Pole-mounted sign manufacturing

A pole stands exactly where people and traffic already pass. A sign on it catches the eye while people are still approaching your premises, and if the pole is a street lamp or a power-line support, the street lighting illuminates the sign in the evening – it needs no lighting of its own.

Pole advertising and lighting go hand in hand: placing a sign on street lamps or on its own supports along power lines keeps it visible after dark too. A pole-mounted advertising sign does two jobs at once – it guides customers to you and works as an outdoor advertising medium.

Essentially, it is a custom-designed road sign – the same product as a standard road direction sign, but carrying your information. It reaches three audiences at once: pedestrians, drivers and passengers. It is hard to damage, and it plays three roles:

• it tells people that your company or organisation exists;
• it shows exactly where to find it;
• it carries elements of your corporate identity – colour, logo, typeface.

Types of pole-mounted street signs

Signs are made single- or double-sided, in a standard or a custom shape to an individual drawing. A double-sided panel carries graphics on both sides, a single-sided one on one side.

Shapes available in this category:

• rectangular sign – the standard panel shape;
• arrow sign – the panel shape itself points the way;
• oval sign and sign with rounded corners – an outline with no sharp corners;
• triangular and shaped signs – the panel is cut to the outline of the artwork;
• projecting and shaped projecting signs;
• outdoor information sign;
• banner sign, also known as an advertising holder – a vertical banner instead of a rigid sheet.

Street name signs are a separate group: the same product, but with a street name instead of advertising.

What the sign panel is made of

A pole-mounted sign stays outdoors all year round, so the panel must be hard-wearing and corrosion-resistant. Galvanised steel and aluminium composite, both widely used as cladding materials, meet these requirements.

• Galvanised steel.
• Composite – aluminium composite panel (ACM); the shade is chosen from the composite colour range.
• PVC.
• Banner sign – a vertical banner on a pole, also known as an advertising holder.

A rigid galvanised steel or composite sheet is chosen for long-term advertising. For shorter campaigns, pole holders are a good fit – small vertical advertising banners, often installed in identical rows along long stretches of motorway.

How graphics are applied to the sign

The application method is chosen to suit the artwork and the purpose of the sign:

• Coloured film appliqué – Oracal film, plotter cutting. The colour is chosen from the Oracal film palette.
• Full-colour printing.
• Reflective film – a coating that reflects incoming light and keeps the lettering visible in the dark.
• Chalk writing area – part of the panel where the information can be rewritten.

Film appliqué is cut along an outline, so it needs vector artwork; for full-colour printing a raster image will also do. The difference between these formats is explained in the article vector or raster graphics.

How the sign is fixed to the pole

Fixings are chosen to suit the pole and the panel: brackets, galvanised hardware, aluminium rivets. The metals are matched so that the fixings do not start rusting before the sign itself.

How the sign is made

Production follows these steps:

1. We design the product in specialist software.
2. We cut the panel to the specified parameters on a CNC milling machine.
3. We apply the information using the chosen method.
4. We select the fixings for mounting on the pole.

Production time is 3–7 days. If you have not yet chosen the shape, material and application method, see what to know when ordering outdoor advertising and get in touch – we will find the right option for your needs.