While 80 percent of Signnovation International’s work is in the Netherlands, it also exports to Austria, Belgium, Denmark and Germany. The company’s 'invisibility’ stems from the way it does business: its customers are other sign makers, not end users. “If you drive around the Netherlands, you will see our signs everywhere,” says Ramon Wiggers, head of planning at Signnovation International. “It’s ironic, Signnovation is invisible, but our work displays us all over the country.”

It has been nearly two decades since Signnovation has been using EnRoute CAD/CAM software from SAi to drive its two heavy-duty MultiCam 5000 routers, and its Cyborg 2030-SV-L-Pro purchased through Belgian reseller Ketele NV. “These three high quality CNC routers in combination with the EnRoute software guarantee unmatched artwork and perfect finished signs. We have four EnRoute licenses—one for each of our routers, and one for emergencies – or a new machine!,” mentions Ramon.

Focusing on the job

“All we do is making signs,” explains Ramon, adding, “Whether they are 2D signs of acrylic or foamboard, or 3D channel signs with fabricated steel and aluminium bodies – that is all we do: letters, numbers and logos. We don’t do design; we don’t do installations. We focus on producing and shipping outstanding letters. A channel sign, also known as a light box, is a 3D sign made up of individual letters, often illuminated from within, comprising a back, in the shape of the letter; the return, which gives it depth; and, a translucent face, usually made of acrylic or polycarbonate. The back and return are typically made of aluminium or stainless steel. Trim is added to the outline of the face and helps to hold it to the return.”

Ramon is in charge of Signnovation’s planning department, and oversees all aspects of employees’ work, welfare and training as well as output quality, and machine performance – including future needs.

“Since we work for a large number of sign makers – each working with many designers – from a wide geographical area, it’s not surprising that they have different ways of doing things. This is why we have developed one way of doing things, and we have built our success by following that method. Each customer has a single point of contact at the company who oversees the project from the moment it comes in to when it goes out the door.”

He adds, “As you can imagine, working with so many companies and designers, we receive files in all sorts of formats. We would prefer them as EPS or DXF files, but using EnRoute, we are able to handle just about anything.” Nonetheless, everything is checked to ensure that expensive substrates aren’t wasted, and that the job meets – or exceeds – customers’ expectations. The specifications for colour, material, thickness, finish, and details like drainage requirements, are all set out on a standard form for the planners to check.

“SAi’s EnRoute is very good at finding errors in the files,” says Ramon, adding “It won’t let the cutting start until the problem has been resolved. This feature prevents mistakes, cuts waste, and ultimately ensures more streamlined production.”

The variety of tools available in EnRoute software actually goes well beyond Signnovation’s needs.

“We don’t cut wood, or make moldings, for example, but all the tools are there,” mentions Ramon. “It’s a great software for us: it’s easy for people to learn; there aren’t too many settings, and with the displays it’s simple to see all that’s going on,” he explains.

Reliable versatility

EnRoute’s full CAD design handling capabilities and advanced 2D tool pathing and drilling ensure clean cuts, internally and externally. Accurate inlays and channel cutting enable the realisation of complex designs, and the software even has the ability to include textures. The reliability of EnRoute is also very important to Signnovation.

“We normally process between 60-100 orders per day. That’s a lot of letters, and a lot of cutting to be accurately driven. EnRoute helps us maintain consistent throughput, which helps get the orders out the door on time,” shares Ramon. The typical materials cut with EnRoute software range from Dibond, Alupanel and PVC foam to acrylics up to 30mm thick. The signs themselves range from 70m overall, to ones with letters of only 1.5cm.

As part of its innovative and creative culture, Signnovation has developed a number of its own substrates that suit its applications and meet its specifications for durability, translucence, colour fastness and sustainability. All materials must be suitable for the myriad design variations and their unique challenges.

“For one well known Dutch company, we produced an illuminated logo six meters high,” Ramon mentions, adding, “You never know what kind of job is going to come in. It might be a big repeat job for a supermarket or furniture store chain that’s opening another branch or it could be a small company that’s just opening and wants a special look.”

Ketele NV supplies large-format printers to Signnovation; alongside they also support their EnRoute software. Ramon sums up, “EnRoute makes our work easier, flow better and be more accurate. It’s proved itself with us in more than a decade of use.”