Invention of LED has revolutionised the whole outlook of illuminated or glow signs to a new and rather glittery way which any other technology or mechanism could have hardly been brought about so far. This new technology has outshined the traditional neon signs as LEDs have tremendous advantages to create designs, displays, dimensions and dynamism in innovative manners. Moving or animated display options available with LED technology have set the world of glow signs quite lively.

A flashback

Around 33 years ago, GE scientist Dr Nick Holonyak Jr invented the first practical visible-spectrum light emitting diode (LED), a device which his colleagues, at that time called 'The Magic One' because its light, unlike infrared lasers, was visible to the human eye. In a recent interview at his laboratory in University of Illinois, just about three weeks ahead of the 50th anniversary of the invention of LED, 83 years old Dr Holonyak Jr recollected the competitive forces that propelled him toward his moment of LED invention in a GE laboratory.

When Dr Holonyak Jr joined GE's team of researchers in 1957, scientists and engineers in the company were already researching on semiconductor applications and building the forerunners of modern diodes called thyristors and rectifiers. On October 9, 1962, with GE colleagues looking on, Dr Holonyak Jr became the first person to operate a visible semiconductor alloy laser—the device that illuminated the first visible LED.

Core advantages

LEDs are designed to avail across the visible, ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths in high brightness. When an LED is turned on, electrons are able to recombine with electron holes within the device, releasing energy in the form of photons, which is termed as 'electroluminescence'. Size of an LED is less than one sq mm in which integrated optical components are used to shape its radiation pattern. LED is a new generation technology with several advantages over conventional glow signs.

Less power: LEDs consume very less electricity compared to conventional neon signs. Not only saving the electricity, LED is environment friendly too. If an LED embedded illuminated sign runs for 24x7, it would remain cool to touch and saves up to 75 percent against neon signs.

Long life: Embedded LED components in a glow sign are lasted for continual use for up to 1,00,000 hours. Most of the LEDs are weather resistant and almost maintenance free.

Colour gamut: Manufactured in a full colour range with appropriate mixing schemes, LEDs generate billions of colours which can create better readability and flexibility than conventional signage.

Impactful message: LEDs can be designed into moving message boards which catch, communicate and convey with commuters more effectively than other conventional glow signs.

Cost effectiveness: LED boards can be of different sizes, right from giant billboards up to small strips at grocery stores. Such flexibility of LEDs helps users opt to choose any glow sign in any budget.

Real time displays: Be it weather reports, road traffic update or stock exchange info, outdoor LEDs boards are used to herald general public messages.

Easy operation: Outdoor LED boards can be operated merely through a centralised operating system to update information of displays any time at night or day even in off business hours.

Laser-engraved signs Another innovation in the contemporary signage market is laser engraving, which uses lasers to engrave or mark an object. This technology neither involves using of inks nor tool bits which contact the engraving surface and wear out. From hologram to cut letters, laser engravers play pivotal roles in creation of innovative designs in signage and others.

Coated metals: Laser engraving metal plates are manufactured with a finely-polished metal, coated with enamel paint to produce well-cut 3D letters and designs.

Inventive plastics: Cast acrylic plastics, acrylic sheets and other cast resins are best suitable to laser engrave arrays of innovative outputs. But for special laser-engraving plastics are developed for signage and faceplates.

Laserable range: Laser engraving has been more pronounced for specially designed 'laserable materials, such as laser-sensitive polymers and metal alloys. Images on wood were some of the first uses of engraving lasers.

Stone and glass: Rigid materials like stones and glass are said to be better mediums to laser engrave for innovative designs.

A spotlight

Now that Ram Nagar market in New Delhi is rather popular for a beeline of LED and laser engraving shops, knowing a little bit of their backgrounds and activities would make a clearer picture of what they deserve. Here they are…

---

Paul Plastic & Brass House

One of the oldest bastions in sign making trades in the region, establishment of Paul Plastic & Brass House is rooted to almost five decades. This company has been into the business ever since the days when sign making was not much of a mechanical practice using high-end machineries and innovative materials. "We always follow the market trends which keep sprouting in times through modern technologies and machines," said DP Wadhwa of Paul Plastic & Brass House. He added that the inclusion of LEDs in the company's activities/product line around a few years has tallied up new fervour in their creative jobs.

