Sign Builder March 2022

THE HOW-TO MAGAZINE

M A R C H 2022 | S I G N S H O P.CO M

SIGN BUILDER

ILLUSTRATED

DIGITAL SIGNAGE: DYNAMIC RESULTS

JOB WORKFLOW: MAXIMIZE PRODUCTION

PRINTING TRENDS:

INKJET GETS PERSONAL

Dead-on Every Time

ChannelBender® Series Automated Channel Letter Solutions

The equipment of choice for nearly every major sign manufacturer in America. sign.sdsautomation.com 303-710-8125

CONTENTS MARCH 2022

VOL. 36

NO. 320

HOW-TO COLUMNS

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KINETIC SIGNAGE

By Maura Keller When art and science meet to create dimensional.

MAXIMIZE PRODUCTION WORKFLOW

By John Hackley Get more jobs done faster with little or no out-of-pocket expense.

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INSIDE DIGITAL DISPLAYS

By David Hickey Market growth is looking up.

DEPARTMENTS

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6

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Cover Photo: PPDS.

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EDITOR’S COLUMN

Editor Jeff Wooten previews the co-hosted Dynamic Digital Signage workshop taking place in Atlanta this May.

IN THE INDUSTRY

A sign shop picks a graphics winner for a project at the Penn National Race Course, an LED mega-display install commences, and the NCCCO Foundation CEO is set to retire.

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SIGN SHOW

The newest products and services from sign manufacturers.

SBI MARKETPLACE

Advertisements and announcements from the sign trade.

FEATURES

20

SHOP TALK

Chris Biscuiti checks in with one shop’s keys to its twenty-five-year history of longevity and growth.

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18 signshop.com

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TAKE DOWN FOR PUT UP

By Emily Eckart The removal and return of the Dolle’s Salt Water Taffy Sign.

ANSWERS ON DISPLAY

By Jeff Wooten Questions about setting up and protecting an exterior digital sign.

DIGITAL SIGNAGE TRENDS

By Ashley Bray Dynamic digital and savvy sign shops can form a powerful relationship this year.

A CLOSE LOOK AT DIGITAL PRINTING IN 2022

By Ashley Bray Pain points in printing lead to growth and new opportunities.

March 2022

Sign Builder Illustrated

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March 2022, Vol. 36, No. 320 Sign Builder Illustrated (ISSN 0895-0555) print, (ISSN 2161-0709) digital is published by Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation

Subscriptions: 402-346-4740

EXECUTIVE OFFICES

President and Chairman Arthur J. McGinnis, Jr. Group Publisher Gary Lynch 88 Pine Street, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10005 Office: 212-620-7247; Cell 646-637-5206

EDITORIAL

Editor Jeff Wooten 323 Clifton Street, Suite #7, Greenville, NC 27858 212-620-7244 jwooten@sbpub.com Managing Editor Ashley Bray 212-620-7220 abray@sbpub.com Contributing Writers Emily Eckart, John Hackley, David Hickey, Maura Keller

ART

Art Director Nicole D’Antona Graphic Designer Hillary Coleman

PRODUCTION

Corporate Production Director Mary Conyers

CIRCULATION

Circulation Director Maureen Cooney signbuilder@omeda.com

ADVERTISING SALES Sales Manager David Harkey 212-620-7223 dharkey@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 Gary Lynch at 212-620-7247 or e-mail glynch@sbpub.com.

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EDITOR’S COLUMN

AGENDA

BY JEFF WOOTEN

Note: All events listed below are subject to change. Please check show sites for the most up-todate information.

MAY 2022 MAY 2-3:

The rescheduled Inkjet Innovation Academy, featuring in-person learning and networking, will be occurring at The Florida Hotel & Conference Center in Orlando, Florida. imiconf.com

MAY 4-6:

The ISA International Sign Expo 2022 is scheduled to take place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. signexpo.org

A Dynamic Digital Workshop

Exploring the role of digital signage at your shop.

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JUNE 2022

To help you explore more of this process, our publication is co-hosting with the International Sign Association a day-long Dynamic Digital Workshop taking place on May 3 in Atlanta, Georgia right before the start of this year’s International Sign Expo.

We will be hosting experts, manufacturers, and integrators who will speak about their experiences in this field.

The purpose of this educational summit is to show how your sign shop can not only get involved with this market but expand even further into it.

Whether you’re starting out in this field or a seasoned veteran in it, this day-long workshop will allow you to take on the opportunities available, demonstrate the science behind digital signage content management, discuss the role of sign shops in the interior digital signage market (and why you can’t overlook this market), and showcase the value of indoor and outdoor digital signage to your clients.

To register for this pre-conference event (and see an updated list of sessions), visit signexpo.org/pre-conferenceworkshops. We look forward to seeing you there!

JUNE 20-22:

LightFair 2022, the world’s largest annual architectural and commercial lighting tradeshow and conference, returns to the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. lightfair.com

JULY 2022 JULY 27-30:

SignConnexion 2022, the MidSouth Sign Association’s annual tradeshow, will be happening in Chattanooga, Tennessee. midsouthsign.org

SEPTEMBER 2022 SEPTEMBER 19-21:

SBI/NSSA Northeast Conference & Expo will take place at the Providence Convention Center in Providence, Rhode Island. signshop.com/nssa

OCTOBER 2022 OCTOBER 19-21:

JEFF WOOTEN Editor, jwooten@sbpub.com

Photo: PPDS.

D

igital signage is becoming ubiquitous across many markets, applications, and industries, but it can still feel, at times, as if digital displays remain an enigma or a metaphorically undiscovered country when it comes to the sign industry.

As a sign shop or graphics provider, do you fear missing out on this potential vertical market by being under-equipped or under-prepared? Do you feel like you’re on the outside looking in figuring how to get your foot in the door here? Or are you still evaluating how your current skills set matches up with the electronics needs of end-users?

We’ve made a recent concentrated effort to ramp up our coverage of the digital signage market even more because we feel like this topic will only increase in interest for your clients as we further progress into the twenty-first century.

The clear takeaway is that the digital signage market is growing. According to published reports, it is expected to become a $38 billion+ market by the end of this decade.

The view can appear as if an increasing number of businesses are utilizing this technology in some form or another (whether small or large displays), and other industries are starting to adopt this technology for interior communication or enhancement (which can lead to getting your foot in the door as an integrator and/or installer).

The PRINTING United Expo will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada. printingunited.com

signshop.com

LAMPS | FIXTURES | POWER SUPPLIES Keystone Technologies

Philadelphia, PA

800.464.2680

| CONTROLS

keystonetech.com

IN THE INDUSTRY WATCHFIRE SIGNS OFFERS FOURTH ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP

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ANVILLE, ILLINOIS— Watchfire Signs is again offering the Fired Up Watchfire Scholarship, which will contribute $500 in financial assistance toward a graduating high school senior’s higher education. The scholarship award winner will be chosen based on their excellence in creating and using uplifting digital content on a Watchfire video scoreboard or display during a live event.

As the Official Scoreboard & Video Display Manufacturer of NFHS, Watchfire Signs takes immense pride in serving the high school community and giving one deserving student each year assistance in pursuing a field that they love.

To be eligible for the Fired Up Watchfire Scholarship, studentcreated content must be displayed on an indoor or outdoor Watchfire sports display between January 1, 2021, and April 1, 2022. Submissions may include static graphics, animations, videos, crowd prompts, advertisements, or other content that encourages fan engagement.

The deadline to apply is April 13, 2022, and the winner will be announced this May. F o r m o re i n fo r m a t i o n , v i si t watchfiresigns.com.

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SPEEDPRO PICKS ICK ICKS

WINNER FOR CASINO PROJECT

B

ENSALEM, PENNSYLVANIA—And they’re off to the print races at the start of a New Year! Large format print business SpeedPro Eastern PA recently created a series of eye-catching window graphics that were designed to help patrons at the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Pennsylvania celebrate the New Year. The brief for the project was to produce graphics that would stand out on the large-sized windows overlooking the horse racing track at the famous venue—which first opened in August of 1972 and is also home to a leading casino—while at the same time not obstruct any view of the racing action going on.

