or high bright LCD monitor. They are quite different.

If a company attempts to use a consumer-grade screen outdoors, several challenges exist.

4 LCD Challenges for Outdoor Digital Signage

(1.) Not Bright Enough for Outdoor Use

On average, most consumer-grade televisions are only rated at 150-300 nits of brightness (a nit is a measure of brightness and equal to 1 candela per square meter of light). This is great for a living room or bedroom, but outdoor installations are very unique and quite different. It is recommended that you choose a screen that is at least 2,000-2,500 nits to be visible in an outdoor environment. Consider what happens when you try to view your iPhone or Android smartphone outdoors on a sunny day. The screen appears black and you can barely make out the text or images. The exact same effect occurs when using a screen outdoors that is insufficiently bright.

(2.) Length of Warranty

Many popular brands of consumer LCD televisions only offer a 90-day to 1-year warranty and retailers may try to “upsell” you with an extended warranty, which might be for 2-5 years. However, the outdoor digital signage warranty will be ‘void’ if the monitor is not used properly, for example – leaving the monitor on for an extended period of time. According to the website, LCD TV Buying Guide, “The warranties do not cover damages resulting from misuse, natural disasters, or accidents. For these causes it may be best to find a store bought protection plan or extended warranty.” However, there are stipulations for extended warranties as well. Prior to installation, it is best to review what is not covered. Commercial-grade displays offer a standard 3-year warranty with the option to upgrade up to 5 years. This is an important detail when planning an outdoor signage project.

(3.) Prolonged Daily Usage and Solar Load 

Most outdoor digital signage applications dictate that the LCD needs to deliver a menu or powerful marketing message 18-24 hours a day! A consumer-grade television is only meant to be used approximately 5-6 hours a day. Prolonged daily use will result in premature failure. HDTVs purchased at a retail store are not built or designed to be powered on for extended periods of time. Plus, when the sun beats down on the screen, it will quickly show wear and lose clarity. The effects of solar gain can be dramatic, and overheating will cause isotropic effects (screen will turn black or dark).

(4.) Low Value Proposition

Many integrators and end users simply do not understand why they should purchase an LCD that can be 3-5 times the expense of what they can buy at a “big box store” or online. A significant amount of time and money is invested in making the transition to outdoor digital signage or menu boards. A direct sunlight environment presents many more challenges to overcome than a shaded area or outdoor canopy protected application, all of which can be resolved if you choose the correct LCD and enclosure solution. Skimping on an LCD or enclosure budget will be detrimental to the quality of the overall solution.

Always do your homework and choose the correct high bright LCD or LCD/enclosure combo solution which will keep your outdoor digital signage menu board running 24/7, 365 days a year! You need longevity and peace of mind that a solution is going to work for many, many years.

HAVE QUESTIONS?  LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN BEST ASSIST YOU! CONTACT AN ‘ITSENCLOSURES EXPERT’ AT 1-800-423-9911 -or- EMAIL: INFO@ITSENCLOSURES.COM

The post 4 Tips for Choosing the Best LCD for Outdoor Digital Signage appeared first on ITSENCLOSURES.

COMPANY SYNOPSIS:
Who doesn’t love a creamy, delicious DQ Blizzard Treat? According to DairyQueen.com, the first Dairy Queen opened in Joliet, Illinois in 1940. Today, “International Dairy Queen Inc., (IDQ) develops, licenses and services a system of more than 6,800 locations in the United States, Canada and more than 25 other countries. The Dairy Queen system offers a variety of treats and products including burgers, chicken strips, artisan sandwiches and the famous DQ soft-serve.”

HOW DID DAIRY QUEEN FIND ITSENCLOSURES:
Judy Lynn-Craig, the President and Owner of Lynn Dairy Queens, Inc. and Dairy Queen of S.W. Pennsylvania (PA), Inc., and Joe Cooper, Creative Marketing Director for Lynn Dairy Queens, Inc., found the ITSENCLOSURES website while searching for outdoor digital menu boards on Google. The team was interested in outdoor digital marketing for DQ locations owned by Lynn Dairy Queens, Inc. Locations include Brownsville, Centerville, Connellsville, Uniontown, and Mount Pleasant. The ‘Lynn Dairy Queens’ collective has been in operation for over 65 years.

