01732 759725 25 magazine SIGNAGE its installation and maintenance when in use, all the way through to making sure signs end up in the right reuse or recycling path when they are no longer needed. “That’s very unique in the signage industry,” says McGlone. He is now taking this to the next level and introducing maintenance for that ‘whole life’ period so that once a quarter or once every six months Cobal will inspect a customer’s signage and carry out repairs and preventative maintenance to keep it looking as intended and to ensure it continues to comply with health and safety regulations. “In the past, like others in this industry, we have probably been guilty of completing a job and then quickly moving on to the next job and the next client, to the point where if a salesperson called a company and they said ‘We’ve already got signs’, their default response was to go ‘OK, thanks’ and hang up. That’s not how we do business. We’ve got much more to talk about. That’s why we’re shouting about our capabilities – to get people interested in how they can use signage to project their brand identity, but also to create an inspiring workplace and enhance communication with their employees.” mindset that there’s no place for sustainability in signage. My great good fortune is having people within this business who are receptive to doing things differently, like putting sustainability at the heart of our proposition,” explains McGlone. In addition to its investment in new machinery, Cobal has changed its ink systems (it now uses Green Shield-approved inks) and its choice of materials, which has involved changes to manufacturing processes because some sustainable materials need to be handled and processed in a very different way. It has also adopted a ‘whole life’ approach to signage, from its conception when working with architects and designers to 3D depth effect that gives the impression that the Westcoast logo is projected out and floating. “It’s very impactful and impossible to describe,” says Cross. In addition, Cobal has enlivened Westcoast’s new office areas, creating a busy, vibrant aesthetic with bespoke wallpaper featuring inspirational brand images and colour wraps around the pillars, while maintaining a unified look and feel that even extends to workpods fitted with name and number plates from the Cobal accessories range. Thanks to Westcoast’s openness to new ideas, they have been a dream client. McGlone is quick to point out, Cobal is also a dream supplier, not least because of its continued investment in new technology. “We’re on the same page. The visuals that Caroline created inspired them to think beyond the basics and expand their scope. With Cobal, they collaborated with an organisation that not only has vision but also has the capability to bring that vision to life.” Sustainable signage Innovative printing techniques are not the only area in which Cobal is gaining a competitive edge. It is also seeking to change customer perceptions around sustainability. “I’ve been doing work with signage companies for years and, to put it bluntly, the conventional attitude is ‘you get what you get; it’s just a sign’. People have this To speak to Cobal, about your signage requirements, please call 01635 570600 or visit https://cobal.co.uk
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