the everyday use models and combines flexibility with durability. “All our squeegees are made in Europe which enables us to offer shorter lead times with no minimum order quantity, while we also offer custom colours and logo printing on them,” Menéndez adds. Visually Impressive Next, Louise Gardner, director of tools supplier Signgeer, explains that signmaking is an art and the finished product needs to be visually impressive. As such, she says enrolling the help of quality tools to fabricate signage will result in enhanced signs both structurally and aesthetically. “This adds value to your signs in a fraction of the time it would take to do it by hand using non industry specific tools. A good example of this would be our Corner Pro 4 tool for creating perfect radius corners on boards, which offers a multitude of benefits – a simple but aesthetically pleasing way to finish a sign, it reduces the chance of vinyl lifting on the corners as well as removing any sharp corners, from a health and safety perspective.” Gardner goes on to say investing in quality tools designed for sign-making materials, such as the Corner Pro 4, a consistent radius can be achieved on all corners of a board in less than a minute as opposed to rounding them manually with a file, taking around five minutes with a not so good a finish. Expanding on this, Gardner offers some other pointers to sign companies: “Using the wrong knife to trim vinyl can also be an expensive mistake – whether you’re cutting boards or more critically, on vehicle paintwork. 49 Issue 257 - February / March 2025 email: editor@signlink.co.uk “Don’t take the chance of damaging paintwork when you can remove the risk entirely by using industry specific tape such as 3M Knifeless Tape, manufactured to safely cut any type of vinyl without the use of a blade. “Instead of freehand trimming a cupboard door whilst using architectural wrap films, you can use an inexpensive Trim Wizard Tool for a quick and professional finish.” Made in the UK Another company weighing in is Vivid Laminating Technologies, with commercial director Lewis Evans saying working with high-quality tools is essential for achieving efficiency and precision in any task, especially when it comes to finishing equipment such as that produced by Vivid. “UK-manufactured finishing tools are known for their reliability, delivering faster operations and flawless finishes; this level of quality not only ensures the completion of tasks to a high standard but also makes the entire process more cost-effective,” Evans comments. “By using tools designed for durability and performance, users can save time, reduce material waste, and produce consistent results every time. Consistency is key, especially for businesses striving to maintain a reputation for excellence in their products or services.” Evans says Vivid recognises this and develops tools for its cutting machines to support customers. Among its latest ► Signgeer says a Trim Wizard Tool allows for a quick and professional finish ▼ The Vivid multipurpose tool has been designed exclusively for compatibility with the VeloBlade Nexus system SIGN-MAKING TOOLS FACTOID Sign making tools can include knives, squeegees, rulers, and tape dispensers
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