Having been dealing in LEDs, both in assembling displays/signages and distributorship of materials, Paul Plastic & Brass House is one of the trustful names in Ram Nagar for delivering peerless service and quality materials. "While constructing whatever range of LED displays or signages, we go for branded materials only, be it modules or stripes," explained DP Wadhwa adding that the company is a sole distributor of GE brand of LED materials.

Another notable activity of Paul Plastic & Brass House includes their laser engraving jobs, which cater a vast range of outputs, including cut metal/brass letter signs, mementoes, customised display items, etc. Clients who regularly drive down to Ram Nagar market to make their orders for both LED and laser engraving jobs to Paul Plastic & Brass House include a horde coming from the remotest corners of the country. "Our client list includes companies from Guwahati upto Pune, who are in need of fabrication and installation tasks, we send our team to accomplish the projects on the spots," mentioned DP Wadhwa. Star TV, Universal, Aaj Tak, to quote a few, are some of the eminent customers for whom Paul Plastic & Brass House has been catering both LED and laser engraved signage products. The current market of LED and laser engraving signage jobs is quite competitive and challenging. But DP Wadhwa believes that the market in India opens a long road ahead to compete overseas countries, which will help Rs one crore Paul Plastic & Brass House boost its revenue to attain a new figure sooner than later.



Yachana Arts Signs

A brainchild of Harminder Singh and Dharmender Khatri, who understand a deep insight of the signage industry, Yachana Arts Signs has gained its popularity as a unique sign shop for special/customised display items like LED boards and walls (moving), etched items, reflective signs, steel, brass, wood and acrylic letters, translite and others. "We have been in the signage market for more than 30 years. Our experience includes different activities as we used to work as employees in some sign making firms before the establishment of Yachana Arts Signs," remembered Dharmender Khatri of Yachana Arts Signs.

Unveiling of Yachana Arts Signs happened on an auspicious Diwali day. So the Diwali (2012) marked a celebration of the festival of light cum the company's 9th Anniversary. After long decades of experiences in the signage market, Dharmender and Harminder decided to keep it up with specialty signages/displays developed with LEDs and laser-engraved materials. "Because we have seen a big prospect in this domain of signages," said Harminder adding that the advent of LEDs has really brought in a revolution in the domain of glow or illuminated signs.

Yachana Arts Signs is known for its landmark projects accomplished all across the country. The company first installed striking poster windows, LED boards, acrylic letters, moving displays at PVR Cinemas in New Delhi. "Now a days, there are many in the market to provide such service and products. But we were one of those who initiated such innovative ways of interior signages in multiplex cinemas," mentioned Harminder adding that their laser-engraved items, which they outsource to other companies for time being, will be operating full-fledged after the completion of company's new set-up which is now undergoing up-gradation. On quality control, Dharmender remarked that they always utilise branded (LED) materials, which come up as per the request and requirement of customers which keep changing. Apart from its nationwide customers base, Yachana Arts Signs boasts of its select customers from the US, Australia and Malaysia who are impressed by the company's unique artifacts.



Shiva Arts

A distinguished LED, cut-metal and plastic letter sign shop, Shiva Arts is a one-stop-corner where gathered customers from Delhi and beyond. Uniqueness of this company can be defined into its unbeaten infrastructures which include entire range of Pantograph CNC routers, Universal and Laser Pro engravers, etching machines, cutting plotters and other finishing equipments. While pointing out

who-is-who in their client list, Sunil of Shiva Arts mentioned that those customers who failed to find their choice of materials or products always drop in at our doorsteps. Of course, Shiva Arts is popular for specialties in all types of glow and laser-cut displays and signs for customers rushing from far and near corners of Delhi and other regions.

