Products · Shadow Boards

Custom Shadow Boards. Every Tool in Its Place.

Boards built from your tool list, color-matched to your hygienic zones and printed with your logo and bilingual labels, for food plants, schools, gyms, warehouses and maintenance shops.

Why Shadow Boards

A Place for Every Tool, and Every Tool in Its Place

Shadow boards turn tool control into something anyone can see. They support the sanitation, allergen and GMP programs you already have, and make them easier to follow on the floor.

1

See It at a Glance

An empty shadow means a missing tool. Supervisors and auditors check a station in seconds instead of searching.

2

Keep Zones Separate

Color-matched boards, hooks and tools keep raw, ready-to-eat, allergen and restroom tools where they belong.

3

Save Time Every Shift

No hunting for the right brush. Crews start sanitation, changeovers and closing tasks faster.

4

Show Control

Boards make 5S, GMP and sanitation programs visible: a simple, photographable record of how tools are controlled.

Purple allergen changeover shadow board with dedicated brushes, a scraper, a spray bottle and a cloth
Allergen changeover board in its own color, used only for changeovers.
Mobile stainless steel shadow board holding blue sanitation tools in a food plant
Mobile sanitation board that rolls to the line and back.

5S, made permanent. Sort, set in order, shine, standardize, sustain. A shadow board is the "set in order" step built into the wall: every tool has a marked home, so the standard is obvious and easy to keep.

Where they workFood & beverage plantsSchools & universitiesGyms & sports facilitiesWarehouses & docksClinics & labsOffices & property management
Shadow board with numbered callouts: logo header, zone color frame, tool shadows, bilingual labels, QR code, and board ID with tool count123456
Anatomy of a Board

What Goes on a Cavanto Shadow Board

Each board is laid out from your actual tools and your sanitation procedure, so it fits the station and the job.

1

Header With Your Logo

Your brand, the area name and zone, in English and Spanish.

2

Zone Color Frame and Hooks

The board, hooks and tools share one color so tools stay in their zone.

3

Tool Shadows

Every tool has a marked outline. An empty shadow means a tool is missing.

4

Bilingual Labels

Tool names in English and Spanish, or the languages your crew uses.

5

QR Code

Links to the SSOP, a training video or a reorder sheet.

6

Board ID and Tool Count

Matches your SSOP and audit records, so a quick count confirms the board is complete.

Board Styles

Five Ways to Mount a Board

Every configuration can be built in any of these styles, in your colors, languages and branding.

Wall-mounted blue shadow board with a squeegee, brushes and a scraper

Wall-Mounted

A fixed home at the point of use.

Best for: Sanitation stations, maintenance cribs, custodial closets

Mobile shadow board on a stainless steel cart with green tools

Mobile

Rolls to the line for sanitation, then back to storage.

Best for: Shared tools across several lines or rooms

Double-sided mobile shadow board with red tools on one side and blue inspection tools on the other

Double-Sided Mobile

Two boards on one footprint, each with its own color and purpose.

Best for: Cleaning tools on one side, inspection tools on the other

Magnetic shadow board with purple allergen tools attached to a stainless steel cabinet

Magnetic

Attaches to steel cabinets, carts and equipment frames.

Best for: Changeover kits and spaces where drilling isn't allowed

Lockable wall cabinet with a shadow board holding an ATP meter, thermometer and flashlight

Lockable Cabinet

A shadow board behind lockable doors.

Best for: QA instruments, calibrated or high-value tools

Photos show representative examples. Your boards are built to the proof you approve.

Color Coding

One Color per Zone, Matched End to End

There is no single required color standard. We match the program you already have, or help you write one, and carry it through the board, hooks, tools and signage.

Example · Food Plant
  • BlueGeneral food-contact cleaning
  • GreenReady-to-eat or post-kill areas
  • RedRaw product areas
  • PurpleAllergen changeover tools
  • Black / grayFloors, drains and non-food-contact
Example · Custodial
  • RedToilets and urinals
  • YellowRestroom sinks and counters
  • BlueGeneral areas: desks, offices, classrooms
  • GreenFood service and break rooms

Keep It Working

  • Assign colors by zone or task, not by person.
  • Match tool handles and heads, hooks and the board frame.
  • Write the color plan into your SSOPs and training.
  • Replace worn or damaged tools in the same color.
  • Use the same colors on zone signs and floor marking.
  • Review the plan when lines, products or allergens change.

