With celebrity sponsors like Athletico Madrid’s Joao Felix, GMR was rolled out worldwide with the aim to encourage gamers to get back into the field and use physical exercise to earn points that can be redeemed in FIFA’s mobile game. To launch the GMR in-store, Adidas approached global customer engagement agency The Marketing Store with the brief to demonstrate product education and play connected through digital retail touchpoints.

To create the unique freestanding totems that The Marketing Store had in mind, they reached out to Zhongchen Electronics to help bring their vision to life. The idea was to have a Transparent Touch Screen where a deconstructed boot and GMR insole could be clearly displayed with room for a physical POS display within the unit. We knew instantly that the best display for this project would be our Transparent LCD Display, designed for integration into custom housings and powered using a bright LED backlight. In this particular installation, not only would the backlight power the images on the screen but it also draws attention to the product itself being showcased behind the display. The images displayed used blacks & dark colours to hide the items behind the screen, switching to whites and lighter content to showcase the see-through effect.

To create the aesthetic look required to suit the Adidas brand, the totems had to be minimalist and integrate well within the décor of the store. This led to us commissioning bespoke steel frameworks to create the housing and stand for the screen, with enough small hangers beneath to stock and display the GMR product. A clever design choice here was to replace the side panels of the screens housing with clear glass to further expose the internal display from wider viewing angles. We also made sure that the custom housing had room for printed graphics eventually showcasing a large promotional design on the back of the totem, down the side of the screen and between the lower POS displays.

Another challenge within the construction of this unique solution was finding a way to hide the necessary mechanics to power the content without ruining the refined design. This was incorporated by adding a central cabinet between the POS rails where the Android Media Player powering the screen could be stored. Cleverly camouflaged with branded backlit graphics to create a professional eye-catching solution, the hidden Media Player was set to auto-run a custom-built android app which customers could interact with to explain how the technology works and how to install it. The screensaver and application utilised the contrast between black and white content to create the perfect combination of digital and physical display.

On completion of the collaborative process the interactive totems were ready for rollout, ready to launch GMR to the public. Targeting some of Adidas’ biggest flagship stores, we shipped the bespoke kiosks to stores across Europe, the US and Canada, with the displays arriving ready to use and with a comprehensive instruction guide detailing the unpacking and setup requirements. This project was completely unique with Adidas being the first to request bespoke Transparent Touch Screen Kiosks, kickstarting the opportunity for future projects to push the boundaries of how Transparent LCD Screens can be used.

Alongside our Transparent Touch Screens we offer a range of alternative transparent technologies including Transparent LCD Displays for integration, Transparent LCD Showcases ready to plug and play as well as Transparent OLED Screens that require no housing and backlight, ideal for POS and window displays.

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ISE has always been a key part of our calendar year, from exhibiting regularly over the last 15 years to working with key industry partners to create memorable displays. At the final show in Amsterdam in 2020, we had our most successful show yet despite the COVID pandemic brewing, debuting some of our unique technologies including the Mirror LED Wall and Clearvision Transparent Front Projection Screen.

In 2019 we had the pleasure of being one of ISE’s partners, alongside AV giants Panasonic, creating a huge projection mapping installation that simply could not be missed. The nHow Amsterdam RAI Hotel was transformed into a giant canvas, with 392 of its windows fitted internally with our Projection Mapping Film and 14 of Panasonic’s PT-RZ31K projectors providing the 400,000 lumens needed to create the showstopping display playing throughout the week.

As well as having our own rich history in exhibiting at the event, our technologies are consistently specified by world-leading projection manufacturers, used to showcase their products at their absolute best. At previous ISE shows, Japan-based manufacturer Hitachi have favoured our Ultra Black and Pro Diffusion Rear Projection Screens as well as our Digital Glass screens on their stand, and in 2020, Optoma used our Projection Films to create a virtual bar using their Ultra Short Throw Projectors.

However, our range of projection screens and films need no testimony when the number one projector brand worldwide, Epson, chooses to use our screens to sell their products consistently at exhibitions around the world. We’ve provided solutions to suit many of Epson’s stand designs over the years including front and rear projection screens, specialist UST Digital Glass Screens and rear projection films.

This year was no different with Epson specifying our Pro Diffusion Rear Projection Film for use in the glass walkway overlooking their stand. We supplied an 11 meter roll of our Pro Diffusion Rear Projector Film, a versatile grey diffusion film that offers high contrast & brightness even in high ambient light and daylight. Offering excellent colour reproduction and 4K quality images, our Pro Diffusion film is designed to enhance and improve the quality of even low-end, budget projectors.

In this install, the projector used was an EB-L20000U Epson Compact Installation Projector, fitted with an ELPLW08 wide throw lens. This WUXGA laser installation projector offers impressive brightness, designed to industry requirements with 20,000-lumen projection, perfect for events, festivals trade shows and shopping centres. Offering backwards lens compatibility and interchangeable interface boards, the versatile EB-L20000U is also designed to slot into existing infrastructure and lets the user project from any angle.

Showcasing content that has a predominantly black background was supported perfectly by our Pro Diffusion Film with its dark grey surface colour. Displaying superior black levels our rear projection film suited the brief, with it’s self-adhesive layer making installation to the exiting glass walkway quick and easy. The optical surface of the film made the bright colours even more intense, standing off the black backdrop to create an effective display that can be appreciated from both close up and long distance.

We supplied Epson with a roll of our Pro Diffusion Film, but as well as our range of projection films being available by the meter or in 10 & 30 metre rolls, we also offer our films custom cut in a range of standard screen sizes as well as custom sized and shaped screens up to 1524mm wide. Due to it’s self-adhesive nature, our rear projection films can also be joined to create larger displays, ideal for glass partitions or walkways like the one used at ISE.

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Clearview Projection Film – Fondation Cartier, Paris

American artist Sarah Sze returned to the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain in Paris to hold her 2nd solo exhibition at the venue, Night into Day. Sze was intent on returning to the Fondation Cartier because of the building itself citing: “I’ve always loved this building; I think it’s a masterpiece … This time I’m using the building as a machine, an image-maker, co-opting the building as almost like a camera itself.’

