In our last post, you got the chance to take a look at the behind-the-scenes side of “The ZENTX Experience” and to learn about how our specialists approach design. A project doesn’t just end with design, though. We design things so that we can then bring them to life and bring them to our customer. We use those real-life elements to transform their space and to match the big idea that they shared with us in the first place. We call this last step “Installation.”

Recently, sales rep Sheena Lovitos Wildenhaus sat down with ZENTX Vice President Mark Wenz to talk about this aspect of our projects. Today, you’ll get to read a selection of that interview and hear about the ZENTX installation process. In the interview, Mark shares some specific insights about how our team prepped for the installs of our recent projects for Zehnder’s and the Midland Center for the Arts.

You can find snippets of his interview in this video from our YouTube channel. But keep scrolling to read more highlights from the conversation and to get a taste of the ZENTX side of “The ZENTX Experience.”

Tell me some of the highlights from the process of building the Zehnder’s timeline wall.

The timeline wall actually started out fairly easy because Zehnder’s had all of the data that they had from several years ago. So they provided us with a lot of accurate measurements. However, we do like to go onsite often to do field measurements. It’s really important for us to get the accurate measurements so that, when we’re producing something on our machines, [which] are going to be quite accurate, we’re ready to put them up and install them. But it was very easy to work with [Zehnder’s] because it was something that they already provided us that we didn’t have to go and do. So that’s how we started with that project.

We then used some adhesive. Because of some of the issues that they had before [with adhesive] from another vendor that they used, we didn’t want [the adhesive to fail] again. So we looked into what adhesive would be the best to hold on to the acrylic that we used for their timeline wall. We did some research and found the best adhesive to use for that. And we’re pretty sure that it will never come off. That was a big thing for that particular timeline wall.

Tell us about the postcard wall.

For the postcard wall, which was in the taproom at Zehnder’s, we always like to do field measurements at the beginning to get the most accurate measurements to start the process. Because, when we do go through after the proofing, we want to make sure that we’re really close to that proof that we’re looking at when we install things. Because of our machines that actually cut the parts out and the other items that we use, the graphics and so forth, we want to make [the final product] as close to the proof [as possible]. So those accurate measurements are really important. And then we’ll take that information and all the data with us to the installation. When we’re actually installing the items, we’re looking at measurements again so that we can make it really close to what the customer thinks that we’re supposed to have. That’s really important.

In this particular case, for the postcard wall, we had to do a wall mural. We wanted to make it look new but yet go with the [vintage feel of the room]. That was important with the designers as well as when we’re installing. And I think we’ve accomplished that goal.

I wanted to go back like a week or two weeks later to make sure that all the things that we installed were still in place with nothing moving and just in case we wanted to make a little tweak or [in case] there [was] something that was coming off. [So we did.] We’re always really good with any time something happens [after installation]. We want to make sure that we take care of the issue.

Tell us about ZENTX’s work on the Midland Center For the Arts project.

We like to work with a lot of different people and sizes of companies. We really pride ourselves in trying to develop good relationships with customers. One way that we do that is through our sales force. But then, when it comes to the actual installation, [like] in this particular case with the Midland Center for the Arts, we want to make sure that we take field measurements. We want to make sure that what we’re giving the customer is something that they plan on getting. So, with [the Midland Center for the Arts,] we did a walk-through. We’ll do a walk-through sometimes with customers, and we can discuss the job and all the different components of that job. And we [can] make changes at that time.

In this particular case, we had to hang some banners that were higher than six feet, so we asked them if they had a lift. They did. Otherwise, we would have had to rent a lift, a scissor lift in this case. We always want to make sure we do stay safe, and it’s important for us, and it’s important for everyone to do that. Of course, it costs more to do those things. But, overall, we can’t put a price on our lives.

What is the strength of ZENTX as a company?

I’m pretty proud of the fact that we have a great group of team members that really take ownership, [even] from the beginning stages of answering the phone. I would say, [compared to] a lot of other small companies, we have a very good “front end.” And that’s the service, the customer service, end of things. When you’re working with [us], we [even] have someone who’s actually going to be scheduling the stuff. So you’re not just dealing with the owner, [who] typically get[s] busy. We have good customer service that we’re pretty proud of.

The other thing that I enjoy is that we’re all very particular. We want things to be done right the first time. That doesn’t always happen because we’re doing a lot of custom things. So that’s really difficult lots of times. But we will always fix or change something that we think that needs to be changed because we’re not happy with it, even before it gets to the customer.