Sign Builder Illustrated april 2018

The How-To Magazine

SIGN BUILDER

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Contents APRIL 2018

Vol. 32

No. 274

How-To Columns

18

THE REAL COST OF SHOP REWORK

By John Hackley Five ways to prevent this profit drain.

departments

8 14 46 48

EDITOR’S COLUMN

There’s a lot of change in the air these days, and Editor Jeff Wooten says sign makers of all generations should steel themselves for it.

IN THE INDUSTRY

Making art out of HDU drops, a lighthouse is wrapped in plaid, 3M launches the first Mobile Training Vehicle, and more.

Sign Show

The newest products and services from sign manufacturers.

SBI Marketplace

Advertisements and announcements from the sign trade.

Shop Talk

More tools to combat regulations are being developed, according to David Hickey.

42

32 Features

20 32 38 42 44

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April 2018

THE NEXT GENERATION

By Jeff Wooten Young sign professionals boldly discuss their role in the industry.

L.A.’s FINEST PANELS

By Michael Quill History is on display for the Los Angeles Police Department.

GETTING ATTACHED

By Ashley Bray Why you should consider magnetic fasteners on your next job.

VINYL KNOW-HOW

By Lori Shridhare Wrapping up the vinyl scene.

WIDE FORMAT STRIKES!

By Jeff Wooten A graphics provider hits the perfect score with wide format. signshop.com

​Cover Photo: Avery Dennison/Carbon Wraps.

6

WHERE DESIGN MEETS INNOVATION

BRING YOUR ACCESSIBLE SIGN SOLUTIONS IN-HOUSE INCREASE PROFITABILITY Photo by Aaron Claybour n

www.novapolymers.com/ROI 2018 SIGN EXPO BOOTH #4505

What’s the biggest issue facing young sign makers today?

April 2018, Vol. 32, No. 274 Sign Builder Illustrated (ISSN 0895-0555) print, (ISSN 2161-0709) digital is published by Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation

Subscriptions: 800-895-4389

executive offices President and Chairman Arthur J. McGinnis, Jr. Publisher Arthur J. Sutley 55 Broad Street, 26th floor New York, NY 10004 212-620-7247 ; Fax: 212-633-1863

“The younger generation moves fast, and the sign industry can be slow to adopt new processes and trends.”

editorial

“They can have a hard time convincing the previous generation, which still holds management roles, of the need for new technology and innovations.”

Editor Jeff Wooten 323 Clifton Street, Suite #7 Greenville, NC 27858 212-620-7244 jwooten@sbpub.com

“For shop owners, the key is finding and retaining younger employees, even if they have to look outside the industry norm.”

Managing Editor Ashley Bray 55 Broad Street, 26th Floor New York, NY 10004 212-620-7220 abray@sbpub.com Contributing Writers John Hackley, David Hickey, Michael Quill, Lori Shridhare

art Art Director Nicole Cassano Graphic Designer Aleza Leinwand

production Corporate Production Director Mary Conyers

circulation Circulation Director Maureen Cooney

advertising sales Associate Publisher/East Coast Sales Jeff Sutley 212-620-7233 jsutley@sbpub.com Mid-West & West Coast Sales Monica Boutros 212-620-7225 mboutros@sbpub.com Sign Builder Illustrated is published monthly. All rights reserved. Nothing herein may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher. To purchase PDF files of cover and layouts or hard copy reprints, please call Art Sutley at 212-620-7247 or e-mail asutley@sbpub.com.

4

Sign Builder Illustrated

April 2018

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Editor’s Column

AGENDA

By Jeff Wooten

April 2018 APRIL 20-21:

The British Columbia Sign & Graphics Show takes place at the Delta Hotel & Conference Centre, Burnaby, British Columbia. (bcsignassociation.com)

May 2018 MAY 7-11:

LIGHTFAIR International, the world’s largest architectural and commercial lighting tradeshow, happens at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. (lightfair.com)

Today’s Changing Times The sign industry steels itself for change.

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April 2018

profit margin. Will this possible chain reaction, literally speaking, be the “mouse in the house that Donald built” or “much ado about nothing?”

Currently the construction and architecture industries vehemently oppose this plan, while sign industry associations are cautious with a studious approach.

This attitude could change swiftly and is something you need to watch.

Another change I’ve noticed is the increased vocal presence of young people in our society. Now while a lot of news coverage mainly focuses on protests and outrages, the sign industry trend is more about recognizing this demographic (such as with Elite programs) and trying to encourage more of them to join the trade.

Our special roundtable article on page 20 profiles a select group of sign professionals who are thirty years old or younger (give or take a few years). They’ll tell you about their experiences in the industry, why and how sign shops should recruit younger employees, and what they would like to see change in the industry.

If you think the younger crowd is more interested in selfies and Snapchatting, then their discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of being young in our industry might change your mind. #ChangingTimes indeed!

Jeff Wooten Editor, jwooten@sbpub.com

June 2018 JUNE 7-9:

The 2018 SEGD Conference Experience Minneapolis takes place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (segd.org)

JUNE 14-15:

The Midwest Sign Association’s Midwest Sign Show will be held at the Motor City Casino Hotel in Detroit, Michigan. (msassn.org)

JUNE 28-JULY 1:

The Texas Sign Association’s Sixty-Fifth Annual Conference happens at Moody Gardens in Thackerville, Oklahoma. (txsigns.org)

July 2018 JULY 18-21:

Photo: Shutterstock/senlektomyum.

O

ver the past year, there’s been a lot of discourse about “change” bandied about in news and social media. Movements have arisen that are shattering glass ceilings, and in effect, these changes are attempting to redefine workplace culture, societal attitudes, and regulations.

And speaking of regulations, one big “change” involves President Trump, for better or worse (depending on your ideology), appearing to ruffle the feathers of the business gods.

As I’m writing this, he plans to sign tariffs of 10 percent on imported aluminum and 25 percent on imported steel (exempting Canada and Mexico, at press time). This will effectively place a tax on every foreign shipment of these metals coming into the United States. This will affect a lot of industries and potentially change the way they do business.

The explanation is that this will prevent cheap imported metals from “degrading the American industrial base,” as well as make our country more competitive. As you can imagine, the U.S. steel industry appears very happy.

Then there’s the flip side (which has already prompted the resignation of one prominent cabinet member). Economists, business leaders, and certain lobbyists warn this could lead to global trade wars, as well as an increase in the cost of steel and aluminum. If so, this could force manufacturers to raise the price of their components using these materials, which could lead to the possibility of reduced

The Mid South Sign Association’s Annual Meeting and Tradeshow takes place at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. (midsouthsignassociation.org)

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In The Industry

MAKING ART OUT

OF HDU DROPS O rlando, Florida—Mike Smith is a CNC router programmer/operator and 3D modeler/printer who works full-time in the busy theming industry of Orlando, Florida.

However in his spare time, Smith lets his inner artist loose and has started Creative Scribing, a home-based venture where he focuses on putting together artistic pieces and weird oddities.

Smith has access to a boneyard (a section where worn-out or damaged pieces await disposal) filled with with drops of Precision Board HDU, and he uses these pieces at home to work them up into some very creative things.

“I like doing it all, so it’s tough to want 8

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April 2018

to stick to one thing,” he says, noting that, through Creative Scribing, he has used leftover HDU drops to create headstones and demon heads for Halloween decorations, different texture samples, and novelty pool décor panels.

His most recent creation involved some HDU drops that he turned into an Art Deco wall hanging—transforming Precision Board remnants into something resembling Rembrandt’s.

“I was watching television one day and saw [an Art Deco design] on a wall, and I wanted to do something like that,” explains Smith. “I originally cut the full thing out of PBLT-20 foam but decided there was too much going on, so I kept tinkering and adding pieces to it.”

Because the Precision Board HDU pieces were drops, Smith used primer to fill in spots from where they had been kicked around a bit. He says he messed up on it, but kept at it, adding pieces here and there until he had it just right.

Smith made the base out of acrylic and the little pieces out of Precision Board. He then painted them in different colors and shapes using different shades of Kobra Paint.

“I was going to paint it incredibly crazy colors, but decided to make it look more neon,” he says. “I’m a fan of really-neon colors so I thought it was something different and cool.”

The Art Deco project was originally going to be one giant panel, but Smith signshop.com

Timeline Graphic

An Art Deco design inspired this project.

R

Being able to do all these fun things with the foam and show off what you like to do on a daily basis is gratifying. decided to change it to smaller pieces.

“They’re all 3D-milled pieces, and no single piece is alike. They’re not all the same kind of square,” he adds. “Some are smaller, and [some have] different sizes and don’t fit exactly right. [But this] gives it character.”

Smith didn’t want to make this piece out of aluminum because it would be too heavy and not really changeable.

“I used the Precision Board HDU because I could machine it pretty fast,” he says, “and it’s light enough to mount onto a wall without the need for a lot of support. I attached a dust collector to my router, which solves the problem of projects that create a lot of dust residue.”