PROJECT:
Judy and Joe wished to install a pre-sell outdoor digital signage board at a drive-thru to test the impact to sales and product mix in comparison to a static pre-sell board, which the locations have had in place for many years.

“We are looking at possibly installing either a digital pre-sell board or a full outdoor digital signage solution. Five stores have breakfast, so it’s getting hard to fit everything on the boards without taking up the parking lot,” said Joe.  In addition, they also wanted the ability to change marketing messages and promotions on outdoor screens, especially the pre-sell board. The Mount Pleasant, PA location would be the first DQ restaurant in Southwestern PA with an all-weather, digital board. The main drive-thru menu board was also considered.

CHALLENGES:
Lynn Dairy Queens would have to remove the existing static signage and fresh heavy-duty bolts would need to be installed in the concrete. The customer also desired that the outdoor digital signage be bright enough to be seen in direct sunlight throughout the day. Furthermore, the installation of a one screen or two screen solution or both needed to be reviewed and discussed during the early stages.

SOLUTION:
After much consideration and a few in-person meet & greets to see what ITSENCLOSURES had to offer, Lynn Dairy Queens chose the VS-6 1×1 digital pre-sell board to replace their pre-existing static promotional sign. The robust solution includes a Samsung 55-inch (OH55F), 2,500 nit high-bright LCD monitor (in portrait orientation) encased in a mount/pole configuration with a rear all-weather enclosure for a media player and other necessary electronics. The signage encasement is marine grade aluminum with a polyester powder paint finish.

Promotions and LTOs (limited time offers) can be altered and updated throughout the day and/or scheduled for different dayparts. Joe created the digital content based off of promotional content provided by Dairy Queen.

Originally, the main menu was intended to be digital, but after further review, it was decided that the restaurant had far too many menu items to fit on two screens and the 2^nd phase of the project was put on the back burner.

SUMMARY OF PROJECT:
Judy Lynn-Craig was impressed with the quality of the digital screen and was pleased with the installation, stating, “You were very cooperative in making this happen. We will continue to work with [the digital signage] to see how we can use it to boost our sales. Also, we will gather data and site photos to share with the team at American Dairy Queen, who is investigating a full outdoor digital signage solution to possibly offer to DQ restaurants across the U.S. system.”

ADDITIONAL PRODUCT INFORMATION:

• Outdoor Digital Signage

Have Questions? Let us know how we can best assist you!
Contact an ‘ITSENCLOSURES expert’ at 1-800-423-9911 -OR- send us an email: info@itsenclosures.com

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SCHOOL SYNOPSIS:
Established in 1956, The Chartiers Valley School District, made up of two boroughs and two townships, is located southwest of Pittsburgh in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania. The western Pennsylvania school district has approximately 3,400 students and over 250 teachers. The district includes a high school, middle school, intermediate school, and elementary school.

HOW DID CHARTIERS VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT FIND ITSENCLOSURES:
A social studies teacher/department head at the high school discovered ITSENCLOSURES by performing a Google search for an outdoor, digital touchscreen kiosk. The teacher oversaw a project to organize and install a Vietnam War Memorial for former students who died in battle. The teacher downloaded the ViewStation brochure and was contacted directly by ITSENCLOSURES to learn more information regarding the outdoor digital kiosk application.

PROJECT:
Eight high school students were given a class project to create a Vietnam War memorial kiosk for Chartiers Valley students that lost their lives in the line of duty. In addition to a Vietnam War plaque displayed next to World War II and Korean War plaques, the students wished to deploy a digital sign to display pictures and biographies of war heroes. The students wanted the digital signage kiosk to be touchscreen enabled for visitors to easily scroll through pictures of the seven fallen soldiers and read more about their biographies. Students raised funds and with the help of the school district, created a budget to fund the project.

CHALLENGES:
A few issues arose during the planning phase, including the fact that Chartiers Valley was concerned with students vandalizing or sitting on the kiosk glass and cracking the touchscreen. The kiosk would also reside near to the football field and ran the risk of becoming damaged during sporting events/gym class. Weather conditions in the Pittsburgh area were also an area of concern, because of cold, harsh winters and hot, sunny summers. For this reason, thermal management was discussed at length, including the customer filling out a thermal management worksheet for a recommendation. The LCD enclosure was required to be operational 365 days a year.

