# WBG entrance sign renewal — design and fabrication proposal

11 October 2026 · Brain Club for SIA “West Baltic Group”

## Recommendation

Use a white aluminium-composite panel with the existing WBG vector mark, bold lettering and a clear permission rule, plus a distinct instruction for legitimate visitors. Concept **A** offers the clearest separation of the rule and visitor guidance. Concept **C** removes the large dark band and is the first option to price for simple two-colour cut vinyl. Concept **B** gives the strongest dark industrial appearance; its refined no-entry disc has a fine circular white rim, with **no square backplate**, following the owner's feedback.

The specified size is “1 m × 1.525 m”. We assume **1525 mm wide × 1000 mm high** because the supplied photograph is landscape. Confirm this on site before any cutting. Quantity: one. Area: **1.525 m²**.

These are concepts to approve and price. The visitor process, actual supports, physical colours and sign compliance remain to be confirmed. The proposal does not authorise manufacture, payment or installation. The owner requested publication of the public review on 11 October 2026.

## What the company actually needs

The old face names HIDROLATS; its finish is cracked and peeling. The photograph establishes this visual condition, but cannot establish the cause of the failure, frame capacity or panel adhesion. Replacing only a name does not resolve the visitor experience.

The arrival must do three jobs in order: identify WBG; require permission before entry; explain what the legitimate visitor should do next. For a foundry with moving vehicles, hot-work areas and controlled access, the physical gate and staff process must support the words. A sign alone is not access control.

WBG's own positioning emphasises precision, responsibility, reliability and lasting partnerships. The modern foundry concept we built uses a red angular WBG mark, white space and bold Archivo lettering. The acquisition presentation has a dark industrial environment and restrained typography. These references guide A/C and B respectively. They are references, not an approved physical brand manual. [Company positioning and address](https://foundry.wbg.lv/about).

| Audience | What they must understand | What success looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Customers and partners | This is WBG; visitors are expected through a controlled process | They stop safely and reach their host without walking into the yard |
| Suppliers and delivery drivers | Permission is required; there is an actual reporting route | Driver identifies WBG before committing to the turn and knows where to wait |
| Employees and contractors | Existing authorisation / induction still applies | New branding does not imply a changed access policy |
| Unauthorised traffic | Entry is restricted and the gate is operated | Large rule and familiar traffic symbol are visible; enforcement is real |

Remove towing imagery unless WBG confirms the actual policy and arrangements. Do not invent surveillance, fines, opening hours, reception directions or contacts. Avoid exclamation marks and paragraphs of capital letters. Treat Latvian as the primary language; a short English permission line helps international drivers. Additional language instructions belong on a close-reading visitor board if actual visitor needs justify them.

## Proposed wording and the unresolved operational decision

Main instruction:

**IEBRAUKŠANA / TIKAI AR ATĻAUJU**

English supplement: **Entry only with WBG permission.**

Visitor section: **APMEKLĒTĀJI UN PIEGĀDES / Pirms iebraukšanas sazinieties ar WBG.**

This generic visitor instruction is honest but incomplete for someone without a contact. Before the production master, replace or supplement it with the real route:

- Gate security: “Pirms iebraukšanas piesakieties apsardzē.” Only if a staffed, reachable point exists.
- Host authorisation: “Pirms iebraukšanas zvaniet: [verified gate contact].” Do not use a foundry-sales phone as a gate number without confirmation.
- Another entrance: “Apmeklētājiem un piegādēm — [verified entrance / direction].” Add an arrow only after measuring the real approach.

Ask WBG whether “permission” is a formal issued permit, security clearance or a host's approval. If it really requires an issued document, retain that meaning in the final copy. A friendlier instruction must never broaden admission.

