Resources
Spec Card
A practical spec card for LED lightboxes and fabric frames on South African retail and expo floors.
How Spec Card answers key frame and print details
Use this Spec Card to check the core details for your LED lightbox or fabric frame before production starts. It covers the practical points buyers and shopfitters need for retail, mall and expo work in South Africa.
Use the Spec Card to pin down the non-negotiables before artwork or aluminium is cut. Record whether the unit is wall mounted, freestanding, suspended, or built into shopfitting, then note the visible graphic size, overall frame depth, driver location, and cable exit. For South African sites, include backup power arrangements, delivery access, and whether the frame is going into a mall, airport, showroom, or expo shell scheme.
Add a site sketch with dimensions marked where possible. A sketch often shows bulkheads, glazing, sprinklers, or existing branding that a typed note misses. Keep a copy of the completed card with the store file so replacement prints and future moves follow the same layout.
Frame details that matter
A good Spec Card gives the printer, fabricator, and installer the same reference point. It should state the frame finish, face fabric type, illumination requirement, and any split sections needed for transport into lifts or through service passages. On retail roll-outs and expo builds, that level of detail reduces confusion around what must be supplied on site.
Before sending the Spec Card, verify fixing surfaces, power availability, and access times for the venue. Note any questions around fabric tension, transformer placement, double-sided viewing, or hanging hardware, then send the file through the contact form. If there is an existing frame on site, include a photo of the profile corner and the power connection.
- Visible graphic size recorded clearly
- Mounting method noted for site crew
- Power point and driver position listed
Checks for SA installations
Retail centres and expo venues here often have strict delivery windows and goods-lift rules. The Spec Card should mention loading bay limits, after-hours access, ceiling height, and whether drilling is allowed by centre management. For airport and regional work, note crate size limits and the town receiving the shipment.
Coastal air can influence hardware choice, especially for suspended or long-term displays near Durban and Cape Town. Inland dust affects cleaning frequency on light diffusers and fabric faces around Gauteng sites. During load-shedding periods, arrange a proper illuminated check when mains power is available, not only a visual review of the frame body.
Operated by Astros Marketing (Pty) Ltd from 2 Makro Place, Sunnyrock 1401.
What to capture on the card
Send the Spec Card with reference photos, project timing, and any measurement, mounting, wattage, or fabric print issues already raised. Keep the subject line simple and accurate.
List the project name, site location, quantity, and intended use first, then add the technical points beneath. Include fabric print direction, silicon edge finish, viewing distance, and any brand colour concerns if the lightbox must match existing in-store graphics. Where hanging frames are involved, write down the drop length and the fixing method at the soffit or ceiling structure.