Pancake Diner

At Albert Smith Signs, we are often commissioned to manufacture creative branding elements that customise your identity.

These architectural elements are an integral part of a brand’s message, as seen at the recently opened Pancake Diner in Burleigh Heads.

Family-owned and operated, the retro-style diner offers all-day breakfast, with bright red and white décor that will make you feel like you’re in an American film from the 70s.

The building fascia identification signage was manufactured with a supporting aluminium fabricated frame, securely attached to the building.

This frame was overlaid with custom orb cladding, painted in “Hot Lips” red.

The Permasign 3-dimensional “PANCAKE” building letters were fixed to the top of the custom orb frame to deliver maximum visual and identification impact.

The letter faces were crafted from 10mm thick opal acrylic, fixed to a polycarbonate background, with a 3M translucent vinyl overlay, and illuminated with internal LEDs.

The branding was completed with the attachment of three hand-fabricated stainless-steel balls, also painted in “Hot Lips” red, and fitted to upright poles.

Mirror-finish stainless steel keylines accentuated the frame outline, with red LEDs placed behind to provide illumination.

Whatever you can imagine, Albert Smith Signs can deliver!

Revamping a Legacy: Albert Smith Signs’ Partnership with Pacific Petroleum

Signage Australia Wide & Asia Pacific – Delivering Nationwide for over 150 Years

Our relationship with Pacific Petroleum has been long-term, reflecting a partnership built on trust and excellence. With a network of 50 fuel stops strategically located along major transport routes and regional areas, Pacific Petroleum has established a strong presence across the country. Now, unified under one name and one brand – PACIFIC – the company has embarked on a significant rebranding journey.

Albert Smith Signs is proud to continue our partnership by manufacturing and installing their new branding at 20 regional sites. Our involvement included:

Site Surveys: Comprehensive site surveys for all locations to be rebranded, ensuring precision and consistency across the network.

Canopy Fascia Branding: Manufacture of new canopy fascia branding with ACM cladding and robust 3D Permasign lettering and logo for enhanced visual impact, illuminated with red LED lighting.

Pylon Signs: Manufacture of new pylons for some sites, and refurbishment of existing pylons to align with the new branding.

Large-Scale Decals: Production of large-scale decals by our ASPrint department for above-ground transtanks, fuel pumps, and pay stations.

Wall Signs: Creation and installation of wall signs of varying sizes tailored to each site.

Directional Signage: Design and implementation of all new directional signage to guide customers efficiently.

At Albert Smith Signs, we pride ourselves on our vast and long-term petroleum industry experience. Whether creating new signage or rebranding existing ones, we deliver experience you can trust and rely on.

For all your signage needs, trust Albert Smith Signs – the petroleum signage specialists.

Taking Branding to New Heights With Unispace & Workday

Workdays are often challenging, and this project was no exception! Our client, Unispace, required high-level branding on the Workday building. High-level signage projects demand expertise and experience in design, structural engineering, project management, and logistics, as well as all aspects of safety management.

Albert Smith Signs was entrusted with this complex task, bringing our extensive experience to the forefront.

Our involvement included:

Design & Engineering: Creating a design that seamlessly integrated with the building’s architecture while ensuring structural integrity and safety.

Custom Fabrication: Manufacturing aluminium supporting frames painted to match the existing concrete fins’ colour on four differing elevations, addressing the design challenges posed by the varying angles of the fins.

3D Permasign Letters: Utilizing rear-illuminated Permasign letters to provide a striking halo effect. These letters were mounted on a 3mm aluminium backing painted white to enhance light reflection and fixed to the supporting frame. Permasign lettering is known for its durability and cost-effectiveness, delivering maximum visual impact.

Professional Installation: Collaborating with G&S Abseiling, our Brisbane-based installation partner, to ensure safe and precise high-level signage installation. Their expertise in difficult sign installations was crucial for the project’s success.

Albert Smith Signs are renowned for our high-level signage expertise, having completed numerous landmark projects throughout Australia and the Asia Pacific region. We excel in challenging installations, ensuring that every project meets the highest standards of quality and safety.

Facing a challenging installation? Trust Albert Smith Signs to deliver exceptional results!

End of an Era: Albert Smith Signs Transitions Beecham Holden to New Suzuki Branding

A leader amongst car dealerships on Brisbane’s Northside for over 30 years, Beecham Holden has been the go-to destination for Queenslanders buying and maintaining their Holden vehicles. This week, the second-generation family-owned dealership bid farewell to its iconic Holden signs, marking the end of an era.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, Beecham Holden hosted a final event for Holden enthusiasts from near and far. The public was invited to have their last photos taken with the iconic signage, capturing a piece of automotive history. Following the event, a silent auction will be held after the signage removal, with proceeds going to the Food Bank Qld Winter Appeal.

Beecham Holden’s iconic signage was originally manufactured and installed by Albert Smith Signs over 20 years ago. Now, Albert Smith Signs has been entrusted once again, this time to remove the Holden signage and usher in a new era for the dealership with Suzuki branding.

Albert Smith Signs has been privileged to manufacture and install Beecham’s new Suzuki branding, featuring an unmissable pylon sign and new building fascia signage. As full-service sign makers and automotive signage specialists, our trusted long-term relationship with the Beecham dealership is a testament to our expertise and reliability.

At Albert Smith Signs, we pride ourselves on our extensive automotive signage experience, ensuring every project is completed to the highest standards. Whether it’s creating new signage or preserving the legacy of iconic brands, Albert Smith Signs delivers with precision and dedication.

