Sign Production Processes and Equipment

As the world’s largest signage network, Signarama has access to new technologies and manufacturing techniques to help provide creative solutions for your business. We have an extensive network of supply partners both in Australia and globally.

We pride ourselves in the craftsmanship and creativity of our signmakers and our ability to constantly innovate the industry. Our knowledgeable and experienced specialists know our manufacturing equipment inside and out, and will advise you on the best practices for your project and desired outcomes.

Flatbed UV Printing

Flatbed UV printers have a flat surface which a flat substrate is placed upon to be printed. They are capable of printing on a variety of flat substrates, such as paper, film, fabric, PVC, acrylic, glass, metal, wood, and more.

A flatbed digital printer uses inks similar to those of the humble inkjet printer. The main difference is the ink itself, and the process. Using UV light we can print full colour directly onto the substrate, including white ink. The artwork is fully cured to the touch and ready for display. As flatbed printers have adjustable printing beds, we can print on materials of varying thicknesses and sizes.

As printing technology evolves UV printing is fast becoming the new industry standard, particularly for its environmental and economic benefits. Because no solvents are used as we print directly onto the substrate, we produce fewer waste cartridges, less indoor air pollution, less drying time, and more efficient print runs.

Materials: Acrylic, ACM, Corflute, Expanded PVC, Foamcore, Glass, Metal, Tile, Carpet, Wood


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Digital Latex Printing

Hewlett Packard has invested millions in their Latex printing process, and now other manufacturers are also releasing Latex printers. This is a new technology that eliminates many of inkjet's problems.

A Latex printer is 6 colour water-based inkjet that embeds the pigment in a microscopic film of latex. Heat is used to evaporate the water and set the latex. Full pigment inks are used. As a result, we can achieve vibrant, consistent results at high speeds across a wide range of substrates. Prints come out completely dry with scratch-resistance. Our latex printers can also cut efficiently and print large format signs.

This is fast becoming one of our most versatile and popular printing methods, due its ability to print on coated or uncoated materials suited for both indoor and outdoor conditions.


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Solvent Inkjet Printing

Solvent-based inks allow you to print on a wider range of substrates than water-based dye or pigment inks. They are also more durable and weather resistant when used for exterior signage.

The process requires mixing pigments and a solvent to create liquid ink. The printer head then transfers the liquid onto a substrate. As the solvent evaporates a hard layer of ink remains.

Solvents are toxic and because of the nature of the inks they are more difficult to work with and require extra care in their handling. Eco-solvent inks are available now which are more eco-friendly. However, they are limited in what they can print on.

Solvent prints are waterproof and have long outdoor life. In recent years, solvent processes are becoming obsolete, with new UV technology offering sharper images, greater detail, wider colour ranges, printability, and faster and safer printing.


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CNC Router Cutting

A CNC (computer numerical control) router is a cutting machine that uses different sized ‘bits’ to route (or hollow out) a material to produce any shape, based on what is programmed on the computer. It can also create bevels, edges, and textural effects, and is commonly used to fabricate dimensional letters, logos, and symbols. These shapes may then be vinyl covered, surface-treated or painted to provide an enhanced 3D effect.

The automation and accuracy of a router allow us to push the creative and engineering boundaries of sign making. Almost any material can be cut with a router. With such technology, our design teams can bring to life highly sophisticated signage solutions.

CNC Routers also have added benefits like reduced waste, the low frequency for error, time efficiency and cost-effectiveness, improving overall productivity and work quality.

Our large flatbed router machines cut, drill, saw, and route a wide range of materials and thicknesses with accurate repeat results.

Materials: acrylic, aluminium, ACM, MDF, wood, PVC


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Laser Cutting

Laser cutting machines use a high-powered laser to slice or burn through the material to cut designs with absolute precision. The result is a flawless finish that cannot be matched by other signage production methods.

Depending on the finish and colour required, we can manufacture a range of signage solutions. The precision and detail of laser cut signs makes them ideal for signage viewed at close range.

Materials: acrylic, aluminium, steel, MDF, plywood, stainless steel and brass


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Laser Engraving

Similar to laser cutting, laser engraving uses a laser beam reduced in power to mark a variety of surfaces. A computer controlled laser focuses light onto a surface, allowing extreme detail, photographic effects, and intricate cutting.


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Fabrication

Fabrication involves creating structures with cutting, bending, shaping, folding, wiring, and welding processes. We are constantly developing new and creative ways to produce our sign solutions.

Using cutters, welders, guillotines, shears, folding machines, and other fabrication tools we can create all kinds of shapes and sizes with various finishes and effects.

We can offer dimensional signs like 3D letters and logos, pylon signs, awnings, lightboxes and more!


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Dye Sublimation

Dye sublimation is a full-coverage printing technique. Sublimation is the technique of transferring a special dye onto a polyester fabric. Your artwork is printed onto dye sub transfer paper and pressed onto the fabric using high heat. The result is that the image becomes part of the fabric.

Colours are spectacularly vibrant and photo-realistic, with a durable and smooth texture. It is most effective on white or lightly coloured fabrics, and we can print in full colour, including fluoro, metallic and reflective colours.

Sublimated signs are not only vibrant and lightweight, they are easy to clean, are portable and storable, and more environmentally friendly than vinyl.


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Lamination

Laminates enhance colours, protect, preserve and extend the life of a sign.

Lamination is the process of applying a clear or semi-clear protective coating to a sign. The two common ways of lamination used in signage are thermal (hot) and pressure sensitive (cold).

Thermal lamination uses a plastic film sheet with an adhesive resin backing. Through hot rollers, it is applied to the substrate surface, melting the resin and gluing it smoothly and evenly to the surface, hardening as it cools.

Cold lamination uses a plastic film with adhesive backing applied using a large rolling machine. This technique is used for signs that may be sensitive to or damaged by hot lamination.

We use wide flatbed laminating machine tables for a more efficient laminating process that caters for wide format signs.

Common Laminates: UV protective, gloss, high-gloss, matte, textured, anti-graffiti. We now offer anti-microbial films which inhibit the growth of microbes by up to 99.9%.


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Vinyl Plotting and Cutting

Vinyl cutter plotters allow you to cut individual letters or shapes from one piece of vinyl, ready for direct application to your sign or surface.

We use smart technology vinyl plotters that have easy-to-use features to maximise our printing and cutting workflow. These computerised plotters have a sensor system which can align with digitally printed graphics to accurately contour cut a shape, or text with ease. This advanced cutting technology delivers the highest contour cutting accuracy for printed graphics.

We can achieve perfectly cut stickers, decals, labels, window lettering, vehicle graphics, billboards and more. We can even cut stock such as flock and soft sheet materials.


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