Smith uses EnRoute software to designshop.com

sign all of his work. “Lately I’ve started drawing my ideas on a tablet to get a feel of what I’m thinking and then transferring it to my computer,” he says.

Smith enjoys using Precision Board HDU drops to create something new.

“I’ll throw stuff together with all the drops I have,” he says. “Being able to do all these fun things with the foam and show off what you like to do on a daily basis is a gratifying experience.”

—Tai Freligh

o c k v i l l e , M a ry l a n d — When the American Diabetes Association (ADA) needed a vinyl graphic for their new 78,000-square-foot headquarters in the Crystal City neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia, they turned to Signs By Tomorrow (SBT) – Rockville.

“The American Diabetes Association wanted to bring a bit of the ‘old’ to the ‘new’ when they moved into their two-floor office space,” said Lori Garber, operations manager and senior graphic designer for SBT - Rockville. “We were chosen to install a window graphic on a thirty-foot-long folding glass partition between their conference room and breakroom that would depict the organization’s history through a visually appealing timeline.”

T h e s i g n s h o p p r i n te d t h e graphics in-house on Mactac ® IMAGin ® B-FREE ® JT5798M BF Dusted 3.1-mil matte translucent vinyl window film using its HP Latex 360 printer.

“By using Mactac vinyl, we were able to offer our customers a more affordable product, and we were very satisfied with the perform a n c e, ” s a i d G a r b e r. “ T h e American Diabetes Association team loved the timeline, and feedback was all-around positive.”

Note: Portions of this story first appeared on the Coastal Enterprises blog, located at precisionboard.com. Some additional reporting was provided by Jeff Wooten.

April 2018

Sign Builder Illustrated

9

In The Industry Seminar Supports Children’s Group

P A Lighthouse all dressed up

in plaid

S

uwanee, Georgia—Celebrating fifty years is a major milestone. So when the official fifty-day countdown to the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing golf tournament, scheduled for April 9-15, kicked off on Sunday, February 18, in Harbour Town, South Carolina, the Lowcountry celebrated in truest Plaid Nation style at a special “Countdown to 50” party hosted by the Heritage Classic Foundation.

The highlight of the event wasn’t the food; instead the focal point was Hilton Head Island’s historic lighthouse, which now features the tournament’s traditional plaid in celebration of the RBC Heritage’s fiftieth anniversary.

The Kennickell Group, a Savannah, Georgia-based company that provides print, international fulfillment, signage, point-of-purchase materials, and marketing services, handled the wrap.

On February 5, the company began installing plaid printed ORAJET® 3954 Brick Stone vinyl on the lighthouse, which will remain decked out in plaid throughout the tournament week. The ORAJET brand is manufactured by Savannah, Georgia-based ORAFOL Americas, Inc., a global manufacturer of premium pressuresensitive reflective products, graphic films, digital media, laminating films, 10

Sign Builder Illustrated

April 2018

and industrial tapes used in signage, graphics, digital printing, and screen printing applications.

The plaid-wrapped lighthouse offered plenty of visible marketing opportunities, especially at the “Countdown to 50” party held at Harbour Town’s yacht basin and Liberty Oak area. Paid ticket admission was waived for the day, as partygoers were able to have their photos taken with RBC Heritage’s mascot Sir William Innes in front of the plaid beacon. Lowcountry Radio Group hosted live remotes near the structure throughout the day, while event tickets and tournament merchandise officially went on sale.

“We are incredibly proud of where this tournament started, how far we’ve come, and where we stand today,” said RBC Heritage Tournament Director Steve Wilmot. “To think we are about to embark on our fiftieth tournament is the greatest honor. The longevity of the RBC Heritage speaks to the undivided support and commitment of our fans, volunteers, sponsors, partners, trustees, golfers, and community members.

“The plaid lighthouse [is] a sight to see—you won’t want to miss it. And we encourage everyone to share it on social media to promote the iconic symbol of Hilton Head with the hashtag #plaidlighthouse!”

lymouth, Michigan—This past February, forty-one attendees from thirty different companies gathered to learn the basics of lasers, sand carving, and sublimation thanks to a two-day joint seminar co-hosted by Trotec Laser, IKONICS Imaging, and JDS Industries at Trotec’s Regional Service and Support Center in Norcross, Georgia.

Proceeds from the registration fee and evening dinner were d o n a te d to C a m p Ku d z u , a Georgia-based children’s camp that offers programs to support the special medical needs of children with Type 1 diabetes.

The two-day seminar began with detailed presentations on the basics and best practices of each technology then was followed by hands-on training. The agenda progressed into advanced breakout sessions, demonstrations on how to integrate the technologies, and training on how to sell into various markets like promotional products.

“The purpose of these events is to provide attendees with training and knowledge that will help them broaden product offerings, increase quality, and ultimately grow business,” says Warren Knipple, president of Trotec Laser, Inc.

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STRAIGHT

TO YOUR

INBOX SBI Update, Sign Builder Illustrated’s e-newsletter, delivers the latest hot topics and news from around the sign industry right to your email.

What’s the hot topic this month?

Sign up at www.signshop.com to receive the newsletter and find out! fb.com/SBIMag

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In The Industry Colossal Skeleton Created Via 3D Printing

M 3M Launches First Mobile

Training Vehicle

S

t. Paul, Minnesota—3M Commercial Solutions is hitting the road with the debut of its 3M Mobile Training Vehicle.

This state-of-the-art Mobile Training Vehicle delivers hands-on installer training to central locations in towns across the country. The goal is to make quality education more accessible and help more installers develop the skills and the confidence they need to bolster their reputations and grow their businesses.

The 3M Mobile Training Vehicle is a forty-foot-long mobile application center fully equipped to provide training on the application of graphics and architectural films. It is equipped with different application surfaces for students to work with, including partial vehicles for commercial applications, a variety of wall types, fleet panels, floors, windows for glass applications, a classroom, and more. Participants can expect to learn up-to-date and relevant installation techniques, industry best practices, and 3M specific solutions.

Trainees will have the opportunity to practice with 3M products such as 3M™ Print Wrap Films, 3M™ Wrap Film Series 1080, 3M™ Knifeless Tapes, 3M™ DI-NOC™ Finishes, and 3M™ Fasara™ Glass Finishes.

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“The training also offers the attendees an opportunity to utilize industry relevant tools to make their installations more successful,” said 3M Application Development Engineer Beau Hommes.

“One of the greatest benefits of the 3M Mobile Training Vehicle is the hands-on experience trainees will receive, with 80 percent of instruction time dedicated to product application by the students,” said Kimberly Tostrud, product marketer with 3M Commercial Solutions. “The opportunity to gain application experience under the guidance of authorized trainers, who are expert installers themselves, provides students with a unique experience that goes far beyond watching a demonstration or listening to a lecture.”

Reece Supply Company in Charlotte, North Carolina, was one of the first 3M Strategic Authorized Distributors to experience the 3M Mobile Training Vehicle this past February.

“We had great feedback from those who attended the training class, and it was clear their confidence grew after they received the hands-on instruction,” said Vic Lawrence, operations supervisor for Reece Supply Company.

For more information about the entirety of 3M’s installer training programs, visit http://3M.com/InstallationPrograms.

exico City, Mexico—Print service provider Moti Digital 3D-printed a towering, head-turning skeleton for the recent Mexican Festival of Lights celebrations in Guadalajara. The four-day event explored how light and art work in perfect harmony and encapsulates the culture of Guadalajara.

Measuring 27.52-by-11.8 feet, the breathtaking skeleton was produced in just four days. Moti Digital used its Massivit 1800 3D Printing Solution to create a model that would “wow” visitors to the event and demonstrate the impressive capabilities of large format 3D printing technology.

The painted skeleton was positioned inside the Plaza Tapatía fountain pool and illuminated at night, where thousands of festivalgoers were able to sit in its arms.

The experience generated huge amounts of conversation and photos that featured prominently across social media platforms.

The lifelike skeleton will also be featured at this year’s Festival del Día de los Muertos, taking place throughout Mexico beginning October 31.

