Sign & Graphics | Bi Monthly Publication of Signage Industry in India

Under this column, we have so far covered the city of Chennai three times—first, around a decade ago; secondly, after a gap of four years; and third, just last year. As long as we explore this south Indian city at the utmost level, three trips into it would never be enough to grasp whole of its length and breadth where dwelled more than 500 signage companies of diverse sizes. This is why our travelling team had recently walked down the bye-lanes and industrial pockets of the city again, in a bid to meet up with some new faces around. JYANESWAR LAISHRAM compiles a brief profile of a fresh league of the city’s signage companies, among which some are barely a few years old. But these young players boast of their highly-equipped infrastructures and client lists containing corporate companies.

Special Effect
Utmost among others

Some finished works of Special Effect

There is something special about Special Effect, which is one of the utmost signage companies in the city of Chennai, known widely for its excellence in service and print outputs as well as their state-of-the-art production facility of 4800 sq ft. The production facility of the company in Mandaveli, as on today, is equipped with some high-end printers, which consist of HP Scitex XL 1500, HP Scitex FB, HP Latex 360, among others. Also equipped in the facility are some other solvent printers, along with a line of finishing systems. In addition, Special Effect has another production facility in Ambattur, in western Chennai, where installed a vacuum forming machine. And the third facility of the company in Pallavaram is specially designed only for fabrication jobs. Establishment of Special Effect is dated back to the year 1997, when the company started with mere signage fabrication jobs. “I would like to mention Mr Ajit as one of our founding members when we go back to those earlier days of the company,” says Ramesh RS, co-founder, Special Effect. He adds that from time to time, they have been expanding both in infrastructures and footprints. With its Coimbatore branch, yet another production facility of 5000 sq ft, Special Effect can cover clients based all over Tamil Nadu. Some of the main and old clients of Special Effect are Airtel, Microsoft, Samsung, Nokia, Century Ply, to mention a few. “Among our clients, some have been associated with us closely for a long time. For example, we started working for Nokia when the Finnish cell-phone major first hit the Indian market, way back in the late 1900s,” mentions Ramesh, adding that the mobile handset company, after a temporary lull in the market, is now coming back and Special Effect is further associating with them. When asked about the company’s expansion plan, he says there will be a new HP 3000 in their portfolio soon, along with a router cutting system and a laser engraver.

Graphic de Sign
Where quality comes first

J Sanjeevi

Graphics de Sign is considered to be one of the signage companies whose works/projects are extensively seen in the retail sector. The company has been tied up with some of the popular eateries in Chennai, worth mentionable among them are A2B restaurants. J Sanjeevi, CEO, Graphic de Sign, says they have so far branded and fabricated more than a dozen of (A2B) eating outlets in the city. “Even I can’t remember the exact date of when did we start branding of the first A2B restaurant in Chennai,” he exclaims, adding that the latest branding and fabrication projects being the one recently done for Adyar Ananda Bhavan (Sweets & Snacks) and A2B Greens (Fruits & Vegetables) in Triplicane area. Ever since its inception, Graphics de Sign has been known to its customers for being a signage company with the fervor of professional platform integrated with technology and service, which thus enable them to deliver perfect signage solutions for projects that stand out among others. “When we were first approached by A2B the overall outlook of the restaurant chain was quite dull and ordinary. It was actually a big challenge for us to make both interior and shop-front standout in a brand new outlook,” states Sanjeevi. The restaurant chain of A2B is spread to the US, Malaysia and Kuwait as well. For them too, Graphic de Sign provides any signage solution they require. Apart from A2B restaurant chain, Graphic de Sign has aother host of clients from diverse market segments, such as jewelleries, real estate and others. GRT Jewellers (jewellery), TVH Group (real estate), SBI are some of the clients for which this signage major has been working for years. “Like we do for A2B, we have branded and fabricated a string of outlets of GRT Jewellers across Chennai,” says Sanjeevi. Behind all that vigour of quality and competency of the company is its state-of-the-art production facility equipped with Roland VersaEXPRESS RF-640A, Galaxy flatbed and a line of other systems, such as cutting plotters and laminators. For future expansion, Graphic de Sign has drawn for opening a sign shop wherefrom all basic requirements of sing makers across the region will be met.

