Alternatives to Large Trade Show Displays – Animation, Scale Models and Large Scale Printing

Do you have large products to display at your next trade show?  Are the logistics of moving them around getting to you?  CalCo has some options for displaying your large products in a memorable way.  We offer animation, scale models or large scale printing as alternative options for your large products.

Our animation can show your product in action and it can be completely interactive for your customers.   They can choose whether to start or stop the animation and what information will help them or the animation can play continously.  Additional literature can also be accessed to provide more detailed information.  Our unique perspective on the way products work and the cutaway process give us good insight in to what your customer wants to see and how to achieve it.  The beauty of animation is that it can be used in multiple environments – at a trade show, on your website or on sales calls.

Scale models are another option to show your product in complete detail by using a light-weight, full color model.   We can create a cutaway section of the model as well to show the interior components and how they interrelate.  Your model is an exact duplicate of your product but in a small transportable size.  We can create a custom case to make moving it to your next trade show or sales call easy.

With large scale printing you can show your product in full size and detail with out moving it to the trade show.  We offer professional photography shoots of your product at our facility.  The photos can be used for large displays in your trade show booth or they can be utilized for brochures, banners or other internal or external advertising needs.

If the cost and headache of moving your large products are getting to be too much, give CalCo a call to see about the alternatives of animation,  scale models or large scale printing.  We can help you show your product in its best light without carrying it around with you.  Call CalCo at 847/639-3858 to discuss your alternatives.

Waterjet Cutting Ideas for your Product Display

For nearly 60 years the art of cutting away products to cleverly and professionally show their internal workings has been evolving with the available technology. One such technology that is finding many new uses every day is WATER JET cutting.

The water jet cutting process utilizes water instead of noxious gases or liquids and is a cold-cutting process so there is no danger of melting the material that is being cut. Ultrahigh pressure water is used to cut through metal, stone, plastics, composites, glass, ceramics or rubber up to 8 inches thick.

There are many applications for waterjet cutting and at CalCo we use it primarily for displays and signage.  Below we cut a corporate logo into a stand which was then lit from within.

We cut this product display in acrylic

Do you have an idea for a waterjet cutting project?  Let CalCo try something new and different just for you!  If you are looking for a way to imprint your logo, create unique signage or create a unique display give CalCo a call and see if waterjet cutting could be the answer for you.

Looking for 3D Prototyping? Our Experts make it Fast and Easy

Do you need a small part created, or a complete prototype?  CalCo can create your design in a variety of materials so that you can create, manipulate and test your new designs quickly to speed up the development process.

Whether it is a small piece made from SLS Nylon or a large 3-D model in full color,  CalCo can help you get exactly what you need to make your 3D prototyping project exactly the way you want it.   At CalCo, “Your Product is Our Profession” so we spend the extra time to make sure you get what you want the first time so you can quickly make adjustments and move your project to the next step.

2009: The Year in Review

As is typical at the end of the year CalCo is reflecting on the past twelve months. There were some unique and creative product displays, cutaways, 3-D models and POP displays created this year.  A few of them are included below for your enjoyment:

And finally, some believe that 2009 was a year down the toilet, although that was not the case at CalCo we still spent some time with one….

CalCo looks forward to another interesting year!

CalCo’s New Brochure is Now Available

Fresh for 2010 Calco has developed a new brochure showing all of the services offered and some examples of the quality craftmanship that is synonymous with the CalCo name.  CalCo has been offering quality tradeshow displays and cutaways for over 50 years, especially to industrial product manufacturers.   Now see some of the other services available such as 3-D models or prototypes, working models, special lighting, custom bases, corporate gifts, POP displays and other tradeshow or marketing products.  You can count on CalCo as a turn-key solution for your sales and marketing needs.

The front and back cover of the new brochure are shown below, and the full PDF can be downloaded here. (right click and choose “Save As”)

To get a look inside our new brochure please send your information (name, company and address) to brochures@calcocutaways.com.  You will receive one in the mail right away so CalCo can help you start the year right with some new ideas to show your product in its best light because “Your Product is Our Profession”.

The Buck Stops Here

Your company uses a variety of vendors for certain products or services every day, making make life easier for everyone. So do we.