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Piedmont Plastics Announces Tru Vue as a New Supplier Partner Piedmont Plastics® has expanded its product offerings with the addition of the revolutionary TruLife® acrylic product from Tru Vue. TruLife is an acrylic product developed specifically for face/second-surface mounting or direct printing on the substrate. Its anti-reflective, 99 percent UV-blocking features allow for the highest resolution viewing experience by enhancing color and detail, while shielding the damaging effects of UV exposure. Unlike other acrylic products, TruLife is abrasion-resistant and anti-static. The print/mount side of TruLife acrylic is made of Optix DA by Plaskolite, Inc., providing optimal adhesion of UV curing inks without adhesion promoters and engineered for permanence. Piedmont Plastics offers TruLife in 48-by-96-inch sheets in 3.0 mm and 6.0 mm thicknesses. piedmontplastics.com

Trotec Laser Adds a New Line of Heavy-duty Cast Acrylic Sheets to Its Engraving Materials New TroGlass products from Trotec Laser, Inc., combine benefits such as clarity and excellent light transmission with advantages like durability and scratch resistance. Each TroGlass product comes standard with a plastic laserable mask that protects the acrylic from scratching, thus reducing scrap and rework. TroGlass products also offer excellent light transmission and light diffusing properties. When backlighted, the engraved parts allow light to pass through the engraving, illuminating the finished item. When laser cut, TroGlass produces a smooth, polished edge in one process step, with little or no post-processing. Depending on the laser settings, laser engraving the material surface results in a prominent or subtle engraved image. The TroGlass product line also includes acrylics designed for highly specialized applications. engraving-supplies.com

DIGITAL PRINTING EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES Mimaki USA’s Tiger-1800B Digital Textile Printing System is Unleashed in the Americas The Tiger-1800B printer system from Mimaki USA is capable of direct-to-textile or transfer dye sublimation output. It can deliver large-scale production at manufacturing sites and small-scale production at ondemand sites. The 74.8-inch Tiger-1800B digital textile printer includes an adhesive belt transport system with belt washing technology and in-line heat drying unit for an all-in-one process for direct-to-textile printing. It includes a built-in PC with software for efficient printer operation. Featuring sixteen printheads in a staggered array for the direct-to-textile model (or eight printheads for the transfer dye sublimation model), the printer results in very high print speeds of up to 4,144 square feet per hour. mimakiusa.com/tiger

ROUTERS/ENGRAVERS Gemini Now Offers Dura-Guard Protection for Its Duets Laser XT Line of Engraving Material Gemini has launched Dura-Guard, a new protective coating option for its Duets Laser XT high-performance line of laser and rotary engravable material. Ideal for high traffic, high-contact signage and wayfinding, Duets Laser XT with Dura-Guard provides the durability required for demanding applications. Dura-Guard also makes post-production cleaning easier, saving time and money. The Dura-Guard option is available on any pigmented Duets Laser XT SKU in 1/16-inch or 1/8-inch thicknesses. Formulated to resist the extremes of weather and sun, Duets Laser XT is offered in a variety of color and finish combinations and is available in-stock nationwide from the Duets Partner Network of distributors. DuetsByGemini.com

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Sign Builder Illustrated

April 2018

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Sign Show Kern’s OptiFlex High-performance System Makes Its Mark The OptiFlex is a redesigned large format system equipped with Kern’s HyperDual motion package. This improved motion package features a rack-and-pinion gear system at each side of the laser system with dual Y-axis servo motors. Cut acceleration rates are up to three times faster with a 100 percent increase in top-end vector speed. With the capability to cut up to twenty inches per second and engrave up to 150 inches per second, the OptiFlex is setting the standard for large format laser cutting and engraving systems. 888/660-2755; kernlasers.com

LMT Onsrud Launches Seven New Products to Strength Core Offering LMT Onsrud LP has expanded its offerings in seven key product series. Included in the expansion are introductions in DFC routers, solid carbide end mills, and PCD engravers. Additions to several series of DFC routers include designing the tools as if they were a family to help deliver a better overall piece-part quality. The new 66 Series lineup includes five different tools. LMT Onsrud has also added more than 100 SKUs to its MaxQ line of solid carbide end mills. Designed to maximize machine performance while being run at maximum speed and feed rates, the MaxQ line includes an increased offering of five-flute end mills in various corner radii including ballnose tools. The 68-500 Series PCD engravers were also introduced. The engravers have an included angle of 60 degrees, three tip diameters, and can engrave within very abrasive materials. onsrud.com

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Sign Builder Illustrated

April 2018

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VINYL/VINYL FILMS/SUPPLIES Four New ORACAL 970RA Candy Colors will Satisfy Any Installer’s Sweet Tooth Celebrity car customization expert Will Castro teamed up with ORAFOL to create ORACAL® 970RA UNIQUE Colors by Will Castro Designs. The UNIQUE Color series has all the 970RA attributes you have come to love: paint-like finish, amazing conformability, mesmerizing colors, and RapidAir® technology that makes installation a breeze. The new colors include Crystal White (945), Tangerine Dream (959), Luscious Lips (961), and Jetstream Blue (963). Also check out recent additions to the 970RA family of colors: Intergalactic Blue (155) and Mandarin (300). All colors are available in sixty-inch width and ten-, twenty-five-, and fifty-yard length rolls. A sample flyer containing swatches of the four new Will Castro Designs colors is also available. bit.ly/2HfimHu

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April 2018

Sign Builder Illustrated

17

How To BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

By JOHN HACKLEY

The Real Cost of Shop Rework Five ways to prevent this profit drain.

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Sign Builder Illustrated

April 2018

Now suppose that, just prior to shipment, an error is discovered that requires this job to be reworked to the tune of an additional $1,500 worth of labor and

the point is rework can be a profit drain that most companies can ill-afford when replacement profits are hard to come by. materials. This assumes that the company has sufficient unused capacity to redo the job (without adding more cost such as overtime) and there are still available

1. Proper production documentation. In a design-build (job shop) environment, typically the project was estimated and sold based on conceptual drawings or renderings done by a designer or architect.

These are certainly enough to get the job in the door but rarely good enough to support the successful production of a product delivered on time and under budget.

Without a rock-solid production documentation package, the job should not signshop.com

Photo: Shutterstock.com.

Y

ou know that dependable quality is one of your most important competitive strategic tools.

Whether small or large, a manufacturing organization needs to provide customers with great products and service exactly as promised each and every time.

Quality control is a key component in this formula. When an organization fails to take its quality management seriously, it eventually results in some form of rework. Rework leads to the loss of profits, and in some cases (worse yet), the loss of a customer.

This article is about eliminating the errors that create the need for rework. You know how important this issue is, but let’s do a quick review of the real costs to your bottom line before we jump into solutions.

Suppose, for example, that a small manufacturing company has a pre-tax profit margin of 9 percent, then we can assume the average profit margin on jobs is also 9 percent. This means (on average) for every project with a selling price of $10,000, it has a profit of $900 (9 percent of the selling price).

production days left in the schedule to meet the original client promise date.

The selling price is still $10,000, but the job now becomes a liability (costs you money) instead of an asset (makes you money). The impact of the rework is you’re out $900 from this client’s payments and $600 out of cash. That would send most managers reeling; but to make back the money lost by the errors, the company will now need to sell $16,700 of new business ($1,500/0.09).

The repercussions are even greater!

There are indirect impacts such as the cost of borrowing money, stops and restarts, management rescheduling, material handling, inventory restocking, hits on employee morale, and a general level of frustration throughout the company.

The point is rework can be a profit drain that most companies can ill-afford when replacement profits are hard to come by.

Yet many owners and managers don’t pay enough attention to rework or the environment that creates it.

Remember the fastest, most cost-effective way to increase profits is to minimize or eliminate doing things more than once!

The real tragedy here is that most of the errors that create the need for rework are preventable. It’s also not only the production shop that plays a role in the prevention; sales and design departments are important players too.

Here are five solutions that will help you prevent rework!

be released to the shop for fabrication unless you want a total disaster and enjoy mopping things up along the way.

Proper manufacturing documentation includes: scaled construction shop drawings (approved by engineering), written specifications, clearly stated client scope of work and detailed build estimates, customer-approved graphic layouts and color call outs, job site photos, and survey measurements.

2. Thorough scheduling and resource allocation. Most shops are eager to get started and release work to the floor because there is capacity in the shop by way of an idle machine tool or maybe a fabricator who is waiting for work. But don’t be fooled.

Don’t begin before you’re ready!

“Ready” means you have collected everything you need from the documentation stage and have done the rest of the work required to release the shop order.

This planning includes materials requisitioning and receiving, batch planning, fabrication process and sequencing, material yields (cut plans), resource allocation (team and vendor selection), and production scheduling.

3. Proactive supply chain management. Now that the planning is done, the shop should be readied to receive the handoff. This includes a team meeting to identify task assignments, sequencing, time budgets, scheduled due dates, critical path benchmarks and any other information relevant to successfully start and complete the build without stopping.

Additionally the shop floor should be clean and free from interference/obstructions, all tools in working order, and hardware and supplies, along with all the materials that have been ordered and received in good condition, gathered and inventoried at the work area.

4. Measure twice, cut once. It’s execution time. The project is in good shape. You’ve done everything you can to set yourself up for a big win, and things are finally moving through the signshop.com

shop. The only thing that will prevent you from being run over by the bus is if you take your eye off the ball.

Many times, confidence leads to error, even in the best-laid plans. Workers get complacent. All it takes is one bad cut, wrong weld, incorrect color mix, etc., to bring catastrophe.

The worst thing is to have the project go all the way through the shop only to find out that it’s deficient. The solution is inspecting as you go with a “batch move” checklist inspection procedure. This means someone other than the technician doing work inspects and approving progress and quality before it moves to the next station or procedure.

5. Monitor and report early and often.

One of the most important activities to do along the entire project is to monitor work in progress, document task work, and report to team members through a real time reporting system.

