“SIGN INSTALLERS HAVE one of the toughest jobs in our industry,” says Jim Sutterfield, president of Signs Plus Inc. (Bellingham, WA). “They deal with the weather, traffic, on-site issues and a whole list of other challenges.” And so we tip our hard hats to their installers — “the best at what they do,” Sutterfield says — as well as sign installers everywhere working hard to finish the job right.
Very Articulate
With a large two-person basket and 1,000-lb. jib, Signs Plus Inc. can install most wall signs and channel letter sets with just one truck. “The truck chassis is a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 6500 with a Versalift/Signalier ATR 58 custom-built by Stamm Manufacturing,” says Jim Sutterfield.
The articulated lift allows the truck to be parked close to the curb/sidewalk and to reach over obstructions, such as awnings and steel canopies, to the wall they are working on. “We design and manufacture most signs out of aluminum to keep the weight down and avoid needing to bring a second crane truck to the jobsite,” Sutterfield adds.
The ATR 58 build was completed in April 2024, and Stamm used the truck as a display at the 2024 ISA Expo. “We received the truck shortly after the show and put it into service after we completed outfitting it,” Sutterfield recalls. “This is the third truck we have had Stamm build for us, and one of six aerial trucks in our fleet.”
Their trucks are out in the field almost every day. Each has unique features to suit certain needs. The two-door chassis trucks are a little smaller and are easier to fit in tight parking lots. The four-door chassis trucks have more interior room to transport a larger crew or graphics/items that would not travel well in the bins or on the truck beds. “We have a service truck that does not have outriggers,” Sutterfield says. “This allows for performing service work in tight spaces and speeds up setup and loading times.”
Fleet on the Street
Bakers’ Signs & Manufacturing (Conroe, TX) makes it a point to rotate their installation equipment every four to five years to maximize resale value and minimize downtime from repairs. “Bakers’ at one time was of the mindset of ‘run it until they don’t run anymore,’” says co-owner Matt Baker. “It cost us dearly! Pay for good equipment.” He encourages others to sell their install vehicles “before they are too far gone.”
Bakers’ has equipment that is small and maneuverable enough to work gas station repairs efficiently, all the way up to 50-ton cranes that can reach up to 250 ft., as well as anything in between. “Within the sign industry, we find that there is not a single piece of equipment that will cater to all needs,” Baker says. “It’s more so along the lines of having a wide array of equipment that can cover all needs.”…