## The three visual directions

| Concept | Appearance | Strength | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| A — clear and welcoming | White face, black hierarchy, red mark and symbol, dark visitor band | Clearest separation of access rule and practical help; closest to the new foundry page | Extra dark coverage and reverse lettering increase application work |
| B — charcoal | Dark face, white type, red mark and a circular no-entry symbol with a fine white rim | Strong industrial presence; the white square has been removed | Confirm dark stock; full-face film adds cost, heat gain and visible scuffs |
| C — essential white | Plain white face, black type, red mark and symbol, simple rules | Economical cut-vinyl candidate; easier to repair | Less visual separation for the visitor section |

All main SVGs are physically sized at 1525 × 1000 mm. Every visible letter is converted to paths, so the printer does not need to substitute a font. The WBG mark is the existing path from `img/wbg-mark.svg`; it is not an AI-redrawn logo. The brand red (#e2000f), charcoal (#171e24) and symbol red (#d52828) are screen references. Agree actual vinyl swatches / print output with WBG and the fabricator. Safety-symbol colour must follow the required sign specification, not a marketing palette.

### Detail decisions

- Maintain roughly 70 mm outer graphic margins. No drill coordinates are approved; survey all existing holes and move graphics if necessary.
- Main headline font size is 84 mm in A/B and 79 mm in C; the actual capital-letter height is smaller than the font em. Assess the manufactured letter size and approach visibility with a full-scale paper test. The website zoom slider is not a reading-distance calculation.
- The no-entry disc is 330 mm diameter in A/B and 310 mm in C. B has a 7 mm white circular rim. These are concept geometry, not a certificate of a regulated road sign.
- Do not horizontally distort, recolour to orange, round or rebrand a traffic / workplace pictogram. Source the production symbol from the sign maker's approved library or install a separate stock sign where the traffic plan requires it.
- Keep the service footer subordinate: “Lējumi. Mehāniskā apstrāde. Liepāja.” with `foundry.wbg.lv`. If the gate serves the whole group, confirm a group-wide descriptor and the correct group URL before production.
- A sign should support WBG's reputation through clarity and workmanship. Do not turn the restriction panel into a services catalogue or put changing certification expiry dates on it.
- Prefer a low-glare face. Large flat colour and ample spacing age more gracefully than photographic backgrounds or a printed metal texture.

## Manufacture — affordable without an early replacement

### Base panel

Ask for **3 mm white NEOBOND SIGN**, preferably with **0.30 mm aluminium skins**, or a documented equivalent for outdoor signage. Neobond offers SIGN panels at 3 mm with 0.21 or 0.30 mm skins. The thicker skin is a preference for this exposed location; neither 3 mm nor a 0.30 mm skin certifies an unsupported 1.5 m board. The installer chooses thickness and intermediate support after inspecting the existing structure. [Manufacturer product range](https://neobond.com/en/products/sign).

Do not automatically upgrade to thick, milled, illuminated or folded trays for this one board. Use available stock and a straight rectangular cut. If the support is inadequate, price reinforcement or a thicker panel openly. A commodity panel name by itself is not a complete specification.

### Finish options

1. **Premium cut vinyl**: black and red cast film, for example ORACAL 751C or an equivalent with documented exterior ratings. For C, most of the board remains its factory white. A needs one dark visitor band. B may use a suitable stock dark panel or a full dark coverage layer with white cut lettering. Detailed lettering requires weeding labour: cut vinyl is not automatically the cheapest for one unit.
2. **Polymeric printed film + matched laminate**: e.g. a documented ORAJET 3551RA system with a manufacturer-compatible laminate for the selected ink process. One printed face is often faster and cheaper to apply. Request the exact film, ink, laminate, curing schedule and finished-system warranty. A laminate protects the printed face; an unprinted-film rating cannot be quoted as the printed system's life.
3. **Direct UV print on an appropriate composite panel**: an alternate quote if the local printer already offers it. Neobond DIGITAL is sold for direct printing. Evaluate fade / abrasion protection and refinishing cost; do not assume unprotected UV print is equivalent to a warranted film system.

Have the fabricator make and apply graphics **indoors**, with the substrate clean and dry. Current ORACAL 751C / ORAJET 3551RA processing data require at least 10°C for film application. Neobond's guidelines also require panels to be at least 10°C during processing. Protect the finished face during transport. Follow the actual ink and adhesive instructions before fitting. [Neobond handling and installation](https://neobond.com/files/download/NEOBOND_General_guidelines.pdf), [ORACAL current data](https://www.orafol.com/en/europe/products/oracal-751c-high-performance-cast), [ORAJET current data](https://www.orafol.com/en/europe/products/orajet-3551ra).

