Schaumburg, IL (March 19, 2026) — Pulse Technology, a technology company serving the IT, managed print services, audio visual and other needs of businesses throughout the Midwest and beyond, recently completed the design and installation of a new, 17×20’ two-sided, billboard display for the South Shore RailCats semi-professional baseball team.
The SteelYard Stadium, where the RailCats play home games, is owned by the City of Gary, Indiana. Several years after installing a sign 70’ in the air, aimed at providing advertising messages to motorists on the I90 interstate, the city and the team experienced problems with their billboard. The original provider was unable to provide replacement parts. As a result, the sign was inoperable and the city and its ballclub needed a solution.
The RailCats’ marquee sign is used to provide high-visibility messaging aimed at motorists traveling along the I90 interstate, and is a source of ongoing revenue for the team.
The RailCats were feeling the pressure of downtime. Without a functioning sign, advertisers who contracted for specific times to have their messages displayed were not getting their messages out. The RailCats organization pressured the city to find a solution and find one quickly. Without the ability to showcase display advertising, there was less incoming revenue and dissatisfied advertisers.
The first sign had only been in use for a few years when the breakdown occurred, and that is when Pulse Technology got the “at-bat” to provide a solution. Paul Miceli, director of audio visual at Pulse Technology, said, “The existing sign from their previous provider did not provide a good ROI for the city. With no parts available, leading to extensive downtime, they needed a solution that would help them get a sign back up and once again generate revenue through advertisements. It was important for them to get it right.”
Because Pulse partners with a number of leading sign manufacturers, including Watchfire and Sharp, the dealer was able to provide a state-of-the-art sign to meet the specifications needed, while working to determine the best resolution for the display’s images (in this case, 16mm for optimal view from the nearby interstate). A deciding factor in Pulse’s selection as provider for the city is that Pulse offered a 10-year service contract to cover parts and labor for the sign.
“Other sign companies don’t offer this level of commitment,” Miceli said. “It is important for any municipality or business considering signage to read the fine print in the agreements with providers, and to select someone with the experience to guide them in the right direction. And it is important to leverage your provider’s relationship with sign manufacturers to be certain that you are getting the right equipment that will do the job.”
He added, “An ongoing maintenance program helps identify potential problems before they become problems and avoids downtime. In the same way that we provide ongoing monitoring of companies’ IT systems, we believe in the proactive approach.”
“We have had considerable experience in designing both indoor and outdoor signage,” Miceli said. “We are pleased to have provided the City of Gary and the RailCats a cost-effective, dynamic display. We look forward to seeing the RailCats have a great season, and we’re happy to have helped them get their advertising and messages back on track.”
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About Pulse Technology
Pulse Technology is a leader in the field of print management, network services (IT), and other office solutions including furniture design and sales, office products, mailing equipment and their supplies, as well as custom and promotional products, with a history dating back to 1955. Pulse Technology is the re-branded name for several well-known area businesses: Des Plaines Office Equipment, McShane’s, and Kramer Leonard. With locations in Merrillville, Indiana; Schaumburg, Illinois; and also serving the Brookfield, Wisconsin area, Pulse Technology meets the needs of businesses across the Midwest and recently celebrated its 70th anniversary.
The firm provides products and services to a diverse client base that includes schools, hospitals, law offices, accounting firms, and financial institutions, among others. The firm has won the Sharp Document’s Hyakuman Kai award for sales excellence since 1988 and the Elite Dealer by The Week in Imaging since 2007 and has been named to the Inc. 5000 list for fastest-growing businesses across the United States. Pulse Technology has also won the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award, and the ENX Magazine Difference Maker recognition. Pulse Technology has also been named to the “Best Places to Work in Illinois” for 2021-2025.