‘One of the strangest, most radical things about the building is that it is a massive glass screen, a screen that you are kind of passing through.” Sze says, “It’s a gateway and then the interior and exterior are constantly flipping.” The timing of the exhibition allowed Sze to take advantage of the darker autumn nights, when the sun drops ‘the entire building will become like a mirage of spinning images, a large zoetrope’. Our Clearview film was essential in bringing this idea to life, allowing the images to appear on the windows to create a truly immersive installation.

Our Clearview Transparent Rear Projection Film allowed the exhibition to extend beyond the gallery walls, with visitors being able to enjoy the centrepiece from the garden at night and see the collection from a completely new perspective. Our holographic film was perfect for this project as it maintained the transparency of the windows whilst also providing a HD/4K surface for the projected images without taking the focus away from the installation, exactly how the artist had imagined.

Digital Glass – Expo 2020, Dubai

The UAE has pulled out all the stops to make Expo 2020 the best yet, with each of the 192 participating countries having their own dedicated pavilion for the first time in the Expos history. The huge plot is split into 3 main thematic districts; Opportunity, Mobility & Sustainability, with each offering completely unique experiences. Our focus brings us to the Sustainability Pavilion – Terra, aiming to encourage change and inspire its visitors to help protect and preserve the planet. The structure itself was designed by UK based Grimshaw Architects and is meant to meet the highest available accreditation for sustainable architecture, whist offering informative walkthrough experiences.

‘Terra’ lets visitors wander through the forests, dive into ocean depths and even see earths wonders corrupted, showing both the beauty of nature and the real impact of humans on our environment. Terra offers two paths, both are immersive experiences designed to show the beauty and delicacy of our forests and oceans and use a range of sensory techniques to create lasting, thought-provoking memories.

Zhongchen Electronics were specified by Dominion Global, the appointed AV integrators for the Sustainability Pavilion to provide specialist projection solutions for several scenarios within the exhibition. We supplied 7 of our Digital Glass Ultra Short Throw Rear Projection Screens in a range of sizes, made to measure for integration into custom built housing in both the ocean and forest environments. The screens ranged in size with the largest at 4.5 meters in width, manufactured using our unique coating techniques to create a huge seamless screen designed for both short throw and edge blending applications.

360 Film – Boise State University, Idaho

After the COVID pandemic drove most of the work online Lisa Hunt, the interim director of the Keith and Catherine Stein Luminary at Boise State University, decided to use this to their advantage. The initial vision was to bring in art from around the world to open the minds of the students and young people of Idaho. However, the pandemic forced many businesses like galleries and museums to close indefinitely, leading to a variety of digital alternatives surfacing online with Hunt saying: “Museums started to release images of their artworks out of their collections with copyright clearance and with high resolution, the timing was perfect to create software that would allow us to take advantage of that data.”

The vision of the Stein Luminary says that the exhibit aims to “illuminate perspectives, transform perceptions and spark imagination.” This state-of-the-art facility’s centrepiece is the 90 feet of touchscreen, bringing thousands of high-resolution artworks from all over the world including pieces from renowned galleries like The Met and the Louvre to the people of Idaho. These global collections are showcased using content created by Downstream, specialist AV consultants for unique, digitally augmented environments, where users can explore the artwork, view pieces side by side, pan in and zoom around to thoroughly explore the details.

The Stein Luminary integrated eight 26K lumen projectors with 18 glass panel systems that were custom fitted with 360 Degree Dual Image Projection Film and a capacitive touch film to create a seamless 270 degree experience with added 7.1 digital surround sound. To create an effective interactive front projection screen, Downstream opted for using ultra short drill lenses on the projectors to keep image interference to a minimum when the screens are in use. Scalable made it possible to automate much of the projection to create a sustainable and interactive projection solution, where calibration could be scheduled during downtime to eliminate the need for human operation.

PCAP Touch Overlay – MSC Starship Club, MSC Cruises

After pandemic-related delays MSC Cruises’ newest ship, the MSC Virtuosa set sail in all its 18 deck, 1086-foot-long glory. With twenty one bars, ten dining venues, four pools and even a basketball court, each venue offers its own unique experience with one in particular starring the first humanoid robotic bartender at sea. The MSC Starship Club is more than just a bar, offering a futuristic, immersive entertainment experience.

 The Starship Club is inspired by the spaceships of the future and utilises innovative technologies to create an immersive and convincing experience. Drinks are served by Rob, the first humanoid robotic bartender at sea, after being ordered by guests from the digital cockpits around the venue. Monitors display the status of cocktail preparation while guests wait, with entertainment offered by 3D holograms, a digital art wall and the 12-seat infinity digital interactive table.

The 18-foot long touch table can accommodate 12 users at once, creating a hugely social space where guests can even use their smartphones to integrate with the experience. The Infinity Table is made up of three 75” screens, mounted on a curved, laser-cut and backlit aluminium base, each finished with an interactive glass overlay. We manufactured the interactive glass overlays using toughened glass that had an anti-glare coating to minimise reflections from the surrounding lighting, as well as protect the table from light wear and tear. Each of these overlays were fitted with a 75” Interactive PCAP Touch Foil and the glass had black painted borders to signify the non-active area.

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The Starship Club is inspired by the spaceships of the future and utilises innovative technologies to create an immersive and convincing experience. Drinks are served by Rob, the first humanoid robotic bartender at sea, after being ordered by guests from the digital cockpits around the venue. Monitors display the status of cocktail preparation while guests wait, with entertainment offered by 3D holograms, a digital art wall and the 12-seat infinity digital interactive table.

After 6 years of development, with MSC working with specialists in robotics and automation, interior design and entertainment and digital experience solutions, they began working with Ouno Creative to bring their vision for the Starship Club to life. Ouno Creative is a full-service creative agency, producing everything from immersive content to facilitating the physical experience itself. After previously working on the Farnborough Airshow, providing an Interactive Transparent LCD, Ouno Creative approached us again for a bespoke interactive solution for the Virtuosa.