## Installation — covering the old board is conditional

The supplier proposes screwing the new board to the old face. This is economical **only if** the old board and its frame/posts are sound.

Have an installer inspect from both sides: rust, loose fixings, delamination, distortion, frame welds, support spans and wind exposure. Record the actual outer dimensions and hole centres. The new skin must transfer wind force through suitable fixings into adequate backing. A decorative sheet or flaky old coating is not a structural attachment.

If sound, retain the old board as backing, remove loose debris where necessary and fit the new face with appropriate spacers / fixings as specified. If unsound, remove the old face and install the new board on the retained sound frame. This can be less expensive over time than adding weight over a failure. Use corrosion-resistant fixings appropriate to the actual metals; consider A4 stainless where the installer finds chloride exposure, with electrical isolation as needed. Allow thermal movement without over-tightening and leave drainage paths. Do not invent a universal bolt count or drill plan from the photograph. Neobond specifically calls for considering panel/substructure thermal expansion and avoiding excessive clamping pressure. [Installation guidance](https://neobond.com/files/download/NEOBOND_General_guidelines.pdf).

Protect the work area and vehicle approach while fitting. Schedule one coordinated visit with all measured parts. For safely reachable supports, WBG's competent maintenance team may fit the finished panel; needing a lift or specialist work changes the price. Photograph the completed face and backing, record products and install date, and check after the first strong storm.

## Liepāja weather and expected renewal

LVĢMC's 1991–2020 monthly norms give Liepāja −1.1°C in February and 17.9°C in July. These are **averages**, not minimum/maximum design temperatures. The Baltic coast has stronger mean winds than inland areas. Site orientation and local exposure decide sun heating, driving rain and salt exposure. [Official climate data](https://klimats.meteo.lv/klimats_latvija/latvijas_klimatiskais_raksturojums/).

For premium cut film, **plan a condition review and graphic renewal budget at 5–7 years**. ORACAL's current European page gives up to 8 years for black/white and 7 for coloured film for vertical outdoor exposure in normal Central European climate. It specifies −40 to +60°C, with short-term +80°C. These are manufacturer limits and exposure assumptions, not a Liepāja installation guarantee. The conservative planning interval is our judgement. [ORACAL data](https://www.orafol.com/en/europe/products/oracal-751c-high-performance-cast).

For printed/laminated graphics, **use 3–5 years as a provisional planning interval**, until the printer specifies the ink / laminate system and exposure warranty. ORAJET's 7-year European rating is explicitly for **unprinted** film. Do not add base-film and laminate ratings together. [ORAJET data](https://www.orafol.com/en/europe/products/orajet-3551ra).

The composite backing may outlast replaceable graphics if well supported and maintained; no verified Neobond service-life warranty was found for this particular installation. Inspect twice a year and after severe storms. Wash with water and a mild neutral cleaner; avoid abrasives, aggressive solvents and pressure jets at edges. Check red fading, edge lift, water retention, loose fixings and frame corrosion. Renew when readability or adhesion deteriorates, even before a planning interval ends.

## Budget and the fastest route

**Estimates only, excluding VAT; no supplier has quoted this specification.** Prices assume stocked materials, supplied outlined vectors, normal access and a sound existing frame. No design-agency fee, new posts, lift, structural survey or permit work is included.

| Board fabrication | Cut vinyl | Polymeric print + laminate |
|---|---:|---:|
| A | €150–240 | €125–205 |
| B | €195–320 | €135–230 |
| C | €130–210 | €120–190 |

Add roughly **€80–140** for a local install / fixings, or **€15–30** for fixings if WBG's team performs suitable fitting. The preview has an optional **€80–180** small-frame-repair allowance; it is not a structural quotation. A print C board fitted on sound supports therefore has a **€200–330** working budget; cut C **€210–350**. Cut A is **€230–380**.