Print company Triangle Press, Inc., of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, originally picked up this particular window project for the casino, and then, they reached out to SpeedPro Eastern PA to take on the production aspects after recognizing their expertise in large format print and graphics work.

SpeedPro Eastern PA used Drytac ViziPrint Illuminate translucent matte PET film, purchased through wholesaler Digital Color Ink, LLC, to cre-

ate these outstanding-looking window graphics. The company had several reasons for selecting this film—not only was the material translucent but they felt it would also deliver an unrivalled experience during daytime hours and at night.

“Our contact at Triangle Press, Tammy Shelley, wanted to use a material that would perform well both in the light and dark and be suitable for windows,” said SpeedPro Eastern PA President Dave Higgins. “The client was also worried about blocking the view [of patrons] out of the large windows, so we had to ensure that the material we selected satisfied their demands.”

All worries on the client’s end were alleviated after the graphics printed out flawlessly during the home stretch on SpeedPro Eastern PA’s EFI Pro 16h LED UV hybrid machine.

Even better news is that the sign company was able to install all the graphics at the venue in just one day. “I am hoping that, due to the quality of the product, the brightness of the print, and the ease of the install, they will start doing these projects on a more regular basis,” opines Higgins. signshop.com

NCCCO FOUNDATION CEO TO RETIRE

F LED MEGA-DISPLAY INSTALL COMMENCES

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OS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA— LED display manufacturer SNA Displays has begun installation work on the massive LED display for the dual-branded Moxy and AC Hotel Los Angeles Downtown 37-story, 600,000-square-foot, mixed-use tower development at the intersection of S Figueroa St. and W Pico Blvd. The new LED mega-spectacular adds to a growing L.A. footprint for SNA Displays, having previously installed more than 100,000 square feet of digital canvas in the area.

Consumer Experience Group (CEG), a Los Angeles-based consultancy for experiential display projects, is managing the development’s digital and static signage elements on behalf of property owner Lightstone. YESCO is providing sign installation services.

The LED screen, built from SNA Displays’ EMPIRE™ Exterior line of LED technology, will wrap a six-level, above-ground parking structure. The LED mega-spectacular is a continuous 15,000-square-foot video display that curves around the building façade. Despite its size, the screen sports a tight pixel pitch of 8.0mm, giving the display signshop.com

almost 22 million pixels. The fifty-foottall LED mega-spectacular is as long as a football field.

“Moxy and AC Hotels Los Angeles Downtown required precise onsite management to make sure all supportive primary and secondary steel was properly installed,” said Rasool Sayed, senior project manager for SNA Displays. “This project installation is unique in that there are only two massive subframes, the bottom one being over twenty-eight feet tall. Being able to custom-fabricate each element of the radius and minimize the number of picks on-site allowed us to avoid closing down traffic lanes in busy downtown L.A., and the huge subframes translated to less seam alignment on-site.

“We have worked closely with the general contractor to properly sequence different portions of the structural steel installed and now the large LED sections.

Despite holiday and COVID challenges, they’ve been able to stay ahead of deadlines. “The SNA daily reporting app really has really helped us coordinate closely to make sure everything is carefully tuned from the design and engineering stage to installation to lining up every pixel on the final product,” says Sayed.

AIRFAX, VIRGINIA—Graham Brent, CEO of the NCCCO Foundation, will retire on July 29, 2022, bringing to a close a twenty-sixyear career with the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO). Brent has led the NCCCO Foundation since 2019 when he stepped down after 23 years as CEO of the NCCCO. In that time, the Foundation has achieved industry-wide recognition for its ground-breaking studies on crane operator evaluation and virtual reality, its authoritative accreditation and operator certification reference directories, and its advocacy for the crane and rigging industries in outreach to youth and veterans.

The Foundation also hosts the annual Industry Forum on Personnel Qualifications which, last year, attracted almost 500 registrations from safety and health professionals across the country (a five-fold increase from just two years ago).

A search for Brent’s successor has been initiated by the non-profit organization. Interested parties should send expressions of interest to NCCCO CEO Thom Sicklesteel at tsicklesteel@nccco.org.

March 2022 Sign Builder Illustrated

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SIGN SHOW SOFTWAREDESIGN/ PRINT/ ROUTER/ ESTIMATING

DIGITAL SIGNS/EMC/ VIDEO DISPLAYS Single-day DVLED Installation Made Possible with LG’s New 136-inch All-in-One Display

Mac Users Can Now Enjoy Using SAi FlexiDESIGN Software

The new 136-inch All-in-One DVLED display (model LAEC) from LG Business Solutions USA combines a 1080p screen, onboard webOS™ controller, and built-in speakers to offer immediate operation in virtually any environment. Technology integrators can now say goodbye to complicated installation procedures and wiring, as the display can be installed in one day and includes every component necessary to serve a variety of needs and installation locations. First it is shipped in a professional aluminum flight case on wheels, so delivery and movement on site are simple and fast. The display arrives partially constructed, with two pre-built cabinets that connect together using included hardware and can be mounted on a wall with included hardware or installed on an optional mobile cart that enables multi-room use. The two mounting cabinets provide the back structure for the display, while the 72 notebook-sized modules are mounted to the cabinets (creating a single, seamless 136-inch screen). LG designed the cable-free LED modules to literally snap in using a magnetic tool, making the process virtually foolproof for integrators. lgsolutions.com

FlexiDESIGN software from SA International (SAi) is the perfect addition to any shop looking to add additional design seats. However this leading design software was previously able to be utilized with PCs only. Now the company has announced that FlexiDESIGN is also available for macOS systems. Unlike other software, SAi’s FlexiDESIGN software was engineered from the ground-up for the sign and print industry, so it includes unique tools that make every aspect of job preparation and production faster. FlexiDESIGN for macOS is packed with features including: Native 64-bit application, the ability to send to remote Windows production manager, variable data, user data backup, standard vectorizing tools, a vector erase tool, crop marks for manual trimming, color palette libraries, easy-to-define cut lines, free e-mail and phone support, and free software upgrades. thinksai.com

WHOLESALE SIGN & GRAPHICS SinaLite Adds Custom Embroidered Headwear to Product Selection To help print businesses become a one-stop shop for clients, wholesale trade printer SinaLite recently added embroidery capabilities to their wide range of printing services. Custom embroidered hats and beanies, the first types of products in this new category, were launched at the end of last year.

There is no minimum order quantity (MOQ) for these products, so clients can order short runs at low trade prices (including one-off orders). Since these clients are resellers, SinaLite wants to give them the ability to profit regardless of the run length that their end-users want from them. After installing their new Tajima machinery and digitization software, SinaLite ran a number of tests to ensure consistent, high-quality results before launching their new line of embroidered products. The wholesaler offers a variety of headwear items from brands like Yupoong, Flexfit, and Sportsman. They are embroidered with 100 percent polyester threads for strength and durability. Quotes can be instantly generated on SinaLite’s website, once the client is logged in. Each quoted price includes unlimited stitches and thread color changes. Clients are also able to see a realistic mockup of the item with their embroidered design, along with the digitization fee and shipping cost, before they add an item into their cart. sinalite.com

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HOW TO

DIMENSIONAL DIMENSIONAL || BY

BY MAURA MAURA KELLER KELLER

Kinetic Signage

W

hen Brian Quinter, owner of award-winning Quint Creative Signs in Piqua, Ohio, says that his goal is to “rid the world of boring signs,” he means it.

For over twenty-two years, Quinter and his team at Quint Creative Signs have worked to create well designed, well branded, and memorable signage systems for businesses across various industries.

And one area in which Quint Creative Signs has excelled is in the area of 3D signs, as can be seen by the recently installed 3D sign for the Kinetic Energy Fitness health and fitness studio also in Piqua that offers a variety of group training classes.