If things get off track (which they will), you will have a system to give and get information that enables you to refine the work strategy early enough to make corrections before significant damage can happen.

A good reporting system keeps everyone informed at all stages of the process—especially owners and customers.

It’s not just about the occasions when rework is required; it’s about your attitude towards building in quality throughout the entire company value chain.

When you focus continuously on process improvement and do everything you can to drive out waste, you automatically drive up quality and everything else with it—profits, cash flow, employee morale, customer loyalty, referrals, and more.

As the saying goes: “Happy customer, happy life!”

John Hackley brings over thirty-five years of experience in small manufacturing business, leads strategic growth, guides partnership development, and serves as Chief Efficiency Officer for Oculus Business Coaching. For more information, visit oculuscoaching.net.

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ROUNDTABLE

By Jeff Wooten

The Next

GENERATION W

hether they come from a family of sign makers or are jumping into the field feet first with no prior knowledge, the role of young people in the sign industry is constantly evolving in our industry. And that’s for the good.

According to Adam Yorston, manufacturer’s representative and consultant for the sign industry at Yorston & Associates, embracing and empowering the next generation of sign makers is a must in our industry, especially when it comes to attracting them to join this workforce.

“We are at a point where things are

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changing—technology, work culture, customer needs, pricing, etc.,” he says.

“Young people bring a fresh perspective to this and can allow us to look at new options or deploy new technology.

Not to mention brand new enthusiasm and excitement.”

Sure there are stereotypical perceptions about the work ethic and attentiveness of today’s younger generation in general (some cases true, some cases not), but how well do you really know this demographic in our industry? Do you appreciate what they bring to the table? Do you have a bias because of their experience?

Sign Builder Illustrated reached out to several sign professionals who are thirty years old or under (with a few in their early thirties) to discover their opinions about the sign industry—the challenges and the advantages that their age brings them.

Their opinions may (or may not) surprise you, but we hope their words will help you better understand how to address this important demographic at your shop.

The younger generation of sign professionals we interviewed for this story are: Steve Carney is president of Carbon Wraps, a vehicle wrap leader in Orlando, Florida. For the past decade, Carney’s signshop.com

Photo: Shutterstock/ Jacob Lund.

Young sign professionals boldly discuss their role in the industry.

shop has been focused on primarily colorchange wraps and vehicle restyling, and they have been trained and certified to work with new products before they are made available to the public. “We had the opportunity to be one of the first to use [3M] 1080 before it was called 1080,” he says. “This helped give us a better knowledge on how to work with color change and evolve with the films.”

Ellen Dyar was named a Northeast States Sign Association (NSSA) Young Elite member in 2017, and she started her career in the sign industry back in 2009 working with Matthews Paint in customer service. When Matthews Paint acquired Spraylat, she helped successfully rebrand and grow the 1-Shot brand.

In 2016, she joined premier rep group Yorston and Associates doing business development. She works with the company’s manufacturer partners to find the right vehicles for their sales representatives to deliver those products. “The exciting part about my job is coming up with new, creative, and efficient solutions to utilize our organically growing database of customers that will make our sales representatives more effective in increasing sales,” she says.

Troy Hibbs is managing co-partner at TDH Experiential Fabricators, a custom sign fabrication shop in Surrey, British Columbia. His younger brother Andrew, recognized as Vancouver’s youngest recognized neon bender, is also a co-partner there. Some of his highlights at TDH include management of over 20,000 signs during the 2010 Winter Olympics, installing North America’s second-largest hung screen at the stateof-the-art BC Place Stadium, and the build and install of the highest sign in Western Canada (Civic Hotel), as well as working with some of Vancouver’s most premier brands.

Troy grew up in the sign industry, helping his father, who was a neon master, repair neon at a young age. “My brother and I have been in the industry since we were in our early teens, working with our dad in our home shop repairing and processing neon units,” he says. “From there, we branched into installations and fabrications. The sign industry is a tough business to be in but can be very rewarding if signshop.com

aligned with the right clients.”

Corey Kennedy started out at a young age sweeping his father’s fabrication shop.

After graduating from Syracuse University in 2010, he and his father started Nova Sign Group, a full-service shop in Williamstown, New Jersey that focuses on large-scale, single-location projects.

They have grown from a few employees in a garage to over seventy-five employees and multiple locations on the East Coast.

Among his proudest build-and-install projects are interior and exterior signage for Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh (“The Sign-Making Jackpot,” March 2018) and Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

“I love the intricate challenges of working on an active construction site around other trades and being able to really delve into a project from conception to installation,” he says.

Jason Lamberts is president of extrusion provider SignComp in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He joined the company as the CFO in 2014. His father served as president of the company, while Jason gained experience by working in the warehouse for several summers during his high school years and while he was going to college for degrees in Accounting.

Matt Lauretano is a third-generation sign professional with Lauretano Sign Group, a national sign company in Terryville, Connecticut that manufactures, installs, and services signs worldwide. He is a Board member with the Northeast States Sign Association (representing the state of Connecticut), and last year, he completed the esteemed ISA Elite Program that focuses on young sign professionals in the sign industry.

Daniel Mehmet is the director of procurement for the Philadelphia Sign Company, the country’s oldest turnkey national sign provider. After graduating college in 2010, he started full-time with the company (after working with them over previous summers) managing the installation of their 910-kilowatt solar power system. He moved over to doing more sign work and has been running the Procurement Department since 2015.

Among projects he has worked on are the installation of 400-plus signs for Hertz Ultimate Choice at Baltimore Washington International Airport, il-

luminated letters atop FMC Tower (the tallest building in Philadelphia), a prominent rotating sign at Chase Bank in Times Square, new awnings and ATM signage for Citizens Bank branches in Massachusetts, and an unusual, curved EMC monument sign for Catalyst Outdoor in Hilltown Township, Pennsylvania.

“Dealing with all the great sign suppliers and vendors nationwide has been an experience that has really helped me grow and learn within the industry,” he says.

Nick Parsons is a customer service representative with national distributor Tubelite’s brand-new Philadelphia branch. He began his sign industry career in 2015 at City Neon Inc., in Morgantown, West Virginia, learning each facet of the production process. While learning the “sign-building” process of all types, sizes, and quantities, he developed a great deal of knowledge of the components used to construct a sign.

After attending SignComp training and Matthews Paint school, Parsons moved into sales and estimating.

“The sign industry is constantly changing, whether it’s new technology or new techniques,” he says. “It moves so fast—moreso than your typical 9-to-5 job in other industries.

This is great for younger professionals like myself because it shows that there’s a consistency with growth and future industry potential. This is the primary reason I envision myself in this industry for years to come.”

Jordan Rhoads is project manager at LED manufacturer Principal LED in San Angelo, Texas. He has spent five

WORK BY DANIEL MEHMET April 2018

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Steve Carney years at the company, working the first two years part-time in shipping while attending Angelo State University. “After graduating, I continued with the company as an estimator and was promoted to project manager for one of our first Retrofitting National Programs,” he says.

Leslie Wescott is territory manager at EBSCO Sign and Display in Clanton, Alabama. Seven years ago, she applied for her first inside sales position, knowing “absolutely nothing” about the sign industry at the time. She says this decision changed her life forever.

“Over the past seven years, I have cultivated lasting business relationships, played a role in many exciting LED projects, and learned almost a decade’s worth of knowledge that has helped me grow into the person I am today,” she says. “I’ve never heard one person say, ‘I regret the day I entered the sign industry.’ Once you’re in, you never want to leave.”

We asked these individuals to share their thoughts on their challenges in the sign industry, as well as how sign shops can better work with this new generation of talent. (Note: Interviews were conducted separately but are being presented as a roundtable-type discussion; some responses were edited for consistency.)

Are there any challenges you’ve found in the industry related to your age? hibbs: It can be difficult being trusted with larger projects from clients. You can find yourself frequently being questioned if you have enough experience or enough knowledge.

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Carney: While we have at least a decade of experience, because we are perceived as younger, some people don’t take us seriously. On the other hand, our youth is a benefit, where clients see us as more trendy and current.

Age, whether younger or older, can be both a strength and a weakness. With age comes more experience; with youth comes new ideas. Both are beneficial.

Lamberts: Given my age, and the fact that I’ve only been part of the SignComp leadership team for a few years, it sometimes takes extra work to convince others that I know our product.

However I’m extremely confident in my product knowledge, and the extra effort has proved to be worth it in the end. So a large part of my job is building and maintaining personal relationships, which I greatly enjoy.

However I also have to balance this against my responsibilities associated with running the day-to-day operations of SignComp. I would imagine that finding time for both relationship building and day-to-day operations is something other young sign professionals find challenging as well.

Mehmet: One of the things I appreciate the most is how the sign industry is so connected. But this can be a challenge for the younger people in our industry, as it takes years to build these partnerships and connections. There is always someone who can help you solve a problem or at least find an answer; the problem is finding that right person or connection. It may take someone younger longer to find them.