Main forte of Shiva Arts is that the company works for clients with differences in outputs. This must be the reason why the company pulls customers from all over the country and some from the neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Nepal. "We always maintain to balance between quality and cost to appease our customers," said Sunil adding that most of their clients enjoy the cost effectiveness at Shiva Arts. Prediction of the improvement in the LED and laser-engraving market of India, he suggested that the existing scenario needs to be boosted with quality but affordable or relevant materials.

All that buzz around the shop-front of Shiva Arts is of the horde coming down to make orders for different specialties available under the roof of this signage corner. This shop caters a range of items, be it fancy sign boards, moving or fixed LED boards, interchangeable boards, name plates, awards, shields, trophies, dye-engraved items, drawing stencils, message boards, mimic diagrams, etc for its clients from all over India and overseas. Looking forward as update in their activities is the adoption of new technologies emerging in the market.



Super Arts

Last 25 years have witnessed different avatars of Super Arts into their sign making business. The company unveiled as a mere shop dealing in metal works to carve sign letters and others manually. Year after year, advents of acrylic sheets, flex materials and LEDs have instilled the company to surge into new activities embracing the innovations to a new high and popularity. "Over the last 6-7 years, we clicked upon LED and ACP materials which help us boost business in the domains of shopping malls and offices," said Vaibbhav Srivastav of Supper Arts. Visage Communications is a sister concern of the company running parallel for the same activities.

"We go for the best LED components to fulfill the needs and demands of our clients. As per the types of applications, be it at corporate buildings, shopping malls and public spaces, our choices for quality materials keep varying from one project to another," said Vaibbhav. He added that the new revolution in the market of illuminated signs following the advent of LEDs will keep growing in the years to come. "India is considerably a prospective market. Even though we cannot predict a fixed time period, there is still room to make the Indian cities similar to that of Las Vegas, Hong Kong when it comes to refurbishing the city lights through LEDs," opined Sandeep Sehgal of Super Arts.

Carson, Radisson and Oberoi Group are some of prominent clients which Super Arts have roped in the hotel industry to supply LED displays, laser-cut, water-jet signs for interior display purposes. And those automobile heavyweights in the company's clientele include Audi, Harley Davison and Ferrari. In the hospital domain, it consists of Haldiram Heart Hospital, Rockland Hospital and others. On the market growth, Vaibbhav mentioned that India's glow signage market is moving forward to fill the existing gap of quality by adopting the finest technologies and materials which we can either indigenously manufacture or import for time being.



Twenty-One (The Sign Shop)

Three years old Twenty-One (The Sign Shop) in Ram Nagar, which is easily recognisable for the reason that its name tells where it locates in the market, always pulls huge crowd all the time to its doorway. Like other shops in the area, Twenty-One (The Sign Shop) delivers quite a versatile range of LED signages, brass and steel letters, vinyl boards, gift items, mementoes, etc. "But we always attempt to work out at our best level to satisfy the needs and requirements of our clients," said Sunil Lamba of Twenty-One (The Signage Shop).

Twenty-One (The Signage Shop) has not yet been set up any production facility for their laser cutting activities. "We closely tie-up with a number of eminent companies which can provide us the most efficient outputs/jobs to comply best with our clients," remarked Sunil adding that they deliver a wide spectrum of glow or cut signs and displays, which include right from economic items to highly expensive one, as per the affordability and comfort levels of customers.

"Since our presence in the market is quite young, we at present are not in the position to include big corporate clients in our customer list," said Sunil. But his vision for future expansion of the company is very clear that they would like to push Twenty-One (The Signage Shop) to a new level where people recognise them for updated jobs and service of what they are delivering today. As of today, Twenty-One (The Signage Shop) is very confined to local clients around Delhi and entertains just a few from Punjab and Haryana. But they eye to spread wings wider to cover more regions in the years to come.