Prior to creating Kinetic Energy’s 3D sign, Quint Creative Signs had already completed signs for the Kinetic Energy

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owner’s husband, whose business, Transition Properties Construction & Design, is on the main floor of the building that also houses the fitness studio. “They wanted similarly designed 3D signs to keep the building’s signs complementary,” says Quinter.

In addition to a similarly designed 3D sign, Kinetic Energy’s owner also wanted it projected higher to indicate that the studio was a second-floor business.

Specifically the Kinetic Energy Fitness sign is based on the company’s logo, which illustrates a centered human figure surrounded by the traditional kinetic energy symbol, which indicates the energy of motion—the fundamental goal of the fitness company. “We did some minor tweaks to the logo to make it work better as a sign,” says Quinter.

The sign was machined in three lay-

ers of high-density urethane (HDU), including both faces and the sign’s core. A custom-fabricated bracket was built and fits into the channel, followed by the core layer. “All three layers of HDU are bonded together, embedding the bracket,” Quinter says. “We sprayed the primer and background color and then hand finished all the other paint.”

While Quinter has finessed his skills at 3D sign designs, he didn’t always focus on this area. In fact, when his shop was established in 2000, it was not only a part-time gig for Quinter but also primarily a vinyl sign shop, complete with a Roland CX-24 desktop vinyl cutter, FlexiSign software, a Compaq computer, and an X-Acto® knife.

“Quickly I discovered a desire to make 3D signs, and I started by making them in-house with power tools and ordering signshop.com

All Photos: Quint Creative Signs.

When art and science meet to create dimensional.

HOW TO DIMENSIONAL | BY MAURA KELLER

The shop worked on similar HDU signs at the same time.

The recently machined HDU.

letters from Gemini,” says Quinter. “We were able to purchase a CNC router in 2011, and this was a huge game changer for us. In 2012, we won our first national design contest, the USSC Sign Design Contest, and this helped get us even more 3D work in our area.”

Today the company focuses on 3D carved and painted signs, realistic fauxwood signs, raised 3D text signs, v-carved signs, and custom hybrid signage using various techniques.

In order to transform a typical 2D sign into a 3D version, Quint Creative Signs designs all of their native files in CorelDRAW, then a mix of technology and traditional hand skills are used to create each one of the company’s 3D signs.

“We design all our 3D work and toolpaths for the CNC router in Vectric Aspire,” Quinter explains. “We import all 12

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our vector line art from CorelDRAW right into Aspire.”

According to Quinter, a couple of last-minute decisions really made the Kinetic Energy Fitness sign come to life. “We decided to step the top section down 1/2-inch from the text and elected to leave the trim/edge white on the lower section and do the top frame area all black,” he says.

Through his extensive experience creating 3D signs of all styles, Quinter embraces the unique challenges that arise with each project. In the case of the Kinetic Energy Fitness sign, one of the biggest challenges the Quint Creative Signs team faced was working with the three layers of HDU and finishing the edge so that the three layers were not visible.

“On this sign, this goal was achieved by making the faces slightly larger. Then we

sanded the edge smooth to blend all three layers,” says Quinter. “We also did extra coats of primer on the edge to help hide any lines.”

The result? A well-defined, properly placed 3D sign that grabs the attention of passers-by, while complementing the building’s larger sign on the main floor. The sign also clearly illustrates that Kinetic Energy Fitness is a second-floor business.

“We love making 3D signs. When we get to do projecting signs, it also gives us a chance to do some metal fabrication too,” says Quinter. “When we made this sign for Kinetic Energy, we were also making three other projecting signs at the same time, so we were able to streamline all three signs and this helped speed up the production of all three. The client and community love the sign.” signshop.com

September 19-21, 2022

Providence, RI

Preparing Your Sign Shop For Success A rapidly changing industry landscape, an unstable economic outlook, and the influx of non-sign companies offering signage services pose formidable challenges to sign professionals. They also create opportunities to sharpen business skills, expand product offerings, and reinforce the sign shop’s important role within the region and in local communities.

The SBI NSSA Northeast Conference & Expo will offer actionable “how-to” lessons to sign shops of all sizes and levels of experience.

The conference program will focus on how sign shops can increase sales and profits through strong business management and operational efficiency. There will also be a large exhibit hall with hands-on product demonstrations as well as extensive networking. Save September 19-21 on your calendar now!

LEARN MORE: WWW.SIGNSHOP.COM/NSSA SPONSORS GOLD

SILVER

CONTACT US Booth/Sponsorship Sales David Harkey T: 973.563.0109 E: dharkey@sbpub.com

General Inquiries Michelle M. Zolkos T: 212.620.7208 E: conferences@sbpub.com

HOW TO WORKFLOW

BY JOHN HACKLEY

Maximize Production Workflow Get more jobs done faster with little or no out-of-pocket expense. shops—are not blessed with complete cross training. But even if you have a fair amount of cross training, that does not mean that your employees will all show up or be on time.

Technological mishaps. Machines break down at the worst possible moment, creating a scheduling nightmare and confirming Murphy’s law.

Clients change their mind. They move orders up or back or change the specs, and then, of course, as soon as they do that, the schedule needs to be redone.

Quality issues. No matter how good your quality, anything that is less than perfect impacts the schedule and has a ripple effect throughout the rest of the entire schedule.

Supply chain. Raw material or outside vendors don’t always deliver when promised and if they are off, they can throw off our schedule.

Information is not available or accurate. This makes it difficult to improve the situation when you are wasting time searching for information.

Employees lack cross training.

Many shops—in fact, I would say most

Communication between departments is difficult. Orders are rushed

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into production and the relationship between sales and manufacturing suffers for it. So we schedule, we update the schedule, and we get stuck in a professional loop of rescheduling due to all of these sources of variability.

These problems make it difficult, if not impossible, to dependably deliver every time as promised.

The solution here is the way in which you actively manage flow: Material Flow, People Flow, Product Flow, and Information Flow.

This is accomplished using a “3-Queue” process accompanied by a specific sequence of activities that help control flow, along with a disciplined routine and a little help from the Theory of Constraints and Lean/Flow manufacturing principles.

The Lean/Flow manufacturing principles are a whole separate lesson, but for this article, let’s focus on the signshop.com

Photo: Shutterstock/GaudiLab.

M

ost shop managers recognize the importance of production scheduling, but few really benefit from the results that can be gained when the right system is put in place, one that sets clear priorities for everyone and a methodology that maximizes workflow.

The fact is scheduling is hard and with good reason. Let’s take a look at some things that make it so challenging:

HOW TO

WORKFLOW

3-Queue process and how it works.

Step #1. Traveler Queue: Prepare Travelers This first step of the process involves creating accurate, complete, and timely job folders.

Your people typically waste a lot of time looking for things, information, supplies, tools, drawings, and specifications. You know the drill—how much is this time costing you?

Imagine if every time you started a job that you had everything you needed to get it finished. The effect of this improvement is that your momentum improves, and jobs are now getting done faster.

Travelers are job folders (the physical documents that accompany each unit of production or job) and indicate the unique characteristics, plans, and specifications that separate if from the other jobs.

Travelers are a focusing tool, which are the result of planning (sorting, batching, and bundling) during the Job Intake processing phase of the production cycle.

Travelers should be prepared by fabrication commonality (the pathway the product flows through the shop). Also keep the quantities small to avoid longer wait times at your bottlenecks— workstations or operations that constrain the flow.

Usage example: Say you have a cus-

signshop.com

BY JOHN HACKLEY

tomer order for a set of channel letters, post-and-panel signs, and a digital graphics package (see chart, below).

These product types are considered “misfits” because they follow different processing paths throughout your shop and therefore should be planned, scheduled, and fabricated using separate job travelers.

queue, typically by due date or constraint capacity.

After your travelers are prepared, they should be moved into your release queue—either a rack on the office wall or in a clearly labeled bin. This is a “reservoir” of work that you only tap into when you have the capacity to build it without stopping.

Step #2. Release Queue: Hold and Release This next step I am about to discuss controls the number of jobs on the plant or shop floor at one time.

Resist the urge to push more work onto the shop floor just to keep someone “busy.” Instead take the time to get your Travelers 100 percent ready.