Your company probably uses a few providers that actually make life more difficult for you or your coworkers. Same here.

On Monday one of our primary vendors emailed to let us know that our project with them was complete. . .Great.

This was typical and expected. . .

However, the details on getting the order back to us were left out, forcing us to stop what we were doing, contact them about it and make these arrangements ourselves. Done.

Once the items were received, we found quality issues on practically every piece that was delivered. Where was the quality control??

We would have sent the entire order back to be redone from scratch, except that we needed these pieces for a larger project that our client was expecting on time. We had to stop what we were doing (again) and fix every mistake and flaw to bring this project back up to our high standard of quality, (which our client expects).

Everything worked out in the end, our client was thrilled with the final result and his coworkers were equally impressed with the craftsmanship and attention to detail, (and the shipping was arranged without our client’s involvement whatsoever).

So the extra effort on our end resulted in a great experience for our client. We love that.

The vendor’s actions, on the other hand, had to be managed, monitored and corrected.   Is this the case with some of your providers?

Communication and responsibility are the landmarks of a company you can trust for the long term. The reason companies like CalCo have been around for over half a century, is because they are trusted, respected and are the go-to guys when quality and professionalism are important.

Did you know that CalCo can handle your POP displays, your screen printing, your photography, your display storage, your prototyping, your sales cases, your website design, your 3D animation, your metal finishing, your large format printing, your digital image manipulation, and many of the other items you struggle with every day?  It’s true.

Please call or email to see if your project can be handled correctly this time by CalCo, let us handle the problems so you can just sleep easy for once.

Damaged Freight? CalCo Has You Covered.

Does this picture look familiar?

Products get damaged during shipping all too often. Fortunately, at CalCo we can make your damaged product look as good as new. There is nothing more frustrating then getting ready to go to a show and finding that your display piece has been scratched, dented or severely damaged while it was being shipped.

If you need to have your product repaired , repainted or rechromed give CalCo a call at 847-639-3858 and have it made to look like new again.

Working Models Draw People In

Motorizing your products is a great way to attract interest and show func­tionality. Many products can be actuated or rotated with a few minor adjustments and the right horsepower. Lighting and a descriptive backdrop can finish off the whole scene.

 Whether a fluid handling display or an actuating component, movement in your display will pay off for you in terms of people being drawn in by the movement and immediately asking questions about what is being shown.

 Add a push button or two to give the audience something to interact with themselves, and you will find people clamoring to try it for themselves.

 When marketing your product, the more of the (5) senses you can involve  in a memorable way, the more likely it will be that your display/salesmen/company will be remembered long after the crate has been latched and the freight ticket attached.

 If a product is too large for this type of service (or too small), consider a 3D animation sequence to show your products in action. Add a touch screen display where your customer can virtually interact with your product, and you will find a line of people waiting to try it for themselves.

 Get your audience involved and tell your story to a captivated audience. The results will speak for themselves.

Click for more photos. . . Read the rest of this entry »

CalCo reworks displays to look as good as NEW

If you have a display or cutaway that is beginning to show its age we are happy to rework it. After being shipped from show to show and being handled and touched by countless people every display can begin to show some wear. Whether it needs a new paint job or you want to add a cutaway section you can send it to us and feel confident that we will do our best to make it look as good as new even if we didn’t do the original work. Save some money on shipping and do it when you are at a show near Chicago!

If we can do this…….

                       Before                                                                                After

                                                                                                                                                         then we can do almost anything!

                     Contact us at news@calcocutaways.com or 847/639-3858

Investor Relations Meetings Require a Great First Impression

When investors and VIP’s are touring, it is crucial that the impression you are giving is one of expertise and leadership in your industry. Lobby displays and showroom exhibits can impress your audience and show your authority in a variety of ways.

Products on display in the right light, and in context, can send a powerful message, one that could create a unique first impression that could make all the difference in the long run.

Stack the deck in your favor and control the experience of ‘important’ individuals from their first open door to the final shaking of hands.

It is typically the visual and hands-on experiences that make a lasting impression once the visit is over, so make yours very positive and intriguing. It may make all the difference.