The fundamentals of fabricating and installing a sign have changed little since John Meyer founded our company more than half a century ago. We design and build something that communicates who our customer is, then place it so that people will notice it (while, of course, complying with local ordinances).

What has changed over the years are the technologies and tools by which we do this business. Investing in these is costly, but these investments are necessary if we want to be competitive — and staying competitive isn’t just about price; it’s also about delivering value. Two recent examples of how we do both through capital equipment purchases are our new shear and our latest installation truck.

The acquisition of our shear follows on the purchase a few years ago of a hydraulic press brake. While there are a number of ways you can cut metal, there is really only one way you can bend it — which makes a hydraulic press brake an essential fabrication tool (unless you choose the less efficient option of welding two pieces of metal together to create an angle rather than simply bending a single piece). And while some sign fabricators might job out this particular fabrication step, keeping it in-house gives us greater control as well as saving time (which, as we all know, equals money).

When it comes to cutting metal, you can certainly do so with a skill saw or with plasma arc — but this can take a long time. Thanks to our new shear, we can do what might otherwise have taken minutes to accomplish in less than 30 seconds. In the process, we also end up with a better looking end result. The difference is seldom if ever visible to the customer, but we know it’s there. Asking why this matters brings to mind the saying, “Integrity is what you do when no one is looking.”

The latest addition to our vehicle fleet occupies a sweet spot in size and capability. It is small enough to not require a commercial license to operate, but large enough to hoist a worker to a comfortable install height of over 50 feet. The boom winch on the bucket also opens up additional installation options. And while it may seem like a bit of an indulgence, it has a quiet and comfortable ride. Our installation crew are a hardy lot, but a long day in a noisy and jolting rig is enough to wear out anyone who may have to spend hours on the road in addition to meeting the physical demands of installing a sign.

Along with our latest capital investments, we’ve also added new personnel to the Meyer Sign & Advertising team. In the long run, you can replace and upgrade any piece of equipment, but finding and retaining the right person to operate it is another thing entirely. We’ll save that particular subject for yet another post.