This summer, Pella Engraving Company and Sadler Sign & Design—two companies with long legacies in Pella—announced they were joining forces. Now a division of PEC, the Sadler team moved into a new, state-of-the-art studio located in the upper level of the PEC building in July.
It’s been a busy three months, so we’d like to pause for a moment to shine the spotlight on the Sadler Sign & Design division—its history, its services, its team … and what they’ve been up to since they moved in!
How it all began
“I’ve always had a love of typography and graphics, as well as architecture—particularly historic architecture,” recalled Tim Sadler. As an art major at Central College, he was able to explore his passion for drawing and painting. After working in print for a few years, it was natural for him to chart a career in the signage industry. Tim founded Sadler Sign & Design in 1979.
For nearly two decades, Tim designed and hand-painted signs for wide-ranging clientele. Then, in 1992, he started making the switch to vinyl signage because it is safer (no lead-based paint), more durable, and easier to train others to work with. In 2004, Tim’s team added digital printing to its repertoire. When Sadler Sign & Design became a division of PEC earlier this year, the team gained access to even more advanced sign-making technology (like PEC’s world-class paint booth, CNC router, and plasma cutter).
What Sadler Sign & Design can do
For nearly four decades, the Sadler team has specialized in designing, fabricating, and installing architectural signage. In particular, they’ve done a lot of corporate display work, tackling everything from storefront signs to large convention banners.
“We acquired Sadler Sign & Design to expand our indoor and outdoor signage offerings,” said PEC Co-Owner Jeff Vroom. “We’ve always been proud to offer high-quality products, so we knew Tim’s elegant vinyl work would fit right in. Plus, vinyl is less costly to work with, which is a plus for our customer base.”
Custom-painted acrylic nameplates with vinyl letters (courtesy of the Sadler division) provided the finishing touch for this directory for the Pella Regional Health Center.
In addition to the high-quality look and affordability, vinyl is a very versatile material. Aluminum, steel, acrylic sheet, and PVC can be cut to nearly any size and shape using the CNC router or plasma cutter. The top-of-the-line spray booth offers a vast range of color options. The result? A whole new world of signage possibilities for PEC customers.
Beyond signage, the Sadler team also brings in-depth knowledge of digital printing to the table. Over the years, they have established themselves as a trusted designer and provider of decals, labels, and graphics for vehicles and industrial machinery. This knowledge will fit right in at PEC; our state-of-the art UV flatbed printer has been creating colorful signage since April 2017.
Who makes up the Sadler Sign & Design team?
- Tim takes the lead in design, sales, client services, and project quoting. He is also well-versed in code compliance and often helps out with sign installation.
- Todd Richards also designs signage. He is a graphic technician, digital print specialist, and expert vinyl installer.
- Greg Dickinson handles digital printing, vinyl finishing, and installation.
Pella Engraving Company Co-Owners Jeff Vroom and Jarid Purvis also play key roles in management and installation, and Cyndi Fynaardt lends a hand in layout work. Customer Service Rep Sam Wallace handles order processing, and Sadler clients get their invoices from Bookkeeper Alyssa Zickel.
What they’ve been up to … and what’s next!
The Sadler division has been working on several large projects since the summertime transition. Here’s a look at a few of them:
- On July 19, an EF-3 tornado ripped through the Pella campus of Vermeer Manufacturing, inflicting serious damage. The Sadler division was called in to create signage and banners that would help Vermeer employees find their way around as rebuilding took place.
- The Central College Athletic Department is rebranding. They have enlisted the Sadler team to create signage and other materials with their new logo.
- The Sadler division has fabricated new signs for The Cellar Peanut Pub, which has locations in Pella and Newton.
- They are working with Precision Pulley & Idler on integrating the company’s new logo in its signage, vehicle decals, labels, etc.
“It’s exciting to work in this state-of-the-art setup,” said Tim. “We look forward to continuing to integrate what we do into Pella Engraving Company.”
“Plaques and signs go hand in hand,” added Jeff. “We are eager to introduce the Sadler Sign & Design division to the PEC customer base so it can continue to grow.”