One such challenge, in my opinion, involves servicing and/or fabricating neon.

Those who have been around the industry a lot longer know the inner workings of neon first hand, whereas most younger people are more familiar with LED. Rhoads: When I got started in the industry, I quickly had to learn how to keep flexibility with opposing schedules.

For instance, let’s say we have a sign company that is doing the install at fifty locations in a year. In order to maintain the sign company’s install schedule, I had to step up and work alongside our more experienced production team to meet those dates.

Sometimes emergency situations pop up where there are five extra locations that need to be squeezed in and dealt with immediately. Trying to stick with the original schedules and be flexible enough to add additional locations is a very delicate but achievable task, and I Continued on page 26

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Jordan Rhoads Continued from page 22 have learned through experience to be able to do this.

How are younger professionals changing the sign industry?

Wescott: Young professionals bring fresh ideas and new perspectives to the table. They can bring insight on the lat-

est and future technologies a sign business can utilize to grow and prosper.

Many times, new, efficient ways of workflow dynamics can be discovered and help with the bottom line.

Lamberts: I agree. We bring a new set of eyes to what often is a “we have done this for years� mentality. The newer generations lack a fear to reach outside their

comfort zones and make connections that can be mutually beneficial to each other immediately and in the future.

Parsons: My generation was raised in an era where we grew up with computers and computer software. This has certainly caused a large change in ways that many companies conduct business.

There continues to be a push towards

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online ordering, and the demand for a fully functioning and visually attractive Web site has never been higher.

I believe that younger sign professionals have been exposed to that for years and have incorporated newer sales and marketing tactics, such as the various social media platforms, as a means of advancing business for their respective companies.

In addition to an increase of digital marketing and sales, the younger generation also brings a different means of communication to the sign industry.

Certain things that I learned in business school have mixed well with the real-world experience that older professionals provide. I feel the combination of both of those areas of knowledge can only encourage industries to improve with and adapt to current and future environments. hibbs: In additiion to having a higher emphasis on being more environmentally

conscious, I find that younger professionals have a greater appreciation and understanding of the importance of brand enhancement and development. They also want more value in company culture, team building, and work/life balance.

Lauretano: Growing up in a more computer-driven learning environment has given us an edge when it comes to the new computer-aided machines that are coming into play in our industry. We are able to use this advantage when it comes to things like new ERP software or even tracking customers.

Our adaptability to all-things-digital helps us with introducing the next generation of signage in areas such as digital displays and EMCs.

Kennedy: Here at Nova Sign Group, we have really embraced technology throughout our organization, both in terms of software and hardware.

My project management team and I initially realized we needed a way to track work completed and issues found in the field. So we started asking questions and testing different programs until we found something that worked for

Dyar: Younger professionals are using technology, social media, and automation tools to work faster and accomplish more in a short amount of time. Our generation adapts easily and embraces change.

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COREY KENNEDY our installers, our project management team, and our clients.

Now every one of our installers carries a tablet where they can pull up drawings, floor plans, create reports, and track hours in real time.

Kennedy: It’s important for the sign business to start looking outside of the normal hiring channels and think about recruiting from education sectors that might not be obvious at first. Our industry is at a convergence of a few different disciplines—we’ve got one foot in construction, another in design, yet another in engineering, and another in computer science. This should be seen

Photo (Stamford Hospital): Hearst Connecticut Media.

How can the sign industry reach out and recruit younger people?

Lamberts: Although it’s broad in some

form, the uniqueness of what our industry has to offer should be displayed proudly, then younger professionals will come. From design to engineering to fabrication to marketing/advertising, our industry has everything any large industry has to offer.

If we constantly promote and recruit with this knowledge, we’ll be successful in filling our needs.

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as a huge advantage when recruiting younger talent.

It’s always different, and I think my generation enjoys being challenged with learning and experiencing something new. One day you could be engineering a 100,000-pound LED board in an NFL stadium, and another day, you can be designing a wayfinding signage program in an apartment building.

Parsons: If there were to be more exposure, younger people would at least have a basic knowledge of some of the areas of the industry. Other industries, like entertainment, sports, etc., have been entrenched into our brains at such a young age that, should you want to pursue a career in that field, you would be more prepared at the start. It creates a bit of an uphill battle until you are comfortable within the field.

In my opinion, the best avenue to recruit younger professionals into the sign industry would be to target the design

aspect of signage (graphic design, IT, architectural drawing, etc.).

When it comes to fabrication, it would be “cool” to see vocational schools create more courses relating to sign production. There is already a strong focus on welding and metal processing, but I’ve never seen “sign-specific” education, in my experience.

In terms of sales and marketing, the ever-changing environments and innovation would be the best point to focus on when attracting younger people.

That type of longevity and opportunity is something that many other industries sometimes lack; people will always need signage. I personally think that’s an attractive asset to communicate to younger people that may not know where they want to go or what they want to do in life.

mented. Incorporate social media, mixed media marketing, and artistic wraps.

Dyar: Regional associations are starting to do a good job of adopting and implementing young Elite programs at their shows. The expansion of those programs, along with better association meetings geared around networking and learning, allows for valuable use of time.

Carney: Allow the youth at your shop to have some creative freedom and flexible schedules with real opportunities for careers. Have their ideas heard and imple-

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MATT LAURETANO Lauretano: Programs that involve the younger generation, like the ISA Elite program, seem to really energize the participants. They also give a great incentive to the employer to invest in these younger employees who generally have a lot to offer.

We also participate in the annual Manufacturing Day open house event, held across the country the first Friday in

October, where we bring in high school students and show them what we do and what type of careers are available. This event helps us introduce students from area technical schools to our industry.

Not to say that isn’t an important topic of any business decision, but it would just be awesome if we focused on quality and design intent more often. Doing so will result in a better product.

Is there anything you would like to see change in the sign industry?

Lamberts: I would love our industry to get away from a price discussion first.

Wescott: I would like to see municipalities more accepting and have more leniency when it comes to new signage. Many times their lack of signage education con-

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sumes their thoughts and sways their votes.

I would like there to be more education to help inform and work closely with the municipalities on a local level. I believe this would allow sign companies to be able to grow their business and not have their hands tied down because of constant permitting issues. hibbs: I would like to see more effort from sign companies on the design front.

What we do differently then most sign shops is that we generally won’t provide a layout or rendering until we have a signed contract. This allows our team to properly study the brand we are working with, the neighborhood the customer is in, and the customer base they are trying to attract. From that, we come up with a design and sign type that compliments all three of those areas.

Are you finding any misconceptions from older sign makers about today’s younger generation?

Lamberts: One misperception that I think many from older generation sign makers have about today’s younger generation is that having phones and other electronic devices always available is a bad thing. I would actually argue the opposite!

The fact that I can access my email or be reachable at any moment remotely means that I can get answers to customers more quickly, even when I’m out of the office traveling.

Parsons: Absolutely. I’ve learned to realize I don’t know everything. There are simply too many aspects of this business to develop a full-grasp on every segment, and it’s crucial that I and other younger people are willing to learn from people that have seen and done much more than we have over the years.

That school of thought should lead towards a better path for success.

Mehmet: It also seems to me that older sign makers may feel that the newer generation of sign makers don’t want to be as hands-on with the manufacturing side of the industry.

However I don’t think this is the case; many younger sign makers do want to be involved first-hand here. And who better to learn this from than someone who has been making signs for over thirty years? That knowledge and experience is irreplaceable.

Jason Lamberts

SIGN BUILDER

ILLUSTRATED

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Feature sIgN panels Name

By MICHAEL Author QUILL

L.A.’s

Finest he Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Training Academy is the latest site where sign industry know-how and engineering contribute to artistic endeavors.

California-based artist Deborah Aschheim was commissioned to create art for the space that would connect new generations of law enforcement officers with the history of the LAPD. Her work consisted of twenty-two full-color and black-and-white panels, each a different size. These pieces were installed on an outdoor concrete wall that is seventyeight feet long and varies in height from eighteen to twenty feet.

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All of the panels feature Aschheim’s watercolor drawings translated into powder-coated metal. Fourteen of the watercolor artworks have a second layer of tempered glass with a black line drawing that “floats” above the color layer.

Aschheim collaborated will Sign Effectz, Inc., a full-service custom sign shop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She had worked with the company in the past on a number of her projects.

“Our main goal is to help professional artists like Deborah see what’s possible through our enthusiasm for materials and engineering,” says Owner Adam Brown. “We helped show her that what

she wanted was achievable.”

“Even on a project like this, which involved two other fabricators (the specialized printers), my first thought was still to call Sign Effectz to help engineer a unique installation that doesn’t look like anything people have seen before,” says Aschheim. “[Brown] really loves art and inventing creative solutions to the engineering and design of my work. He is much more than a fabricator.”

(Note: This project also had personal appeal for Brown. His father is retired from a long career in law enforcement.

He served as a Milwaukee Police Officer and as Deputy Sheriff in Ozaukee signshop.com

All Photos: Sign Effectz, Inc.

