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Feb 10
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White elevators in a lobby with belbien film

Elevator Restoration on a Budget

By Architectural Film, Customers, Decorative Film and Branding Graphics, Hospitality, Installation Services & Programs, Retail, Wall Wraps and Graphics No Comments

Elevator Restoration for a Fraction of the Cost

A dirty, scratched, or dated-looking elevator doesn’t exactly inspire confidence from its passengers. If anything, it’s more like a horror movie and the passengers are waiting for the elevator to drop. Since being packed into an elevator with a group of strangers is already uncomfortable enough for a lot of people, you want your elevator interior to feel like a safe, clean space that gives people a good impression of your property and makes them feel at ease. Your elevator will give its passengers an instant impression of your building and your business, so you need to make sure it’s a good one. 

If the interior of your elevator is so broken or so damaged that pieces need to be replaced, you might need a remodel. However, if the problem is normal wear-and-tear – things like graffiti, scratched surfaces, or outdated style, refinishing your elevator is just as effective and far more cost-effective than a complete remodel. Enter 3M DI-NOC and Belbien in metallic finishes. 

Why You Should Resurface Your Elevator Rather Than Remodel

Your elevator is an important touchpoint for your customers. It gives them an all-too-important first impression of your building and your business, and if your elevator is dingy, defaced, or even a little dated, it can send the wrong message. Luckily, you don’t have to break the bank to give your elevator a facelift and create an aesthetic that makes them feel like they’ve chosen the right place to do business. Here are just a few reasons why you should choose to resurface rather than remodel your elevator interior:

  • It’s Cheaper
    Not only does refinishing save you valuable time because of the ease of installation, but refinishing rather than remodeling your elevator can literally save you thousands of dollars in material costs. Gutting the inside of an elevator and replacing worn but perfectly serviceable materials is far less cost-effective than refinishing the surfaces by adding architectural film and wraps, which come in an endless variety of textures, colors, and finishes that will make your elevator look brand-new in no time. You could even give it a silk-like appearance…if you’re into that sort of thing.
  • It’s Environmentally-Friendly
    Fully remodeling an elevator typically means that there will be parts of your existing elevator that will be scrapped and thrown away entirely. This is unnecessary in many cases, as most surfaces are simply outdated and can be refinished rather than replaced. When you remodel an elevator interior, you throw away all the old parts, which need to be replaced entirely. In most cases, these surfaces are fine – if they are still structurally sound, all they need is a makeover, not a replacement. Think makeover instead of plastic surgery. Resurfacing with architectural film creates far less waste, and protects the underlying surfaces for years to come.
  • Less Time to Install and Less Disruption to Your Business
    If you choose to refresh your elevator with wraps or films, your elevator will not need to be recertified as it would if you were to perform a full remodel. Our service teams can be in and out in a fraction of the time a full remodel would take, leaving your elevator looking good as new in much less time. Architectural films like 3M DI-NOC or Belbien require very little preparation, no demolition or construction, and less equipment, which results in a faster installation process with minimal impact on your daily business. We will even come in during closed hours to reduce the impact as much as possible, a literal transformation overnight!
  • Give Your Elevator Character
    Riding in an elevator can be a terrible experience. We’ve all been there, forced into awkward silence and interactions with people we don’t know. Why not give people something pleasant to look at during that awkward silence, or better yet, provide customers with something that’s going to start a conversation? Elevators don’t need to be a simple silver metallic– they can be– but they can be so much more with the hundreds of options from 3M DI-NOC and Belbien.

Preventative Care and Restoration

Finishing your elevator interior with a wrap or film will not only elevate its appearance, but it will also protect the interior of the elevator and preserve the original materials for longer. Most elevator interiors are finished with metals such as steel or copper that scratch easily. A film such as 3M DI-NOC is scratch-resistant and available in many metallic finishes. If you have a new elevator, we also offer clear protective films that protect your walls and floor from normal wear and tear. NGS also specializes in the installation of metal and glass anti-graffiti coatings, which allow you to renew metal and glass surfaces without undergoing an expensive replacement. Mirror and metal finishes are available that allow you to install a protective surface directly over the damaged underlying material, which will renew the surface appearance and save you thousands of dollars.

Why waste time, money, and materials when you could make your elevator look brand-new in a fraction of the time? 