The brief from MSC Cruises’ Innovation team was to create an engaging digital attraction suitable for all ages and demographics. With previous experience in this particular field, Ouno’s Infinity Table secured the win, offering everything from stunning aesthetics to untouchable user experiences. The 18-foot long touch table can accommodate 12 users at once, creating a hugely social space where guests can even use their smartphones to integrate with the experience. The Infinity Table is made up of three 75” screens, mounted on a curved, laser-cut and backlit aluminum base, each finished with an interactive glass overlay.

Due to the success of our previous interactive project with Ouno Creative, they came to us to provide the bespoke overlays needed to bring the project to life. We manufactured the interactive glass overlays using toughened glass that had an anti-glare coating to minimise reflections from the surrounding lighting, as well as protect the table from light wear and tear. Each of these overlays were fitted with a 75” Interactive PCAP Touch Foil and the glass had black painted borders to signify the non-active area.

The Infinity table allows guests to build their own interplanetary cruise and explore fantasy worlds using Ouno Creative’s incredible, purpose-built digital application. Other experiences include fast 3D-themed games, detailed interactive models, cinematic videos, stunning animations and even a ‘bio-electric field palm reader’. The detailed storylines and character precision used on the Infinity Table complements the futuristic décor perfectly to create a truly one-of-a-kind experience onboard the MSC Virtuosa.

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“Museums started to release images of their artworks out of their collections with copyright clearance and with high resolution, the timing was perfect to create software that would allow us to take advantage of that data.”

This state-of-the-art facility’s centrepiece is the 90 feet of touchscreen, bringing thousands of high-resolution artworks from all over the world including pieces from renowned galleries like The Met and the Louvre to the people of Idaho. These global collections are showcased using content created by Downstream, specialist AV consultants for unique, digitally augmented environments, where users can explore the artwork, view pieces side by side, pan in and zoom around to thoroughly explore the details. In order to bring their vision to life, Downstream partnered with edge blending experts scalable to create a seamless display using this unconventional projection system.

The Stein Luminary integrated eight 26K lumen projectors with 18 glass panel systems that were custom fitted with 360 Degree Dual Image Projection Film and a capacitive touch film to create a seamless 270 degree experience with added 7.1 digital surround sound. To create an effective interactive front projection screen, Downstream opted for using ultra short drill lenses on the projectors to keep image interference to a minimum when the screens are in use. Scalable made it possible to automate much of the projection to create a sustainable and interactive projection solution, where calibration could be scheduled during downtime to eliminate the need for human operation.

The ambition of this project is impressive and is truly a testament to all that brought it to life, but the power of the exhibit and its immersive, interactive and sensory experiences could be under appreciated without the impact of a quality projection screen. We supplied eighteen 2673 x 1487mm pieces of our 360 film for the project. Our 360 Dual image projection film offers excellent contrast and resolution in front projection applications and is compatible with capacitive touch films. Supporting ultra-short throw projection our 360 Projection film is ideal for this kind of up close and personal application, displaying HD/4K images and showing an improvement in quality with even the most powerful projectors.

President of Boise State University, Dr Marlene Tromp said:

“You are not going to want to miss this, you might think, I can take my iPad and pull up all the great artworks of the world,” Tromp said. “But imagine being in a space where you can see those images in an unprecedented level of quality.”

Our 360 film is manufactured with a self-adhesive layer making it easy to apply to glass or plexiglas, ideal for the 18 custom glass panels that had capacitive touch films applied to the rear. Our 360 projection film can be manufactured in custom shapes and sizes to suit your project requirements like this one. The most exciting feature of our 360 film is its dual image capabilities, producing an image visible on both sides of the screen. This dual image technology offers a great solution for maximising display space at a fraction of the cost, offering the potential for both front and rear projection. Our 360 degree technology is also available in the form of a rigid dual image projection screen with an extremely narrow bezel for sleek and minimalist projection applications.

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The UAE has pulled out all the stops to make Expo 2020 the best yet, with each of the 192 participating countries having their own dedicated pavilion for the first time in the Expos history. The huge plot is split into 3 main thematic districts; Opportunity, Mobility & Sustainability, with each offering completely unique experiences. Our focus brings us to the Sustainability Pavilion – Terra, aiming to encourage change and inspire its visitors to help protect and preserve the planet. The structure itself was designed by UK based Grimshaw Architects and is meant to meet the highest available accreditation for sustainable architecture, whist offering informative walkthrough experiences.

Zhongchen Electronics were specified by Dominion Global, the appointed AV integrators for the Sustainability Pavilion to provide specialist projection solutions for several scenarios within the exhibition. We supplied 7 of our Digital Glass Ultra Short Throw Rear Projection Screens in a range of sizes, made to measure for integration into custom built housing in both the ocean and forest environments. The screens ranged in size with the largest at 4.5 meters in width, manufactured using our unique coating techniques to create a huge seamless screen designed for both short throw and edge blending applications.

First, we take you on a trip “Under the Ocean”, where visitors can explore coral reefs and get up close and personal to whales & sea life. Three of our Digital Glass screens are cleverly placed together as part of the whale vortex tunnel, to create the convincing illusion you’re really under the water, seeing whales move from “window” to window even looking up to see them swimming above you whilst hearing them communicate. Our Digital glass screens were the perfect choice for this application, offering a HD/4K image from a wide range of viewing angles meaning it could still be appreciated without the need to view it head on.

Next, we go “Under the Forest” where audiences can explore the concept of the “wood wide web” exploring areas of our forests that are unseen and often forgotten yet highly at risk from our actions. Visitors can learn about the vast amount of tiny wildlife that keep these systems in balance, with our screens showing the microscopic creatures found in a mere square meter of topsoil at a huge scale. Whilst all of our large format rear projection screens have been used here in controlled lighting conditions, we can offer screens with an anti-glare surface which are ideal for brighter or busier lighting environments.