Make sure you have everything that you need so that when you do start on the job, you can go from start to finish without disruption.

If you start work too early (with incomplete job travelers), you are setting yourself up for costly disruptions and rework, leading to loss in throughput and missed customer due dates—not to mention the chaos that it causes throughout your company.

You will need to determine your prioritization and sequencing rules, which are a standard set of guidelines to optimize completion of the products to be built.

These are the priorities for releasing work “out” of the release queue and then bringing “in” to the fabrication

Step #3. Fabrication Queue: Manage Task Completions Here you need to focus on priorities and “flow,” not efficiencies.

Fabrication is where the rubber meets the road and managing task completions is priority one—a daily process of determining the mix, priority and sequence of task assignments that balance flow with constraints.

This is done by checking the availability of resources (people, machines, and materials) and putting them in alignment with the priorities set in the previous processes and posted on a Fabrication Job Board in the shop for all to see.

Keep in mind that oversight, and managing the daily task assignments, is hour-by-hour.

This real-time oversite will help you move product, materials, and information through faster, which increases productivity instead of letting work get done based on the convenience of your workforce. This is being proactive versus reactive.

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HOW TO WORKFLOW

BY JOHN HACKLEY

You and your team focus on finishing what you started rather than starting more stuff. Both the release and fabrication queues should contain about one-half each of the total available Work in Progess (see “Manufacturing Flow” chart, above). When you have completed the first half, release the second half, and so on.

This will lead to an immediate reduction in the lead time through your shop. This also results in an immediate improvement in cash flow—as jobs spend less time sitting around.

The Art of Multi-tasking One last thing I want to impart to you about task completions: Learn to master “good” multi-tasking.

Multi-tasking is defined as stopping work on a task before it has been completed in order to start work on another task. This is, in and of itself, neither bad or good.

When switching tasks does not help a project finish earlier, this is considered “bad” multi-tasking.

If however a resource is forced to stop a task on one project in order to complete a task that is delaying the highest priority project, thereby helping a project finisher earlier, this is usually considered “good” multi-tasking.

Let’s take a look now at one example featuring a multi-project environment, which, when you get right down to it, is the case in most of our shops.

It is common for resources to be re16

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quired to switch between tasks on various projects or within the same project in order to show progress, such multitasking usually extends the duration of all projects!

Showing “progress” may help prop up your efficiency metrics, but it does not necessarily make your jobs flow faster through your shop.

This is an exceedingly difficult concept for owners to comprehend because they have been conditioned, like the rest of us, to think that efficiency is the name of the game. The truth is that it is not!

Idle resources are okay and should be planned for. Resist pushing more work onto the shop floor just to keep someone “busy.”

One thing to avoid at all costs is starting early on a job that has not been released. Not every person needs to be working at the same time. Instead put them to work either on a scheduled maintenance program, housekeeping, or stocking inventory.

shop owners, when they apply these key strategies, can yield huge bottomline improvements with little or no out-of-pocket expense.

There is much more to setting up a world-class manufacturing operation.

However do the things that I have touched on in this article, and you will be on your way to enjoying more life and more profit.

And remember, efficiency is the result of maximum flow and not a prerequisite for it.

John Hackley brings over thirty-five years of small-medium business manufacturing experience to his writing. He facilitates shop turnarounds and speaks at industry events. He serves as Chief Efficiency Officer for Oculus Business Solutions, Inc. John can be reached for comments or questions at jhackley@oculuscoaching.net.

WEBINAR, MARCH 22 Conclusion In closing, I know these strategies are not sexy or that you might think you have got it covered with your current system. Well think again!

If you are not meeting customer promise dates and are continually ending up at the end of the month with less time and even less money, then maybe something is missing?

In my experience, I have found that

Join John Hackley and SBI with your questions for our live “Three Low-Cost Ways to Maximize Production Workflow” Webinar on Tuesday, March 22 at 2:00pm ET. Register at signshop.com.

signshop.com

ISA International Sign Expo® 2022 displays the full magnitude of the sign, graphics, and visual communications industry. The diverse show floor gives attendees the opportunity to see, touch and demo the newest products and services on the market.

Off the show floor, attendees can connect and brainstorm with fellow professionals facing the same challenges or participate in more than 30 education sessions highlighting the latest trends, tech, and tips in wide format printing, interior signage, digital signage, and more.

There’s something for everyone at ISA Sign Expo! Register for a free tradeshow pass today with code SBI22!

SIGNEXPO.ORG

HOW TO BRANDING DIGITAL SIGNAGE | BY NARINE | BY DAVID DAVEYAN HICKEY

Inside Digital Displays

B

y most counts, digital displays saw tremendous growth during the pandemic. This is no fad.

Instead the tremendous growth in the technology—which has been occurring over the past decade or more—is making this a solid area for consideration for any sign, graphics, and visual communications company.

Yes there is a bit of a learning curve, and that has made some companies hesitant to pursue the opportunities.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. A growing number of resources—through ISA and publications like Sign Builder Illustrated—are available to help educate the industry on this exciting area.

First let’s set a bit of a baseline. Many people immediately think of large exterior digital displays with changing messages, like at a school or community center.

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Those are certainly one aspect—but that’s really just getting started.

Businesses can use digital displays to share the latest specials. Malls and shopping centers can feature rotating tenants.

And we haven’t even gotten inside the doors yet.

Interior-wise, hotels can use digital displays to showcase information about their property or the local area. Retailers can offer more information about a product—kind of like a digital salesperson— or feature consumer reviews. Restaurants can replace paper menus with digital kiosks. And as hiring becomes more difficult, particularly in hospitality, retail, and restaurants, digital displays can step in and fill some of these gaps.

Of course, there are regulatory issues, particularly with exterior digital displays.

But I see that starting to change as

more communities recognize the value and are informed about the technology.

Rather than ban these outright, many communities allow these digital displays, though they may want to regulate how frequently messages change or require dimming when the business isn’t open.

The International Sign Association has long believed that these sorts of regulations can be fair, particularly when science is employed. Research shows that an eight-second hold time is sufficient.

Communities that want to require signs not change more than once an hour or once a day significantly limit the use of the digital display.

The same goes for brightness. Signs that are too bright can be as ineffective as signs that are too dim. That’s why, more than a decade ago, ISA worked with a noted lighting scientist to develop brightsignshop.com

Photo: Mockingbird Station, North Dallas, TX/SNA Displays.

Market growth is looking up.

HOW TO

DIGITAL SIGNAGE | BY DAVID HICKEY

ness standards, and these have been widely adopted by many communities and state departments of transportation.

As these signs grow in use, the future will undoubtedly hold more regulations.

ISA will continue to work with communities to help them understand the opportunities these types of signs bring.

And we’ll continue working with sign, graphics, and visual communications companies to ensure that they have the knowledge and expertise to consider this avenue of business.

What better place to do that than at ISA International Sign Expo 2022 this May 4-6 in Atlanta? The tradeshow floor will offer an excellent opportunity to explore interior and exterior digital displays.

Chances are good your customers are asking for this type of sign—so why not at least be informed about what’s available?

There will also be educational sessions

Digital display at TENSPACE in Columbus, Ohio.

designed to fill in some of the knowledge gaps. Look for more on that in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, I hope you’ll clear your schedule for early May to check out the latest in digital signage as well as other

avenues to help you grow your business.

David Hickey is vice president of Government Affairs with the International Sign Association.

Questions or comments can be emailed to him at david.hickey@signs.org.

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March 2022

Sign Builder Illustrated

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LANDMARK FEATURE NAME

BY EMILY AUTHOR ECKART

TAKE DOWN FOR PUT UP

T

he bright red Dolle’s Saltwater Taffy sign has been an iconic local landmark of the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk in Delaware since the 1960s.

But last year, when Dolle’s Owner Tom Ibach moved his store to another location, the sign had to come down.

(Note: The sign does not feature an apostrophe.) At 15 feet high and 30 feet wide and weighing over 3,750 pounds, the sign posed no small task for removal.