Krishna Signs

Incepted in the year 1989 in a bit simpler manner from what they are indulging into today, Krishna Signs was a popular shop casting medals and trophies earlier but its activities in LED signs, laser-cut items and others started just around five years back. "No matter how we tried, there were limited options to prepare a cut-display item (through manual etching process) before the introduction of advanced technologies," said Aya Singh of Krishna Signs. He affirmed that the mass recognition of Krishna Signs in Ram Nagar market was noticed only for the company's activities in carving sports medals, silver coins for religious puja in the early days of their business.

Old habits of Krishna Signs die hard! "We still use manual practice to acid-etch the medals, trophies and other items," shared Aya adding that the company's production unit equipped fully with a range of laser engraving machines and others run parallel with manual tasks. The range of products which Krishna Signs recurrently delivers to its clients based in and outside Delhi includes laser/acid-cut brass and steel letters, LED boards, in general, and other specially-crafted items like lobby boards, translite boards, ACP panels, podiums, military logos, notice boards, etc.

Most of the company's customers are predominantly from the local market; some of them are regular and old ones from the real estate sector who never go to any other shops but Krishna Signs. "Gurgaon-based Clarion Builder is one of the oldest customers settled in our client list since last five years. Likewise, we have some other regular clients (hotels and builders) from far off towns like Mussoorie," mentioned Aya. A team of nine well-trained professionals is pride of Krishna Signs whose installation and fabrication assignments can be executed anywhere around the country, if it is so required by the clients.



Classic Glow Sign

Widely acclaimed as a shop of steel and brass letter signs since the early 1980s, Classic Glow Sign has gained its new fame and fortune following the expansion of their activities to embrace up-to-date activities of LED signs and laser-cut items over the last few years. "In the early days of our shop, we specifically engaged into cut-letter/etched plate signs designed and developed manually," explained Jagdish Dang of Classic Glow Sign. His words of comparison further explained that the world of glow sign and cut-letter signs has reached an advanced stage with the advents of LEDs and high-end laser cutting technologies, comparing to the days when everything was limited to manual practices.

"Availability of novel materials like LEDs and high-tech laser engravers in the current market has enhanced our creativity to convert whatever ideas brought up by customers into reality," remarked Jagdish. Now, Classic Glow Sign is a popular name in the real estate segment as the shop has been associated with a number of builders to provide them interior signs and display items. "Arinara Builders, Goson, Landmark, etc are some of the regular clients who always keep in touch with us for varieties of interior and external signage projects of different scales," mentioned Jagdish.

On other hand, Classic Glow Sign is a corner where local customers also drop in for personal or customised items for household and small-scale applications. "To us, every customer is the same, be it a corporate biggie or a local kirana shop owner," asserted Jagdish. He further mentioned that they commit their best way to treat the customers to the best satisfactory level. When it comes to delivering its end-products or services to other destinations outside Delhi, a team of the company's professionals would land on the spot if the customer requires fabrication and installation jobs. Classic Glow Sign boasts of its classic way to woo their customers.



Avtar Fine Art

Taking on the advantages of swift growth in the LED and laser-cut signage market across the country, Avtar Singh along with his partner Nishan Deep unveiled Avtar Fine Art, a complete signage shop in Ram Nagar, where satisfaction to every customer is guaranteed. Incepted just around five years ago, the shop has gained mass popularity in the glow sign and cut-letter signage market of India by constantly roping in a good number of clients from every nook and corner of Delhi.

"We are still in a beginning stage in the field of glow signage and laser-engraved display items," said Avtar Singh adding that they are looking ahead to expand their business into a new avatar in the fresh market domains in and outside Delhi. Avtar Fine Art operates under a firm objective to satisfy their customers to the fullest. "What we commit to fulfilling the demands of our customers is in such a way that we never let them down even with slight dissatisfaction," mentioned Avtar. He further affirmed that their customers recognise them for the company's uniquely crafted steel and brass letter displays, in addition to custom-made LED boards.