T

Panels

Saving history for the Los Angeles Police Deparment.

County, Wisconsin.)

Brown’s process began by digging into the project budget and designing materials and methods to fit the project needs. Sign Effectz also explored different custom frame structures to support the artwork—from totally custom to “off the shelf ” products.

Sign Effectz stayed true to Aschheim’s original concept with a few tweaks along the way.

They knew the finished product had to be cleanable and accessible from the backside of the panel. They also had to factor in sun/UV exposure, rain, and insects, as well as its ability to withstand seismic acsignshop.com

tivity that’s common in the region.

The first stab at the costs of custom-run products came in higher than desired. “In the sign world, there are a large number of very diverse and qualified resources.

Leveraging these resources is important in our process,” comments Brown.

The end-result is a hybrid solution: a customized SignComp™ aluminum extrusion made for a durable and architecturally pleasing frame system for attaching the artwork to the wall and lining up the two layers of material. The modifications to the panel support details of the extrusion allowed for the tight tolerance spacing between the two panels.

The project team modified the support channels where the glass mates with the aluminum using special EPDM gasket material.

The frames were finished using a Class 2 clear anodizing process, one of the best and most durable finishes for aluminum. The glass was manufactured as 1/4-inch-thick and was tempered to strengthen it and make it a safer product (like the windshield of a car).

Display Type #1 features a SignComp Extruded Aluminum Wall Mount Retro Body #2042 and hingeable Retainer #2052 forming a display box showcasing a single powder-coated aluminum panel April 2018

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of a particular rendering.

Display Type #2 features the same SignComp Aluminum Extrusions modified by Sign Effectz layering a clear tempered glass with printed black outlines of one particular image over a powdercoated aluminum sublayer with a fullcolor rendering of the same image, creating a 3D optical illusion, enhancing the viewing experience.

Aschheim credits Adrian Esguerra of Sign Effectz, Inc., for providing informative and error-free production packages here. “Her artwork featured drawings of motorcycle and bicycle officers, squad cars, helicopters, and cadets from past eras. What makes the project stand out is the use of overlapping transparent line art over full-color photographs or sketches and getting a nice 3D effect,” says Esguerra.

being manufactured (i.e., the shadow effect and spacing between the panels can be seen on screen), whether through printing or engraving.

Logistical & Technical Considerations In order to give the artist more layout freedom on the twenty-two panels on the concrete wall, a full-scale pattern

was plotted.

On site, they laid out the pattern on the ground first. There Aschheim could move it around as needed until she was comfortable with it. Then they mounted it in one piece onto the wall.

The technical and/or engineering details of the install had to be followed strictly, since the LAPD training acade-

Get Emp

Find Freedom in Functional

A Little Bit of History Brown has another personal connection with this project.

The first company he worked for was St. George Signs in Milwaukee. It was there that he experimented with ways to add dimension to artwork. That included using polycarbonate to add shadows on some of his own personal designs he created for his home.

Back then, designs were created by hand—everything from the graphic layout and cutting out a stencil to back spraying, cutting, and weeding. With today’s technology, these types of designs are prepared in 3D CAD software so the final products can be viewed before

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Materials signshop.com

my is built into the side of a hill. The installation location (concrete wall) serves as a retaining wall, varying in height from eighteen to twenty feet high and filled with reinforcement bar, typically set two inches in from the face.

They drilled 1-1/2-inch-deep holes, using a redhead drop-in style anchor and adding Simpson Strong Tie brand

acrylic anchoring adhesive to each mount location.

The installation site was down a flight of stairs, which required each panel to be hand-carried down the stairs. This was a bit nerve-racking to say the least.

The glass came from Montreal, was expensive, and was specialty printed. In preparation for this, the panels were all

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pre-assembled in Deborah’s California art studio. The Sign Comp Extrusion added stiffness to the glass panels, allowing for more secure handling. They also had to ensure a good set of the seals for each one to keep water and moisture out. Doing this work in a controlled environment was deemed best.

Brown reports several tense-filled moments working with the largest piece of glass (48-by-68 inches). “We put together the frame structure in the studio, and it flexes much more than one might realize,” he says, noting the installation went off without a hitch. “Glass requires a lot of special handling, especially when it’s that big and heavy. The solution was a lot of patience and stable movement.

“If I had a heart monitor on during the installation, I’m sure you’d get some good readings!”

Brown says that, when it comes to methods and materials, it’s about where to apply the knowledge, experience, and engineering. “Our main goal is to not overcomplicate things; in fact, simple is better!” he says. “We contributed to this the most before it reached the shop or the glass supplier in Montreal.

Somebody on the team has to be good at value engineering, leveraging innovative thought, and resources. That’s our job, and it’s what we’re good at.”

“My family has pictures on the wall of relatives that go way back in time. The pictures help us remember them,” says Esguerra. “I feel like this project serves that purpose in a way for the LAPD—a rich history worth preserving.”

Expertise signshop.com

April 2018

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Laser Systems: Tips for Engraving Artwork and Images Reproducing photographs or artwork onto engraveable substrates (wood, plastic, rubber, glass, metal, etc.) is one of the most profitable things that you can do with a laser system. Doing so will create a higher perceived value and appearance that cannot be produced in any other way.

Creating a satisfactory technique can be a time-consuming process at first and requires a lot of trial and error to fully master. Fortunately it is possible to produce consistently good engravings given some basic knowledge and training on how to operate a laser system.

One of the most common mistakes

is using a poor-quality or lowresolution digital image or processing materials that produce low contrast when laser engraved.

All of the standard digital file formats, such as .JPG or .PNG, are great for most materials, as long as the image resolution is high enough for the desired size being engraved (typically 250-dpi minimum, for higher detail files). Uncompressed formats, such as .BMP and .TIFF, are ideal for very large projects, again as long as the image resolution is high enough. Low-grade formats, like .GIF, should be avoided since the data is compressed too much and may produce lower quality engraving.

Having access to imaging software such as Adobe® Photoshop or Corel® Photo Paint will make adapting an artwork file to your specific application and/or materials a lot easier.

Another mistake is not using the correct lens or processing materials out of focus, which will cause the clarity of the engraving to be fuzzy and detail to be lost. Engraving materials with incorrect laser settings or providing too much or not enough laser power is another common mistake that should be avoided.

To read more, visit signshop.com.

—Josh Stephens, Application Specialist, Trotec Laser

When Precision and Excellence Matter...

Magnum is Your Partner For the Job Magnum Magnetics® is the largest manufacturer of flexible magnets in the United States, including printable magnetic sheeting and magnetic rolls, magnetic strip, and extruded magnets. For nearly three decades, we have manufactured flexible magnets for a variety of applications and industries, including commercial printing, wide-format signage and graphics, engineering/OEM, retail craft and office products, and more.

Our flexible magnets are made in the U.S. and can be seen all over the world!

Proud to be part of

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Read More About Our Premiere Printable Magnets

www.MagnumMagnetics.com 800.258.0991 signshop.com

SHOP

ALL THINGS

SIGNAGE Head to our Marketplace Section in the back of the book Need materials, equipment, or to outsource a process? The SBI Marketplace Section offers product and service solutions for all types of sign shops. Start your search for new signage solutions with Sign Builder Illustrated.

• Wholesale Signage • Distributors • Manufacturers

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SIGN BUILDER

ILLUSTRATED

Feature Name MAGNETS

By ASHLEY AuthorBRAY

Getting Attached Why you should consider magnetic fasteners and extrusions on your next job.

N

o matter the sign project, one thing unites all jobs—the need for fasteners. Whether your shop is mounting a sign or fastening a sign together, a method of attachment is needed.

But before you reach for nails or screws, consider magnetic fasteners.

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April 2018

What’s Your Type?

A number of manufacturers offer magnetic extrusions and fasteners in a variety of shapes, sizes, and types.

Magnum Magnetics® is a manufacturer of flexible magnets and printable magnetic sheeting and rolls. The company also offers extruded magnetic strips

and profiles in thicknesses ranging from .025 inches to 0.375 inches and in widths ranging from 0.25 inches to 4 inches.

“We also offer several magnetization options, including standard strength or a stronger ‘high-energy’ extruded magnet,” says Jim Cirigliano, marketing manager of Magnum Magnetics. “We signshop.com

Photos: Master Magnetics, Inc.

can also make extrusions that are magnetized on both sides or with matched poles that allow two magnet pieces to align perfectly with one another.

“We also manufacture magnetic tape with the customer’s choice of foam, rubber, or acrylic adhesives.”

Master Magnetics, Inc., specializes in magnets for industrial, retail, and point-of-purchase use. The company offers a wide variety of magnetic solutions for fastening or hanging P-O-P graphics and signs ranging from small magnetic clips, hooks, and posts to industrial-strength magnetic hooks and assemblies that can hold hundreds of pounds. Magnetic strip and sheeting as well as an entire line of over eightyfive magnetic sign holders specifically designed for retail environments with versatile and adjustable magnetic bases are also available.