The assignments shown are examples only. Your facility's food safety plan and color program decide the colors used. Read our color-coded cleaning guide →

Materials, Sizes & Mounting

Built for the Room It Lives In

Wet, cold, dusty or busy, the material and hardware are chosen for the environment. We don't recommend paper or foam-core boards in wet or food areas.

OptionWhat It OffersTypical Use
Rigid polymer panelsMoisture- and chemical-resistant, washableWet sanitation areas, wash bays, production floors
Aluminum compositeLightweight and rigid, with crisp printed graphicsDry areas, warehouses, offices and custodial rooms
Stainless steelFrames, hooks and hardware; full stainless boards where specifiedMobile carts, washdown areas, high-wear stations
Printed or engraved graphicsTool shadows, labels, logos and QR codes built into the faceEvery board

Sized to Your Tools

Boards are laid out from your actual tool list, with room at the top for your logo and area name.

Mounting

Wall-mounted, mobile frame, double-sided mobile, magnetic or inside a lockable cabinet.

Hooks and Holders

Color-coded hooks or stainless hardware, matched to each tool so it hangs over its shadow.

Hygienic Mounting

Standoffs or sealed edges in wet areas, so nothing collects behind the board.

Exact materials, dimensions, hardware and lead times are confirmed in your written quote.

Customization

Made for Your Facility, Not a Catalog

1

Your Logo and Colors

Company or school branding on every board, sign and screen.

2

Area and Zone Names

Station, line and zone identification that matches your floor plan.

3

Bilingual Labels

English and Spanish as standard, or the languages your crews use.

4

QR Codes

Open the SSOP, a training video or a reorder sheet from the board.

5

IDs and Tool Counts

Board numbers and counts that match your audit and SSOP records.

6

Any Tool Shape

Specialty tools and change parts outlined from the real item or a photo.

How It Works

From Walkthrough to Installation

Step 1

Site Walk

We walk each area with your team, list the tools and note how they are used.

Step 2

Layout and Color Plan

We lay out each board and match colors to your zones and SSOPs.

Step 3

Proof

You approve a drawing of every board, sign and screen before production.

Step 4

Production

Boards and graphics are produced to the approved proof.

Step 5

Install and Train

We install, hang the tools and show your crews how the system works.

What You Receive

  • Layout drawings of every board, sign and screen
  • A color plan mapping zones, colors and tools
  • A written quote with materials, sizes, hardware and lead time
  • An installation record for your files

Pair It With Our Services

Cavanto also writes SSOPs, sets up color-coded tool programs, trains sanitation crews and verifies cleaning with ATP testing, so the boards support a complete program.

Questions

Shadow Board FAQ

How much does a custom shadow board cost?

Price depends on size, material, the number of tools, hardware and printing. We send a written quote after reviewing your tool list and photos, or after a walkthrough.

Do you supply the tools too?

Yes. We can supply color-coded tools to match the board, or lay out the board around tools you already own.

What do you need from us to start?

A list of tools for each board, photos of each location, your color program and your logo files. Vector files (.ai, .eps, .svg or a high-resolution .pdf) work best.

Can boards go in wet or washdown areas?

Yes, with moisture- and chemical-resistant materials and hygienic mounting. We don't recommend paper or foam-core boards in wet or food areas.

Can you match our existing color-coding program?

Yes. We carry your current colors through the board, hooks, tools and signs, or help you write a color plan if you don't have one yet.

How long does it take?

Lead time depends on materials and quantity. It is confirmed in your written quote, and production starts after you approve the proof.

Cover of the Cavanto Shadow Board and Visual Management Lookbook
Free Download

Shadow Board & Visual Management Lookbook

Fourteen pages to plan with: why visual management works, the anatomy of a board, five board styles, six ready-to-adapt configurations, color coding, materials, customization, separation screens and barriers, and a planning worksheet to fill in with your team.

  • 5 board styles
  • 6 configurations
  • Color coding
  • Materials & mounting
  • Separation screens
  • Planning worksheet

Download the Lookbook (PDF, 2 MB)   Open in Browser

Request a Quote

Get a Quote for Your Shadow Boards

Tell us how many boards you need and where they go. Photos and a tool list help us quote faster.

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Email
info@cavantousa.comSend photos, tool lists and logo files here
Logo & Artwork Files
Vector files work best.ai, .eps, .svg or a high-resolution .pdf
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