Going digital is sign of the times for Raymac (From Gazette & Herald)

Going digital is sign of the times for Raymac

AN expanding sign business based in Malton is set to go digital this year, with the aid of an industrial printer which will allow it to incorporate full colour photography into its merchandise.

Raymac Signs, a successful family-run business based at Showfield Lane Industrial Estate, has built up core trade in industrial signage over nine years.

Owners Ros and Richard Court have diversified the business into many different areas and are no strangers to expansion. Last year they raised the roof and doubled the floor space at their unit, as well as appointing a new business development manager to take them forward.

But they are particularly excited by the opportunities opened up by the digital printer.

"Most of what we do at the moment is relatively low-tech," explained Ros. "Whether it is vinyl or paper, the computer processes the design and provides us with a cut-out, which is then transferred through a silk screen, a process that's been done for thousands of years."

Just one of the possibilities with the new printer would be to produce the kind of images seen on supermarket lorries, of enlarged photographic images of products such as fruit and vegetables.

"The possibilities are endless for signs, vans and lorries, T-shirts, mugs, whatever," said Richard.

The company has continually increased what it can offer clients over the years. For example, they are also this year looking to expand into safety wear - hats, clothing and even harnesses.

It can provide signs for buildings and vans, and the couple's daughter Phoebe, an integral part of the team, takes care of embroidery on clothing to match in with the other goods.

"A lot of what we do is repeat business," said Ros. "Once they find us and know we can do what we want they stick with us."

Richard added: "We tend to work for businesses a similar size to our own.

''Obviously, Woolworths is going to go to a much bigger sign company, but for something like a Malton-based building firm we are ideal."

The company's local contracts include BATA, S Harrison Construction and Calvert's Carpets.

The couple took over the business as a going concern with just four staff members. They now have 24 people working for them.

The firm also manufactures and supplies trailer lighting boards, as well as banners, T-shirt printing and all types of fascias and shop signage.

"Although we do a lot of work locally, really our business comes from anywhere and everywhere in the UK," said Ros.

"One minute you can take an order from Cumbria, the next Cornwall."

They also have a permanent rep who travels around the country keeping in touch with what the clients want.

And shops up and down the country display large boards with all the standard signs available, from which customers can order.

In another major project they started last year, they are teaming up with local music enthusiast John Nicholson, whose website www.djtees.co.uk sells T-shirts with images of famous people on it.

Raymac makes the T-shirts to order once they have been requested through the site.

All in all 2005 will be a big year for Raymac. "Every year is a big year," they laugh. "We have increased output year-on-year every year since we started," said Ros. And with plenty of plans in the pipeline it seems that trend is set to continue.

Updated: 12:12 Wednesday, January 19, 2005