 

Contact NGS to discover all the options available to help your business upgrade your elevator and other interior surfaces.

 

Feb 10
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Bathroom featuring traditional standard glass mirrors with mirror protection film

Mirror Design and Resurfacing

By Architect or Engineer, Architectural Film, Commercial Property Owner, Customers, Decorative Film and Branding Graphics No Comments

Mirror film is one of the most versatile products that we offer. It can be used to create decorative mirrors, as decorative privacy window film, and to resurface existing mirrors to make them like new. Mirrors also have the benefit of making spaces feel larger and lighter, which can be necessary for smaller spaces… because no one likes to feel claustrophobic. 

Let’s explore the three primary ways to use mirror film: Decorative use, decorative privacy window film, and resurfacing mirrors. 

Mirror Film For Decorative Use 

Need your small space to feel bigger, or want to create a feature wall using mirrored designs? Mirror film can be the perfect solution to create decorative wall mirrors, feature walls, a full-length wall mirror, among many other decorative mirror ideas – the only limit is your imagination! 

Decorative mirrors help create interest in your space and make spaces feel larger. Traditional mirrors can shatter, creating the potential for injury. They also weigh a significant amount, requiring screws and special hanging mechanisms to bear the weight. Mirror film gives the effect of a mirror, without the weight, without the risk of injury, and can easily be made into many different shapes and sizes. 

After choosing the look you want to go for, and having the mirror film installed, you can add decorative picture frames or other features to the wall to really make it a feature of the space. Something entirely unique to your commercial building or office. 

Additionally, mirrors, especially large ones, are often very expensive. Mirror film is a fraction of the cost of mirrors, making it much more cost-effective for creating a feature wall. 

Decorative Privacy Window Film – Mirror Edition

One-way privacy film is another use for mirrored film, which allows one to see through the glass on one side of the glass and only offers a mirrored surface if looking from the other side. This application can be particularly useful for creating a decorative feel, while still offering privacy for sensitive information or meetings that need to be conducted. 

The benefit is that you also don’t have to choose one solid surface, but can create patterns as well, only blocking out sections of the glass, or the sections that would show any sensitive information. Mirrors also create an effect of space and roominess that can be particularly useful for spaces that have a lot of walls and can feel a bit claustrophobic. Often a symptom of cubicles! 

Mirror Shield to Resurface Existing Mirrors

Public restroom mirrors scratched and chipped? Wondering why you’re going to replace those mirrors…again? We get it. Replacing an entire mirror, and creating waste that goes into landfills, just for a scratch, chip, or crack is financially and environmentally unsustainable. Not to mention, the inconvenience of needing to close a restroom just to replace a mirror. 

Thankfully, anytime your mirror gets scratched, vandalized, chipped, or cracked, it’s easy enough to resurface and restore it. Mirror shield can take seemingly ruined mirrors and, with some mirror film and a professional mirror film installer, you can create a perfectly smooth, clear mirrored image in only a few minutes. 

Mirrored film is incredibly cost-effective, versatile, and can transform your office or home, making it feel airy and giving the illusion of more space. It’s also perfect for sprucing up those old mirrors to make them like new again. 

Contact NGS Films and Graphics today to get started creating your vision! 

 

Feb 10
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Clean open-concept lobby with geometric vinyl wrapped wall and with blue and grey chairs and white table featured in bottom right corner

Lobby Design and Redesign on a Budget

By Architect or Engineer, Architectural Film, Commercial Property Owner, Customers, Decorative Film and Branding Graphics, Floor Graphics, Installation Services & Programs, Retail, Wall Wraps and Graphics No Comments

“Never judge a book by its cover.” It’s a common saying, one you’ve probably heard your whole life. It’s good advice, but it doesn’t change the fact that first impressions do matter, especially when it comes to your business. Your lobby is the first physical touchpoint your customers have with your building beyond its exterior, and lobby design matters. It’s the place where they make their first impression. As a business owner, you know how much that first impression matters. 

If your lobby is feeling a little dated and you’re considering an expensive remodel that will take valuable time away from your business, there are other options available to you that can make your lobby feel brand-new and nail that all-too-important first impression without completely remodeling. Wraps and window films can refresh and transform the appearance of your lobby and can be applied to walls, floors, ceilings, your receptionist’s desk, casework, doors, windows, and more. 

