Made to precision & premium signage display: an Intrack Banner Pole on a hinged base

Team Intrack have developed the Intrapole over the years to be the ultimate in banner signage.  This photo shows our 125mm x 6.0mtr Banner Pole in black on a hinge base that were recently installed at a school.

Banner poles or Intrapole as we here at Intrack call it are a great way to get your message across to the public. Using a vinyl banner, its lifespan will last longer and changeover can be done from lowering the pole on its hinge base without the use of a boom.

Sporting facilities, schools, business, government buildings, museums and places of worship, flagpoles stand tall all around Australia. How much do you know about flagpoles? Do you know your terminology?

Harness your inner vexillologist, and discover key flagpole and flag components with our Intrack terminology list.

Flag and flagpole terminology

Cleat- The device used to secure the bottom of a flagpole halyard (rope).

Colour Fastness- The ability of a material to resist fading and colour migration.

Double Seal- A flag which reads correctly from both sides because a portion of the flag has another design sewn to the back side.

Flash Collar- Decorative cover used at the base of an outdoor flagpole.

Fly End- The free flying end of a flag, usually opposite the heading.

Fringed- A flag with decorative fringe around all or part of its perimeter.

Front- The surface seen when a flag is in its normal flying position with the hoist to the viewer’s left. (The “Back” is the reverse).

Grommets– Brass rings or eyelets (normally in the heading) for mounting outdoor flags.

Halyard- Rope for an outdoor flagpole used to raise and lower the flag.

Heading- The heavy canvas or other reinforcing material at the side or end from which the flag or banner will be supported.

Hoist- The side of a flag next to the pole.

Joint- The device used to hold a 2-piece pole together.

Outdoor Flags– Flags constructed primarily for use on an outdoor pole- with heading and grommets or rope.

Roped- A flag with a rope passing through the heading and looped and secured at each end. The halyard of the flagpole is then attached to the loops. Normally used only on large outdoor flags.

Single/Reverse- A flag which reads correctly from the front and reverse from the rear.

Snap Hook- A device used to attach a flag to the halyard (rope) on a flagpole..

Field- The predominant colour of a flag.

Finial- The ornament at the end of a flagstaff or flagpole.

Flag Hoist- Signal flags in a group attached to the same halyard and hoisted as a unit.

Fly- The free end of a flag, farthest from the staff. The term is also used for the horizontal length of the flag.

Grommet- A metal ring placed along the hoist of a flag to attach the halyard. Two piece metal grommets were first used in the U.S. about the time of the Civil War or just after.

Halyard- Rope used to hoist and lower a flag.

Header- A heavy cloth strip, usually canvas, sewn to the hoist edge of a flag and often grommeted for hoisting.

Hoist- The part of the flag closest to the staff. The term is also used for the vertical width of a flag.

Outrigger Pole- A flagpole coming off the side of a building at an angle.

Ratio- The relationship of a flag’s width to it’s length, e.g. France is 2:3; Germany is 3:5, Russia is 1:2.

Reeve- This means to pull the halyard through the truck, raising or lowering a flag.

Staff- This is a pole the flag hangs on.

Swallowtail- This flag which comes to two or three points at the fly end.

Truck- This is the wooden or metal block at the top of a flagpole below the finial (staff ornament). It includes a pulley or holes for halyard.

Vexillology– This is the study of flag history and symbolism. The name comes from the Latin Word vexillum, which means flag.

Looking for a flagpole? Contact Intrack for more information. 

(Information Source: American Made Flag Store)

Strong and flexible: an Intrack flagpole with rotating arm

Team Intrack can engineer and install a flagpole for your specific needs. This image shows one of our 100mm x 8.0mtr rotating arm flagpole on a hinge base.

Rotating arms, or rota arms, on a flagpole, extend the life of the flag being flown by allowing the flag to rotate in the wind rather than stay static.