Our ultra-short throw digital glass screens are completely customisable in size with acrylic options up to 8000mm x 3000mm and rigid glass screens up to 5000mm x 2500mm that can be manufactured ready to fit existing frameworks and housings. We can also create bespoke shapes made with holes for mounting for a seamless integration into experiential environments.

Expo 2020 is running until the 31^st March 2022, with different events and experiences on offer throughout the coming months. If you can’t make it to Dubai to experience the Expo in person, why not take the virtual 360 tour from the comfort of your own home? Click here to visit the Sustainability Pavilion and be sure to go under the ocean & forest to check out our digital glass screens in action!

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This branch was the first pilot in a new style of banking designed by M Worldwide for Lloyds Banking Group, representing the brand proposition ‘For Your Next Step’ with longer hours and business friendly facilities to appeal to local customers. The foundations of the new branch design was a complete 360 on the conventional banking experience, aiming to increase footfall as well as time spent inside, ultimately offering a spacious and welcoming environment.

With this project being one of the first of it’s kind, the facility needed to set the benchmark for future banking developments so pulled out no stops in creating a truly experiential environment. Before even stepping foot into the building, passers by will be able to smell white tea and thyme with the branch using this more alternative method of sensory attraction to increase footfall, with the buildings designer Sarah Harrison saying “It gives that inviting feel, that welcoming feel”. The initial reason for these improvements came after inspiration from across the pond with Capital One launching their banking “cafes” that offered a place to create a physical relationship with users of their digital only bank. With this in mind, Jakob Pfaudler, the chief operating officer of Lloyds Bank’s retail division said “”There’s a bunch of beautiful stores over there, where you really have the human touch, combined with quite heavy digital content. I think that is our mental model”.

The design of this pilot store was based mainly on targeting the area’s demographic of financially well off, digitally-savvy, young households. The branch really does use technology to it’s advantage using fixed screens and portable devices to segment the space, creating smaller more intimate areas to encourage one on one conversations. One of these solutions is an Interactive Video Wall, consisting of six 55” Full HD(1080p) screens with a Large Format Interactive Touch Frame built into a custom designed housing.

The video wall was used as a multi-functional display, firstly providing a warm welcome to branch visitors with quirky features like the weather forecast for the day. However, it’s main function is to show visitors the house prices in nearby streets and to get property buying tips, allowing users to interact with the video wall differently to create a completely unique experience for each individual user.

An Interactive Video Wall is a powerful display option that sees your message or information displayed larger than life! As a culmination of several screens, an Interactive Video Wall display offers an effective way to serve your content with serious ‘wow’ factor on a scale not usually seen by audiences. The most popular format to our video walls includes 55” screens like the ones shown here but we can create video walls modularly in any size and layout, with interactivity grantable in displays up to 10m x 3m in size.

The beauty of Interactive Video Wall technology allows you to offer engaging and effective interactive displays for your audience, especially when compared to a traditional video wall. A touch screen fascia gives your audiences that extra level of control over the content they are being shown, literally putting the control into their hands. This also gives users the benefit of convenience, allowing them to interact with the branches technology on their own terms with the ability to move their digital house finding search from the large format screen to one of the smaller displays for more intimate discussions.

The pilot launch outdid it’s expectations with 99% of people surveyed saying the design was better or much better than other shops or banks and over 80% saying their opinion of Lloyds had improved based off their experience in the Clapham branch. As well as public opinion improving, Clapham Junction also saw them achieving +144% higher numbers of agreements in principle, 93% more new customers and 66% more in-branch internet activations of accounts than the control group.

Manager at Lloyds Clapham Junction, Sarah Harrison was thrilled with the launch saying:

“We have now been open in Clapham Junction 8 weeks and attracted over 250 new current account customers as well as many other customers who have transacted in our branch. Customer feedback has been amazing, the customers love the look and feel of the branch and frequently comment on the style of the branch, the relaxed environment, and the scent! Colleagues feel proud of the great environment that we work in and love to come to work every day. They feel empowered to have different types of conversations with our customers and have commented how they would struggle to return to an older style branch.”

Traditional video walls generally offer a passive experience for the viewer, one that audiences can only interact with visually. With an Interactive Touch Screen Video Wall, however, audiences are drawn to the scale as well as the functionality, making this a very effective display. We can also provide Mirrored versions of both our standard and Interactive Video Walls, as seen in Novotel’s Heathrow T1 reception space to offer discreet advertising space that blended in with the luxurious interior.

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“I’ve always loved this building; I think it’s a masterpiece. When I installed there in 1999, I spent like a month in it, so I really know it. It has a very strong language, and you have to engage with that language, so it becomes a conversation. In my first show I wanted to turn up the play in the building, to show that it is playing with us. This time I’m using the building as a machine, an image maker, co-opting the building as almost like a camera itself.’

Running from October 24^th 2020 to May 30^th 2021, Night into Day showcased pieces from her Timekeeper series. The physical centrepiece of the show was Twice Twilight, the ‘suggestion of a sphere’ defined with torn paper, photographs, and debris, held together with bamboo and metal rod scaffolding that was further enhanced with projected images. The gallery itself is practically a giant glass box that blurs the line between inside and out, Sze’s original sketches and concept art showed exactly how she wanted to use these facades to her advantage and amalgamate them into the installation.

“‘One of the strangest, most radical things about the building is that it is a massive glass screen, a screen that you are kind of passing through.” Sze says, “It’s a gateway and then the interior and exterior are constantly flipping.” The timing of the exhibition allowed Sze to take advantage of the darker autumn nights, when the sun drops ‘the entire building will become like a mirage of spinning images, a large zoetrope’. Our Clearview film was essential in bringing this idea to life, allowing the images to appear on the windows to create a truly immersive installation.

