Sectors & Products
All sign types fall into particular sectors and product categories. Below is a selection of these with a description and imagery relative to each style.
Retail Sector
Retail is the largest sign sector with over 60% of the market. The high street is constantly evolving thus signage needs to offer a cutting edge finish, be on trend and be eye catching. As such the sign build is generally new, different and pushes the boundaries of design. This makes this sector not only the most significant but exciting to work in.
Commercial Sector
Industrial estates and corporate signage for non-retail businesses make up the commercial sector. In addition, office blocks and residential premises which need very specific but varied sign types fall within this category. Large scale totems through primary ID signage to directory and wayfinding signage ensure that this sector is as varied as it is challenging. But we are more than capable of rising to these challenges and experience confirms that.
Leisure Sector
The leisure sector includes restaurants and all like business and is a growing sector as more people spend time on leisure pursuits. In most instances the signage involved is quite playful as a direct relation to the business it relates to. The signage can also be significant single projects in order to generate the interest that they need to attract visitor numbers. We have been extensively involved in this sector through stadia, tourist attractions as well as eateries.
Built-Up & Flat Cut Letters
Text make up a sign, after all your name is your sign and the texts can be flat or built-up. Built-up is a very common way of displaying name and means 3-D to create depth and a quality look. They can be built in any type of material, from aluminium, stainless steel and acrylic through to timbers, yellow metals, steels and many others. When they are built up they can then also house lighting, generally LEDs and neon, so as to create face, halo and edge illumination. Flat letters can be produced in similar variants of materials but are generally unlit. However, LEDs are now capable of being embedded into flat cut thick acrylic and this is currently well used to create very slim illuminated lettering.
Fascia Trays & Boxes
Fascia trays and boxes fill the fascia areas of the building. They are in the main fabricated from aluminium painted to any corporate colourway and allow the decoration of the sign name. However, they can also be backlit themselves using acrylic and other translucent materials and flex skin boxes allow these boxes to be particularly large with the skin in one piece.
Vinyl Decoration & Graphics
As well as the primary signage there are always significant opportunities to add further decoration and imagery and vinyl is one way of achieving this. Digitally printed graphics to photographic finishes to computer cut vinyls applied to any surface from brickwork, plastered walls, glass and just about anything else in between allow striking displays or simple information texts.
Neon & LED Lighting
Lighting adds a quality to any sign and with the British seasons meaning that we are dark by 4pm it can be imperative to include illumination to ensure visibility during these dark hours. LEDs are the most effective way of lighting and are very economical to run and so are considered green. ECA allowances mean that the use of LEDs can be offset against tax burdens by you the client. Neon (cold cathode) is still used significantly and has recently seen a slight resurgence and can be used as decorated or art in an exposed form as well as to back light other materials.
Traditional & R&D
There are 'standard' and well used methods of production within the industry and these cover most applications. However, being able to consider different methods and approaches allows us to consider designs and finishes that others will believe to be impossible. In addition to these modern approaches, traditional manufacturing and techniques such as hand signwriting are also available where appropriate for use or specifically specified. In essence, if you can design it, we can make it.