Subha Shree Stationary
Ultimate source for quality materials

Mahesh Kumar Damani

Among the leading printing media suppliers in Chennai city is Subha Shree Stationary, which is considerably known for its product portfolio containing finest range of materials of all variants. In the portfolio, a select range of LEDs and SMPS systems are included. Mahesh Kumar Damani of Subha Shree Stationary says the company has a mix bag of products, which comprise all variants starting from entry-level qualities to the premium range. Mention of some popular products in the portfolio may include: Hi-Sign, NeoFlex (printing materials), DigiLED, Digiopto (LEDs), Mean Well (SMPS) and others. As the name of the company suggests, Subha Shree Stationary started as a shop selling stationary items and art materials in the year 1992. After that, in the late 1990s, the company switched to the supply of printing materials of Encade large-format inkjet system. Boosting the portfolio bit by bit over the years, today the company boasts a complete line of materials any signage company can pick up whether for a glow sign project or an outdoor banner campaign. “We have been one of the oldest distributors of Hi-Sign printing material in Chennai,” says Mahesh Kumar, adding that it’s been over the last 15 years, they have been distributing the premium printing material in the city. In addition to printing materials and LEDs, Subha Shree Stationary keeps a select range of alluminium panels and others for signage frames. On the company’s future product portfolio expansion plan, Mahesh Kumar says they always go with the market trends and demands, according to which they keep expanding their product line.

Cliftech
Beyond the ordinaries

Chennai production setup of Cliftech

Cliftech is one of the biggest signage companies handling big corporate projects, not only in Chennai but all over Tamil Nadu, with a branch in Coimbatore. Headed by Zia S, this signage company boasts a team of 15 well-trained signage professionals who take up every task of sign making proficiently under one roof. The team’s jobs stretche from graphic designing, machine operation, fabrication and final onsite installations. “We boost up our team as per the nature or size of projects we handle,” says Zia, adding that they normally hire around 20 professionals as per their requirement. The production facility of Cliftech is considered to be one of the best and robust in the region. It is equipped with a line of high-end printers and finishing systems, which include HP Scitex XL 1500, Mutoh ValueJet VJ 1604K4, HP Latex 360, HP Latex 570, Gongzheng GZT 3204AU, Jaguar-II cutting plotter, Uli cold laminator, among others. According to Zia, they keep watching the trends and tradition of the industry, with which their infrastructures and manpower get upgraded. Cliftech’s client list is expanded from time to time—though some being the latest, there are many in the roster that have been associated with the company for a long period of time. Among the old league are Airtel, Samsung, Century Ply and Samsung. And among the new entrants into the list, worth mentionable are Jio, Red Mi and Vodafone. Apart from the corporate biggies, Cliftech entertains a host of walk-in customers too, which consist of local companies, departmental stores, educational institutes and others from diverse market segments.

X-Treme Solutions
An offshoot for signage

Karthick Narayanan and Narayanan Balasubramani

Planning for expanded facility A couple of EPSON SureColor SC70670 printers are what X-Treme Solutions boasts of, because the two high-quality production printers make the company stand out among the host of signage companies in Chennai. This young signage firm, which is barely seven years old in the market, is run by two young partners—Karthick Narayanan and Narayanan Balasubramani. Both the youngsters have started their entrepreneurship in event management and then it was the graphic art sector (signage), which eventually instilled them for a start-up. “In the first place, we were deeply influenced by the creative space opened up by LED/glow sign applications,” recalls Karthick. After the company’s brief engagement in LED sign making activities, they eventually decided to adopt the two EPSOM SC Series printers, which they purchased from Graphic Technologies Sign Park (GTSP), a sole distributor of EPSON printers in the region. Along with the two competent printers are a half dozen of signage professionals of the company who make X-Treme Solutions indeed an extreme signage firm in terms of the production of quality prints and consistency in service. The company’s clients, which include a host of corporate biggies, are rushed from all over south India. “Apart from Tamil Nadu, our clients are also from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala,” says Narayanan, adding that it’s the value and quality of their work and service that pull the horde from far off places. The mention of a few of the corporate customers, which have been in the client list of X-Treme Solutions, may include Oppo Mobile, Vodafone and GE Energy. “Some of our customers are as old as us; they have never left us since the day we worked together for project in Chennai. Now, for many of them we become sole signage vendor, executing projects in far and near areas of almost all south Indian states,” mentions Karthick. About their expansion plan, he says they are planning to open an extended facility of around 3000 sqft, where a CNC routing machine and a laser engraver will be installed, making the company’s machine portfolio meant for complete signage solutions.