The Bottom Line: Architectural Wraps Save Time and Money

If you’re thinking about undergoing a full or partial lobby remodel, chances are your business’s main welcome area will be overrun by demolition, construction, and installation crews for days, weeks, or months depending on the scope of the project. Often, this is completely unnecessary and far more expensive than simply refreshing your lobby by updating its aesthetics with window film, wall graphics, and surface graphics. Spruce up the surfaces in your lobby with textures, patterns, and creative designs to create an engaging, modern space where customers feel welcome, for a fraction of the price of a full remodel. You don’t need to spend a fortune to create a “wow” factor. 

Our service teams are minimally intrusive, and take far less time than a full remodel. Keep your business functional while our expert service crews apply wraps and films to transform your space.  We will even come in during closed hours – depending on the project size, we can completely transform your lobby overnight!

  • Better for the Environment
    Architectural wraps like 3M DI-NOC and Belbien are eco-friendly. Refreshing your lobby with architectural wraps uses far fewer materials than tearing your lobby apart, throwing away the old materials, and replacing them. Plus, the next time you need a refresh, it’s as easy as putting on a new wrap!
  • Wraps and Films Improve Lifespan As Well As Appearance
    Not only are wall wraps an affordable way to refresh your lobby’s appearance and give it some character, they also protect your existing surfaces from further damage and normal wear and tear.
  • Use Architectural Film to Add Color or Texture to Make Your Lobby Stand Out
    Architectural films and wraps allow you almost unlimited options to customize your lobby’s interior. Metal, stone, and wood textures are only a small selection of our offerings and are nearly indiscernible from the real thing. Floor graphics, wall graphics, and even ceiling graphics can help you create an engaging space that will wow customers as soon as they walk in the door. Plus, these graphics can help with wayfinding if your office, hospital, or hotel could use a bit of directions.

Window Film and Window Wraps: Small Changes that Make a Big Impact

Window and film decals don’t need to be full, opaque or tinted window dressings. Sometimes, less is more. Window film allows you to add logos, patterns, or other designs to the glass surfaces in your building. For the more adventurous decorators, or those who need to make glass-walled spaces more private, smart films are available that can turn from transparent to opaque with the flip of a switch, creating a more dynamic space and eliminating the need for blinds or shades.

 

Contact NGS to discover all the options available to help you refresh your lobby without breaking the bank.

Feb 10
Love1
Large conference room with lots of natural light and frosted privacy window film on the left side

Refresh Instead of Replace

By Architect or Engineer, Architectural Film, Commercial Property Owner, Customers, Decorative Film and Branding Graphics No Comments

We all know what it’s like picking the interior or exterior for your business. Stressful. Trying to pick a “feel” that a potential customer or client will have when they enter your building is like trying to pick who will win March Madness in a couple of months and in 10 years. Why? Because people’s tastes change, and what’s in-style today surely won’t be in two years, let alone ten. 

I know what you’re thinking…

“How the heck is any business supposed to keep up with that? We don’t have an unlimited budget!”

And you’re right. It would be completely unrealistic for any business to update their interiors and exteriors so often, especially with the cost of commercial remodeling being, on average, between $50 and $150… per square foot. Now let’s say your business is only 1500 square feet– doing a little bit of math– that would make your renovation $75,000 on the low end and $225,000 on the high end. Yikes!Enough of the math and the scary numbers. We’re here to talk about an alternative to those grossly high numbers: refreshing your office, rather than replacing it. 

This is where Belbien and 3M DI-NOC come in. 

They’re what’s known as “architectural film,” which is just a fancy way of saying that the film can be applied to walls, ceilings, pillars, building exteriors, desks, facades… you get the point. It can be applied to just about anything. These films come in hundreds of styles and textures, from marble to metal, concrete, or just about any type of wood you can imagine. It makes building resurfacing possible, being both a cost-affordable and a minimally-invasive building renovation. 

The benefit?

The benefit of refreshing your surfaces with Belbien or 3M DI-NOC is that you don’t need to do any major renovation (saving you money, precious open time, and inconvenience). Plus the crew can come in at night and transform the office for the next day. Did we mention it can be 5x cheaper than a complete remodel? Yeah. That got your attention, didn’t it? 

Instead of remodeling your lobby, or offices, or common areas, give them a little refresh to bring a whole new look to your space. Plus, instead of needing to wait 10 years until it’s so out of date that it makes your eyes burn, you can afford to do it more frequently and keep your customers, clients, and employees happy with a beautiful space to work and conduct business in. 

