CASE STUDY: Projected Signage for Mixed MHE Environment

The Challenge

‍At the Wellingborough site, pedestrians were moving between office and warehouse areas where both manned and autonomous material handling equipment (MHE) were operating.This created a need for improved spatial awareness, particularly at transition points where people moved from a standard working environment into areas with higher vehicle activity.Traditional signage was in place, but there was a risk of sign blindness, reducing its effectiveness in reinforcing hazard awareness.

‍

Why It Mattered‍

With both manual and autonomous vehicles operating in the same environment, clear and consistent communication of hazards was essential.The site required a solution that could:

• Reinforce awareness at key transition points
• Improve visibility of safety messaging
• Support safer movement between office and warehouse areas

‍

The Solution

‍Bear Safety supplied and implemented a projected signage system using:

• Single and multi-gobo projectors
• Installed across key access points between office and warehouse zones

Installation details:

• 8 projectors mounted on 3.6m poles
• 2 projectors mounted directly onto existing structures

The projections were positioned to activate visual awareness as pedestrians move from lower-risk to higher-risk areas, particularly where autonomous operations are present.

‍

Implementation

‍The system was installed at key transition areas:

• Entry points from office to warehouse
• Zones where operational conditions change (standard → autonomous MHE areas)

Projectors were positioned to ensure clear, visible messaging on the floor, aligned with pedestrian movement paths.

‍

Outcome

‍The system was introduced to help improve awareness in areas where pedestrians and MHE interact.

• Reinforces hazard perception at key transition points
• Supports visibility of safety messaging in active environments
• Helps address limitations of static signage

‍