An Aizkraukle printer publishes composite signs from €57/m²: 1.525 × €57 = **€86.93**. That is a starting tariff with unknown film/laminate grade, VAT treatment and fitting scope; it is only a market floor, not an equivalent WBG offer. [Published price](https://www.ap-druka.lv/pakalpojumi/), [Location](https://www.ap-druka.lv/kontakti/). RA.lv lists graphic production / laminated stickers and a Liepāja address, making it a practical local comparison candidate; current panel capability, slot and price must be confirmed. [RA.lv](https://ra.lv/produkti/uzlimes).

Fastest sensible procurement: give the existing fabricator and one local alternative the **same** Latvian request; ask for both production methods, exact grades, warranty, separate fitting cost and earliest completion date. Choose in-stock colours and one rectangular panel. Reuse safe measured mounts. Let the print shop finish file preparation once the copy is locked, so no one needs to recreate a JPG. Target **3–5 working days after approval** if stock and a slot are available; this is not a confirmed booking. No mails or orders were sent by this work.

## Public-facing sign and safety checks

Liepāja's current service page says signs and advertising objects need approval and gives a seven-working-day review; sign approval itself is free. Establish with the fabricator / building authority whether this graphic replacement needs a revised permit. Adding promotional material may change how the board is treated. Do not assume matching the old dimensions makes it exempt. [Liepāja, updated 8 April 2026](https://www.liepaja.lv/reklamas-un-objektu-izvietosana/).

The workplace sign regulations require suitable geometry, colour, durable material, visibility and placement, and allow relevant traffic signs within workplaces. WBG's competent safety lead should check the gate restriction against actual traffic flows and standard sign specification. A combined branding panel does not replace required standalone traffic, PPE, escape or fire signs. [MK noteikumi Nr. 400](https://likumi.lv/ta/id/66071-darba-aizsardzibas-prasibas-drosibas-zimju-lietosana).

## Reuse beyond this board

Create a small kit: existing vector mark; approved physical colours; type paths; spacing grid; header; LV / EN information structure; department/location identifiers; standard purchased safety symbols kept separate. Included sample vectors: visitors **600 × 400 mm**, department **600 × 300 mm**. Department code A is illustrative, not an assertion of the real campus map.

Next rollout, only after a site walk: arrival / reporting board, pedestrian route, departments, deliveries, parking, controlled access, and required safety signs from the safety assessment. Keep STOP octagonal and red, no-entry circular and red/white, mandatory PPE blue, warnings yellow/black, escape green/white and fire red/white. Do not put WBG branding inside a safety pictogram.

Put a replaceable contact strip on close-reading visitor information, so changing a phone does not remake the main board. A QR code can open a stable WBG-owned arrival page with phone, gate photo, hours and verified routes. Give the printed phone/instruction first; locate the QR where a person can stop safely. The entrance's restrained service footer is enough promotion. Product tags, visitor instructions and delivery PDFs can reuse the same approved identity.

## Production handoff and acceptance

1. WBG chooses the direction and confirms landscape size, permission policy, reporting route, contact and service footer.
2. Installer measures frame, backing, holes and approach views. Check daytime, rain/glare and after-dark visibility from the actual driver position; supply reflective material or suitable illumination if required.
3. Fabricator confirms panel grade, skin thickness, film/ink/laminate, support, fixings, warranty, quote and slot. Print a physical colour sample on the actual material.
4. Fabricator opens the outlined SVG in Illustrator/CorelDraw and prepares their accepted production file. Use full-size mm artboard, outlined paths, agreed CMYK/spot conversion, cut-vinyl layers or print separations, agreed bleed/crop settings and a separate measured drilling drawing. SVG is vector, but these screen-colour concepts are not a certified PDF/X or native AI/CDR master. Do not use generated photographs as print artwork.
5. WBG approves final proof and the actual access instructions. Install, record photos/products/date, and schedule a six-month inspection.