Building resurfacing is a much more cost-effective way to keep your commercial office or building looking fresh and in-style. Belbien and 3M DI-NOC offer hundreds of options, such as wood, metal, leather, silk, and woven looks to go with any style you want to have, or whatever the style is in a few years. Refreshing can be 5X more affordable than doing a traditional commercial building remodel– to boot. 

If you’re in need of a Belbien installer or 3M DI-NOC installer, NGS Films and Graphics is here for all your building resurfacing needs. Contact us today for a quote! 

Jan 17
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Man on phone standing in front of smart film, frosted windows and a staircase

How Smart Film Can Transform Your Space

By Commercial Property Owner, Customers, Smart Window Film, Window Film No Comments

Window film technology is highly advanced these days, using microprisms, chromatic manipulation, and smart films that can be controlled with a switch, an app, or even an Alexa / Siri voice command. 

As you can see, smart film brings a definite “cool factor” to your modern space – and it’s a great cost saver when compared to smart glass windows because the film is a retrofit that covers your existing glazing and is easy to replace. 

If you’re wondering how you can apply smart film technologies to enhance and beautify your retail, medical, education, government, hotel, or commercial space, this article will help. 

Spark your creativity with this list of 5 great benefits and uses for smart film. 

A luxurious, comfortable atmosphere

Modern stadiums and performance venues must provide comfortable seating and an atmosphere of luxury to keep ticket holders satisfied. 

Smart films help you provide the ultimate in comfort and luxury by giving your guests the feeling of privacy in every seat or section – check out how the window film experts at NGS helped the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta leverage smart film to do exactly that! 

Secured sensitive business data

In today’s regulatory environment, it’s important to keep sensitive business data private from prying eyes. A variety of privacy films, including one way privacy window film and smart window film, can help you achieve that goal. 

Check out how NGS protected sensitive data in an operations center with full-glass smart film privacy protection:

And then check out how NGS used a different kind of privacy film, known as Casper Cloaking Film, to block only sensitive data on an LCD TV presentation, while leaving the conference room visible: 

Open office privacy

Open offices are a great use of space and they effectively foster collaboration, but sometimes privacy is required to incubate great, new ideas. 

Unfortunately, some decorative privacy window film can “close off” open office space – whereas the switchable technology of smart window film makes it possible for you to maintain both open space and closed space, depending on your changing needs. 

Provide your staff with both an open office setup as well as flexible privacy, with smart window film, just like this innovative company did: 

Glare-free lighting in skylights, atriums, and glass-filled accents 

Studies show that natural lighting increases workplace productivity – but sometimes too much light can hamper, rather than help, productivity. 

Since the sun moves throughout the year, your natural lighting might be perfect in some seasons, but in other seasons you have two choices: either fight with impractical blinds that are so large they’re prone to breakage… or use smart film that blocks out glare at the tap of a button. 

Here’s one example of a smart film application with a frosted privacy window film trim that blocked sunlight and glare in a luxury condo: 

Eye-catching projection displays

Smart films aren’t only for privacy. Since they become a frosted white opaque window film when activated, they’re also great for displaying eye-catching videos on any glass surface in your space. 

Check out how smart film turns regular glass into an LCD screen in this example: 

Let Your Imagination Run Wild

The previous 5 examples were only a starting point to spark your creativity, but we’re sure you can come up with the perfect idea to enhance and beautify your space. 

Want more suggestions? There are many more applications in which smart window film or privacy film are the best option, including: 

Once you’ve got an idea in mind — of if you’d like help brainstorming — get in contact with the smart film and privacy film installation experts at NGS. We’re always happy to help you develop the right idea for innovations that stick. 

Ensure Your Smart Window Film Project Is a Success – Work with the Experts!

Ready to get smart film in your space? Make sure you work with film installation experts, so you can ensure an attractive, unobtrusive installation. 

Because NGS is the nation’s #1 Commercial Window Film Company with smart film expertise, NGS is the team to trust to ensure your smart film project is a success. 

NGS knows that since smart film is an electrical film, it comes with wires – and no one wants to see ugly wires near their beautiful glass. The NGS team has the tools and expertise to cleverly disguise wires by trimming out your glass with matching framing and color-matched wire moldings that keep your smart film fully invisible when you don’t want it to be seen – and fully opaque when you don’t want to be seen. 