Items available at Avtar Fine Art can be listed as velvet, magnetic and white boards; steel, wood and brass cut-letters; a range of steel and brass stands; brass and steel etched plates; reflective road signs; and LED boards. On the company's development plans, Avtar mentioned that Avtar Fine Art would be upgraded to a new status with the opening of a new production division and boosting up the company's marketing strategy for more innovations to its outputs.



Mahajan Brass & Plastic House

Almost every sign shop in Ram Nagar has a common background. That's their business into brass and plastic letter signs before switching to LEDs. So is the background of Mahajan Brass & Plastic House. However, this signage shop has a background older than its days of brass and plastic cut letters. "We, in the very beginning, were just rubber stamp maker," said Ashok Mahajan of Mahajan Brass & Plastic House. He mentioned that the company's further move towards newer activities was carefully chosen to compete with the existing players in the market.

"In addition to the company's traditional rubber stamp business was name plate (signage) making started around a decade or so," mentioned Ashok. Mahajan Brass & Plastic House has not yet owned any production set up as most of the company's cutting, molding and other related activities get done by outsourcing to eminent third party companies. "Our overall activities are predominantly of assembling. But we carefully control the quality of the raw materials which we source from third parties," stated Ashok.

Mahajan Brass & Plastic House has a list of all type of customers rushing from near and far corners of the city. But one unique customer in the company's clientele is military department. "Yes, we are supplier of laser-cut brass signs to the Indian Army," said Ashok adding that they however do not deal directly with end users. Most of their big clients' jobs are brought to Mahajan Brass & Plastic House by free lancers/agencies which have been tied-up with them for years. A huge array of signage products which this tiny signage shop delivers to its horde of customers include the normal laser-cut brass and steel letters, name plates, illuminated LED boards, army or paramilitary logos and lots more.



New Signage India

Its 20 years of presence in the signage market has inculcated New Signage India to experiment novel and innovative activities like LEDs in the contemporary market. "We incepted as a shop for laser-cutting jobs to churn out brass and steel letters," said Ashok Bajaj of New Signage India. Later on, in view of the robust growth and development in the glow sign segment, main activities of the shop have expanded into the fresh domain of LED signs. Equipped with a Micro laser engraver and other machines including CNC router, cutting plotter, New Signage India boasts of its state-of-the-art infrastructure.

New Signage India has the pride of being able to set its client base all across the country. "Our focus is the local market (Delhi), which is quite resourceful with full of business opportunities," said Ashok adding that the customers from outside the capital city also occupy major part of the company's client list. He further pointed out some destinations like Punjab, Cuttak and Srinagar as major cities wherefrom a number of regular customers of the company are recurrently pouring in. New Signage India makes their customers satisfied through their special works and efficient services.

Regarding the current market scenario of glow sign and laser-cut signs in India, Ashok opined that the segment is fairly promising for a big boom development in near future. "Glow signage market which we have exploited so far in the country is just a beginning. A huge volume of ground-breaking tasks in this segment is still lying unexplored," mentioned Ashok. Citing the fact of constant growth in India's overall signage industry, he asserted that illuminated signage (LEDs) is one of the areas which can give a big boost in the market.



Kamal Brass & Plastic House

The name itself tells what this shop would have been. One of the old players in Ram Nagar market, Kamal Brass & Plastic House emerged as a popular shop for signage and display items made of brass and plastic materials in the early 1990s. This shop is considerably one of the foremost corners where equipped finest range of machineries, namely, FlexiCAM CNC router, Laser Pro engraver and others including printers and post-press finishing equipments. "Unlike others, we are not just a typical shop catering just select items to our clients. We deliver complete signage solutions for both interior and exterior displays to a horde of eminent clients in hospitality and real estate segments," affirmed Rishabh Wadhwa of Kamal Brass & Plastic House.

Tivoli Gardens, Raddison Hotels and Oberoi Group are some of the regular clients of Kamal Brass & Plastic House for years. "We sometimes are asked by our clients for some basic installation work. Our company team will go to the spots if the clients require helping hands," mentioned Rishabh adding that the company's clientele comprise companies based in Delhi and beyond. He however asserted that it depends on the geographical location and type of jobs required by the clients, Kamal Brass & Plastic House helps their customers accomplish any given project.