SOLUTION:
After discussing a few options with ITSENCLOSURES, Chartiers Valley S.D. chose a pulpit style, wayfinding outdoor kiosk with projected capacitive touch foil featuring an NEC 46” high bright monitor, and a thermal management system to guarantee operation in direct sunlight. The touch screen glass is constructed out of heavy-duty, laminated safety glass to combat vandalism or destruction of property. The kiosk is installed next to a brick wall near various war memorial plaques. With the digital signage, students, teachers, and the local community have a permanent memorial to remember those that were lost. It serves as a constant reminder of the sacrifice of 7 hometown heroes.

SUMMARY OF PROJECT:
To defray some of the costs associated with the digital signage solution, ITSENCLOSURES made a generous donation to the school district. The Vietnam War memorial digital signage kiosk and plaque were dedicated on the campus of the school on May 27, 2016 – the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. The memorial serves to preserve the legacy of the seven men who died serving the United States during the war in Vietnam.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Custom Kiosk Solutions
• WTAE-TV, Channel 4 Story — Click Here
• Tribune Review — Click Here

HAVE QUESTIONS?
Let us know how we can best assist you! Contact an ‘ITSENCLOSURES expert’ at 1-800-423-9911 -OR- send us an email: info@itsenclosures.com

The post Chartiers Valley – Outdoor Kiosk appeared first on ITSENCLOSURES.

FRANK KAPR FUNERAL HOME SYNOPSIS:
In business for over six decades, the Frank Kapr Funeral Home is located on West Pittsburgh Street in Scottdale, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh, PA. The funeral home offers pre-arrangement services, burial services, cremation services, and pet services. According to the Frank Kapr website, they “embrace all faiths, traditions, creeds, customs and honor the rights of everyone’s personal choice.” In 1997, the Frank Kapr Funeral Home was recognized as Scottdale’s sole funeral home member by the Selected Independent Funeral Homes.

HOW DID THE FRANK KAPR FUNERAL HOME FIND ITSENCLOSURES:
The production manager of ITSENCLOSURES resides near the funeral home and noticed their attempt to use a consumer-grade, indoor television outside of their building. The ITS employee spoke with Frank Kapr about a functional solution, which includes a high bright LCD that is sunlight readable. Frank Kapr reviewed the ITSENCLOSURES website to get a better understanding of the enclosure company’s capabilities.

PROJECT:
By using digital signage, the funeral home desired to show up-to-date, current information on the front of the building, including obituaries and announcements. Frank Kapr was interested in a solution that would permit them to make real-time changes to the signage and revise content at their leisure. The original screen (intended for indoors) was mounted outdoors on the front porch railing. After preliminary testing, the television was found to be far too dim and nearly impossible to view during the day.

CHALLENGES:
Because of cold winters and sunny, hot summers, Western Pennsylvania weather conditions were a concern. Thermal management was discussed to combat the temperature fluctuations throughout the year. Also, Frank Kapr desired to use digital signage around the clock, so the proposed LCD enclosure solution needed to be operational 365 days a year. Because the current system was difficult to see, the funeral home turned to ITSENCLOSURES for a better solution.

SOLUTION:
After reviewing digital signage choices with ITSENCLOSURES, the Frank Kapr Funeral Home installed an all-weather, LCD enclosure, in the flower garden, at the front entrance of the building. The digital signage displays brief obituaries and announcements/events for the Scottdale area. The LCD enclosure is mounted in portrait orientation and includes a 46” high bright LCD (1,500 nits), and a heating/cooling system to guarantee operation in temperatures of -40° to 120°F with direct sunlight exposure. To modify content on a regular basis, a small form pc/media player is hard-wired to a computer in the funeral home’s office. The enclosure is mounted on a cement footer, surrounded by flowers and greenery, and can be seen by those taking a stroll or driving past the building. Frank Kapr also had the funeral home’s logo silk screened on the enclosure for customization and brand awareness.

SUMMARY OF PROJECT:
Frank Kapr, Owner of The Frank Kapr Funeral Home, was pleased with the deployment of dynamic, eye-catching digital signage at his funeral home, “We wanted state-of-the-art signage for our funeral home… something that could be seen from a distance. ITSENCLOSURES took the time to explain everything clearly to us and helped us make the best decision for our needs. We are ecstatic about our attractive sign and all that it can do. It is the right size for the exterior of the funeral home and the important message(s) can be read from a distance. We are happy with our investment!”