Success: a new driver recognises WBG, understands the permission rule and names the next action in a short glance; the symbol and copy remain visible at night; the panel is secure, drains and can be refinished economically. Record any arrival confusion in the first two weeks, then adjust the close-reading instructions if needed.

## Deliverables

- Public LV/EN interactive review: `signage/index.html`, exact vectors versus GPT gate visions, three directions, budget options and downloadable Latvian quote brief.
- Five outlined SVG concepts and a reproducible generator: `signage/artwork/`, `signage/tools/artwork.py`.
- GPT visualisations: A, refined B, C and sign-family collection. Raster files are stored as task attachments; retrieval manifest ships with the code. Prompts in `IMAGE-PROMPTS.md`.
- Full plan, handover, QA evidence and an admin-visible WBG project plan.

## Local suppliers and the fastest installation route — 11 October update

The public review defaults to Latvian, the new sign on the supplied gate photo, concept A and **installation by WBG technicians**. English has a visible language switch. All three concepts have gate visions and separate outlined vectors. WBG installation adds €15–30 estimated hardware to fabrication; internal labour is separate. Plan two technicians for 1–2 hours after preparation if access and supports are sound; this is our planning allowance, not an observed work duration.

| Candidate | Evidence and contact | Timing status |
|---|---|---|
| Ainars Alžāns — owner's suggestion | Historical city records name Ainars Alžāns and Ainara Alžāna Reklāmas dizains in the designer column. A recent Dienvidkurzeme municipal report also credits his outdoor design and manufacture. Use the owner's known contact; current phone and exact business have not been verified. | Ask for stocked panel, one-board price and earliest collection. No current published sign lead time located. |
| BeastDesign Print | Own page lists cut vinyl, aluminium-composite signs, small runs and optional fitting. Print contact: Peldu iela 32/34, Liepāja, +371 28200295, info@beastdesign.lv. Baseina iela 22 is their furniture business, not the print contact. | No published sign turnaround located. Request our target of 3–5 working days after final approval and verify actual stock and queue. |
| RA.lv / Reklāmas Apgāds | Outdoor adhesives, contour cutting, eco-solvent / UV print and laminate. Vītolu iela 6/10, Liepāja, +371 29847974, info@ra.lv. Confirm that they will supply one finished 1525×1000 composite board. | Website advertises a quote reply in 1 working day and sticker production in 2–5 working days (also mentions 2–3 for standard stickers). This is not a promise for the complete sign. |

Primary sources: [BeastDesign services](https://www.beastdesign.lv/pakalpojumi/), [print contacts](https://www.beastdesign.lv/kontakti/), [RA vinyl and published timing](https://ra.lv/produkti/uzlimes), [Liepāja sign records 2021](https://faili.liepaja.lv/Publikacijas/reklpases-05-08-2021.pdf). Historical context: [Alžāns interview, 2012](https://irliepaja.lv/liepajnieki/tresdien-19septembri-sveicam-visus-vernerus-un-muntus/). No supplier has been contacted.

Day 0: WBG measures supports and holes, confirms copy/contact, and checks whether permit amendment is necessary. Day 1: send one approved vector brief to Ainārs and BeastDesign, with RA as comparison; ask for made-board-only price plus appropriate fixings, premium cut and polymeric laminated print options, warranty and a firm ready date. Days 2–5: workshop fabrication if stocked. Collect locally with a vehicle that safely accommodates the 1525 mm board. WBG fits at a controlled, dry access window after the technician specifies the fixings. A 3–5-working-day completion after approval is a target conditional on confirmed stock, supplier queue and no permit/structural delay; no slot is booked.

For lowest cash cost, price concept C or A as polymeric print with matched laminate, alongside premium cut film. Do not save by using short-life economy monomeric film outdoors. Keep factory-white background, no illumination, normal straight cut and local collection. Record internal labour, transport and access separately so the budget remains comparable with an outside installer.

[Recent municipal outdoor work credited to Ainars Alžāns](https://www.dkn.lv/lv/jaunums/aizpute-sakta-vides-objektu-uzstadisana-un-pilsetvides-labiekartosana). The old company name is historical, not confirmation of the current contracting entity.