Our Clearview Transparent Rear Projection Film allowed the exhibition to extend beyond the gallery walls, with visitors being able to enjoy the centrepiece from the garden at night and see the collection from a completely new perspective. Our holographic film was perfect for this project as it maintained the transparency of the windows whilst also providing a HD/4K surface for the projected images without taking the focus away from the installation, exactly how the artist had imagined.

During the day however the lighting is more difficult to control and can impact the display, this is where the augmented reality aspect of the exhibit comes in. Sze’s work is already multi dimensional and offers a ‘walk through’ experience and now with the use of a smartphone, daytime garden visitors can experience the building at night, overlaying the night time display onto the existing view to see our Clearview film at its best. Sze knew like our projection film, AR would push the boundaries of the installation even more saying, ‘It was a way of activating the outside space, and you’re in nature but having this human-made experience. It was the first time I thought there is a need for AR here, to expand the experience of space, rather than let’s think up an AR project.’

Whilst our Clearview Film provided the perfect canvas for extending the experience outside, our Clearvision Film offers a front projection holographic effect screen that can be appreciated from both sides. This transparent front projection screen is new to the market and creates a holographic or peppers ghost effect that can be viewed from both sides of the screen.

Both our Clearview and Clearvision transparent projection technologies are available as a self adhesive film that can be retrofit to any existing glass or acrylic surface as well as a rigid acrylic screen solution.

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One business in particular, Blades a barbering salon in Wakefield, chose to upgrade their existing screens with our sophisticated Mirrorvision Display Screens, allowing customers to never miss a second of Euros football. These four 13” displays were strategically placed between the 5 chairs at eye level, ensuring customers watching the game won’t hinder the barbers whilst they’re cutting hair. Each of these screens was then connected back to a single satellite television source, broadcasting the same content across all 4 screens to provide a quality communal experience.

Blades opted for our standard tint finish for their mirrored displays, offering the highest quality image when the screen is turned on and a stylish dark mirror when turned off. In this application the main functionality of these displays was TV viewing, with the magic mirror overlay acting as more of a style feature as the existing salon quality mirrors used predominantly were already in place. For applications that wish to combine the two, we also offer high reflective and ultra-high reflective tints that are more suited to cosmetic applications, offering a closer reflectivity level to that of a standard off the shelf mirror.

Due to the customer being happy with the display size of the previous tablet sized screens, these Mirrorvision Displays were also manufactured with an oversized mirror glass overlay to add more impact to their design without the screen itself being overpowering. The glass was produced bespoke to suit the distance between the screens, allowing enough room for the barbers to be able to use the storage at either side without dirtying the screens.

As well as our stylish Mirrorvision Screens, we also offer a huge range of other display solutions guaranteed to make your venue the place to be this football season. Many sites have opted to move existing screens outside in order to offer an outdoor experience that caters to larger groups and complies with current COVID restrictions, but the unpredictable British sunshine isn’t making it easy. Luckily, our Anti-Glare solutions provide a quick fix to TV’s suffering from the harsh glare of sunlight and the reflectivity it causes. Not only this, but our Anti-Glare Protective Glass Overlays also offer protection to soft screens, providing piece of mind in case of the odd rowdy customer!

We also offer a unique selection of rear projection screens that can be easily applied to existing glass surfaces and windows, making it easier then ever to turn the outside of your venue into a sporting haven. Our solutions include specialist products like our Sunscreen Rear Projection Film, showcasing HD/4K images even in direct sunlight and our Switchable Rear Projection Screen offering a frosted projection canvas when turned off, with the option to switch to clear when not in use to maintain the view from your window.

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Now a year later, with churches slowly working towards operating at full capacity again, online services have simply become the norm, using zoom calls and live streaming to maintain the connection of the community throughout the pandemic. Many institutions are also looking to bring this new era of technology into the church itself like Life.Church where you can expect to use digital apps for online worship or attend high energy services from modern buildings, which include everything from live music to huge screens in professional stage setups. Whilst organisations like Life.Church commit to a completely modern way of teaching the bible, understandably more longer standing institutions wish to maintain a more traditional approach.

We recently worked on a project with long standing AV integration partner, Practical AV to bring a modern display solution to a Grade 2 listed Church. Located in Cheshire, St Thomas’ Church was built in 1838 and designed by architect E.G. Paley whose major work was designing new churches as well as rebuilding, restoring, and adding to existing ones. We worked with Practical AV to make some additions of our own, manufacturing and supplying a 3.2 x 1.8m Switchable Glass Rear Projection Screen for the parish.

The impressive screen was given pride of place at the front of the church, cleverly suspended with a tensioned hanging system and projected onto with a 6500-lumen HD projector fitted behind the class to create a discreet rear projection solution. The beauty of switchable glass projection screens lies in their flexibility, giving users the option to choose between, frosted, clear or a HD/4K projection screen! The switchable capabilities of the screen give the church a huge visual display that can ‘disappear’ at the touch of a button.

Like St Thomas’, many churches are heavily restricted when it comes to display technology due to not wanting to disrupt the architecture that in some cases has been preserved for over a thousand years. With the ability to switch between opaque and clear almost instantly, these Switchable Glass Screens can become almost unnoticeable when not in use so the interior can still be appreciated in all its glory. Using a screen of this scale can also make your institution more appealing as it caters to the potential of a larger congregation, ensuring everyone present can see the content on screen.

Practical AV went above and beyond to ensure the church was prepared for welcoming its community again by also installing a commercial screen on an articulated arm in the aisle, as well as supplying an online streaming system to provide high quality church services that can be enjoyed from home.

Installing digital display systems, like our Switchable Glass Screen, could also be a more cost effective as well as hygienic solution for a post COVID world. By integrating a small number of strategically placed digital displays around the church, the need for individual copies of literature is eliminated therefore reducing wastage and points of contact for the spread of germs. Displays can also open up a window of opportunity for new events and even more dynamic fundraising opportunities to further engage with the community.

You can see our Switchable Glass Screen as well as Practical AV’s streaming system in action over on St Thomas’ YouTube channel.