Allwin Pixel
For those quality conscious

K Jagadees Waran

Ever since its inception around ten years ago, Allwin Pixel has been one of the leading signage companies, which serves a host of long-term customers around Chennai. A Radhakrishnan, who is at the helm of the company, says they are proud of being a trusted partner for their customers. Among the regular customers, who have been associated with them for years, are Paragon Footwear, Gitanjali, Shana Store and others. “We are signage vendor for Paragon Footwear for years; for them, we produce anything they require, either for in-shop graphics or outdoor promotional campaigns,” he mentions. When asked about their strength, Radhakrishnan says they have a dedicated team of 15 well-trained signage professionals, which consist of graphic designers, machine operators, fabricators and installers. “In case of additional manpower, we closely tie-up with some third party, who are well-experienced and trained to handle any given project, either in interior or outdoor domain,” he states. In addition to the robust team of sign-making professionals, Allwin Pixel boasts of a well-equipped production facility, where installed Mutoh ValueJet 16404X, Gongzheng StormJet T3208AU and Tecklaminator TLA1600. According to Radhakrishnan, they at Allwin Pixel keep always open their eyes about what is currently rolling in the market, when it comes to new trend in printing as well as making of signage or display graphics. About the future expansion plan, Allwin Pixel is now heading towards the adoption of a line of cutting and routing technologies, with which a new acceleration will be attained in the company’s overall versatilities in outputs. Enhancement of the company’s machine portfolio with the new set of machines is a planned step that will eventually make them a one-stop signage solution corner, where everything is available under a roof.

Media Signs
Three verticals for all needs

Roopanraj

Media Group of Companies is a parent body, which has three branch divisions—Media Signs, Media Minds and Media Designs—all operate equally for the graphic art industry, taking different roles and responsibilities. Of them, Media Minds is the oldest, as it was established ten years ago, engaging in signage fabrication, in-shop branding and interior designing. “When the times brought new trends and broader prospects in sign-making business, we have introduced Media Signs as a signage printing division of the group, with the installation of an EPSON SureColor S40670 printer, just two years ago, purchased from Graphic Technologies Sign Park (GTSP). “To make the facility a complete production house, we also have a line of laser engraver, cutting plotter (Graphtech), laminator, among others,” says Roopanraj S of Media Signs. Media Designs, as the name suggests, is the group’s design division where deputed four well-experienced graphic designers who can deliver any need and requirement for designs the company’s customers desire. The division has just begun to operate for the customers, a few months back. Collectively, the group has a team of 26 professionals, including those four designers in Media Designs; then the rest are segmented as 15 staffers in Media Minds, and 7 (machine operators, fabricators and installers) in Media Signs. Combination of the three verticals has made the group a complete signage solution provider ever established in Chennai. Over the years, the group has been serving for some of the leading corporate biggies, executing outstanding projects all over the south Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. To mention a few of the old and new customers of the company, the list will include Samsung, Croma, MRF Tyres, Indian Bank, Tata Motors, Vodafone, Airtel, Jio, Bajaj Capital and Nilkamal. Despite the fact that the group has extensively covered the entire south Indian region, now the plan of the company is to open new branches beyond Chennai, which would in turn help them serve their customers from closer proximities.

