“We want to bring manufacturing back to Australia," says ASGA president Mick Harrold. "That’s what these machines and new technologies are allowing us to do.” The Australian Sign & Graphics Industry Association (ASGA) says its upcoming webinar on Channel Letter Bending will help attendees decide if it’s a good fit for their business.
“This webinar will showcase how channel letter bending machines can increase a sign business’s profitability by significantly reducing fabrication lead times,” said ASGA.
“Attendees will learn how staff can be manufacturing signs with this technology with just two days of training. An overview of laser welding will also be covered in this not-to-be-missed webinar.
“Peter Fitzpatrick of Lettertech Australia will provide the background on the technology, it’s capabilities and the training required. Mick Harrold of Visual Exposure and ASGA will outline his experience in channel letter bending and how the technology has improved his business. Vernon Kingman of Kingman Strategies will moderate the webinar.
"Fitzpatrick [pictured right] has been in the sign industry for 46 years. He started with a brush in his hand and while he welcomed the challenge of adapting to all of the technology changes along the way, it was getting involved in channel bending a couple of years ago that renewed Peter’s enthusiasm for the industry. His business went from being able to fabricate one or two letter sets per week to one or two letter sets per day. Peter’s family business now operates Lettertech Australia which is involved in selling channel letter bending machines and laser welders, their consumables and associated training courses.
"Mick Harrold [right] studied electronic engineering and has more than 18 years as Managing Director of one of Melbourne’s prominent sign companies, Visual Exposure. Mick enjoys the challenge of exploring new technologies and is keen to see manufacturing brought back to Australia. Mick is also the current ASGA president."
Harrold said: “This webinar will serve as a video resource where attendees can get some practical ideas on channel letter bending and help them to decide if it’s a good fit for their business.
“We want to bring manufacturing back to Australia. That’s what these machines and new technologies are allowing us to do. You can produce stuff at a cheaper cost base locally. The efficiency of fabricating a sign and the fact that a highly skilled fabricator is generally not needed for the process, makes the latest in channel letter bending technology very attractive for signmakers that are currently being squeezed by high material costs and staff shortages.”
Vernon Kingman [right] is a brush-trained sign writer and has been in the signage industry for over 50 years. His company Kingman Visual won over 40 national awards and is regarded as one of the best sign companies in Australia. Kingman Visual was sold in 2020 and Vernon now coaches businesses on meeting and improving their position in the market and achieving their business and personal goals.
There will be an opportunity for Q&A during the webinar but in case of time restrictions, questions submitted prior to the webinar will be given priority. Please submit your questions via email to: marketing@signs.org.au
ASGA members can register free. Non ASGA member cost is $33 inc GST.
For more details and to register, visit https://signs.org.au/events-and-news/current-events/