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The bespoke nature of our products has allowed us to push boundaries to the limit on what’s thought possible to achieve with physical displays, allowing for the creation of more realistic film sets, as opposed to relying solely on CGI in post-production. Not only is this a more cost-effective method than using CGI, it also provides a more realistic environment for the actors while filming is taking place, requiring less improvisation to allow for a more convincing performance.

Most recently, we provided 20 pieces of our Ultra Black Rear Projection Film to help create a scene for the 2020 film, Wonder Woman 1984. Our Rear Projection Film was used to create an authentic 80’s style TV store window, with our Ultra Black technology providing superior contrast and resolution even under the lighting of a movie set. Using our rear projection film in this kind of application means you would only need a single projector to create the images on each ‘screen’, using clever projection mapping software to display the content rather than using and syncing individual LCD or LED screens.

As well as Wonder Woman 1984, Zhongchen Electronics technology gained a starring role in the OSCAR nominated Netflix hit, The Midnight Sky. We were called on to help to build the ‘Aether’, the returning spaceship where the majority of the movie was set. We provided a huge 5.79m x 2m Curved Rear Projection Screen that was manufactured with a 5-degree tilt designed to give the screen the most realistic image. The screen was created using an ultra-short throw projection surface in order to keep projection distance to an absolute minimum, a key factor in set design, and was mounted to a bespoke, made to measure steel framework system.

By using a rear projection screen the cast and crew could move freely around the set without having to worry about casting shadows over the screen and disrupting the image. The specialist optical projection surface was designed to produce high contrast 4K images on the surface, offering a superior performance in the carefully controlled studio environment. Our curved rear projector screen was the perfect solution to suit the unique design of the set, producing an effect that could not be recreated with competing LCD and LED technologies. The matt surface of our screen also made sure there was no glare or reflection from other elements of the set like lighting systems.

Working with such a small cast, only 19 credited actors to be exact, meant producing a convincing performance was even more important. By using solutions like Rear Projector Screens the cast and crew have real reference points to work with, rather than relying on imagination and improvisation on a green screen set, where the effects are computer generated and added at a later date. Creating more realistic sets provides a more immersive environment for the actor and therefore a more compelling performance.

The scale of the production for The Midnight Sky was incredible, with the special visual effects earning the VFX team a well-deserved BAFTA and an OSCAR nomination. As well as our bespoke Curved Rear Projection Screen, the VFX team used the ground-breaking Industrial Light & Magic’s StageCraft integrated virtual production platform to create huge, realistic 3D background environments with LED screens. The success of using these LED screens is clear, with the incredibly popular Disney+ series, The Mandalorian using the same system and winning an Emmy for Outstanding Special Visual Effects.

The way visual effects are created for film production is constantly changing, with the creation of ambitious new technologies paving the way for a new age of cinema. Even the way rear projection has been used on set is changing, from being a key element in creating driving sequences in the early Bond movies to now creating the foundations for convincingly portraying technologies that don’t yet exist. The Midnight Sky is only one of the most recent of many blockbusters that have cast our display technologies, with our Ultra Black Projection Film featuring in Star Trek into Darkness (2013), our Clearview Projector Film creating a hologram effect in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) and our Switchable Glass Projection Film for Prometheus(2012).

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Over the last 15 years, we’ve supplied some of the biggest events in the world, including the Oscars and the MTV EMA Awards, and provided displays for the biggest museums in the UK, the V&A and the National Museum of Scotland to name a few. Seeing these institutions suffer has been difficult but has only made us more excited to get back to supplying incredible projects like these when they reopen.

To celebrate the promising announcement of a way out of lockdown for the UK, we’re taking a look back at one of our past museum projects, as they prepare to reopen their doors again this summer. We worked with AV Integration and Lighting specialists, Fusion LX, to bring their vision to life, for the centrepiece of the attraction at the World Rugby Hall of Fame, situated in the town where it all began, Rugby in the UK.

The World Rugby Hall of Fame recognises and celebrates the achievements and contributions to the sport of Rugby Union. Covering everything from players and coaches to match officials, the Hall of Fame celebrates the history of the game and the 121 World Rugby national unions that have contributed towards it. Fusion LX we’re tasked with creating an interactive exhibit that provided a fully immersive experience for visitors which would do justice to the celebration of the sport.

We provided 4 of our 360 Degree Dual Image Projection Screens to create the centrepiece for the museum, each standing at 2.5m tall. Our dual sided screens were used to project stunning graphic images of Hall of Fame inductees, each controlled separately by a HD touch screen allowing the visitor to select any of the 148 celebrated individuals to see on the big screen.

Our dual sided screens were cleverly framed and positioned on raised podiums, with the touch screens they were controlled by set a few feet away from the display, encouraging visitors to choose an inductee, step up onto the podium and ‘Take a picture with your legend’.

Even the legends themselves have risen to the challenge, with Argentinian Inductee, Felipe Contepomi arguably one of the best rugby union players of all time, Jonny Wilkinson, even joining in the fun taking their own selfies with our screens. This innovative idea is a great way to spread word of mouth and gain momentum on social media and entice new visitors to come and experience the museum for themselves.

These 360 Degree Screens are a great way to make the most of your exhibition, creating little wasted space by displaying an image on both sides of the screen. This innovative technology is not only space saving, it also only requires the use of a single projector to create this dual image effect providing a cost effective solution that instantly doubles your screen space. The only downside of this technology is that the image on the opposite to the projected side is obviously reflected, however in this application that was far from an issue due to the striking graphics of the inductees avoiding the use of text to create an equally impressive image when viewed from the reverse.

Fusion LX we’re incredibly happy with the effect and the performance of the screens saying,

“It was exciting to install unique equipment, the most unique being 4 large projection panels, or blades that were the centre of the exhibition. When a museum visitor selects their rugby hero via a touch screen, the image and associated information is projected onto the 2.5m tall, double sided glass projection blades.”

