It’s a question that’s commonly asked on Google, according to my research for The Sign Blog.

So I decided to put the question to sign industry professionals from all over the world via LinkedIn’s International Sign Association Group, and received some great responses. Here’s just a selection:

QUICK FACTS:
Date: From Jan 2012 to August 2013
Number of Signs: 50+
Location: City of Stirling, Perth, WA
Key Design Features: Stainless steel, etched and paint filled, with folded edges to wrap around frame. Corten steel with a sandblasted design element with folded edges wrapped around the frame.
 
In January 2012 Signs & Lines were awarded a Contract to manufacture and install Reserve signs within the numerous parks and reserves across the City of Stirling. http://www.stirling.wa.gov.au/.

The signs were phased in over 3 stages, with over 50 signs of two major Plinth styles being installed over an 18 month period. 

The aim was to complement the signage with the natural ‘reserve’ environment. As a design feature, the bottom section of each plinth was produced with corten steel that is designed to naturally‘rust’. 

So, the marketing team have come up with a great campaign and design for the signage - but the sign structure you're going to shout your message from is going to be located some 50 metres from the highway.

You're concerned: Will the 300mm high lettering featured in the design be easily readable from that distance?

The attached Chart will help you decide.

(Oh, and the answer's 'no', by the way!).

Proud ... humbled ... delighted ...

to be winners of the 2013 Hanson Swan Business Awards for Manufacturing announced on Saturday night [17/8/13]. Thanks to all the team at Signs & Lines for making this a reality.

“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.”  Phil Jackson

Our Mimaki JFX-1631 Flatbed printer can create some amazing results on a wide variety of rigid substrates … such as CORRUGATED IRON!  Our in-house equipment uses high speeds, pin point precision and fast UV ink curing to create some really impressive results.

Corrugated iron is traditionally used in roofing, but why not think about it for signage or artworks? The images below show the Flatbed printer itself (in sleep mode!) and a recent artwork we completed showing just how solid colours and images can produce very effectively on this medium.

We asked Cezarne, our Flatbed operator (and sometime Sculptor when she’s not busy looking after her 3 amazing grandkids!), for some tips and hints about this work:

About how long did it take to print this item? 
The print itself only took 30 minutes. This machine can print up to 23.6 sqm/hour! 

SMOKEY: OUR SMOKIN’ HOT NEW EMPLOYEE!
This week sees a slight change to the staffing line up at Signs & Lines. 

Standing in for one of our absent Directors, Smokey did a great job of keeping in touch with customers and 
suppliers on the phone and by email. Whilst 8 week old Smokey was a little timid to start with, after meeting our other friendly office staff, he settled in nicely and put in a good day’s work!

At nights, Smokey goes home with Graphic Designer and surrogate mother, Sarah, who also has another mature rabbit, Bunny, who is 2 years old.

We asked Sarah about her love of rabbits and how many she has owned?
Rabbits make good pets because they are easy to maintain and take care of compared to cats and dogs. They may be small creatures but they have big personalities! 
 
They’re so funny and interesting to watch, running, jumping and hopping around at amazing speeds! Bunny was my  first pet rabbit (Bunny has also visited Signs & Lines!) and now she has a new friend Smokey to play with. What happy bunnies!

Do you think Smokey has a future in the sign industry?
Smokey definitely has a bright future ahead of him.  I’m not sure if the sign industry is right for him as his phone voice is a bit quiet, but he’s certainly good for a laugh.

QUICK FACTS: 
Date: completed Feb 2013
Number of Signs: 8
Location: New Norcia, WA
Key Design Features: stainless steel etch
wrapped around Cor-ten sign panels in two size types.

New Norcia is an historic town in
WA, originating from when a small group of Spanish Benedictine monks made their
way north from Perth to establish a mission near the banks of the Moore River in 1847. 
http://www.newnorcia.wa.edu.au/protecting-a-unique-heritage

The Monastery is a key feature of the town with many visitors seeking to enjoy its spiritual essence and magnificent architecture. This is the first stage of a whole townsite interpretive signage program.

Signs & Lines worked in close partnership with the design agency Axiom Design Partners to help realise the vision of the signs having a strong connection to the site. Each sign appears to be 'extruded' from the earth and bows in reverence to the place it interprets. The steel of the plinth will rust and take on the personality of its environment, further reinforcing the signs connection with the site.