 

Learn more about smart window film options from NGS when you check out the creative privacy and smart window film applications from our online gallery. 

Dec 26
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M. Fredric LAS

How to Ensure Seamless Business Signage Installation for Commercial Properties

By Commercial Property Owner, Customers, Installation Services & Programs, Signs No Comments

Signage is a key initiative for hotels, banks, hospitals, schools, office buildings, and other large commercial properties – and the larger the building, the larger the project. Here’s how to ensure seamless signage success on your project, no matter how large your building.

For the purposes of this article, we’re assuming you’ve already been working with your architects and designers for your signage design… but now it’s time to move out of the concept stage and take action.

Learn how the nationwide signage team at NGS can help you execute your signage plans, so you can count on a seamless install.

NGS – We Ensure Your Signage Project Success

After your architects and designers have developed your signage, it’s time to take the next step. Unfortunately, that next “step” has a lot of little steps included – such as city permit approvals, sign manufacturing, logistics, and coordinating with general contractors and other trades on site to put your signs on full display, right where you want them.

On your end, all of these little steps can add up to one big hassle for you – or you can leave all the details, hard work, and heavy lifting to NGS. We’ll manage your full project for you, making sure all your teams work together cohesively to get your signage completed right on time and right on budget.

Many other business signage companies will handle a part of your exterior signage or interior signage project, but NGS is known for our comprehensive service, including:

  • Project cohesiveness

    We’ll get all your teams working together, so you can focus on more pressing business needs, knowing that your indoor signage or façade signage will be taken care of for you.
  • Large-scale project coordination

    Bigger, multi-part projects require you to keep careful track of a lot more details. NGS handles all the details for you, including shipping times, manufacture times, various install methodologies, and needed indoor and outdoor installation equipment, such as lifts and scaffolds.
  • Design review and permits 

    Not only will the experienced signage experts at NGS serve as the second pair of eyes you can count on to ensure your signage design team hasn’t overlooked anything, our expert team is also well-versed in city codes across the nation. That means we’re one of the only external signage companies you can count on to take care of all those frustrating permit details and approvals for you, hassle-free.

  • Materials considerations

    The high-tech world of sign materials is always in flux, which can make it tough to ensure you’re working with the right types of signage materials for your project. As a leading national consultant, manufacturer, and installer for large-scale business signage, you can trust the NGS team to help guide you in your search for the most durable, well-crafted solutions for your exact signage needs – and then manufacture and install your perfect signs for you.

Work with NGS, the Signage Experts

Coordinating signage projects is a complex process – but when you work with the signage experts at NGS, you can leave all the complicated tasks to us.

NGS is the trusted, nationwide team that helps you take care of every detail of your signage, from concept to completion. In addition to acting as a second set of eyes on your design, we also provide turnkey manufacturing, installation, and project management services that get you the high-quality signs you want, exactly when you want them, 100% hassle-free.

 

Learn more about your interior and exterior signage options with NGS.

Dec 20
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Event signage that reads "this must be the place"

Event Signage for Function and a Better Customer Experience

By Customers, Retail, Signs No Comments

Planning an event such as a store opening or a conference? The signage experts at NGS have got you covered with all your event signage needs.

But, wait… what exactly is it that you need for your event? Not sure? This guide is here to get you started off right with your event signage planning.

Let’s be honest here. Planning an event requires you to focus on bigger concerns than your event signs. Handoff the work to one of the nation’s leading event signage companies, NGS, so you can trust that all the signage details will be taken care of for you, hassle-free. Get in touch with NGS on our contact page.

What Types of Event Signage Are There?

Whether you’re calling attention to an event area, you’re encouraging your attendees to share your event with the world, or you simply want to ensure that your event’s attendees have a great time, great signage for your event can help you accomplish your goals.

Here are a few of the top types of event signage categories you may want to consider as you’re planning:

Wayfinding signage

Good directional signage for events is critical to your success. You want your guests to feel comfortable parking, navigating through your venue to find your event, and effortlessly making their way between various event areas throughout the course of your event – whether it be for an evening gala or a week-long summit.

