Trotec is the architect of growth at Sign Architects

London-based signage consultancy and material wholesaler Sign Architects are a one-stop-shop for signage and branding.

Offering a consultative approach to signage, graphics and more, the company was founded in 2015 and has grown exponentially to work with market-leading clients including Costa Coffee, Subway and Creams Desserts.

Sign Architects' company ethos is focused on their clients, pushing the boundaries of innovative design and giving each client project the same diligence and care, regardless of size. Customer retention is driven by investing in the best equipment, supplying quality materials and providing a perfect service to clients of all sizes.

In 2022, the company received the Barking and Dagenham Business of the Year award, recognising its commitment to providing quality services and products to its clients. In the same year, they signed a long-term deal to be an association partner for the London Stadium, home of West Ham United Football Club.

Growing business demand
Serving clients across the UK, Sign Architects offer services including letter cutting, illuminated signage, interior signs, vehicle livery and graphic printing. The company began their life in a small industrial unit, before moving to a larger unit to meet growing client demand.

Sign Architects' main materials are cast acrylic and aluminium composite sheets, which were both processed using their large format CNC router in the early days of the business. With a 3 x 2-meter bed size, the router was the ideal tool for both materials, although acrylics required additional processing to achieve a flame-polished edge.

Director Yusuf Rab and CEO Imran Haidar began to notice an increase in the demand for laser cut work. Lacking an in-house solution and keen to expand their production capabilities, Yusuf researched suitable laser systems. Alongside the reliability of the laser system, size was an important consideration. Alongside the larger sheet sizes of their materials, a larger laser system would offer the team flexibility to process both large and small jobs.

Yusuf first discovered Trotec laser at the Sign and Digital show, seeing a range of flatbed systems in action on the stand alongside a smaller large format laser system. Discussions with Trotec staff prompted Yusuf to discover the SP3000, a large format laser cutter with a 3 x 2 meter bed size.

Booking a demonstration at Trotec's South East Showroom, Yusuf saw the machine in action, with the technical capabilities of the laser system greatly impressing. Further discussions with Trotec's area manager and application engineer proved fruitful, with the 200 watt SP3000 installed in February 2021.

A competitive edge for the business

Since its installation, the SP3000 has been a turning point for Sign Architects. The team have continued to see an increase in the demand for their laser services, receiving a minimum of 15 per month of varying sizes. As the only supplier in their area with both large format laser and CNC capabilities, the team frequently do work for other sign makers who lack laser cutting resource.

The laser and CNC work exclusively with materials, with the SP3000 used for all acrylic cutting and engraving. The 200 watt laser source enables Sign Architects to effortlessly cut material thicknesses from 2mm up to 20 mm, while the laser beam negates the requirement for flame polishing, saving the team valuable production time.

This is reflected in the lead time of jobs. As standard, the team offer a 7-10 day turnaround, however, the flexibility of having an in-house laser cutter allows them to be flexible, sometimes offering as little as a couple of days for a finished project.

The SP3000 proved a significant factor in Sign Architects winning the Business of the Year award. The assessors not only noted the capabilities of the laser, but the efficiency and care taken by the staff operating the system.

Imran and Yusuf have praised their Trotec experience. Alongside Trotec's global reputation, the UK team worked with Sign Architects to provide an efficient installation to meet the company's requirements. Alongside building the laser cutter in a designated room, the extraction was fitted under the floor to minimise cabling and trip hazards. Sign Architects now have dedicated rooms for their laser and CNC systems, with an office for the designers located in between.

Looking to the future, Imran, Yusuf and the team are looking to further capitalise on the laser success. This includes expanding into offering other products and services, including novelty gifts, such as acrylic photo frames. Sign Architects have noted that the laser offers near-unlimited possibilities for the company, something which they are keen to explore and continue to develop.

Customer quote
"The laser has been a great addition to Sign Architects' production. With the growing demand for laser-cut signage and letters, we can rapidly respond to the needs of the market and provide a high-quality service for customers.

"We are excited to expand our offering of laser cut products and services, we feel we've only scratched the surface of what is possible."