Fortunately Rogers Sign Co., Inc., (rogerssign.com) in Milton, Delaware, already had experience working with the sign and was the perfect candidate for this job.

Rogers Sign Co., Inc., first got involved 20

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with the Dolle’s Salt Water Taffy sign due to a hurricane. Indeed severe storms had been a challenge for the beachfront store over the years.

The original sign, which went up in 1927 when the store first opened, was destroyed in a 1962 hurricane that damaged the whole building. The famous red sign was installed afterward.

In the 1970s, when another storm blew the sign’s “D” down, Dolle’s called upon Rogers Sign to repair the damage.

About Rogers Sign Company Lynn J. Rogers founded Rogers Sign Co., in 1971, starting out as a one-man sign shop. Rogers knew from a young age that he wanted to be a sign painter, hiding in

the bushes to watch local painters practice the trade and learning what he could from books and magazines.

Eventually he found a mentor in an older sign painter, Calvin Ball, who taught him the art of hand lettering. Rogers soon became an avid participant in Letterheads meetings around the country, learning from influential artists like Mike Jackson, Pat Finley, Bob Behounek, Ken Malar, Stephen Perish, and others. By 1973, Rogers found himself needing additional employees to meet the demand for signs.

Over the years, Rogers Sign Co., grew into a full-service shop that does everything from design to manufacturing, keeping up with industry innovations while maintaining the artistic traditions signshop.com

All Photos: Rogers Sign Co., Inc.

The removal of the Dolles Salt Water Taffy Sign.

A bracket allowed the sign to lie diagonally on the trailer and not hit street lights.

and craft that originally inspired Rogers.

When Dolle’s called upon Rogers Sign Co., to rescue their letter “D,” the sign company was prepared to fix the sign for good. The 1960s framing had been constructed in wood that was not capable of withstanding nor’easters. Rogers Sign Co., re-created the framing using aluminum and galvanized steel.

Because the roof needed to be replaced anyway, the company opened the roof, anchored the new frame to the beams, and then rubberized the roof.

The newly repaired sign and frame was engineered to withstand winds up to 150 miles per hour. Afterward Rogers Sign Co., performed regular maintenance on the frame and sign for Dolle’s, which made them, for Ibach, the natural choice to remove the massive sign. signshop.com

A Historical Move At first, according to Rogers, Ibach planned to move the sign to his new factory building.

However it soon became clear that the sign was too large—at thirty feet wide, it wouldn’t fit on the factory’s twenty-eight-foot facade.

Due to the sign’s historical significance, another party showed interest—the Rehoboth Beach Museum. With the support of Stan Mills, mayor of Rehoboth; Nancy Alexander, director of the Rehoboth Beach Museum; and the Rehoboth Beach city council, Rogers Sign Co., they performed a feasibility study on whether the Dolle’s Salt Water Taffy sign could be mounted on the museum building.

Fortunately, as Rogers says, the museum building was built “like a rock,” as

it had previously served as an ice house, and was capable of supporting the sign.

The sign couldn’t go on the museum roof, which had recently been rubberized and had a gazebo-like tower on one corner of the building, but it would fit perfectly on the west side of the building.

“The size of it will allow that no major infrastructure changes have to be made to the building,” says Rogers. “It’s going to mount right on the side and will not even block a window.”

The Removal Process With the future of the Dolle’s Salt Water Taffy sign determined, Rogers Sign Co., created a work plan for the removal.

Throughout the planning process, the company worked closely with Rehoboth Beach municipal offices, including the March 2022

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21

Removing the sign from the perch its stood at since the 1970s.

Board of Adjustment, the Beach Building and Licensing Department, the Boardwalk Maintenance Safety Division, the Fire Department, the Police Department Special Operations Unit, and the City of Rehoboth Beach Commissioners.

“We even did a sketch for the city [showing] the placement of the trucks and personnel,” says Rogers.

Because of the timing—the sign had to be removed toward the end of 2021— weather was a major factor. Cold weather can make a job difficult, and snow makes it impossible.

Luckily, while the weather was bad in early December, things cleared up for the removal on December 15. The company chose a Wednesday for the job to avoid weekend crowds.

Rogers Sign Co., had nine personnel on site, all managed by Kenny Terhune, who acted as job supervisor. Terhune, Allen Jackson, Ty Brown, Wil Heuring, Larry E. Holding, and Lynn Rogers served as crew leaders and crew members for the vehicles onsite, which included bucket 22

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A spreader bar and straps helped distribute the weight evenly.

trucks and cranes, a trailer, and a pickup truck. Holding and Rogers operated cranes, while Keith “Julio” Revelle was a ground rigger for the cranes. Once on the roof, Heuring took on a dual role as assistant supervisor to Terhune.

Rogers Sign Co., also brought Diane Terhune as job safety officer and June Aydelotte as public information officer. Other Rogers Sign employees who were not on site yet contributed to the project as part of the team conducting planning meetings, the feasibility study, and the logistical coordination were Colleen Allen, Blair Rogers, Deb Breneman, Darlene Matthes, Rodney Wise, and Greg Humphries.

The Rogers Sign Co., team used grinders to remove the sign from the frame. “We needed seventeen cuts to remove the sign from the building, off the roof,” says Kenny Terhune.

With the sign being removed in one piece by a single crane (https://bit.ly/3HP9Xdv), Rogers Sign Co., used a spreader bar across the top of the letters, secured to the

frame in four places with twelve-foot straps attached with clevises to distribute the weight. “Each of those straps was holding 937 pounds,” says Kenny Terhune.

Meanwhile two team members held ropes with tie lines to each end of the sign to keep it from spinning if the wind picked up.

Safety was a top priority for the job.

Every member of the crew wore safety glasses, hard hats, green safety vests, and harnesses, as required by OSHA. Rogers says, “We put spotters on the ground—a set of eyes on each side of the building so they would see if something went wrong.”

With the grinders throwing sparks as they cut through the galvanized steel frame, fire was also a concern, as a rubberized roof can burn quickly. The Rehoboth Beach Police Department’s Special Operations Unit, along with the Fire Department, were there to provide support.

“The police department had a drone,” Rogers says. “When they were grindsignshop.com

ing the galvanized pipe off, it took the temperature of the sparks and the galvanized steel.” The team also had water and welding blankets ready on the roof, in case the police alerted them to any stray sparks.

With so much planning and precaution in place, the removal was a resounding success, taking about five hours in total.

Meanwhile news crews and local spectators gathered to watch this removal process.

Journey to a New Home Once the sign was removed, the next challenge was to transport it. Still in one piece, the sign was too wide to fit horizontally on a trailer yet also too tall to transport vertically (as its height would cause it to hit the street lights).

Rogers Sign Co., came up with a bracket that allowed the Dolle’s Salt Water Taffy sign to lie diagonally on the trailer—staying within the width of the truck but not so high that it would hit the lights. They drove the sign to a secure location, keeping it safe from souvenir hunters while it is prepared for mounting on the museum.

Installation is planned for the summer of 2022, and the company will build a new frame for the sign to install it flush to the museum façade.

Once the sign goes up, it will be visible from the public park adjacent to the museum, as well as the bicycle path next to the canal. (Note: The museum is currently holding a fundraiser (https://bit.ly/3rfbPGz) to support the cost of installation.)

The Future Looks Bright As for Rogers Sign Co., jobs arrive as fast as the shop can handle them.

The company’s next project is installing a sign on a waterfront hotel. Rogers plans to use a crane to extend over the top of the building—to a height of 150 feet—and come down on the other side to attach letters 60 feet up, on the side of the building facing the water.

For Lynn Rogers, all of it is exciting.

Even after decades in the business, he says, “Every night’s like Christmas Eve. I can’t wait to get to work.

“Sometimes I get up at night and draw, thinking about the next sign.” signshop.com

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Sign Builder Illustrated

23

FEATURESIGNAGE DIGITAL NAME

BY JEFF AUTHOR WOOTEN

ANSWERS ON DISPLAY

Photos:

Questions about setting up and protecting an exterior digital sign.

