In the following article, we will explore six ways that you can personalise the design of your shadow boards - introducing striking designs and corporate branding.

A growing number of sites are turning to shadow boards for the safe and hygienic storage of equipment, using this popular solution to extend the lifespan of their utensils, increase employee engagement, and drive standards of efficiency.

As the leading supplier of shadow boards and visual management solutions, Klipspringer has supported thousands of sites with their projects, optimising the process at every stage.

Along with a turnaround time of 5-7 working days and a choice of five mounting methods, we also have an in-house Design Team who can customise your shadow boards with striking designs and corporate branding for no extra cost. In the following article, we will explore six different designs.

Find more ideas in our Shadow Board Inspiration Guide

1. Images of your industry

One option to consider is having images related to your industry on the background of your shadow boards. This will help to make your equipment storage more eye-catching, increasing the likelihood that your team will return their utensils to the right place.

This approach could also be used to reinforce your site’s colour-coding policy, as our Design Team can tint the images to match the colour of the equipment hanging on your shadow boards.

This will nurture a culture of accountability, as it will be immediately obvious if equipment of a different colour and from a different area of your site has been incorrectly placed on a board.

2. Company branding and product images

If you decide to include images on the background of your shadow boards, you could always take the personalisation process one step further by selecting a photo of your product. Again, your site’s colour-coding policy can be reinforced with either a strip of solid colour or a tinted overlay.

This is a great opportunity to highlight the quality product your team is working towards. You could also showcase your company branding by asking our Design Team to incorporate your logo. We have even worked with sites that have had their company ethos printed on each shadow board.

3. Key training points

Another idea is to use your shadow board design to reinforce key training points. For example, you could include the 6S Principles (5S + Safety). This will remind your team of the importance of proper equipment storage every time they go to retrieve or return a utensil. It will also reassure customers and auditors that each principle is integral to your company culture.

There is also the option to add Instructions for use and Safety information to your boards. The former will serve as a reminder of best practice and will be especially helpful when accompanied by instructional images. As for the latter, this will help to protect your operatives and highlight your site’s commitment to health and safety. If your shadow board is for a technical instrument such as a food oil monitor or probe thermometer, you could even introduce a space to write the last date of calibration. That way, your team will never forget the next deadline.

4. Colour-block backgrounds

One of the most popular shadow board designs is a solid, colour-block background. This approach is typically used by sites to reinforce their zoning strategy. For example, an orange shadow board with orange equipment for allergen lines, a green shadow board with green equipment for general waste, and a pink shadow board with pink equipment for drains.

This simple yet effective choice will be extremely easy for your workforce to understand and engage with. Plus, you can always ask for your logo to be subtly introduced to the background of your board (find an example below).

5. Headers and instructions

Shadow boards will typically feature two headers. First, a main title that usually relates to the site zone or equipment type. For example, ‘Cleaning Station Line 1’, ‘Tool Station 4’ or ‘Food Contact Cleaning Equipment’. Then, a smaller header that is commonly used for helpful instructions, such as ‘Return equipment after use’ or ‘Clean items before returning them’.

So long as your request reflects the space available, there is the option to have any text you like added to the header of your shadow boards. You can use this opportunity for customisation to strengthen your site’s zoning strategy, remind your operatives to respect their equipment, and further impress visitors to your site.

6. Hazard warnings

Finally, if your shadow boards relate to a potential hazard at your site – either through the area they are placed in or the equipment they hold – you should consider introducing a black and yellow hazard border. This will draw attention to any safety warnings, such as:

  • No smoking or open flames
  • Noise hazard, ear protectors must be worn
  • ATEX Environment, ATEX equipment only

This is a brilliant opportunity to ensure your shadow boards serve two purposes – safely and hygienically storing your equipment, all whilst functioning as a visual management tool.

Access Your Shadow Board Inspiration Guide

To learn more about shadow boards and the role they could play at your factory, take a look at our Shadow Board Inspiration Guide.
It features over 70 designs for leading brands.

So there you have it, six ways that you can customise the shadow boards at your food production site. From striking imagery to important reminders, there are a wide range of options to explore.

If you require further guidance, the Klipspringer team would be happy to help. Our in-house shadow board experts will be on hand to provide support and relevant resources. You can contact them on 01473 461800 or sales@klipspringer.com. Alternatively, use the form below to arrange a call. 

If you would like further guidance relating to the customisation of your shadow boards, the Klipspringer team would be happy to help.