Boeing's giant mural Dream of Flight has made the Guinness Book of World Records by being the largest digital graphic ever recorded
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American Airline giant Boeing, has made the Guinness Book of World Records by producing the largest digital graphic ever recorded, on the walls of the company’s Everett Washington, factory building The mural comprising more than 9, 290 square metres of pressure-sensitive graphic film, covers all six factory doors on the south side of the building, which is itself recognised by Guinness World Records as the largest building in the world by volume.Designed by Fitch Design Consultants in London and called Dream of Flight, the majestic mural portrays the excitement of flying, as well as the Boeing employees’ enthusiasm for the aerospace industry and is a fitting tribute to a factory that is the home of the company’s 747, 767, 777 and 787 planes.
Towering overhead, the doors comprising the mural are 25 metres high and range in width from 91 to 107 metres, which is about the length of a Rugby League football field.
The printed materials were digitally printed by Seattle based SuperGraphics on three Scotchprint 2000 printers and in 1.27 wide x 17 metre long strips on 3M Controltac Plus 8620 conformable graphics film. The product was then covered by 3M Scotchcal Luster 8519 overlaminate to provide gloss to the final image.
More than 475 sheets with dimensions one metre by 18 metres were used in the building process which took more than five months – largely because of poor weather conditions during December and January.
Brand marketing director for Boeing Commercial Aeroplanes, Jeff Robinson, says the mural is a complement to the employees and their commitment to the Boeing company.
“The new look is refreshing. It’s a great way to celebrate the people inside the factory and their passion for aeroplanes,” he says.
“This is an impressive graphic that matches our remarkable aeroplanes and product line,” says Robinson.
The company given the honour of manufacturing the pressure-sensitive graphic film and other products used in the design, was company 3M Co based in St. Paul, Minneapolis. 3M Co pioneered the use of graphic films to wrap vehicles and buildings with promotional messages.
The company rented a full basketball court to inspect the graphics and installed them with a hydraulic “snorkel”.
In addition to the new mural, the 40 hectare factory was recently repainted. More than 25,000 litres of paint were used – approximately 22,740 litres of tan, 1,516 litres of blue and 682 litres of brown trim.
Visitors can see the factory and the mural up close when they take a Boeing Tour through the Future of Flight, which is located at 8415 Paine Field Blvd., Mukilteo, approximately 48 kilometres north of Seattle.
The Guinness Book of Records entry reads: “The largest digital graphic, produced by 3M and designed by SuperGraphics, measures over 3,048 metres and has been featured on the six bay doors on the assembly building of The Boeing Company in Everett, Washington, USA since the 15 February 2006.”