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signshop.com

W

Photos: Vantage LED USA.

hen a sign shop gets involved with digital signage, it’s important to understand that there’s still a lot more work to consider beyond just successfully selling the display in order to make sure your customer is happy—factors like placement, resolution, and content management.

Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the additional questions that need to be addressed between the sign integrator/installer and the end-user, as well as the answers to them that will help shine a light on getting the most out of an outdoor dynamic digital display for both parties.

signshop.com

What factors should be considered when determining the best exterior location for a client’s digital sign?

According to David Watson, director of Corporate Programs at Watchfire Signs, the first thing to do is check local sign codes to see if any restrictions might prevent your customers from advertising on a display in the proposed area.

“A sign code could be written that does not allow animated messages or video content,” he says. “It may restrict a message to display or hold for a specific amount of time (such as eight seconds or one hour). Or it might not permit exterior digital signage at all.”

The next step involves identifying the best location on the property for setting up a client’s proposed display. Taylor Nilson, market manager, On-PremiseCommercial Reseller & National Accounts at Daktronics, says generating the most exposure is extremely important when it comes to the placement of a digital sign.

“It all comes down to what they say in real estate: ‘Location! Location! Location!’” he says. “Identifying the focal point of entry onto the property will be key when it comes to a freestanding digital sign and assist a potential customer/patron/member/patient in finding entry to the property.”

Chris Wilson, digital billboard manager/sign sales at ESCO Manufacturing, adds, “If your client has two frontages and will only be using one display, they’ll

obviously want to place it at the frontage with the most traffic,” he comments.

Blockage is another factor to consider when it comes to choosing an ideal spot for a digital display. Potential obstructions to pay attention to include trees, other signs, and large vehicle parking, any of which might cover the display. “We also like to make sure we stay as far away from power lines as possible, as those can be a real nightmare for installers,” says Wilson.

After picking a site on the property, make sure to examine it closely.

“If the plan is to add the display to an existing structure, then the existing structure needs to be reviewed to ensure that adding the additional wind load falls within the limits of the original engineering design,” advises Watson. “If a new digital sign is simply replacing an existing sign, the assumption is that you can replace it with a sign that has the same square footage at the same height or lower on the structure.”

If your customer does not own the property where the sign will be located, Watson suggests checking in with the landlord to determine if there are any property restrictions. Another thing you need to do is call 4-1-1 to locate any underground utilities and verify that the foundation of the new structure will not interfere with any existing utilities.

“As a final step, pay attention to the business’s intended audience. This will help you determine the appropriate size and resolution of a new digital sign,” says Watson. “Walk-up traffic and up-close viewing may require a higher resolution. Areas with high traffic where vehicles pass by at a distance will require a larger display that can use a lower resolution. This is best determined by scheduling an onsite demonstration with the manufacturer’s representative.”

According to Deacon Wardlow, continuous improvement manager at Vantage LED USA, the type of traffic that will be regularly passing the sign needs to be factored. “Is it vehicular only or a mix of pedestrian and vehicular? Or will it be primarily pedestrian?” he suggests asking. “These answers will help you determine the ideal size, pixel pitch, and March 2022

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overall resolution required to best present the system.”

Are there any tips a sign shop should consider when it comes to installing exterior digital signage on-site?

Sometimes the best steps to address are the precautionary ones that take place before actually setting up the digital display out at a site.

For instance, after the manufactured digital signage system arrives at your facility, always test it whenever possible before transporting the unit to its destination. “It’s important to find any possible faults or issues with it prior to any installation,” advises Wardlow. “After all, it’s a lot easier to fix a problem at the shop than it is out at the installation site.”

Wardlow recommends having the end-user upload the content for the system prior to your installing it. “Sometimes communication isn’t immediately available,” he says, “and whatever is preloaded onto the display is what’s going to be played until proper communication with the system is established.”

Wardlow confirms that standard sign installation rules apply with regard to proper structure and support. “Additionally it helps to check to verify that power and data will be available at the install location,” he says. “If not, make sure to coordinate communication and have the client’s electrician ensure that the electrical is available and ready to be connected.”

Watson has found that leaving the jobsite without confirming connectivity and communication is one of the most common mistakes made by installers that are new to the digital game.

“This step can be missed because there is often a test message preloaded on the sign before it is shipped,” he says.

“This message displays when the sign is powered on and may lead installers to determine that the message was sent to the display as it went live.

“Ask the sign owner to send a message to the display while your installers are still on-site to confirm that sign communication is working. If the sign owner isn’t available, you should be able to call the manufacturer’s help desk and ask for 26

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help in confirming that sign communication is active.”

When it comes to tools that can aid you in a digital display install, Wilson recommends using a hammer drill with a driving tip. “This tool is very useful when installing a six-foot-long ground rod for proper electrical grounding,” he says.

Are there any common mistakes installers should avoid when putting up exterior digital signage?

Wilson finds one of the big mistakes he’s noticed in this area involves double-sided signs attached to a v-shaped structure.

“If this is the scenario, one side should always be installed perpendicular to the closest lane of traffic,” he advises. “Then the back side of that ‘V’ would have a better viewing angle from the furthest lane of traffic.”

The reality is that orders for many digital signage systems are not placed with brand new companies, but rather they’re purchased for an existing business. Because of this, there is a temptation to use the existing structure versus a new installation to cut costs, material, and time from a job.

“Always check to ensure the structure is rated and sound for the weight and size system being installed,” says Wardlow. “Taking steps to protect the structure and being proactive is worth the extra time and cost for long-term performance and durability of the system (such as grease or protectant/ sealant on the structure base to avoid corrosion/ damage below ground level).”

If purchasing a system that is modular (i.e., modules get inserted into a support frame versus a fully completed cabinet), Wardlow stresses to make sure that the support frame is set prior.

Wardlow circles back around again to precaution and checking with the display manufacturer ahead of time regarding any special needs for the system, particularly when it comes to proper airflow and ventilation. “Often ventilation is not taken into consideration and that will damage the long-term performance of a display,” he says.

When installing a digital signage system, Wardlow says to check power (ideally using a Fluke meter) and, if possible,

ask the power to be metered for a few days/week to ensure there is no sag (voltage drop) nor spikes (excess voltage).

“Power issues will have a negative effect on system performance,” he says.

If using wireless Ethernet, Wardlow stresses to make sure that both radios are physically visible to each other and not hidden behind a structure.

Forgetting to install the aforementioned ground rods is another common mistake made during digital signage installations. “Often times, this step gets overlooked when determining who will be responsible for electrical hookups,” says Nilson.

Wardlow says that there is a temptation to use power tools with the actual digital sign itself (especially LED modules) but to avoid using these, if possible.

“It’s best to use hand tools, as it’s possible to strip locking mechanisms and/ or damage components when too much pressure is applied,” he says.

Is there any advice for protecting exterior digital signs that are placed near roadways or at ground level?

Nilson describes digital signs as a true “windshield product,” as these types of signs are meant to be seen, so installing on or near roadways is a primary objective. “Avoid placing a cover over a digital sign, as it creates additional heat and can reduce the viewing angle of the product,” he advises.

Taking the “windshield” approach a little further, Wardlow advises to make sure that there are no lawn sprinklers aimed at a digital sign display that has been installed at ground level.

“Hard water can lead to mineral buildup and deposits on the system,” he says.

“Displays in close proximity to heavy traffic should be checked annually and serviced against carbon buildup on the system and cleaning/changing filters.”

Monument signs and lower groundlevel signs can sometimes be subjected to vandalism or impact from foreign objects (even vehicles). “Manufacturers of reliable displays use plastic louvers to cover display modules and provide impact protection for the LEDs,” says Watson. “Planting shrubs and creative landscaping around a monument sign can signshop.com

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provide additional protection. Shrubs and bushes can also provide an attractive screen for hiding concrete or steel pylons hosting the display.”

Meanwhile Wardlow adds, “Control elements and/or electrical switches should be secured from direct access whenever possible.”