The Intrack rotating arm flagpole is usually supported by a hinged base. With a hinge base, you can lower your flagpole to the ground without completely removing it from its footing. With rotating flagpoles, ropes aren’t used to raise and lower flags. The hinge base allows ensures easy flag/banner changeover and repair or maintenance without the need for use of reach trucks.

The Intrack Intrapole: now on display at the Hellenic Museum

Greg Harte recently stood a few Intrapole banner poles at the Hellenic Museum at 280 William Street, Melbourne.

Perfectly proportioned and engineered for excellence, these top of the range poles are in perfect keeping with the idealised beauty and precision of Hellenistic era artwork.

Extend the life of your flagpole with maintenance

Flagpole inspection and maintenance is important for keeping your flagpole looking good and your flag flying high. It’s even more important to ensure the integrity of the flagpole remains and it presents no safety risk.

The Intrack team completes routine maintenance for many of our corporate flagpole and council customers. However, as we have many residential and small business customers, we’re often asked for self-managed flagpole maintenance tips.

To maintain your flagpole, every six to 12 months:

Routine maintenance can prevent severe damage and breakdown of neglected flag poles.

• Inspect the foundation and base
• Check the pole for signs of bending, fatigue, wear or weakness
• Check halyards for signs of fraying, abrasion or weakness
• Check the fittings
• Lower and clean the finials to remove all dust and dirt build up
• Check the rotating arms
• Take down flags in wind exceeding 65 km/h

A word on flags

We don’t sell flags, but since we do engineer, fabricate, install flagpoles, we do know a few things about flags. For example, we know flags need maintenance, too.

• Lower your flag when high wind is forecasted. Weather events, particularly wind events, impact your flag.
• Lower your flags at night. You don’t have to worry about watching for weather changes.
• Watch the corners for wear and fraying. Repair as soon as you notice it to prevent further damage.
• Ensure your flag flies freely without contact to tree branches, buildings or other objects.
• Routinely wash your flag in warm water.
• Always dry your flag completely before storing.

A goal is not a goal is not a goal

With the world swept up in World Cup fever, we at Intrack started thinking about soccer versus football, and all the different games that fall under the “football” name. The below infographic caught our eye. While soccer isn’t included in the mix, it does offer a great overview of the differences between American football, Rugby and Australian Rules football.

If the World Cup has you thinking about new soccer goals or replacing old ones, you want to talk with us. Our FFA and FIFA compliant goals come in standard and custom sizes.

However, if your preferred football is AFL or Rugby, we’ve got you covered there too with high quality footy goal posts and rugby goals.

And, if you lean American, give us a call. Most likely we can engineer a solution for you, too.

Let’s have a kick

Kew flagpoles

A recent article in the Leader community newspaper highlighted the new Intrack flagpoles in Kew. Give it a read.

Hi all,

After three years of a thoroughly enjoyable role with Intrack, please be advised that as of today, I am now on maternity leave and Intrack Systems has a new contact.

For all Intrack questions or orders, please contact David Lazzari.
Email: info@intrack.com.au
Phone: 03 9798 4433
Mobile: 0418 330 166

David joins the Intrack team with extensive experience in the industry. He’ll continue the excellent level of service you expect from Intrack.

Thank you.

Regards,

Janelle Harte

INTRACK-alenko … you beauty!

Thursday, the Intrack truck was loaded up and ready to roll with four sets of AFL goal posts for the Yarra Ranges Shire Council. They love the ease of installation and maintenance our sporting posts deliver. And, it doesn’t hurt that they’re so easy on the eyes.

Burwood Heights Shopping Centre flagpoles

Team Intrack wrapped up a project installing 100mm untapered internal halyard flagpoles at the Burwood Heights Shopping Centre.

They look so good, you almost don’t even see the abandoned shopping trolley nestled between them (pictured right).

Our 100mm untapered internal halyard flagpoles are very cost effective and can be fabricated to 7.0 or 8.0 metres tall.

For more information about raising the profile of your business with a corporate flagpole, contact Intrack.