Does your metal meet DOT standards?

Yes, 5052-H38 has been the industry standard alloy for the past 40 years and is the only alloy specified by all DOTs, and for good reason…

• 5052 has 39.3% more Tensile strength and 33.3% more Yield strength than 3105*
• 5052 has 5 times the magnesium content of 3105, giving it vastly superior corrosion resistance*

–        Relative to the performance of the two alloys, the price difference is negligible

Vulcan specializes in the manufacture and fabrication of 5052-H38. Its long-standing reputation as the industry standard speaks for itself.

*Data from 2009 Aluminum Standards and Data issued by The Aluminum Association

Does your sheeting meet the minimum retroreflectivity?

Yes. Vulcan Signs is an exclusive 3M fabricator and all of our signage utilizes 3M sheeting, which meets the minimum retroreflectivity standard.

Does Vulcan make custom signs?

Yes! Fabricating signs for the transportation industry is where we have made our mark in the signage world since 1966, but over the years we have grown and expanded our product offerings to include endless possibilities for custom signage. The addition of our in-house laser cutter enables us to fabricate completely unique shapes. From our very own Vulcan Aluminum, we have lasered everything from monograms for door hangers, to intricate logos, giving a standard sign a layered or 3D effect. Our large format digital printer broadens our abilities to offer signage that includes full color, high-definition photography and graphics as well. The experienced graphics team at Vulcan has the knowledge and expertise to take a generic idea and fine tune the design, producing an end product that includes the right balance of graphics and verbiage for an effective message. We also have the ability to color match any Pantone color using 3M translucent inks.

Laying the groundwork

Big changes are in the works for Vulcan Aluminum, also known by employees as Plant 1. Established in 1968, Plant 1 was the very first of Vulcan’s production facilities built in Foley, Alabama. Back in the day, Plant 1 was where all the magic happened, primarily because it was the only building that existed on campus. Before Vulcan grew to include five separate, but integrated manufacturing divisions, Plant 1 was truly the hub of all the action. Not only were aluminum sign blanks produced in this facility, but finished signs were offered as well… all under one roof! Today, these two manufacturing processes have been separated; Plant 1 fabricates and treats the aluminum blanks and Plant 3 (Vulcan Signs), takes the blanks and screens messages onto them, creating the finished product. The separation of the two divisions has proven to be the right move. In fact, Vulcan Aluminum is the largest manufacturer of aluminum sign blanks and sheet in the United States, while Vulcan Signs has also grown to become a top player in the transportation and custom signage industries.

The beginning of big changes!

Throughout all of this growth and development, the original Plant 1 structure has fared extremely well. However after 47 years, it is time that Plant 1 received a little bit of a facelift. Physically, demolition and reconstruction of the original structure has already begun. The scope of work includes a design for a new conference room, as well as remodeling the existing break room and bathrooms. Each facility’s break room serves as the gathering space for plant-wide meetings and it has become a trend on campus to retrofit these spaces with big screen LED TVs, which are used to display training videos, as well as communicate safety and hazardous weather information. Luckily, no disruption of the production schedule will take place, so expect shipments to continue as usual. Stay tuned… the transformation will be complete in only a few short months and we will be sure to post updates on the progress along the way!

Here at Vulcan Utility Signs, screen printing has long been our bread and butter method for producing quality signage for the utility industry. However, as part of our effort to offer a diverse product line enriched by a multitude of manufacturing capabilities, we have expanded the ways we can produce signs and markers to better meet those needs.

One example that is representative of our growth is our digital print capability. This versatile printing process gives us the ability to produce almost any type of sign our customers can dream up. Whether it is a sign with a hundred different colors, a complex graphic or a high-resolution photograph, we have the capability of printing it. Have a celebration or special event coming up? We can design and fabricate eye-catching banners to celebrate achievements or promote events. Digital printing has also proven to be a more cost-effective method for small orders with multiple colors when compared to traditional screen printing.

Take a look at the sign below. The intricate details of the “litterbug” can easily be digitally printed in the time it takes to get photos made at the local pharmacy.

Operating a sign business inevitably means you are going to get unusual requests for signs. With the digital printer, we can handle most, if not all, of those requests that come our way.

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