Signage plays a crucial role in everyday life, from helping us navigate to providing essential information. However, sign fabricators understand that the process of sign-making can be complex, requiring precision, accuracy, and attention to detail.
Sign Fabricators’ Top 5 Frequent Mistakes
While no sign fabricator is perfect, common mistakes can be avoided with the right awareness and improvement strategies. To help you optimize your sign manufacturing process, we’ve identified the five most frequent mistakes made by sign fabricators and how to address them.
1. Non-Compliance with the ADA
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires businesses to accommodate individuals with disabilities. Ensuring that your signage complies with ADA standards is critical for sign fabricators. Pay close attention to key areas like font, braille placement, mounting height, and pictogram layout.
- Font: All characters must be in uppercase, sans serif, and range between ⅝ inch and two inches in size.
- Braille Placement: ADA-compliant signage must use Grade II braille, which aids visually impaired individuals.
- Mounting Height: Signs should be installed at a minimum of 48 inches and a maximum of 60 inches from the floor.
- Pictogram Placement: Each pictogram needs a clear area of six inches, though a height of 4.5 inches is typically recommended.
For sign fabricators looking to streamline ADA compliance, Nova Polymers’ Workflow Manager software simplifies the process. It automates ADA-compliant braille placement, font selection, and other critical compliance details.
2. Not Getting Proofs Approved in Advance
One of the most costly mistakes sign fabricators make is neglecting to get client approval on proofs before production. A proof can be a digital rendering or a physical sample showing the finished signage.
Sending proofs to clients for approval allows them to review and confirm key details like spelling, braille accuracy, text size, and layout. This also allows clients to gather feedback from their team before moving forward. Securing proof approval helps sign fabricators avoid costly mistakes, ensuring that the final product meets the client’s expectations while saving time and resources.
3. Wasting Materials
Sign fabricators often waste materials due to human error and miscalculations. For example, when cutting sign materials, unused scraps can often go to waste. To reduce material waste, sign fabricators should focus on employee training to maximize material usage. Investing in software that minimizes human error during production can significantly reduce wasted resources.
4. Producing the Wrong Quantity of Signs
A common issue for sign fabricators is producing too many or too few signs. Miscalculations during production can lead to excess signage and a waste of materials and time. On the other hand, producing too few signs can result in missed deadlines and frustrated clients.
To avoid these issues, sign fabricators should double-check order quantities and ensure clear communication with clients. Creating black-and-white proofs for each order can help prevent discrepancies and ensure that the right number of signs is produced every time.
5. Addressing Photopolymer Inefficiencies
Photopolymer signage production presents its own set of challenges for sign fabricators. Here are some common issues to watch out for:
- Old Bulbs: To maintain proper exposure times, replace bulbs every 2–3 years or annually if used daily.
- Stouffer Scale: Regularly check the Stouffer Scale to ensure bulbs work properly. For PT materials, aim for a reading of 15-16; for exterior materials, aim for 12-13.
- Washout Time: Washout time should not exceed five minutes. If it does, check the brush settings for possible adjustments.
- Drying Time: Allow at least 15 minutes to ensure the photopolymer bonds effectively with the backer material.
By addressing these inefficiencies, sign fabricators can produce high-quality signage while optimizing production time.
Key Takeaways for Sign Fabricators
Awareness of these common mistakes allows sign fabricators to assess and improve their production workflows. Training your team to avoid these pitfalls can increase productivity, reduce costs, and boost profitability.
At Nova Polymers, we help sign fabricators identify and resolve production inefficiencies. If you’re ready to take your sign business to the next level, contact us today for expert guidance.
