Movie theaters rely on backlit posters to generate interest in movies, advertise show times and direct audience traffic inside.
The problem? Traditional poster cases use T8, HO fluorescent lighting, which incurs excessive energy costs, maintenance hassles and a big carbon footprint.
Alternative technologies have been available to the industry, but none without drawbacks. Digital screens are thin and dynamic, but still cost prohibitive. Standard LED lights provide energy savings, but the 500+ nit brightness of traditional LED lighting creates hotspots when backlighting an ADA-compliant* (4-in. or shallower) case. without unsightly hotspots.
Enter Poblocki Sign Co. “There were no ADA-compliant, LED-backlit cases available in the industry,” said Marcus Higgins, Poblocki’s director of finance and administration. “Our goal was to develop a mid-level case using energy-efficient LED lighting, but without adding to cabinet depth. 3M delivered that solution.”
In 2009, Poblocki launched the Tech-Line, a 2½-in.-deep poster case that offers uniform brilliance and a 60% energy-consumption reduction over fluorescent lighting. The enabling technology: the 3M Flexible Light Mat, which uniformly distributes bright LED light; specially pitched LEDs help backlight a 2-in.-deep cavity without hotspots.
“Theater circuits around the country have been turning to the Tech-Line for both interior and exterior use to reduce energy consumption,” Higgins said. “Customers love the thin profile and the energy efficiency.”
At 20-mil-thick and 0.18 lb/sq. ft., the 3M Flexible Light Mat makes custom configurations and retrofitting cost-effective options. Power consumption is as low as 5W per sq. ft.
Traditional, fluorescent poster cases are 4-in. deep and draw 114W of power. With an average of 12,000 cases, the nation’s largest theater chains spend more than $1 million annually in energy costs for poster cases alone.
Tech-Line cases run on 45W to provide annual energy savings of about $75 per case. The poster case features sturdy aluminum construction, tempered glazing and a wirelessly controlled LED show-time kit.
For more information call (800) 328-3908, or visit www.3Mgraphics.com.