The new market trends surfacing through changes in time and situation have inspired Kamal Brass & Plastic House go for innovative items. Concerning the market growth happening with LED and laser-cut signs, Rishabh mentioned that India has one such promising market which would escalate its glow sign and cut-letter displays to an international standard. He agrees to the fact that the market of glow signage after the introduction of ground-breaking LEDs would soon be revolutionised into a brand new outlook.



Media Gallery

Usual scene at the counter of Media Gallery is always be a swarm of customers who come to the shop for LED displays (moving and fixed), electronics score boards, forex & token displays, digital clocks, backlit and frontlit LED embedded fonts, acrylic letters, brass and steel cut letters and more. This 20 years old shop has a pride of being one of the pioneers delivering all sorts of illuminated signages and arrays of customised display items. "Known to the customers for our versatilities in service and end products, we always go for latest technologies and machineries which pop up fresh innovations in the industry," said Ashok Dhingra of Media Gallery.

Always switched to high-quality LED components to develop varieties of glow signs for a number of corporate as well as local walk-in customers in and out of Delhi, Media Gallery has its own production set-up where installed a Gerber Scientific laser engraver and other range of post-press finishing equipments. According to Ashok, the glow sign (LED) market of India is heading to a new direction, concealing the costly and out-of-fashion neon signs. He opined that the domain of LEDs, and laser-engraved signs has a vast prospects of growth in near future as this segment is still a lot to be exploited.

Regular clients for whom Media Gallery has constantly been offering service and products are predominantly from hospitality sector as well as food and beverage domain. "We have closely been associating with leading hotels in Delhi and other parts of the country for their LED displays as well as others including way-finding signs, so on," said Ashok adding that Media Gallery has its footprints in far off destinations like Kerala. The company's dedicated team of 20 professionals keep themselves alert to meet whatever demands and requirements of clients at any given time, to any destination.



Sign World

Indeed a world of signage, Sign World is a corner which caters everything about glow signs and laser-cut display items. This shop is a parallel entity of Mehandi Plastics - a popular name in the field for cut-letters made of plastics and metals in the area. Under the sole proprietorship of Mehandi Hassan, these two shops have gained mass popularity for delivering unmatched service and products to both local and corporate clients. "When our activities being spilled over while running from a single shop, we ultimately decided to unveil Sign World around three years back," said Arun Kumar from Sign World/Mehandi Plastics.

"It's quite obvious to say that LEDs have totally captured the market of glow signs. We are into this activity since establishment to keep our customers to their best satisfactory level," revealed Arun citing that Sign World endeavours at its best level to meet the perpetual demands and desires of their clients. Stressing on the advantages of LED signs, Ashok mentioned that Sign World opts for such quality materials which can give variations in designs, illumination and effectiveness to the needs of their customers. The company's production facility, fully equipped with a Woodpecker CNC router and other finishing equipments is being operated by a team of 15 professionals.

Apart from a few, most of the customers of Sign World come through agencies which bring a huge volume of works of corporate players and others. "We have some Delhi-based agencies whose associations with us have been since our establishment and their clients are mostly based outside the city," said Arun. Regarding the future plan of Sign World, he has a firm statement about the company's growth towards new business verticals to cater more innovative ideas and outputs.



Gurbachan Singh & Sons

Those who visit Rome ultimately think and act like Romans. This was how Gurbachan Singh & Sons finally decided to branch out its socks manufacturing shop with a new division for LED and laser-cut signs. As long as almost 90 percent of shops in Ram Nagar market are concerned, their business more or less involved into glow sign and cut-letter business. Seeing the burgeoning market potential in the area and rush of customers for the glow signs, Balbir Singh with his colleague Dinesh Kashyap decided to open a branch of Gurbachan Singh & Sons to exclusively deal with LEDs and laser-engraved signages.

