SIGN WRITING - THE VINYL FRONTIER

Picture this scenario. You need to make a bold statement with your company vehicles, building your brand identity and bringing in new business. This used to involve visiting a professional signwriter and having a custom paint finish which not only costs a fortune but also made the vehicles difficult to dispose when the time came to sell on. Nowadays there's a more efficient method available. You simply wrap the vehicle in a full vinyl jacket.

This way you can make your boring fleet of white vans dayglo yellow and then return them to their pristine white state after however many years you intend to keep them. Not only does this boost the resale value, but the vinyl coverings also help to protect the paintwork from stone chips, superficial scratches and rust. The cost depends on a number of factors including the complexity of the artwork, the grade of vinyl used and, naturally, the size and type of your vehicle.

Some vehicles are easier to wrap than others. The Mercedes Sprinter van is notoriously tricky due to its deep panel indents and hammered textured finish, whilst smart cars are one of the simplest and most cost effective options to wrap. The challenge of a fleet of Mercedes Sprinter didn't faze market leaders Signs Express, a nationwide company with over 80 branches. When Mercedes-Benz Service 24h wanted reflective markings on a large fleet of Sprinters it turned to Signs Express. The result was a Sign Industry Award for best vehicle livery project in return for the job done.



Group Marketing Manager Dan Archer notes, Demand for vehicle livery has grown in recent years as people realise its full potential as a promotional and communication medium. Vehicle wrapping has become more popular as customers increasingly want to stand out from the crowd. With recent advancements in technology we are able to apply full colour graphics and even photographic images to vehicles - the opportunities are limitless.”



At a conservative estimate, vehicle wrapping works out at about 70% of the cost of respraying but it requires similar precision. Preparing the ...