“Basically, they are all magnetic assemblies with a fastening end that attaches to and holds the sign or graphic, and the magnetic base attracts to any flat, ferrous metal surface to hold it in place,” says Mike Gertz, marketing manager at Master Magnetics. “The flexible magnets hold the graphic by magnetic attraction or with adhesive.”

Magnetic fasteners and assemblies aren’t limited to hanging or mounting signs. Some companies also sell magnetic systems to build banners or exhibits.

Orbus Exhibit & Display Group companies manufacture and supply tradeshow displays and exhibits, banner stands, architectural signage, and fabric exhibits.

Their wide range of products include the Modulate™ magnetic mix-andmatch banner and exhibit kits. Modulate features the option of magnetic frames, which allow for customized configurations. Aluminum tube frames are coupled with zipper pillowcase fabric graphics to create versatile, eye-catching displays. The frames can be used alone for banner displays or together to create an exhibit booth or other displays.

and reconfiguration.

Magnets also offer permanent holding power as they won’t lose their strength over time. “The weight capacity is dependent on the strength of the magnet,” says Cirigliano. “Generally speaking, the thicker the magnet [then] the stronger

Magnets are easy to use, offer permanent holding power, and provide a damage-free way to mount a sign or display. its magnetic pull.”

Magnets are also a damage-free way to mount a sign. “They don’t require drilling, screwing, nailing, gluing, or other forms of mounting, and are easily and quickly repositionable, easy to use,

and won’t damage the structure they’re attracting to,” says Gertz. “Most come with protective liners or rubber coatings to prevent scratching and to enhance the gripping and sheer strength power.”

This makes magnetic attachments a great solution for temporary installs.

“Because magnets require no special hardware and don’t require putting holes in the wall, you can use magnetic signage in rented or temporary locations without hassle or damage to the underlying surface,” says Cirigliano.

Magnetic extrusions and fasteners are also easy to work with. “The types of flexible magnetic extrusions used for signage can be cut cleanly using ordinary hand scissors or processed on equipment such as die-cutters and plotters, which gives the user a lot of flexibility,” explains Cirigliano. “Installation of signage using magnetic extrusion is a breeze, eliminating the need to fumble with tools or fasterners at every change-over.”

And for those worried that metal surfaces are a must when using magnetic fasteners or hangers, think again, as magnet-to-magnet solutions exist. “We have Magnetic Décor Hooks—a set of two powerful, round base ceramic magnets with hooks that attract to each other through glass,” says Gertz. “They’re

Magnets with Benefits There are a number of benefits to using magnetic fasteners and assemblies. For one, Orbus’ Modulate magnetic frame system allows for easier connections signshop.com

April 2018

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39

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April 2018

great for retail settings to hang signs on doors and large display windows.”

Tips for a Lasting Connection Despite the fact that magnetic fasteners and extrusions are quite easy to work with, there are still some tips and tricks installers should keep in mind.

First and foremost is that the magnet needs to be applied to a clean surface.

“We recommend storing the magnet in a clean, dry place and applying to a clean surface,” says Cirigliano. “For outdoor applications, we recommend removing and cleaning regularly to prevent dirt and moisture buildup.”

Gertz says an unclean surface can affect the magnet’s performance. “Any dirt, grit, rough, or uneven surface will prevent the magnet base from making 100 percent contact and can diminish its strength,” he says. “If using a magnetic assembly or sign holder on a finished surface, be sure it has a protective liner to prevent scratching or marring when repositioning.”

When specifically using extruded magnets, Cirigliano says the magnet strip may need some time to relax into shape. “Because extruded magnet is typically wound into rolls, much like a roll of tape, it can have a little bit of ‘memory’ when first taken off the roll and cut into smaller strips,” he says. “This usually isn’t a problem at room temperature, but if you notice the magnet strip is trying to curl itself back into a roll, simply leave it sitting on a flat surface for a little while until it relaxes.”

Finally, when hanging or fastening signs and graphics, be sure not to exceed the weight limitations of the magnet and to choose the proper magnet strength for the weight it’s required to hold.

Keep in mind environmental conditions can also affect the choice of magnet.

“It’s important to be aware of how environmental conditions can determine the best magnet for the application such as high heat, indoor versus outdoor, the ability to withstand moisture or water, and many more factors,” says Gertz.

“Magnets can handle all of that. You just need to be using the right type of magnet for the conditions.

“Another common challenge can be when using carabiners or other magnets to hold large vinyl banners outdoors; windy conditions could require stronger magnets and more of them than normal to ensure a secure hold.” signshop.com

WE’RE HERE TO ANSWER THE CALL! Sign Builder Illustrated is the “how-to magazine” of the sign industry. Each issue includes SBI’s signature “how-to” columns and features with detailed, stepby-step instructions covering a wide range of signage.

SBI’s website (signshop.com), newsletters, Buyer’s Guide, and digital edition keep you updated with timely news, recent projects, and upcoming industry events.

SIGN BUILDER

ILLUSTRATED

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VINYL

By LORI SHRIDHARE

Vinyl Know-How oger Cox is founder and president of SignTech (signtechco. com) in Frisco, Colorado, a company that works on a variety of wrap applications (vehicles, walls, bus shelters, fleets, etc.). “Our approach remains centered around our core values: solid, eye-catching design that honors the brand, implemented with the highest quality materials and processes,” he says.

Cox, who also owns the nearby dimensional sign shop House of Signs, founded SignTech to specialize in branding and design, as well as wraps

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and digital signage.

“We work independently from House of Signs but collaborate often on projects that entail both dimensional and vinyl elements,” says Designer and Fabricator Kelly Mochel. “In addition to designing logos and creating wraps, this past year we managed a complete overhaul of exhibits in three phases at our local historical museum, which was a particularly unique and rewarding project for our team.”

As far as clientele goes, what’s been on the shop’s menu recently has been food.

One client, Higgles Ice Cream, was

working with a start-up budget to design their trailer, and the team went to work to sketch out a solution.

To keep the initial costs manageable, SignTech worked with the client to conceptualize a first phase of graphics to launch her new brand.

“Our client experienced a very successful start for her venture and was soon back for us to finish the graphics package,” says Andrew Henson, also a designer and fabricator at SignTech.

“In those first few months of business, her tagline and hours naturally changed slightly as she learned more about the signshop.com

All Photos: SignTech.

R

Wrapping up the vinyl scene.

SignTech feels that working with an experienced, qualified design team is paramount to a successful wrap.

local market, so we were able to address those important updates in real time.”

Other food-related projects include a classic, yet hip menu board for Ollie’s Colorado Alehouse & Craft Food, logo design for Rocky Mountain Coffee Roasters, and other projects for local Maitri Farms and Foote’s Rest Sweet Shoppe.

Meanwhile SignTech also supports the local ski resort scene, creating graphics for Arapahoe Basin’s skier shuttle buses and partial and full wraps for trucks operated by other nearby resorts. “We are fortunate to live in ski country and enjoy the outdoors ourselves, so we love our on-mountain prosignshop.com

jects,” says Mochel. “These clients want to ensure that their signage will work in our mountainous environs, both in terms of design as well as longevity, since our climate is extreme.”

SignTech uses a Roland TrueVIS VG-540 and VersaCamm VP-540i, employing Roland Eco-SOL CMYK and TrueVIS-CMYK inks to produce vinyl wraps for their customers.

They take a team approach to all their projects, launching each conversation with their clients with a focus on goal setting—and fun.

“We also discuss the client’s target market and the message they are endeavoring to convey, followed by a survey of the vehicle or trailer,” says Cox. “From there, we develop two to four conceptual sketches, which we like to share with the client fairly early on so we can garner feedback, allowing us to focus our design efforts in a targeted fashion.”

This approach, says Cox, allows the team to remain efficient, while ensuring the client is heard and that they feel vested in the process.

“As far as project budgets are concerned, we know that small businesses are often at varying stages of growth, so we encourage clients to be transparent about their target investment and devise a range of coverage options across a spectrum based on that information,” he says. “We feel it is important to take the mystery out of what we do as much as possible so clients feel comfortable and empowered to make the best decisions possible for their business.”

For example, the SignTech design team transformed an existing logo for the local ifurnish furniture store into something new and modern. “We took their logo that was somewhat stark and bold and incorporated it into a design that we hoped would soften the feel of both the logo and the inherently boxy shape of their truck,” says Henson. “An interesting wood finish and curved lines serve to convey a message of warmth and comfort, which reflects the upscale mountain furnishings of the store.”

For best practices, the SignTech team feels strongly that working with an experienced, qualified design team is paramount to a successful wrap or

signage project.

“Competition is fierce, and with some really inexpensive imaging machines and design resources on the market, it would seem some have entered the field without the design background necessary to effectively manage that ‘bold versus too bold’ equation,” says Mochel. “There are definitely wraps that are off-putting with too much going on, and the overall message is subsequently lost.

“Wraps are a unique marketing opportunity, but one that must be soundly executed to be effective.”

