Bright lights, big city
Heading west and waiting for the
traffic light at the Tesco-Lotus in tersection, you can’t miss it:
a big eye blinks at you in a rainbow of colors. Get too mesmerized
and horns will honk when you miss the green light.
Animation and bright colors have come to Phuket’s signs with the
introduction of LED (light-emitting diodes) to the local advertising
world. And the first shop to have it, naturally, is the sign maker’s.
Woraya Buaprom, branch manager of Anima Sign Thailand Co Ltd, told
the Gazette, “We are the only company in Thailand making animated
LED signs. We bought a copyright from America and export signs to
Korea. We have shops in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket. The other companies
here that want to sell animated LED signs order them from us.”
The lights come in six colors, K. Woraya says, but by mixing them
they can create any color a customer might want.
“We chose to open a shop in Phuket because LED signs are well-known
to foreigners and many foreigners have businesses here, so we should
do well. Thais are quite familiar with neon signs, but neon lights
are very limited in how they can be animated.
“LED signs cost more than neon signs but have many advantages. Compared
to neon, LED lights last a lot longer, up to 10 years or more, and
also use significantly less electricity. LED signs use only 12 volts
so they are much safer than neon, which uses 1,500 volts. We also
have water-resistant systems for outdoors,” she adds.
The cost of an LED sign depends on how many LEDs are used, the complexity
of the animation program, design, size, and how far away you want
the sign to be seen (how powerful the lights need to be).
Animated signs as small as seven centimeters can be produced by
the shop, but if you want your sign to be seen up to a kilometer
away, they can also make a four-meter high sign for you. The shop
can also design full-color screens, similar to a huge TV screen,
but it is produced in America, resulting in a two week turn-around
time.
Anima Sign Thailand Co Ltd (Phuket branch), 96/44 Moo 1, Chalermprakiat
Ror IX Rd, Kathu, Phuket. Tel:076-304-087. Open 9 am to 8 pm, closed
Mondays.
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