All displays should have a light sensor embedded in them that dims the system appropriately by taking ambient lighting conditions into consideration. However try not to forget about the “scheduled” systems. “This can result in a display that’s too bright at night or too dim in the daylight,” says Wardlow.

Are there any protection measures for exterior digital signs when it comes to extreme weather (hurricanes, blizzards, etc.) or other environmental issues?

The quick answer here is...there really is no quick answer here. In fact, your mileage may vary. “I’ve seen systems hit by a hurricane and tornadoes without an

issue and others get destroyed in a dust storm,” says Wardlow.

He does recommend, at the time of installation, to ensure that the structure is sound and solid. “If using an existing structure, have a survey of the installation and material run to inspect the structure to ensure there isn’t rust/ damage or other factors which would be cause for concern,” says Wardlow.

Wilson says common sense should be employed when taking care of a digital display due to extreme weather or other environmental issues. “If the sign is in a low spot on the property—and is a monument-style sign—we just caution the owner to be careful when they are performing snow removal,” he says.

Longevity of a sign is based on the manufacturer’s ability to provide a solution that can withstand all types of weather conditions. Because of this, Nilson stresses that it is important to ask your chosen supplier if the digital sign has been tested for conditions where the

customer is located. He suggests asking questions like: How does your sign perform with torrential rain, and can your sign withstand large temperature swings due to seasons changing?

“Ask them if the sign cabinet is fully sealed?” he adds. “If water finds its way inside the cabinet, will the components fail? Will your company have parts available for any damages? If so, how long will you have parts available for support?”

Wardlow advises you to tell your clients to shut down the system prior to any serious, heavy storms approaching. “Power may fluctuate, and there’s a greater likelihood of surges,” he explains. “If the storm isn’t going to include forces that could damage the display, check to see if the display can be connected to FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert Warning System (IPAWS), as digital signage can help redirect people from dangerous areas, inform them of evacuation protocols, and help with early danger warnings.”

News: Daktronics Announces 2021 Sign Design Winners DAKTRONICS HAS announced the two winners of the annual Sign Design contest, part of the recent Sales Expo held at the Daktronics corporate headquarters in Brookings, South Dakota.

La Crosse Sign Group won the under-50-square-feet category for Tri-County Communications Cooperative, while Apogee Signs won the over-50-square-feet category for Elite Automotive.

The sign company winners were determined by their peers who attended the Daktronics Sales Expo both in person and virtually. Eligible designs had to have been installed after September 1, 2020.

“We had some excellent entries again this year,” says Jess Bern, Daktronics On Premise marketing strategist. “We congratulate Justin Matsick of La Crosse Sign Group

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and Matthew Shrode with Apogee Signs. Both of them each won $250, but even more importantly, they earned accolades and respect from their peers.”

La Crosse Sign Group serves areas in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa.

Their communications customer opted for a vertical LED sign that resembled a smartphone. The digital placement on the static sign results in an eye-catching design.

Apogee Signs is in Tallahassee and serves North Florida and Southern Georgia.

Apogee Signs earned their

winning installation by listening to their customer’s vision and then worked with Daktronics to provide a demonstration of their 8-millimeter LED digital technology, resulting in a sign that pops.

Digital signage projects installed after September 1, 2021, will be eligible for submission for the 2022 Daktronics Sign Design Contest.

signshop.com

CNC ROUTER TRENDS

BYBY BRAD ASHLEY BURNETT BRAY

DIGITAL SIGNAGE

TRENDS

All Photos: PPDS.

L

Dynamic digital and savvy sign shops can form a powerful relationship this year.

ooking ahead at what’s to come for digital signage technology and applications in 2022, Vince Schuster, commercial vice president of Professional Displays at PPDS in North America, predicts this year will bring additional solutions to the AV/IT, education, and in-home environments as digital signage continues to enhance the functionality and simplicity of the end user experience.

But the year won’t be without its challenges. Like so many other industries, digital signage will continue to see supply chain troubles in the form of raw material shortages, logistics issues, and shipping delays.

“The A/V and IT sector is struggling [due to] key component productions causing delays, which is not improving quickly enough to keep up with demand,” says Schuster, noting that ship-

signshop.com

ping into the port of Savannah, Georgia has reduced his company’s supply chain impact for delivery of finished goods to their distribution and channel partners.

Despite these challenges, Schuster says

the demand for digital signage is high, and this trend will continue in 2022.

“The [increase in] demand is a response to more businesses and entities investing in dynamic, informative, and interactive

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digital signage deployments,” he says.

In fact, Schuster observes that the A/V signage market is in a slow and steady recovery, with large digital sign deployments in the retail, quick service restaurant (QSR), and corporate markets driving much of that growth.

“We will likely see move advertisement for ecommerce shopping promoted on digital signage, like touch-enabled point-of-sale displays,” says Schuster.

“Interaction between mobile phone, tablets, and handheld connected devices will continue to allow for instant purchasing—ranging from quick-service restaurants to luxury retailers.”

As for the form digital signage will take in these growing markets, Schuster says all types of digital signage will experience growth this year, but there is one form in particular that will dominate. “The largest growth will come from LCD and LED videowalls with eye-catching content for advertisement and public information,” he says.

Schuster also predicts significant growth in interactivity when it comes to digital signage. “Interactive large format LCD and LED will continue to grow in new ways,” says Schuster. “Artificial intelligence will be one driving factor for more cost-effective and streamlined ecommerce transactional engagements.”

So where do sign shops fit in all of this? The answer is that they are a greatly needed partner for selling digital signage.

“We are seeing the traditional sign shops, which were offering static-only signs, quickly transitioning to dynamic, digital visual applications. Loyal customers expect for the sign shops to be able to provide digital signage for them,” says Schuster. “Sign shops can also help create much-needed complementary solutions in the industry—for example, content creation services and audiencetracking analytics.”

E-Newsletter FOR MORE iNSIGHTS about the digital signage industry, subscribe to SBI Dynamic Digital at signshop.com.

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signshop.com

CNC ROUTER INKJET

BYBY BRAD ASHLEY BURNETT BRAY

Custom printed flooring is trending.

A CLOSER LOOK AT

DIGITAL PRINTING IN 2022

Pain points in printing lead to growth and new opportunities.

All Photos: EFI.

T

he print industry has dealt with numerous issues over the last two years that have served as both challenges and catalysts for growth, and these were the main focus of the 2022 EFI Connect conference held in Las Vegas in January. A frequently heard refrain to print service providers (PSPs) was, “don’t waste a good crisis,” and learn to turn obstacles into opportunities.

Let’s take a look at some of the pain points in the print industry that are leading to trending products and services as well as areas for growth.

signshop.com

Labor & Automation The sign industry has struggled to find labor—especially younger workers—for years now, and the COVID-19 pandemic just exacerbated the problem. Coupled with the declining birth rate in the United States, the labor shortage isn’t going to be a short-term problem.

So how do PSPs prepare for the future?

One solution discussed at EFI Connect 2022 was automation. Speakers pointed to the fact that we are now in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0, which is defined by rapidly changing tech-

nology and increased interconnectivity.

Think artificial intelligence, big data, the Internet of Things, cloud computing, etc.

What does this all have to do with printing? A lot, as it turns out. For one, the way to deal with a reduced workforce is to look for areas to automate, including in your workflow and prepress and post-press processes. This can be accomplished through software or robotic labor.

According to the North America Software Investment Outlook 2021 report from Keypoint Intelligence, there’s still a long way to go for automation adoption, as March 2022

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Printed décor is in demand as people reinvest in their homes.

most areas of a business (pre-press, finishing, job tracking, etc.) are below 60 percent of adoption. A few reasons for the lag could be an attitude in management that the current situation works so why change it. Automation also tends to get skipped because of the effort it will take to implement and because other goals like growth and profits are more highly valued.

There are ways to commit though. According to Greg Cholmondeley, director of production workflow service at Keypoint Intelligence, PSPs should automate now where possible. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to switch to solutions like artificial intelligence, which require a backlog of data and trends. He also says to capture data to the cloud so you can track trends, use business and production analytics, and adapt your culture.

