A FORT William sign maker has expanded the range of services and products they offer and has also taken on an extra member of staff following the purchase of cutting-edge new machinery.
Businessman, Jamie Ball, who runs All-Round Signs invested in wide-format digital printing equipment and software with the help of grant aid from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and a loan from Highland Opportunity.
The high performance ink-jet printer can print full colour graphics onto a wide range of flexible materials such as self-adhesive vinyls, banners, pvc mesh, artists canvas and one-way vision film as well as poster paper.
It has enabled All-round Signs, which celebrates its tenth anniversary next year, to branch into a number of new markets including promotional materials, exhibition displays and point of sale.
The new printer has also led to the firm offering an exciting new ‘vehicle wrapping’ service. Fast becoming one of the most popular forms of outdoor advertising, this involves wholly or partly customising vehicles with vinyl graphics.
Jamie said: “Sign making is no longer just about hand-painted signs. Over the last ten to twenty years the technology in the industry has moved very quickly and in order to keep abreast we have had to move forward as well. It is really quite surprising how the sign industry has changed and the number of different products we offer.”
Tina Davenport, development manager for HIE’s Lochaber area team, said: “Since the business started it has seen consistent growth and now employs four people full-time including one who was taken on as a result of the new equipment. We are pleased that Jamie’s business is providing a higher quality of graphics which will ultimately help him to reach broader markets.”
Jamie said: “There has been a fair bit of learning to do and it has taken us over a year to come to grips with everything the machine is capable of and also with the additional print finishing techniques.”
One of the All-Round Signs team, Gavin MacMillan was sent to Walsall, Birmingham, on a training course to learn how to carry out the highly skilled job of vehicle wrapping.
Gavin has since wrapped their own company van as well as partially wrapping a van belonging to a local seafood company with a stunning graphic of langoustines and mussels. He has also recently completed a car wrap for a local estate agent.
MEDIA RELEASE posted by Highlands and Islands Enterprise. You too can post a media release (aka a press release) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Mairi Gillies
Phone: 01463 244235
Email: mairi.gillies@hient.co.uk
Website: http://www.hie.co.uk