Perhaps the youngest signage shop in Ram Nagar market, Gurbachan Singh & Sons is now experimenting to grab the market pulse. "As of now, we haven't penetrated the market in a proper way," said Dinesh Kashyap of Gurbachan Singh & Sons. He added that the shop is now in touch with a group of third parties who can supply LED components, strips and other items required to assemble illuminated signs, in response to demands of the local clients.

Dinesh listed a string of signage items which Gurbachan Singh & Sons can deliver, viz. cut letters made of steel and brass; metal name plates; engraved-prestos and white magnetic; LED boards; and other customised/personalised sign and display items. He mentioned that the shop will find its pace sooner than later as they are now attempting to boost the company's overall activities and product range available to all sorts of clients from different walks of life or various industrial clusters.



Azad Furniture Works

Size doesn't matter! Onlookers may not believe their eyes that Azad Furniture Works, a paan-shop size cut letter sign shop, is the corner which attracts decades old customers rushing from every nook and corner of the city. As old as the era of pre-independence India, this shop was established by Late S Naschter Singh more than 50 years ago to deal with wooden designs and decorations. The legacy still continues as his son Baldev Singh successfully maintains the business by updating the activities to follow the current trends of the market.

"Today, our business primarily involves into etched-signs, which include name and vehicle plates, white boards, pin-up notice boards, brass, plastic and acrylic letters, magnetic boards, common seals, etc," mentioned Baldev Singh of Azad Furniture Works. He added that the company's client list is bulged with customers who just drop in for personal name plates and others. Azad Furniture Works is such a signage shop where generations of customers are still visiting for the quality and enjoying the tradition of the company's unique charms of artifacts.

There is no production set-up at Azad Furniture Works. But the shop is in close tie-up with third parties who could deliver best of service in laser-cut signs. "Entire pre-requisite jobs of the shop are outsourced to some companies whom we trust," said Baldev adding that they are planning to expand their business, looking ahead to cope with the trends spiraling in the contemporary market.



Lakshmi Arts

Having been into the business of hand-crafted signs near about three decades in the market, Lakshmi Arts is one of the old players in Ram Nagar having seen different periods of changes in trends and innovations. "My father opened this shop in 1985 engaging in hand-made signages for different purposes," said LR Kohli of Lakshmi Arts. During that period, construction of innovative signs or display items was an uphill task with very limited options as everything had to be crafted manually. In this respect, Kohli opined that the invention of modern equipments and materials has eventually given this market a new facelift.

"Of course, LEDs have changed the world of glow signs. Nevertheless, laser machines have changed the time consuming and tedious cut-letter or plate cutting jobs," said Kohli adding that Lakshmi Arts gradually got into a progression over the last five-six years, exploiting advanced products, machineries and technologies introduced in the industry. "There is no doubt to say that the craze in illuminated signs has thrived upon a new height after the advent of LEDs. Every customer dropping in at our shop these days generally decide on LEDs while planning to include the glow sign for indoor/interior decorations," he added.

Works of Lakshmi Arts also impress some international clients who come straight from Australia. When asked about any special quality which pulled the attention of overseas customers, Kohli articulated that they deliver the same items at mush cheaper price, which otherwise might cost double in the overseas markets. Team of 30 well-trained staffers formed the company's workforce to cast, assemble and install brass, steel and plastic letters, LED boards and other customised items. Looking ahead to boost their volume of jobs and market coverage, Lakshmi Arts always updates themselves with the latest and innovative items.



Quality Arts (India)

A tradition of quality is what Quality Arts (India) has been maintaining ever since its establishment around 14 years back. Specialty signage and display items have been the mainstay of their business. And yet another charm of the company is that every item they deliver is an end-product assembled using only branded or finest materials. "While undertaking a project, we attempt to precisely study the need and desire of the client," said Arun Sharma of Quality Arts (India). In his further comments, he mentioned about the selection of quality materials to produce incredible range of end-products. "Everything depends on the level of quality demanded by the client," he asserted adding that they go for most acclaimed HMD LED stripes, SAMSUNG LED modules and others to create striking glow signs.

