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Inside the Shop: How Craftsmanship Shapes Every Schlosser Project
Designed Right. Built Right. Installed Right.
Craftsmanship at Schlosser doesn’t start in the shop. It starts long before the first sheet of metal is cut or the first weld sparks to life. It starts with the people who obsess over the details, ask the right questions, and design with intention (and maybe a little friendly debate). From there, our fabricators and painters take over, turning ideas into metal, structure, and color with a level of precision that would make any machinist tear up. And finally, our installers bring it home, making sure every sign stands tall, glows bright, and tells your brand’s story exactly the way it should.
This month, we’re taking you behind the scenes to explore how design, fabrication, paint, and installation all work together to create signage you can count on day and night.
Design: Where Every Great Sign Gets Its Start
Before a single part gets cut, milled, welded, or painted, our design team is already shaping the future of a sign. They’re the ones who take a brand’s personality, a site plan, a handful of municipal rules, and a client’s “we have an idea…” and turn it into something buildable, beautiful, and unmistakably intentional.
Design at Schlosser isn’t just about making things look good (though they definitely do that). It’s about making sure every curve, corner, attachment, and angle works seamlessly with what happens next in sign fabrication, paint, and installation. It’s the bridge between imagination and the shop floor.
Our designers make sure that:
- Signs are engineered to be built well, not wrestled into submission later.
- Brand details translate cleanly into real-world materials.
- Installers get plans that actually make sense (you’d be surprised how rare that is elsewhere).
- Fabricators and painters have the clarity they need to do their best work without guesswork.
They’re part artists, part engineers, part puzzle-solvers, and every finished sign carries a little bit of their fingerprints (metaphorically, not literally).
Sign Fabrication: Where Ideas Turn into Actual, Heavy, Hold-in-Your-Hands Things
Once design hands off their beautifully detailed plans, sign fabrication steps in. This is where sparks fly, machines hum, and precision becomes the name of the game. It’s where signs stop being concepts and start becoming real structures you can touch, lift, bolt together, and install.
Our fabricators are the kind of people who can read engineering drawings like a second language and can bring them to life. They’re problem-solvers with steady hands and sharp eyes, and they bring a level of craftsmanship you feel in the final product.
Here’s what sign fabrication brings to every project:
- Clean, exact welding that keeps everything solid and sharp-looking.
- Flawless metalwork shaped from sheet aluminum and steel.
- Internal structures and frames built to support everything from channel letters to massive EMC displays.
- An extra helping of creativity when a custom project demands something just a bit outside the usual playbook.
- Collaboration with design and installation to ensure the full build goes smoothly.
Their work is the backbone (literally) of every sign. When a finished project looks crisp, sits straight, aligns perfectly, and feels solid, that’s sign fabrication doing what it does best.
Paint: The Final Finish That Makes Everything Pop
Once the welds are clean, the structure is sound, and all the pieces are prepped, it’s time for one of the most transformative parts of the process: paint.
Our paint department brings color, finish, and personality to every sign that comes through the shop. Whether it’s a smooth satin monument, a high-gloss logo, or a color-match so perfect the brand team does a double take, this is where the visual polish really happens.
With multiple booths, a dedicated prep room, and a growing team that knows their craft inside and out, the paint crew ensures:
- Surfaces are prepped to perfection, because great paint starts long before the first spray.
- Colors are matched exactly to brand specifications, no “close enough” here.
- Finishes are smooth, consistent, and durable, ready for years of visibility.
- Complex pieces get the attention they deserve, from tiny details to large-scale structures.
- Projects move efficiently thanks to expanded capacity and a workflow built for quality.
Paint may come near the end of the build, but it’s what gives a sign its visual voice. It’s the first thing people notice, and often the last thing they forget. And around here, our paint team makes sure it always looks as good up close as it does from across the parking lot.
Meet the Maker: Spotlight on Alex Yekel
Every sign that leaves the shop carries the fingerprints of the people who built it. And for Alex Yekel, that craftsmanship starts long before the first coat of paint ever goes on.
Alex is deeply involved in the preparation and finishing stages of a build, where patience, precision, and attention to detail make all the difference. For him, the process begins with a careful review of the drawings and raw materials, followed by a plan that aligns with both the design and the customer’s expectations.
A large part of his work happens in the prep phase, an area most people never see, but one that defines the quality of the final product.
“While people see the final, polished sign, they often don’t realize the amount of detailed work required beforehand to achieve a flawless finish.”
From multi-grit sanding to body filler, surface smoothing, and meticulous cleaning, Alex focuses on creating the perfect foundation before any paint is applied. Multiple coats of primer and color follow, with inspections at every stage to ensure nothing moves forward until it meets his standards.
For Alex, the most rewarding projects are often the most complex ones.
“I’ve always enjoyed a challenge, especially when I know the project will serve as a showcase piece. Jobs that require multiple colors, detailed designs, and intricate finishes are particularly rewarding.”
That love of challenge is paired with a strong belief in process. Every sign moves through a structured, step-by-step workflow, with each phase inspected as it transitions between team members.
“Before a project is considered complete, each phase of work is thoroughly inspected. That’s how we make sure every detail is done precisely and to the highest standard.”
When asked what he’s most particular about, Alex doesn’t hesitate.
“If the prep work isn’t done perfectly, it will show in the final product no matter how good the design or paint is. I pay close attention to surface smoothness, clean edges, and consistent coatings.”
It’s that mindset—quietly exacting, deeply experienced, and consistently thoughtful—that shows up in every finished sign. And it’s a big part of why the work leaving the shop looks as good up close as it does from across the street.
Installation: Where Everything Clicks Into Place
By the time a sign reaches installation, it’s already been through design, production engineering, sign fabrication, and paint, and now it’s ready for its moment. Installation is where all that behind-the-scenes craftsmanship steps into the real world.
Our installers are equal parts technicians, problem-solvers, and “let’s figure this out” experts. They’re the crew that makes sure the sign not only gets there but looks exactly the way it was imagined: level, secure, and impossible to miss for all the right reasons.
They bring craftsmanship to the finish line by:
- Understanding how each piece fits together, no matter how complex the build
- Handling equipment, electrical, and tight spaces with steady confidence
- Spotting alignment details others might overlook
- Coordinating seamlessly with sign fabrication and design to keep everything true to plan
- Making smart adjustments on-site so the finished sign hits that just-right moment
Installation is the final handshake between intention and reality. It’s where your brand steps out into the world and our team makes sure it looks its best doing it.
Craftsmanship Comes Together: Designed Right. Built Right. Installed Right.
When you see a finished Schlosser sign, you’re seeing the combined effort of people who take their craft seriously (but not themselves). From the first sketch to the last bolt, every step is handled by teams who care about the details, collaborate constantly, and refuse to settle for “good enough.”
Design gives the sign its direction.
Fabrication gives it strength.
Paint gives it personality.
Installation gives it presence.
And together, they create signage that’s as thoughtful as it is durable, made by real people who want your brand to shine.
If you’re ready for signage that’s built with intention, craft, and a whole lot of skill behind the scenes, we’re ready to get started.