Though a relatively young company, the team has learned some key business lessons. “Take the time to educate your clients,” says Cox. “They will be left feeling like an integral part of the process.

They will also understand the thought and care that went into their project and know how to maintain their investment going forward. Ultimately they will be more satisfied with the end product.

“In the case of vehicle wraps, this education and involvement in the process leaves them proud to be seen driving around in what they helped create, which we think is of great value.”

For the local ski resorts, SignTech makes sure their graphics will hold up and stand out in the extreme environment.

SignTech worked with Higgles Ice Cream to create a first phase of graphics to launch their new brand.

April 2018

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CNC ROUTER WIDE FORMAT

By JEFF BradWOOTEN Burnett

Wide Format

STR KES back!

E

frain Yepes has opened his fair share of businesses over the past thirty-five year—gas stations, convenience stores, commercial real estate, etc. However, ten years ago, the recession caused him to instead search out a business opportunity he felt wouldn’t be affected by market forces.

He noticed four things people see when they’re outside: other people, real estate, signs, and cars—lots of cars. “So I decided to open a business that serves two of those categories: signs and cars,” he says.

Yepes and his business partner, Production Manager Mario Quijano, launched 44

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April 2018

Affordable Signs and Wraps in 2010, and the two haven’t looked back.

This Pinellas, Florida-based business truly is a “print” provider. The digital prints and wraps they produce constitute more than 70 percent of their total revenues, and they complement the remainder of their business by also offering full-color paper printing services.

The company designs and produces printed signs, vehicle graphics, banners, and window wraps for clients in the greater Tampa area and across the United States.

One reason they are successfully able

to branch out with limited staff is because Yepes operates Affordable Signs and Wraps more as an agency, eschewing payroll altogether. They rely solely on company-only subcontractors to handle installations.

When he got started, Yepes noticed the wraps were really starting to take off, so he made sure that his shop was well equipped to handle such print loads to get involved in this field. They use a Roland TrueVIS VG-540 fifty-four-inch large format cutter/plotter, as well as a Roland VersaCAMM VS-540, on their shop floor.

For vehicle graphics, Affordable Signs signshop.com

Photo: Affordable Signs and Wraps.

A graphics provider hits the perfect score with wide format graphics.

and Wraps offers a range of options from lettering to full wraps for single vehicles, and 20 percent discounts for wrapping fleets of five or more vehicles. They are typically booked three to five weeks out.

For clients that are just getting started, Affordable Signs and Wraps has developed an affordable signature partial vehicle wrap they call “26 Inches Down and Around” where two twenty-six-inch wraps are designed to blend in with the color of the vehicle and run from headlight to taillight on both sides.

“Our fifty-four-inch printer allows us to print up to fifty-two inches wide. Twentysix inches is half, so we print both sides together and there will be zero waste,” says Yepes. “This configuration covers the areas that are fully useable and doesn’t include window frames or the hood and roof (which aren’t as visible or don’t have enough area for content).”

Yepes doesn’t spend money on advertising; instead he feels that a customer being 100 percent satisfied is the best pos-

signshop.com

sible ad. “When a person sees one of our jobs, they’re always going to ask, ‘Who did that for you?’” he says. “So if we are able to impress our customer with the print quality and resolution, then we will have all their friends, family, and business acquaintances as potential customers too.”

Yepes just finished overseeing installation of Affordable Signs and Wrap’s largest wrap project to date—an 8-by600-foot mural for a nearby sixty-lane bowling alley. The location had undergone a $1.5 million remodel, and the owners thought that a collage of oversized, abstract, bowling-related art over the lanes would really spruce things up.

The bowling alley owners hooked up with a graphic designer for this concept, and bowling alley owners supplied Yepes and Quijano with the finished artwork that had been conceptualized by another graphic designer in a vector format in Adobe Illustrator for output and install.

“There were no photographs, which made resolution easier to work with in

reproduction,” says Yepes.

Affordable Signs and Wraps printed out sixty panels onto non-translucent vinyl material. Thirty 38-by-120-inch panels were placed in a U-track at the top of each eight-foot-wide lane with thirty 48-by-120-inch panels below them. External LED lighting fixtures embedded within the steel frame add atmosphere to the graphics.

They added matte laminate to the graphics so as to prevent any light from creating a glare on the prints.

“To avoid starvation marks and maintain color accuracy as well as correct alignment, we printed each panel separately before installation on the wall,” says Yepes. “Even with the many panels we printed, the colors came out consistently and perfectly,” Although the bowling alley mural required a lot of printing and smart scheduling, the project went smoothly. “The place looks absolutely beautiful,” says Yepes.

—Additional reporting by Ginny Mumm

April 2018

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InfoDirect Your Direct Source for Sign Information Receive vital product and service information from manufacturers and distributors by visiting www.signshop.com/infodirect

COMPANY PAGE InfoDirect #

COMPANY PAGE

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Alpina Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

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27

Southern Stud Weld. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

3

Coastal Enterprises/Precision Board. . 46

28

Stamm Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

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Custom Foam Fabricators. . . . . . . . . .17

29

Stamm Manufacturing. . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

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Duxbury Systems Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

30

Trotec Lasers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

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31

Trotec Lasers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

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Gravotech Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

32

USSCF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

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33

Wilkie Mfg., LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C3

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36

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14

Master Magnetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

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LMT Onsrud. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

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Metomic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

38

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Nova Polymers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

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47

Shop Talk

By DAVID HICKEY, ISA VICE PRESIDENT, GOV’T. AFFAIRS

Reasonable Regulations More tools are developed to help us.

W

orking together with local officials to develop reasonable sign codes benefits everyone. Communities benefit from strong businesses. Businesses benefit from great sales. Sign, graphics, and visual communications companies benefit by selling their products in a way that shows their expertise and builds business for end-users.

Yet there are many obstacles to doing so, not the least of which is time. It takes time to attend local government meetings and wait through unrelated issues to see if the council or committee is going to take up the sign code issue that’s on the agenda. It takes time to serve on committees to help craft those codes in the first place.

No one knows that better than Jude Cook of Cook & Company Signmakers.

He’s served for a decade on the Citizen Sign Code Committee in Tucson, Arizona.

With a growing company to run, spending the time working on a local committee was something Cook “avoided” for years. When Tucson began to consider making significant changes, he went to the committee meeting “to get a feel for where we were at.” He started speaking up and soon was asked to join the committee. “It coincided with a time when my business had gotten big enough that I could get away for an hour or two a month,” says Cook.

Out of the committee came an opportunity to serve on another committee, this one comprised of the citizen and zoning committees. “We went through the code line by line and have put together a revised sign code draft,” he says.

Granted, he says, spending the time to work through the various issues with the committee has been “brutal” for these past few months. But Cook hopes in the end that the positive sign codes will clear

Sign Builder Illustrated (Print ISSN 895-0555, Digital ISSN 2161-4709) (USPS#0015805) (Canada Post Cust. #7204564; Agreement #40612608; IMEX Po Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2, Canada) is published monthly by Simmons-Boardman Publ. Corp, 55 Broad St. 26th Floor, New York, NY 10004. Printed in the U.S.A. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY and Additional mailing offices.

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up some confusion.

Ultimately though, Cook believes that participating in the process will benefit the industry and the business community. “There were times that there was no benefit at all for me. I care about what we’re doing and I understand. If nobody is going to step up, who do you have to blame?” he says.

There is no doubt that sign codes are better when the industry is involved.

New research released by the Sign Research Foundation (signresearch.org) details just how important this is. “Best Practices in Developing Sign Regulations,” written by Dr. Dawn Jourdan, Dr. Eric Strauss, and Madeline Hunter, uses literature review and a participant survey to identify a variety of gold standards for development and revisions.

“Cities can ensure that good signs are creative as a result of such revisions by inviting local experts into conversations relating to code revisions,” the report states. “Better relationships between stakeholders, who are sometimes of differing opinions, will evolve out of planning processes that are inclusive and thoughtfully designed to create codes which embrace a well-designed urban landscape.”

When it comes to sign codes, we—the industry—are the experts. We understand what the technology can do. We know how signs can benefit businesses.

And we understand how to create signs that are aesthetically pleasing and informational. When asked, we must respond and offer our insight as communities attempt to draft sign codes.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sign Builder Illustrated, PO Box 3135, Northbrook , IL 60062-3135.

Instructional information provided in this magazine should only be performed by skilled crafts people with the proper equipment. The publisher and authors of information provided herein advise all readers to exercise care when engaging in any of the how-to-activities published in the magazine. Further, the publisher and authors assume no liability for damages or injuries resulting from projects contained herein.

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CODES

FINISHING OPTIONS: Welding, Grommets, Rope, Pole Pockets, Wind Slits

PROUD TO SAY...

VISIT www.signs365.com | CALL 1.800.265.8830 | TEXT (SIGNS) 74467

16' max

PRINTING: High definition full color, printed upto

width 16'x 160' unseamed

DURABILITY: Withstands outdoor weather; UV and water resistant

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