South Western Railway are one of the UK’s largest rail operators and have recently been brought under government ownership as part of the wider move to nationalise the railways.
At Impact, we’re proud to have been working with SWR as a regular customer for over nine years, supporting them with a wide range of print solutions - from small format print to roller banners and standees.
For the launch of their new Arterio locomotives, SWR asked us to produce a collection of print materials to support the event. This included selfie photo frames, leaflets, nameplates, Foamex boards, banners, posters, a large 2.3 x 1600mm sign with a strut, and the main centrepiece: a large train-themed photo opportunity. At events like this, strong visuals play a huge role in elevating the launch and encouraging engagement from a wide range of attendees.
The brief required us to produce a 6mx2m display that was durable, polished and lightweight. Since the frame would need to be moved around stations and stored after use, it had to be easy to transport and handle. At the same time, it needed to be sturdy enough to withstand use in busy, high-traffic environments.
The first step was identifying the right material. We selected a 10mm Stadur board supplied by Antalis, as it provided the perfect balance of stability and strength while remaining light enough to move easily. Next, we had to consider the size.
Printing a six-metre graphic in one piece would have made it vulnerable to damage during transport and difficult to store. To solve this, we split the design into six one-metre panels, which made the display more manageable while reducing the risk of breakages.The panels were printed directly onto the Stadur board using our Arizona flatbed printer, and then precision cut to shape on our Kongsberg cutter.
Fluted struts were added for support, ensuring the structure stayed upright and secure once assembled.
The finished frame was a striking centrepiece that added real impact to the Arterio launch event. Lightweight, portable and easy to assemble, it met all the practical requirements while delivering the bold, polished look SWR were after. It was a project the whole team at Impact were excited about - so much so that we even took a team photo with the finished frame. While we didn’t design the graphics themselves, the project perfectly demonstrated the importance of selecting the right material and production method to ensure a smooth process and a successful end result for the client.
A big thank you for being so accommodating and patient with us throughout the process - you were absolute stars! We will be shouting Impact’s name from the rooftops.
Alice Melluish - Comms Lead, Transfer Programme, South Western Railway Ltd.
