CT Germany and Barco supply LED displays to NAIAS

CT Germany has provided a creative LED display for the Saab AB stand at 2006 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), which runs through January 22.

Saab stand VersaPIX modules, supplied by Element Labs, were developed for the ceiling of the Saab stand. Using 50 x 50 mm pixels, with a pitch of 200 mm, the modules have a transparency of more than 50 percent. CT says that the modules can be easily implemented without a negative impact on air conditioning or smoke removal.

The modules have a brightness of 1000 nit, a minimal weight of only 19.7 kg/m², and a horizontal and vertical viewing angle of 180 degrees.

Saab ceiling On an immense ceiling surface of 240 square meters on the Saab stand, the display delivered fascinating effects, for example a visually-created sky with aircraft flight formations that reflect in the glass floor of the stand.

The VersaPIX modules were integrated into the stand architecture as a LED ceiling element, along with multiple LED walls created with either high-resolution (6 mm) Barco ILite 6 XP displays or low-resolution (50 mm) VersaLIGHT modules.

A similar stand, without the novel ceiling was assembled by CT Germany for Saab at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show (see Car manufacturers make a stand with LED technology).

Barco selected by many auto makers

Elsewhere, a large number of global auto manufacturers including Cadillac, GM, Ford, Saturn, Toyota, Lexus, Nissan, Porsche, Kia, Land Rover, Hummer, Jeep, Infiniti and Buick also selected Barco LED tiles for video applications ranging from promos to documentaries to virtual scenery.

Barco screens for Infinity In conjunction with rental partners XL Video, Creative Technology, CT Germany, IMAG, and Bluewater, Barco LED screens were the predominant display technology at this year’s NAIAS, with over 95% of LED installations covering more than 10,000 sq.ft. of total space.

Creative standouts include Ford (using ILITE 6 XP tiles for a curved, segmented wall in Ford’s trademark oval shape), Nissan (using OLITE 510 tiles for arched displays, turntables and an especially unique video ceiling), and Jeep (using large-scale MIPIX LED walls for “moving content” behind each vehicle).

Jeep stand Whereas in years past at NAIAS, LED video walls were used primarily to draw visitors into a particular booth, this year’s focus has changed to a more “immersive” video environment, with emphasis on the total experience that people have once they’re inside a booth. In some cases, video is not even visible from the aisles, but only appears once the visitor is deep within a booth.

“It’s a more video intensive show this year than ever before,” says Steve Scorse, VP of sales and marketing for Barco's media and entertainment division, North America, commenting on the high proportion of Barco product at the show.

“Everywhere the visitor looks, there’s video showing new cars, promos, commercials, branding—even company history. Simply stated, our rental partners’ selections speak volumes about the product’s ease of use, ease of setup, reliability, and most important, image quality.”