Automation can also help with the labor shortage. Cholmondeley said in a time where many positions are empty, automation could mean eliminating the need to fill that position at all.

If it’s a role that is necessary, automation can still help. The Great Resignation has led to many new workers who are doing tasks for the first time, which can mean 32

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more mistakes. Software and automation can be used to automate certain tasks in a position as well as double check work.

The Great Resignation has also led to workers being more selective about their jobs, and repetitive tasks have become less attractive. By automating that repetitive work, an employee is freed to do more important and valuable tasks at the company.

It’s also become very hard to differentiate your shop on production alone, as the pricing, output quality, and speed of digital printers are all very similar. One of the only ways to differentiate can be through automation and technology—is your ordering process seamless, how fast are you getting orders out, do you have the ecommerce platform customers are now expecting, etc.

Differentiation & New Markets One of the other ways to differentiate is by entering new markets and offering products your competitors do not.

Marco Boer, vice president of VP, IT Strategies, Inc., said at 2022 EFI Connect that PSPs should focus on printing products that are more unique and bring in a bigger return. In fact, according to NAPCO research, 95 percent of printers across

all segments see an opportunity to offer products and services beyond what they currently provide. Of that 95 percent, 33 percent of printers have already expanded or are taking steps to do so; 39 percent are actively researching a new opportunity; and 23 percent believe there is an opportunity but haven’t researched it yet.

A couple of stand-out print applications were mentioned at the conference.

Direct Mail. During the pandemic, there was a barrage of advertising on online and social media platforms, and consumers grew weary of these ads. Since then, brands have found more success in targeted print ads like postcards with QR codes. Boer says PSPs should be thinking about how the online and print worlds are interconnected in applications like this one.

Packaging. There’s been a move by PSPs to expand into adjacent markets, and corrugated is one of the biggest as the transition to digital printing in this space hasn’t been fully realized yet.

Many PSPs and sign shops are already working in corrugated for P-O-P solutions, and a move to specific packaging orsignshop.com

ders wouldn’t be a huge jump. Or maybe your shop is in the market for a new piece of equipment after delaying purchases due to COVID—consider adding a machine that can also handle corrugated.

Due to the growth of online shopping and subscription services, one of the more promising packaging applications is printing on both the inside and outside of subscription boxes to elevate and customize the unboxing experience.

Flooring. Digitally printed ceramic and vinyl flooring and simulated wood printing on laminate flooring are all growing. There are a few reasons for this. For one, the supply chain woes are affecting every market, and it can be easier to custom print flooring on demand versus trying to source it.

In addition, as offices open back up, both employers and realtors are looking for ways to attract employees and clients back into the building. Transforming the environment through printed flooring and walls is one way they are doing this.

Textiles. Tradeshows were always a huge market for soft signage and textiles, but as shows disappeared the last two to three years thanks to the pandemic, textiles diversified into other markets like décor. Unique applications like printed leather and printed shower curtains are in demand as people reinvest in their homes.

Boer says the price per square foot skyrockets compared to other applications because these are more high-value products. Demand for custom apparel applications is also up as people once again venture out to socialize and attend events.

Much like with flooring, many of these textile applications are now printed on demand or in shorter run lengths to counteract sourcing and supply chain issues.

Across the board, the demand for many of these printed products has led to onshoring—the process of sourcing or relocating a business’ production operations within domestic national borders—in order to get better control of the supply chain, provide shorter lead times, and reduce waste.

No matter what opportunity you explore, consider the advice of 2022 EFI Connect Keynote Speaker Kevin Warren, EVP & CMO of UPS, and be “default aggressive” and bold in all your business decisions. signshop.com

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO MANAGE A SUCCESSFUL SIGN BUSINESS To run a successful sign shop, you need to run a successful business. Sign Builder Illustrated can help. Not only do we focus on the work you do on the shop floor, but we also focus on the work you do to improve the success and wellbeing of you and your team.

www.signshop.com

March 2022

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MARKETPLACE FOR ADVERTISING OPTIONS CONTACT: FRANK ROSE (917) 856-1808 frose@sbpub.com

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SIGN BUILDER’S

BUYER’S GUIDE

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3 EASY STEPS 1. Go to www.signbuilderdirectory.com

3. Select among dozens of companies in each category to find the best solution for your business.

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ILLUSTRATED

WORLD’S MIGHTIEST SIGNAGE MAGAZINE!

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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, step-by-step instructions covering a wide range of signage. fb.com/SBIMag

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March 2022

1/22/21 9:32 AM

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SBI OPERATIONS

BY CHRIS BISCUITI

Twenty-five and Counting One shop’s keys to longevity and growth.

L

inda Sang left the corporate world over twenty-five years ago and remade a career for herself in the print industry by opening a Minuteman Press franchise in Winter Park, Florida. Linda’s daughter Darcy would soon join her, then followed by her husband Kelly.

Being in business for over twenty-five years means that Linda has recognized her biggest keys to longevity and growth at her shop.

“We keep pushing to get new customers in various methods,” she says.

“The pandemic initially cut down on the door-to-door marketing that has always been successful in the past for us.

“We currently do more social media, thanks to [Darcy], and some direct mail campaigns targeting local businesses and new businesses.”

Linda comments on the importance of everyone at her shop being attentive to their customers, keeping them informed, and helping them find solutions/options for their needs.

“We respond to emails almost instantly and turn quotes around as quickly as possible, generally the same day if there isn’t a lot of research involved,” she says. “When we make deliveries, each customer gets a ‘goody bag’ with notepads and other branded items. Many customers get excited about our deliveries, sometimes even more so for our giveaways, rather than their finished jobs.”

Over the past two years, Linda and her team have utilized various digital and print marketing tools available to them.

“We have gotten more into social media than in the past and have worked on getting high Google ratings, as customers do look at reviews,” she says. “We do find that we are getting a lot of requests from Google and the Minuteman Press Internet Marketing program. We also test out the suggested methods from Minuteman Press corporate (such as the lumpy mailer and direct mail campaigns) and see what works best for us and our customer base.

Sign Builder Illustrated Magazine (Print ISSN 895-0555, Digital ISSN 21614709) (USPS#0015-805) (Canada Post Cust. #7204564; Agreement #40612608; IMEX Po Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2, Canada) is published monthly by Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation, 88 Pine St. 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10005. Printed in the U.S.A. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY and Additional mailing offices.

for in U.S. funds only. Prices are subject to change.

Pricing, Qualified individual working in the sign industry may request a free subscription. Non-qualified subscriptions Print version, Digital version, Both Print & Digital versions: 1 year US/Canada/Mexico $50.00; foreign $99.00. Single Copies are $15.00 ea. Subscriptions must be paid

For Subscriptions, & address changes, Please call (402) 346-4740, Fax (847) 291-4816, e-mail signbuilder@omeda.com, or write to: Sign Builder Illustrated, Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation, PO Box 239, Lincolnshire IL 60069-0239 USA.

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COPYRIGHT © Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation 2022.

All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced without permission.

For reprint information, contact: Gary Lynch, Publisher (212) 620-7247 or glynch@sbpub.com.

“Otherwise we are simply doing what we have always done [throughout] the years—providing solid customer relations.”

Linda’s business has plans to grow even more this year by reaching out to new prospective customers and generating more referrals.

Reflecting on operating a family business, Linda says, “In our case, Darcy and I work together well and have the same goals and work ethic. My husband is semi-retired [now] and helps out when we need him.

“When you have this situation, you don’t have to worry about someone showing up to work or leaving for other opportunities. There is always loyalty.”

Linda has also found it key to treat her other employees as if they are family as well. “Not only does it create a pleasant working environment, but loyalty builds as well,” she says. “We work lean and mean, which makes for some long days.

“But when you trust your employees and family, it truly is a joy.”

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sign Builder Illustrated, PO Box 239, Lincolnshire IL 60069-0239 USA. 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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All Photos: Minuteman Press in Winter Park, Florida.

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