The signage and graphics experts at NGS can help you set up high-quality wayfinding signage that sticks to absolutely any surface — floors, walls, windows, or ceilings! — which will deliver directions and branding all at the same time. Best of all, you can also rely on reusable wall decals that will help you easily peel your signage off of your walls at the end of your event for a fast cleanup – and then reuse the same graphics whenever you need them again.

Barricade graphics

Planning a store opening, or need temporary walls to section off key areas for your event? Barricade graphics provide the colorful, custom look that’ll keep your event and company branding front-and-center for attendees and future customers.

The experienced NGS team takes care of every aspect of barricade graphics for you, including graphic design, barricade set up, and full installation, which means you’ll have time to work on other, more pressing aspects of your event planning – such as catering!

Floor graphics

Floor graphics are great for drawing attention to specific event areas, communicating safety information, marking off booth setup areas, and more… but choosing the right floor graphics solution is harder than you may think. You need a resilient, colorfast option, which can safely and smoothly adhere to any surface without causing damage to your venue’s floors.

Yet again, the NGS signage team has got you covered with a wide range of floor graphic solutions that meet your needs, including 3M Controltac and 3M Envison, which hold up to heavy foot traffic and securely adhere to any surface — sidewalks, carpets, asphalt, linoleum, tile, and more — yet can be removed easily.

Advertising & promotion graphics

Which would you rather: have your event attendees simply stand in lines or walk through central hubs, or have attendees stop and help you advertise your event online while in line or passing between event areas? Certain event areas, such as waiting areas or central hubs, naturally lend themselves to advertising and event promotion, but unless you have graphic design signage in place that encourages attendees to snap pics and share them using your hashtag… well, you’ll be missing out on a key branding opportunity.

Work with the NGS team, or simply hand over the reins, and we’ll ensure you have ample opportunity to encourage your guests to interact with their surroundings and share their event excitement with the world. NGS has spent years helping clients improve their visibility – we’re happy to help you too.

Sponsorship callouts

If you’re hosting a gala or a conference, you’ll want an elegant way to call attention to the sponsors who helped make your event possible. Creative event signage can help here too because it’ll give you the flexibility to thank your sponsors in multiple areas throughout your venue, so you can truly express the extent of your gratitude for their generosity.

Looking for innovative ideas to highlight those sponsors’ names? NGS can help you strategize on what types and styles of signage or graphics make sense for each sponsorship tier and where to place your signage for maximum attention. Of course, we’ll be there to install your signage too – which means we’ll be there with you every step of the way.

Decorative graphics

A successful event is all about setting the scene, and high-quality decorative graphics are the best way to transform your one-size-fits-all venue into a one-of-a-kind, unique event that matches your particular brand and theme. Cover your walls, floors, ceilings, fixtures, glass, doors, temporary partitions — even your entire building envelope! — with unified decorative graphics that will make your event stand out, both in person and in attendees’ memories for years to come.

Functional event signage, such as wayfinding, sponsorship, branding, and promotional graphics can be straightforward to plan because they have a clear purpose – but decorative graphics can be harder to plan and design. Rely on the NGS team for every part of your event signage, including decorative graphics, with our full-service project management that takes care of everything from concept to completion.

Make Your Event a Success – Everywhere Across the Nation!

Planning an annual event, such as a conference or summit? Your event will naturally become more complex every year because attendees will expect you to constantly top last year’s offerings – but, luckily, there’s a way you can at least ensure that your signage planning stays simple year after year after year.

How? By working with the signage experts at NGS, of course!

Wherever you choose to hold your event, NGS has an outpost in that U.S. state, guaranteed, and we’ll be ready to work with you every year, in every state, to ease your signage setup and help make every one of your events the success it deserves to be.

 

Got an event that you’re planning? Don’t waste time managing your own event signage. Instead, contact NGS to learn more about how we can help, now and in the years to come.

 

Dec 16
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Belbien desk retrofit

DINOC & Belbien: The “eco” Architectural Solution

By Architect or Engineer, Architectural Film, Commercial Property Owner, Customers, Decorative Film and Branding Graphics, Education, ESCO, General contractor, Government, HealthCare, Hospitality, News No Comments

DINOC & Belbien: The “eco” Architectural Solution

It’s tempting to tear down and start over, but budget and operations considerations can put a damper on demo. With LEED considerations thrown in the mix, improving the appearance of spaces large and small demand a better alternative. Enter DINOC and Belbien architectural laminate—an excellent “eco” alternative.

