Blomsma Signs & Safety, commissioned by MSD Haarlem B.V., has implemented new route signage on and around the site following a major restructuring of the premises.
MSD Haarlem has been located in the Waarderpolder industrial area in Haarlem since 1956 and has grown into a dynamic production and distribution center for human medicines and vaccines for Europe and other regions of the world. To ensure safe and efficient distribution, the site has been redesigned and traffic routes from the public road have been adjusted.
A new entrance was created for logistical traffic and contractors, while the current main entrance is being reconstructed and designated for visitors and staff. For this significant adjustment, clear route signage was needed to manage the different traffic flows. Blomsma applied a layered approach, incorporating safety items and signage harmonized with MSD’s corporate identity.
MSD
Following an on-site inspection and a review of MSD’s corporate identity guidelines and signage requirements, one of our design and system specialists developed a style template for the route signage and a signage system based on the traffic flow plan provided.
To ensure future-proofing, a modular system was developed using existing techniques, such as traffic-standard signs, tubular posts, and proven mounting techniques. The signs are aluminum-coated with folded edges, modified with straight corners to meet the visual requirements of the wayfinding system. They are finished with 3M™ Scotchcal™ reflective film and a high-performance laminate to optimize both visibility and durability.
The modular system includes (double-sided) pylon structures with multiple panels: top panels featuring the MSD logo, route panels with text supported by stylized arrows and pictograms, and a lower panel in an MSD grey tone, making dirt and splash marks barely visible.
Based on the traffic flow plan, various routes with start and end points and junctions were defined, forming the input for the individual route panels. This created a visual “information on demand” communication system, ensuring effective wayfinding without unnecessary distractions for drivers and providing direct routes to destinations on-site.
Our expertise in safety signage—using the layered approach and implementing signage for escape and evacuation routes—also contributed to the integration of panels featuring safety symbols. These display primary prohibitions and requirements, combined with traffic symbols (e.g., speed limits). By engineering and illustrating the route signage in advance within the design drawings, such opportunities became clear and understandable for the client(s).
The scope of the MSD Haarlem route signage project included:
The project was fully executed by a Blomsma team in close collaboration with MSD’s Project Lead. The site’s civil contractor handled ground vacuuming and the removal of old pillars under our supervision. Our team of experienced engineers, designers, technicians, and installers delivered the routing system safely and without incidents.
Our scope covered all phases, from engineering and design to final in-house production at our Zoetermeer headquarters, including planning, manufacturing, and installation of the route signage.
After the initial delivery, we conducted an aftercare round focusing on quality, such as aligning signage, finishing paving works, and addressing minor aesthetic points that arose during installation.
The collaboration with MSD and our expertise in safety and route signage at the Haarlem site has led to new projects, such as providing signage for the new gatehouse, as well as several other assignments. These were executed in line with the work we also perform for MSD’s Animal Health site in the Netherlands.
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