Special Projects
We're the ideal choice for your special project
At WH Skinner we like nothing better than to be challenged. Our core business is point-of-sale displays and corrugated packaging but the collective talents of all our partners and staff can be harnessed to undertake a variety of much more exotic projects.
Corrugated board is a very flexible medium and we can offer it in its natural state but also with a variety of special properties. These include fire resistance, water resistance, anti-static (usually for a Faraday cage), special textures, etc. Although the board is our main raw material, we have made composite structures/displays/packaging using wood, glass, steel and plastic.
If you are involved in an art or engineering project, or perhaps you have a rather unusual packaging requirement, give us a call.
You may be surprised at what we can do!
Special Projects 01 & 02: Cardboard Art
Early in 2007 we were approached by Ph.D art student Miwa Takabayashi who had designed a concept for a freestanding cardboard structure. She had created a small-scale paper mock-up and was looking for someone to manufacture the full-sized version.
A structure like this had never before been made from corrugated board and so we had a number of technical matters that needed to be considered, such as the design of the panels, the fixing method and the structural integrity of the finished item. Health and safety also needed consideration because the public would be wandering inside the building.
The first stage was to make a 1:5 scale version from microflute board. This was duly completed, answering many questions but presenting a few more.
Funding was secured in the autumn and the project was given the green light. The first step was to create a full-sized version in brown board at our premises in Maidstone. As the structure was put together we made fine adjustments to the design to increase strength and to make all the panels fit accurately.
Once the full-sized mock-up was complete we set about manufacturing the final version. The specification was for a silver finish on the outside and brown on the inside. Additionally we had to include a fire retardant coating to satisfy the demands of the exhibition centre.
The project was constructed in 4 collapsed segments and packed for transport to the Baltic Mill in Gateshead. Contractors on site and a team from WH Skinner worked together to assemble and finish the project to a tight deadline.
The completed work was called ‘Packaged’ and was displayed for two weeks at the Baltic Gallery and then at the The Mall Shopping Centre (formerly Chequers Shopping Centre) in Maidstone.
Special Projects 03: Recyclable Cardboard Shop Window Display
We were approached by a client who wanted a giant heart shaped display to be made from recyclable cardboard for installation in a shop window.
The idea was to have 3 hearts with tails that should have a ribbon-like appearance and the front one needed to accommodate 250 lights protruding through the structure.
The units were made from laminated corrugated card and then covered with self-adhesive vinyl to match the client’s colours.
Special Projects 04: D&AD Make it a Pencil
This is another project based on a concept created by artist Miwa Takabayashi on behalf of D&AD. The idea was to make a giant pencil out of corrugated board to be erected in Trafalgar Square so that a short film could be made of its design, manufacture and erection.
Special Project 05: Love and Patience
We were asked to manufacture this display to fit within a shell scheme environment at a trade fair. The brief was that we should use recycled/recyclable materials where possible and that the whole thing should be easy to assemble and disassemble so that it can be moved to other shows.
The units were printed with water-based inks and we used self-adhesive vinyl to create the small mirrored areas. Corrugated packing cases were also supplied to facilitate easy and safe transport and storage.