Ad N Grow
Trader-turned sign firm

PS Mohan

About 10 years ago, in the Chennai signage market, Ad N Grow was established as a mere trading corner where people in pursuit of standees and tents just dropped in to grab ready-made items of the same. Today, the company has its own production facility, which is equipped with high-end digital wide-format printers, such as EPSON SureColor SC S40670 and Roland VersCAMM. “It’s been around six months since we have installed the EPSON printer. Following the adoption of the high-end production printer, quality in our outputs has tremendously been enhanced, and we could meet demands of customers at any level,” says PS Mohan, founder, Ad N Grow. Ad N Grow is not merely a signage printing firm. The main activities of the company are far beyond just printing job, which conventional signage printing companies normally do. They engage quite unconventionally in production of modular signage solutions used in the interiors of corporate buildings, hotels and such surroundings. For that, Ad N Grow goes for unique process of printing and materials. “Of course, our EPSON printer has a high definition mode for printing deep textured graphics, and we use only Avery Dennison materials for such safety and security (modular sign) projects,” mentions PS Mohan, adding that they exclusively indulge in installation tasks as well, in any project they handle. In addition to the modular sign projects, Ad N Grow has been handling various landmark outdoor campaigns as well as in-shop branding and graphic projects for some of the well-known companies, namely, Punjab National Bank, BSA, TS Bikes, Murguppa Group, among others. “It’s not that we work only for the corporate companies. We equally treat everyone; it means we welcome every big or small customer—it could be either a walk-in fellow or a corporate head,” asserts PS Mohan. Probably by 2018, the production facility of Ad N Grow will be grown to a new level, with the addition of a CNC router and a laser engraver.

Anamica
Amalgamation of all

A Aravindh and A John Paul

Activities of Anamica can be defined as an amalgamation of signage printing and event management. This budding sign maker in the city, operating under the aegis of its founder Altaf Salim, is also known for being an event management company, in which they engage in activities related to stage crafting, designing and fabrication. “We provide our customers everything from A to Z when it comes to a signage project,” says A John Paul, manager, Anamica. In this, graphic designer A Aravindh of the company adds that they never let their customers flee from pillar to post for basic requirement like ‘graphic designing’ and such mere tasks. Production facility of the company as of now is at the entry level, where equipped merely a Gongzheng GZT 3202 N (with Spcectra Polaris 512 printhead), purchased from JX Enterprise, a sole distributor of the printer in the south Indian region. As on today, the client base of the company is very confined only in Chennai city. However, when it comes to event management and such related assignments, footprints of Anamica can be traced down around some other south Indian cities, like Bangaluru, Coimbatore and others. The company has a team of 10 professionals handling the overall jobs; but, in case of further extra manpower requirement, they tie-up with a 20-member third party team based in the city. So far, Anamica has worked for both signage and event management projects for a league of corporate clients—worth mentionable among them are: ITC, Mega Mart, and TNCA (Tamil Nadu Cricket Association). “Among our clients, some are new; but many in the list are more than a decade old. It’s our pride that we could sustain the trust of our customers such a long period through quality and consistency in our work and service,” asserts John, adding conclusively that they will pull fresh corporate clients into their client list in near future, for sure.

City Graphics
A house of all graphics

Mohamed Vazeem with EPSON SureColor SC S40670

This 15-year-old-signage company has recently gained a new stature following the upgrade of its production facility with the adoption of a brand new EPSON SureColor SC S40670. Mohamed Vazeem of the company says the new EPSON printer, which they purchased from Graphic Technologies Sign Park (GTSP), an authorised dealer of the printer in Chennai, has enhanced their overall level of quality print outputs. In addition to the EPSON printer, City Graphics has a ten feet TAIMES solvent printer, which is for all other applications including outdoor hoardings and such jobs. “Over the last couple of years, we have expanded our client list with a host of corporate companies; and this credit we would like to pass on to our newly adopted EPSON printer, which is quite advanced in production of high-quality graphics for in-shop, POP and POS graphics,” says Vazeem, adding that they are looking ahead to rope-in more big clients, who would be lured with the EPSON SureColor SC S40670. This EPSON printer is designed to deliver exceptional quality at low ownership cost for all types of indoor printing applications, which particularly include backlit panels, interior decorations, exhibition panels, among others. City Graphics has a client list consisting of some big corporate clients, which include Coca-Cola, Hero Corp, Suzuki, TVS, Axiom Management and others. “We satisfy our clients with ‘quality’, in which everything is counted, whether it is about printing technology and materials (media) we use. We go only for standard media, such as Staflex, in order to maintain quality and consistency in prints,” explains Vazeem. Behind the state-of-the-art facility of the company is its well-trained team of half a dozen signage professionals, which forms the backbone of strength and competency in providing proficient print and service.