(Photos courtesy of FusionLX and World Rugby Hall of Fame)

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Amongst navigating the ups and downs of the pandemic, battling borders opening and closing daily and ensuring the safe arrival of international cargo, like many other business’, airports have also used this downtime as an opportunity to upgrade their existing systems with our technology. During the summer, we provided our audio-visual solutions for a Vietnam based airport, providing an essential element for their control room.

We manufactured and supplied ten of our optically coated 92” 16:9 (2037mm x 1146mm) Ultra Gain Front Projection Screens as well as bespoke, custom built aluminium framework to fit the individual screens together. The framework was designed to support the ten screens in a 5 x 2 format, creating a huge 10.19m wide display and providing an integral element to the control room. Not only was our framework built to support the weight of the individual screens, it was also designed to be suspended from the ceiling.

The next element we had to consider was how we could maintain a near seamless effect when attaching the ten screens together and also how this would work when rebuilding the structure after transit. Two screens were bonded to each of the 5 pieces of frame whilst the whole structure was attached so we could ensure each piece would fit together perfectly. We provided our customer with a detailed guide and video assistance, supporting them throughout the install to ensure our screen was working as expected.

This project required a front projection solution due to the lack of space available behind the display and the need for a complex framework system to support the structure of the screen. Due to the nature of the control room and it’s lighting conditions, our customer required a solution which would be unaffected by high ambient light. Our Ultra Gain Front Projection Screens are manufactured with a highly reflective surface, providing exceptional brightness, contrast, and resolution. The Ultra Gain Screen was primarily designed to excel in areas with high ambient light, displaying the brightest images in environments where the lighting cannot be controlled or altered.

This impressive Ultra Gain Front Projection Screen covers almost the full width of the room, displaying everything from flight paths to CCTV cameras, all designed to appear on the screen in front of the relevant staff for their convenience. Our custom designed screen integrates perfectly into the workspace, working perfectly in the bright lighting conditions with no compromise on the existing working environment. As well as our rigid high brightness Ultra Gain Front Projection Screens, we also offer a self-adhesive film option, ideal for retrofitting to existing glass or acrylic surfaces. Our Ultra Gain Front Projection Film allows you to get the most out of your space, utilising window space or internal glass partitioning to create displays with perfect colour reproduction.

Shipping a product of this size might seem daunting, but with over 15 years of international shipping experience we know all the best practices for transporting goods internationally safely. This exciting project for this Southeast Asian airport is just one of many large scale projection projects we have completed, some requiring similar de-constructable frameworks, others requiring huge single piece products like our 4.5 x 2.3 meter Digital Glass Screen installed in the Dubai Mall.

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Zhongchen Electronics’s popular Mirrorvision® range is already a firm favourite for both commercial and residential applications, but with the demand for home improvement through the roof, we’re offering some new and exciting solutions tailored to bring innovative technology to the home.

We recently completed a stunning project for a home in West Yorkshire, UK, manufacturing a custom Mirrorvision® solution as a centrepiece in the busiest room of the house. This striking feature was completely bespoke for the customer, working with our sales team directly to choose the right mirror tint and screen size to create the exact look they had imagined. To create this feature wall we used three pieces of our ‘Standard’ mirror tint with an integrated 65” 4K Smart TV. Taking into account the size of the wall, we opted for an oversized Mirrorvision® glass layout which meant that rather than filling the majority of the space with the TV, the mirror glass created an eye-catching frame around the screen that blended into the fireplace surround. To create this unique shape, the customer also opted for two additional pieces of ‘Standard’ mirror glass to place either side of the fire for a seamless, minimalist look and feel,  appearing attached to the Mirror TV Overlay.

As the location of the Mirrorvision® TV was in the main living area of the house, the screen quality was of optimum importance. By opting for our ‘Standard’ reflective coating, the customer achieved an incredibly high-quality image from the screen allowing them to use it as normal with no disruptions. When switched off the result is a mirror effect that is slightly darker in comparison to a conventional mirror but far more elegant and sophisticated.

For applications that require an effect closer to a conventional mirror, we also offer ‘High Reflective’ and ‘Ultra High Reflective’ reflective coatings tailored to more cosmetic applications. Our new Full Length Mirror with integrated Smart TV is the perfect addition to any bedroom or dressing room, manufactured with an oversized panel of our ‘Ultra High Reflective’ Glass and an integrated 43” 4K Smart TV. These specialist mirror TV’s easily pass for a luxurious floor standing mirror, but not only are they on trend whilst turned off, they still produce a high-quality image when in use. For the best of both worlds we offer our popular ‘High Reflective’ Tint, providing a middle ground between the other offerings for applications where screen use and cosmetic need are equal.

Not only do our Mirrorvision® products create a focal point in any room, they’re also an ideal space saving solution. Usually TV’s come with the burden of hiding wires which can be done with a cabinet or unit and a sacrifice of floor or wall space which could be better used elsewhere. Online interior design powerhouse Houzz asked its users ‘how many mirrors are there in your home’ and over 75% confirmed they owned 5 or more, with so many mirrors and often so little space it makes sense to combine the two into something completely bespoke to you. By choosing a Mirror TV you can do away with unsightly wires and the stress of keeping them hidden, these oversized options are simply plug and play with all the mechanics cleverly concealed.

As well as our ‘stress free’ full Mirror TV solutions, we also offer retrofit options for existing TV setups. Our Mirror TV Overlay kit is the perfect DIY project with our sales team working with your existing measurements to provide you with a solution that integrates perfectly into your existing décor.

Our Mirror TV’s have even been featured on ITV’s 60 Minute Makeover! We provided them with a finishing touch for the project, with their team opting for an eye-catching ornate gold frame to make their new living room all the more special. Zhongchen Electronics is no stranger to the world of home improvement TV, with our Switchable Glass solutions featuring on Grand Designs, George Clarke’s Amazing Space and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

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Nike describes its mission with their ‘House of Innovation’ to be simple, to bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world. The best way to describe the store is in the words of Nike itself:
‘This singular goal inspires new technologies, new systems, new standards. It shapes plays … games …legacies. It’s our privilege and our responsibility. It’s why we question everything and assume nothing, except the infinite human potential for greatness. It’s why we take big risks, even when it means risking it all. It’s why we create and craft the future of sport—one day, one idea, one innovation at a time.’

