Sygnet signs – helping sign companies throughout the UK to win projects

Mick was one of the first people in the country to embrace the latest technology, purchasing a Spandex Graphix 4B, the first vinyl cutter produced. From the beginning, Mick has looked to invest in the latest machines to give Sygnet Signs a head start in producing top quality signs.

Gary Iley, Mick’s son, joined the organisation and spent time fitting and sign making, learning the entire sign process before joining his father at the helm of the growing company. Soon father and son were making impressive in-roads in the industry.

The following years saw a boom in the sign trade. Sygnet Signs quickly out grew its premises and in 1997 moved to its current address in Humberstone Road, Leicester. At this time the decision was made to focus on supplying the sign trade.

Investing for top end production

As Sygnet Signs has grown continuously over the years, significant investment has been made in many state of the art manufacturing machines to ensure production of high end, quality signage for the trade at very competitive prices.

Today, the company’s in-house production facility is certainly extensive. It houses a full range of machinery including two twin head routers, metal laser cutting up to 12mm mild steel, acrylic laser cutting up to 15mm acrylic, 3m hydraulic roller, 2 tonne crane, 4m metal folder, 4m CNC brake press, 2.5m guillotine, two 5m wall Saws, hand plasma cutters, pulse plant welders, 3D carving & modelling tables and vinyl plotters.

Gary Iley, Operations Director told Sign Update, "We make sure that all of our staff take regular training courses and have appraisals so that their knowledge and fabrication methods are second to none."

Kevin Newton, Sygnet’s Works Manager said: "At Sygnet Signs we have divided our manufacturing facility into individual departments. Having specific departments our fabrication teams have had the chance to specialise in their areas of manufacturing allowing us to provide high quality signs also reducing lead times. This time saving is passed on to all of our customers."

The various departments include design, vinyl application, laser cutting, metal fabrication and final assembly. Signs can be powder coated or stove enamelled to customer requirements, ready for installation. To maintain a high level of quality control, every sign is fully checked before despatch.

All the departments work together to produce top quality built up letters with and without illumination, flat cut letters using any material incorporating any thickness, pan trays, back trays, fret cut trays, totem and monolith signs, fabricated way finding systems, edge lighting systems, light boxes, plaques and plates, trough lighting, architectural lighting and a full range of warranted LED modules.

Purchasing power gets best prices

Supplying an industry where everything is wanted yesterday, increased stock holding facilities is another area where Sygnet Signs has made a big investment. The company’s growth gives it sufficient purchasing power to obtain excellent prices on materials, another reason why it offers unbeatable trade prices says Sygnet Signs.

LED products including self sustainable solutions

As the LED industry grew and LED illumination began to replace products such as neon, fluorescent tubes and cold cathode, Gary Iley started the business LED Solutions. Based at the same premises as Sygnet Signs, the two companies complement each other by offering full signage and lighting solutions to the trade.

LED Solutions, co-owned by Gary and Mick, is run by Robert Coulson who has a degree in physics and thus fully understands all the technical aspects of lighting. Robert and his team research new products and take them through vigorous testing before offering them to the industry.

Robert told us, "We have LED products fit for any sign or lighting application. The ranges of products we offer are IP rated and can come with up to a seven year warranty. We test every application in-house so only the best products leave this building."

More than just a trade supplier

Unlike a lot of trade suppliers Sygnet Signs has Project Managers who assist sign maker customers in many ways.

Guy Young is part of this team and explains: "Where technology has changed and new exciting methods of fabrication become available, we feel it is important to offer an onsite service. We are happy to assist sign businesses and work with them as if we are part of their own company."

Charles Perry recently joined the Project Management team from ASG. His experience in sign making and project management has given a huge boost to the team as well as to customers of both Sygnet Signs and LED Solutions.

All products manufactured in-house

There are many so called trade suppliers out in the industry but one of the things that everyone at Sygnet Signs prides themselves on is the fact that the company sells only products it manufactures.

"The industry is inundated with trade suppliers that buy in products, put a mark up on and sell them on. We feel that this only misleads the sign companies and with the additional mark ups plays them out of the quoting stages. If sign companies can’t win work they won’t be in business for long. Our aim is to give all sign companies a fair chance to win projects and grow their companies," says Mick.

He finishes by explaining what he feels is the main reason companies keep choosing Sygnet Signs: "Unfortunately integrity within the industry has not always been kept in high regard. This is something that here at Sygnet Signs and LED Solutions we do value with the highest of regard. Over the years we have shown to be 100 per cent trustworthy with all our customers’ information."

Find out how Sygnet Signs can help your business by going to www.sygnetsigns.com or telephone 01162 626288. LED Solutions can be contacted via www.ledsolutions.com or 01162 625933.