In their latest project as preferred sign suppliers to Sky Pro Cycling, Signs Express (Manchester) has completed a rebrand of all the team’s support vehicles for the Tour De France 2011.

Team Sky’s vehicles, as well as kit and bikes, have changed from blue to green for all 21 stages of the race to help raise awareness and support for Sky Rainforest Rescue, a three year partnership between Sky and WWF to help save a billion trees in the state of Acre, northwest Brazil.

Sky Rainforest Rescue is a three-year partnership between Sky and WWF. Deforestation is now responsible for around 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions and an area the size of three football pitches is destroyed every minute in the Amazon.

As well as raising awareness amongst the Tour de France’s millions of global fans, Team Sky also hopes to encourage donations throughout the Grand Tour. Sky will match each donation £ for £ up to £2million to the campaign target of £4million. Each £10 donated will help save 500 trees and with it, help to improve people’s lives by supporting sustainable farming methods and promote long-term conservation of the rainforest.

Unveiled in time for the first stage of the Tour de France on 2nd July, the graphics include a rebranded Sky logo, which has been formed using zoomed in imagery of leaves and water droplets to illustrate the significance of the campaign.

Twelve vehicles including the team bus, truck and several support commercial vehicles and cars have been rebranded. The graphics include silhouettes of forest scenes in green vinyl on a contrasting black background along with the strapline ‘working together to help save 1 billion trees.’

Helen Mortimer, Operations at Team Sky said, “As a team we saw the opportunity to change our bikes and kit to green as the perfect way to raise awareness of Sky Rainforest Rescue amongst the Tour de France’s millions of worldwide fans. We are grateful to Signs Express support on this project and for their level of professionalism in delivering the project to their usual high standard and at such short notice.”

A four man Signs Express team travelled to Sky teams Belgium service quarters to apply the graphics in time for the race which spans over 21 stages and finishes on 24th July. Then the four man team will be in Paris ready to re-instated the graphics back to the Sky Pro Cycling team colours after the event.

Signs Express provides the teams with a wide range of signs and graphics from vehicle graphics to more bespoke items such as helmet, shoe and suitcases stickers. Additionally the team are also supplied with internal office window graphics and race warm-up area signage for Sky Pro team coaches and Signs Express are on hand to travel to several European destinations to make changes when the team are preparing for International events.

Signs Express also provides all signage for the Great Britain Cycling team. Commenting on the relationship, centre joint owner Lee Eaton said, “We have been delighted to be working with the Great Britain and Sky Pro Cycling teams. Manchester is the home of cycling in the UK and we have been really excited to be working with the national team. We have worked on a number of projects over the last couple of years and hope to assist them further in the build up to future events.”

Signs Express (Manchester) is part of the UK’s largest sign company which has over 75 centres nationwide. They provide a full design, manufacture and fitting service for all forms of marketing including interior and exterior signs, vehicle graphics, banners, exhibition displays and health and safety signs.

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