These unique concept stores endeavour to use the power of digital technology to best serve the customer, which is why we are extremely privileged to have supplied our Zhongchen Electronics technologies to help bring their vision to life. Heidi O’Neill, President of Consumer and Marketplace said “When consumers step into Nike Paris, they will experience our largest, most digitally connected and immersive retail concept in the world. The strength of our digital portfolio combined with product innovation and amazing physical spaces, will connect members to the community of sport and to one-of-a-kind experiences, serving them in an incredibly personal way. We are so excited to bring Nike Paris to the city and to the world.”

Zhongchen Electronics were contacted by Nike, who were looking to use a Transparent Screen in a digital way-finding solution for use throughout their newest and largest House of Innovation yet. They provided us with the initial concept for the display, which had been rendered by their design team, so we could begin working together to accommodate the practicalities of using a Transparent LCD for the application.

Using their original design as a starting point, we worked closely with the team at Nike to adapt to the mechanical aspects of the design, for instance the light source which was necessary for the screen to be able to operate or where the power and connectivity cables would go without compromising their minimalist design. With over 15 years experience in working on custom projects, we can build bespoke Transparent LCD housings to your exact requirements and measurements to create one of a kind products.

We knew our final product had to be perfect, integrating seamlessly into the design of the store and contribute towards the one of a kind experiences in the store. The result was a sleek and minimalist set of nine Transparent LCD Display Screens, custom built to suit the applications requirements which brought the concept ideas to life. This application of Transparent LCD Screens completely challenges the norm of how they have been used previously, with this screen sitting completely away from the wall with no surrounding housing.

This project is a stunning example of how the boundaries in using Transparent LCD’s can be pushed to create eye-catching, unique products. The backlight in this case is a clever use of a powerful white light behind frosted abstract panels showing the floor number. Due to the power of the light and the way the design is oversized in comparison to the screen’s bezel, the screen still produces crystal clear, HD quality content as it would in a standard housed application.

Ben Hadfield, Sales Director at Zhongchen Electronics said “Not only was it a huge honor for our Transparent Screens to be specified by such a prestigious brand in an application of this size, but to be a part of Nikes Move to Zero journey, with our screens operating in a store that is 100% run on renewable energy and built with almost 85,000 kilos of sustainable material within its design.”

Nike Paris’s House of Innovation shows us a glimpse into the future of physical retail shopping outlets, blurring the lines between the physical and digital with the use of apps that operate using exclusive in store content or the option for zero contact experience. We can see how Nike uses technology not only to turn shopping into an actual experience, but to create an environment that is constantly adapting to operate at its best in times of change and uncertainty.

(Photos & Video courtesy of TDM Space and Nike)

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This knowledge has enabled us to be a part of some incredible projects in all corners of the world; including our 360 Projection Film and Switchable Glass being featured in Mont Blanc’s product launch in Hong Kong or our project with Banesco, shipping our range of digital signage solutions and projection screens all the way to Venezuela. We’ve even supplied our Clearview screens for the Oscars, one of many examples of the presence of Zhongchen Electronics in America.

The USA is one of the most frequent locations we ship to; the huge demand for our products sees us shipping everything from Switchable Glass to Transparent Projection Screens out of our factory daily. One of the most inventive projects we’ve supplied in the US recently was for the new 110,000 square foot state-of-the-art Football Operations Centre in Columbia, South Carolina.

We supplied Advanced Video Group, a South Carolina based audio visual company, with two of our huge 86” Professional Mirror Screens from our Mirrorvision® Range; they used their expert handling and mounting skills to install our technology at the centre as part of an interactive display. The innovative concept for the centre was the brainchild of design agency, Jack Porter Design, created specifically with the visitor in mind. The centre was built to tell the story of Gamecock Football and their achievement, spirit, tradition, and value, with different themed zones throughout to take visitors on an interactive journey through time.

The role of our technology was to showcase the Gamecock team’s practice of producing top NFL talent in a hi-tech, sophisticated manner. The area is dedicated to the success stories of their alumni, with a showreel of achievement playing continuously, and a football helmet mounted on the wall for every team a previous student has gone on to play for. Our Mirror Screen was used as a means to connect physical and digital displays, each wall-mounted helmet became a window of opportunity to learn more about Gamecock Football’s hall of fame.

Each helmet is touch sensitive; by interacting with the display, related content to that team appears on our mirrored screen showing the names of previous USC students, now turned NFL legends. To create such a sleek display, our Mirrorvision Glass was custom cut into 8 pieces to integrate as seamlessly as possible into the design around the 86” screen.

This amazing interactive display is just another example of how our technology can be used to push boundaries. Combining our digital display technology with physical elements creates a world of opportunity for audio visual applications from education to retail environments.

Our ability to collaborate on projects such as this would not be possible without our extensive export knowledge and logistics teams. Every item we send out is quality checked before being packaged into hand-made bespoke wooden crates, built on site specifically for each individual customer. From crafting custom, A-frame crates for Mirror Glass to shipping our projection film on a tight turnaround, we’re able to offer our full product range to customers worldwide with no compromise on our quality of service.

We’ve worked with businesses in 6 out of 7 continents, both direct and alongside a network of trusted local suppliers to make sure our customers receive the highest level of satisfaction from start to finish, no matter where they are in the world. Our in-house export team work hard to ensure that your products arrive exactly when and where you need them, organising all the correct shipping documentation for you, minimising the hassle of receiving international consignments.

With over 15 years of shipping experience, Zhongchen Electronics are guaranteed to provide innovative, professional audio-visual solutions to customers worldwide. If you think we can help bring your next project to life, please get in touch using the form below or call us on +44 (0)1226 361 306.

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