ADDITIONAL PRODUCT INFORMATION

• All Weather LCD Enclosures

HAVE QUESTIONS?
Let us know how we can best assist you! Contact an ‘ITSENCLOSURES expert’ at 1-800-423-9911 -OR- send us an email: info@itsenclosures.com

The post Frank Kapr Funeral Home – Digital Signage appeared first on ITSENCLOSURES.

COMPANY SYNOPSIS:
In operation since October 2007, The Mall at Partridge Creek is an outdoor shopping mall covering approximately 640,000 square feet and located in Clinton Township, Michigan – a suburb of Detroit. The website for The Mall at Partridge Creek describes it as “an exciting open-air regional shopping center… It is home to nearly 90 distinctive stores (Nordstrom, Carson’s, The Gap, J. Crew) and restaurants. In addition, The Mall at Partridge Creek has amenities unique to malls in Michigan, including: bocce ball courts, free Wi-Fi, pop jet fountains, a TV Court, and a 30-foot fireplace.”

HOW DID THE MALL AT PARTRIDGE CREEK FIND ITSENCLOSURES:
The Mall at Partridge Creek desired to have outdoor televisions, in a courtyard, to show advertisements and for shoppers to watch pro-sports games, like the Detroit Lions or Detroit Tigers. Partridge Creek found ITSENCLOSURES through an internet search for outdoor digital signage providers who could fabricate weatherproof lcd monitor enclosures, which could be viewed outdoors.

PROJECT:
In the Summer of 2007, the Mall at Partridge Creek installed two 50-inch ViewStation Universal enclosures with 4,000 BTU air conditioners in its TV Court area. In 2014, the Mall at Partridge Creek decided it was time to upgrade the enclosures and LCDs.

One of the main reasons for replacing the enclosures was explained by Dennis Dettmer, Operations Director at The Mall at Partridge Creek, “The HVAC units were starting to fail, maintenance tracking showed more repairs yearly, and cost was a decisive factor. [However], the original units were very high-quality units [and] they performed admirably.” When the Mall at Partridge Creek desired to replace the 7-year-old enclosures with new LCD enclosures, ITSENCLOSURES suggested installing a more energy efficient, fan cooled, all weather unit. After reviewing the spec sheets and images from similar deployments, the Mall agreed to the technologically advanced enclosures and installation began in the summer of 2014. ITSENCLOSURES removed the original lcd monitor enclosures and installed the innovative, fan cooled units.

CHALLENGES:
Temperature extremes and sun are always one of the main challenges that exist when deploying outdoor digital signage. The previously installed enclosures required air conditioners to combat against the warm and cold temperatures. Frigid temperatures during the winter posed a challenge, especially with the mall’s proximity to Lake St. Clair. The Mall at Partridge Creek management stressed the need for brighter displays for better visibility outdoors. In addition, ITSENCLOSURES was tasked to create a custom bracket to mount the new enclosure to the existing post. Partridge Creek also requested the solution incorporate weatherproof speakers in the enclosure.

SOLUTION:
Designed around the use of a 47-inch high bright LCD (2,000 nits), the fan cooled digital signage eliminate the need for a large air conditioner on the rear of the unit. The high bright monitors have a higher heat tolerance, and therefore do not require as much cooling power as earlier models. The new enclosure design eliminates considerable maintenance and contains a filter that only needs to be replaced every 3-5 years! With internal speakers, ITSENCLOSURES eliminated the need for separate pole mounted speakers, creating a sleek and modern solution. ITSENCLOSURES also added a humidity/temperature control and 400-watt heater to protect against Detroit weather extremes.

SUMMARY OF PROJECT:
Dennis Dettmer, Operations Director at The Mall at Partridge Creek, is very pleased with the new LCD enclosures and explained that the high bright monitors are mainly used to display sporting events, but they also use them for another purpose, “They are advertiser driven. The sponsors’ messages are played at precise intervals.”

ADDITIONAL PRODUCT INFORMATION

• All Weather Digital Signage

HAVE QUESTIONS?
Let us know how we can best assist you! Contact an ‘ITSENCLOSURES expert’ at 1-800-423-9911 -OR- send us an email: info@itsenclosures.com

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