Items for which Quality Arts (India) has been spotted by many regular customers in Ram Nagar market include moving LED walls, fixed LED boards, laser-cut signs made of brass, steel and other rigid materials. Though no machines have yet been installed due to space constrain in the current shop set-up, Quality Arts (India) is looking forward to revamp themselves with a production facility of its own and wider market coverage. Arun remarked that the glow signs as well as laser engraving activities have become fastest growing segments in the country's signage industry. He agreed to the fact that these domains of signage will make a big boost in near future.

Corporate customers from different industrial clusters form major parts of Quality Arts (India)'s roster of clients. But this shop is a corner where some walk-in customers come down to get their small-scale jobs done. "Of course, we have to maintain the balance of local and corporate customers under the same treatment. The local walk-in customers at our shop account for just 10 percent," mentioned Arun. His future vision is to make Quality Arts (India) more customer-friendly. And unpacking of more innovative ideas and items at the shop is in the pipeline.



Friends Arts

Yet another sign shop in Ram Nagar market, which appears to be a mere corner but runs in a big way pleasing big clients in different industrial pockets, such as real estate, shopping malls, household building, corporate offices, etc. "Though we are not able to develop a marketing team to deal with big clients in corporate sector, but we are working for many reputed clients via some popular agencies," said Tarun Arora of Friends Arts. He further mentioned about the company's plan to open up a full-fledged production facility with a range of high-end machines. As of now, Friends Arts sometimes outsources its jobs, in case the project is of larger scale.

"There are some clients whom we deal directly. But most of them are local customers, such as shops, individuals and others who just drop in for some instant jobs," said Tarun adding that they form a good relations with them. Friends Arts has developed a status in Ram Nagar market for delivering instant jobs. Tarun remarked that the cut-letter signs made of metal, plastic, woods, etc are items which the shop is famous among local customers. He further mentioned that people who come to their shop have confidence that they would receive the ordered items in time.

The range of items which Friends Arts is popularly catering to its clients includes digital and flex prints, in addition to its usual items like fixed and moving LED boards, illuminated display panels, brass and steel letters, etched plates, etc. "We would be carrying forward our overall activities to further enhance with the addition of fresh items, which can bring further amongst our customers," asserted Tarun while mentioning what lies ahead for Friends Arts.



Sign World

The name Sign World has been adopted recently in a matter of a few months. Earlier the company operated under the name Kuldeep Enterprises dealing in a gamut of activities related directly or indirectly with signage and display jobs. "We took the decision to change the name of the shop to exclusively and extensively deal in signages," said Rakesh Kumar of Sign World. Diverse range of signage items available in the shop are set in such a way that any customer's demand for a complete signage solution can easily be fulfilled on the spot without running from one pillar to other. "Our goal is to give a perfect combo of signage in response to the needs and demands of customers," Rakesh added.

Talking about the gradually developing market of LED signs and laser-cut display items, Rakesh's remark on the swift development in this segment of signage industry has outlined the possibility of a big boom in near future. "LED signage is one of the most promising items which can bring in a new level of business to the industry," remarked Rakesh adding, "There are prospects still lying unexploited in the glow sign market which we can pull it off easily in an innovative way by utilising the advantages of LEDs."

"In order to deliver differently in our outputs, we always opt for the finest and branded materials. For example, we go for popular brands like Samsung, GE and others to develop LED embedded sign boards," said Rakesh. Most of the company's clients from varied industrial strata or different walks of life preferred the ways Sign World maintains the proficiency, accuracy and punctuality in service and delivery.

---

What they say in common

• There is still room to make the Indian cities similar to that of Las Vegas, Hong Kong when it comes to refurbishing the city lights through LEDs.
• High-tech laser engravers in the current market has enhanced out creativity to convert whatever ideas brought up by customers into reality.
• The current market of LED and laser engraving signage jobs is quite competitive and challenging.
• LED signage is one of the most promising items which can bring in a new level of business to the industry.