Architectural laminates are a textured, hefty 8 millimeters thick vinyl and come in more than 400 style variations from wood grain, fabric, and metallic to stucco, stone, and others. Thanks to their high-tech adhesion and flexibility, transforming any smooth surface is possible, even areas with complex curves.

NGS has been using this dynamic, indoor/outdoor material for several years now with great success. One of our largest projects involved refreshing ten thousand square feet within the Dallas Convention Center.

Washington DC jeweler, IGorman, also needed a fresh take on its aging facade. The company selected a wood grain that matched the original. The end results? Both the finish and the final cost were a sight to behold. Said NGS Managing Partner, James Beale, “The store was completely overhauled with a stunning new & modern look for a fraction of the cost of replacing the original facade substrate.”

Stay up to date on NGS projects, emerging trends and leading-edge applications on social media.

Nov 04
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smart tint with projection

NGS transforms clear glass into high-def LCD screens

By Architect or Engineer, Commercial Property Owner, Customers, ESCO, Government, HealthCare, Hospitality, News, Smart Window Film No Comments

It only looks like magic: NGS transforms clear glass into high-def LCD screens.

With the click of a button — or a tap on your iPhone  — you can change a clear pane of glass into a frosted, privacy barrier. Even more impressive? Turning that clear pane of glass into an LCD screen to show a high definition video. Your audience will be amazed. And why wouldn’t they be? It’s the stuff of the future yet it’s available today thanks to National Glazing Solutions, a true innovation leader in the film and glazing industry.

This next-generation electrochromic film, can be retrofitted on existing glass and is 100% compatible with smart home automation systems. Additionally, it blocks up to 87% of Infrared and up to 98% of  UV rays. Of course you know what that means: heating and cooling bills are reduced. According to the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), a building could save up to a whopping 8% of its energy if electrochromic film is used on its windows. Aiding in the cost-savings is the tiny amounts of electricity used to switch windows on and off. For example, 100 windows use approximately the same amount as one incandescent bulb. That’s a very big savings.

So just how does our electrochromic film work? A quick talk with one of our engineers will tell you electrochromic film is like building a sandwich of sorts. It’s constructed like this: On the inside surface — which points into the building — is a glaze of five super thin layers of chemicals. In the middle is a separator, which has two electrodes on each side. On top of those are electrical contacts. When a tiny charge is applied, ions travel from the separator to outer electrodes and reflect light to create the frosted appearance.

Now, if you want to know how we transform clear glass into a video display, well, that will take a lot longer than we have here. But still, it’s really cool, right?

To stay up to date on all NGS projects, emerging trends and leading-edge applications, follow us on social media.

Aug 22
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Solar Films

Why No Building Should Be Without Sunscreen

By Architect or Engineer, Commercial Property Owner, Customers, Education, Energy modeling, ESCO, General contractor, Government, HealthCare, Hospitality, News No Comments

Why No Building Should Be Without Sunscreen

If you’re unwittingly letting your building fry like a lobster, that’s your business. Slathering it up with sun protection is ours. Here’s why it matters. According to the International Window Film Association (IWFA), window film can stop more than 80% of the solar energy coming through windows, with up to a 30% reduction in cooling costs and some films up to 30% reduction in heat loss in the winter.. The IWFA notes that window film can even save seven times each dollar spent on replacement windows.

More than 250 window films have even been certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) for energy efficiency. (“Fenestration” means an opening in a building—basically, windows, doors and skylights). The NFRC is the same independent, nonprofit organization that rates glass windows. Ratings take into account factors including energy absorption, solar heat gain, air leakage and resistance to condensation.

As if energy savings weren’t a good enough reason for solar-savvy window film, this “sunscreen” also means:

  • UV protection for the people inside
  • Fewer hot spots
  • Less glare
  • Reduced fading of furniture, carpeting and artworks

According to James Beale, managing partner and vice president of sales for NGS, “Solar considerations have emerged as a major factor for our clients in weighing their window film options. Energy costs and ways to mitigate them should really be on every client’s window solution check list.”

Beale also pointed out that many clients have been taking their solar solutions to the next level with specialty solar-control window films in a variety of categories. These include traditional reflective, ceramic ultra-blocking, and spectrally select for preserving the highest degree of natural daylight.

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