Precision, Inc.—parent company of Precision Pulley & Idler (PPI)—is celebrating. The Pella-based manufacturing company is a provider of high-performance conveyor products. They reached their fortieth anniversary in 2017. In 2018, they opened a new Technology Center to serve as home base for their engineers. To cap it off, Precision, Inc., has announced a diversification plan and new food division: Precision Food Innovations (PFI). PFI focuses on the manufacture of sanitary equipment for the food processing industry.

To mark this season of growth, Creative Marketing and Communications Specialist Melissa Chipps was challenged to come up with new signage and wall displays. She turned to longtime friend Tim Sadler, head of Pella Engraving Company’s Sadler Sign & Design division.* Melissa and Tim worked together during the design phase, then the baton was officially handed to Tim and the PEC team. They turned Melissa’s ideas into reality in three major projects:

Headquarters Exterior Sign

First on the list was a new exterior sign for corporate headquarters. The Precision, Inc., team procured the ¼” aluminum and used their capabilities to cut out their new logo. The sign was then passed in two pieces to Pella Engraving Company. The Sadler division welded the pieces together. Then they created an installation template and manufactured brackets to install the sign into the concrete wall of the building. After the PEC team installed the sign, Gritters Electric came in and added LED backlighting so the sign can be illuminated at night.

Precision Inc. aluminum storefront sign

The exterior sign was installed using brackets fabricated by PEC’s Sadler Sign and Design division.

Wall of Industries and Frosted Glass Brand Elements

In another project for corporate headquarters, the PEC team created a wall display highlighting the industries supported by PPI and PFI. High-definition color photos representing each industry were UV-printed on a thin layer of aluminum. Each aluminum tile was then attached to PVC backer pieces of different thicknesses. Brought together, the varying heights of the tiles give the display visual interest and depth. Glass panels with frosted-vinyl backing display the PPI and PFI logos and feature definitions of the terms, “manufacture” and “sanitary,” as they are used by Precision, Inc. The tiles and glass panels were installed by Tim and PEC Co-Owner Jarid Purvis in a hallway above the main lobby. Across the way, they installed frosted glass panels—also fabricated by the PEC team—that feature the corporate tagline and Precision, Inc., logo.

Wall of UV-printed aluminum tiles with colorful photos of food and outdoor scenes

UV-printed aluminum tiles mounted on PVC backers of different thicknesses create a display with visual interest and depth.

PPI frosted glass

The frosted glass panels display the corporate tagline and Precision, Inc., logo.

Wall of PPI Locations

For the interior of the Technology Center, PEC created another wall display, this time highlighting PPI’s four Iowa and two international manufacturing locations. Black-and-white photos were printed on five 24″ x 40″ Metalphoto® panels. This phototransfer technology permanently embeds dye into the pores of the aluminum, ensuring crisp detail and durability. Each photo panel was paired with a 24″ x 8″ plaque displaying the location name. The display was installed by Jarid and PEC team member Greg Dickenson in the main conference room of the Technology Center.

Wall of Metalphoto tiles with black and white photos of PPI locations

Metalphoto® anodized aluminum panels showcase black-and-white photos of each PPI location.

“I’ve known Tim for nearly 10 years and have always had a pleasant experience working with him and his team,” said Melissa. “They always seem excited when I bring something new to them, and they always accept the challenge of helping me bring my ideas to life. Pella Engraving Company and the Sadler division are my go-to whenever I need signage or display plaques.”

*In June 2019, Tim handed over the reigns of the signage division to PEC Owners Jeff Vroom and Jarid Purvis. Learn more about the signage team.