For all your automotive signage needs, trust Albert Smith Signs – the automotive experience you can rely on!

Harley Davidson Geelong

Harley Davidson Geelong marked our inaugural site for external signage under the global H-D Fuel Facility Program. This initiative aims to transform the retail environment of Harley Davidson dealerships worldwide, enhancing brand consistency and customer experience.

The rebranding design was crafted by Fresh Design (INTERNATIONAL) LTD, based in the UK. Our scope of work included the installation of a new Outline Bar & Shield Sign on a timber feature wall, replacing the previous Heritage Bar and Shield. The Outline Bar & Shield measures 3082mm in width and 2499mm in height, constructed in three sections using a fabricated opal polycarbonate face, aluminium returns, and back.

Additionally, we installed a new Harley-Davidson wordmark sign, made using Permasign, on the ACM-clad fascia. This new signage features a modern font, aligning with the updated brand identity, and includes the dealer name sign. A distinctive illuminated entry portal, finished in Harley-Davidson orange, was also installed to highlight the dealership’s entrance.

Our involvement in this project was straightforward yet crucial in maintaining the brand’s iconic visual appeal. The collaboration with Fresh Design ensured that every detail met Harley-Davidson’s high standards. Furthermore, our GSA partners, Prolicht, are preferred suppliers to the H-D Fuel Facility Program in Europe, reinforcing the global consistency of the rebranding effort.

Albert Smith Signs is proud to contribute to the ongoing evolution of the Harley-Davidson retail experience, bringing our expertise and dedication to every project. For all your signage needs, trust Albert Smith Signs.

Celebrating 150 Years: A Snapshot of Our Evolution 1873 – 2023

Celebrating 150 Years: A Snapshot of Our Evolution 1873 - 2023

Albert Smith Signs: Our 4th Generation Family Company - Still Here For You!

The Albert Smith Group remains a family-owned and operated company, built on traditional values of honesty, integrity, pride in craftsmanship, and quality passed down through four generations from the lineage of founder Samuel Smith.

A Look Back to Our Beginnings

150 years ago, in 1873, Sam established S. Smith & Son Pty Ltd as a first-class manufacturer of rubber stamps on the corner of Adelaide and Edward streets in Brisbane. For many years, rubber stamps were widely used for various communications in the business world—available in 4, 6, and 8 band wording and manufactured from a moulded, vulcanised rubber image, wooden block mount, and handle. Stencils were also part of the product range, mostly used for manufacturing house names, which were much in demand at the time. Other standard items included bespoke brass plates, brass letters, house numbers, memorial tablets, and even brass door handles.

Entering the 20th Century

In the 1900s, S. Smith & Son passed on to Albert and became Albert Smith & Son, continuing as a manufacturer of rubber stamps and stencils for the next 40 years.

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Adaptation & Innovation

Our evolution and growth from those early days can be attributed to an ongoing commitment and continued engagement in new and emerging technologies. Post WWII, the technological advances of the war demanded and delivered new materials for the industry, accelerating our evolution. In 1947, we embraced the “plastics age” to incorporate plastics into our signage manufacture. The rapid development of plastics, mainly acrylics, allowed us to acquire new skills in design, fabrication, and illumination.

Evolution in the 1950s

As Albert Smith & Son moved into the 1950s, the use of rubber stamps began to decline, as did the demand for brass plates and engraving. Under-awning signs became the new focus of our business, evolving into who and what we are today—Albert Smith Signs. In 1959, we manufactured our first “illuminated sign” for the Commonwealth Bank in the Brisbane CBD.

Trailblazers in the 1970s & 1980s

In the 1970s, we began to explore the vacuum forming of plastic for signage, becoming pioneers and leaders in Australia for this emerging technology. Throughout the ’70s and ’80s, we led the way in the development, design, manufacture, and illumination of modern branding and signage. In 1986, we introduced computer-assisted design (CAD) to enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and volume of our manufacturing.

Stepping Onto the World Stage in the 1990s

In the 1990s, we leveraged our capabilities, knowledge, and technology to step onto the world stage.

  • In 1993, we established our first offshore joint venture in New Zealand (ASNZ).
  • In 1994, we expanded into China (ASC) to meet the needs of the Quick Service Restaurant sector, becoming the first Western company to do so.
  • In 1998, Albert Smith Philippines (ASP) was established to service the developing Filipino market.
  • In 2001, The Global Sign Alliance (GSA) came into being through partnerships between Blair Image Elements (USA), Prolicht (Europe), and Albert Smith Signs (Asia Pacific). The GSA ethos is “global reach, local knowledge, worldwide delivery.”

For 150 Years, We Have Remained a Family-Owned Australian Manufacturer!

Our Ownership Evolution

  • S. Smith & Son: Samuel joined by Albert
  • Albert Smith & Son: Albert joined by Keith
  • Albert Smith & Sons: Keith joined by his sons
  • Albert Smith Signs: Samuel’s great-grandsons Rodney & Mitchell

Current Leadership

Our 4th generation Managing Director, Rodney Smith, has led our team for over 50 years and proudly carries on the traditions of Samuel, Albert, and Keith. Rod remains actively involved in the leadership of Albert Smith Signs (ASS) and has maintained ASS as a privately-owned family company.

Fellow Director Mitchell Smith has been actively involved in every facet of the business for 40 years, both domestically and internationally. Mitch continues to contribute his broad range of knowledge, skills, and experience.

Albert Smith Signs: Our 4th Generation Family Company

We extend our heartfelt thanks to:

  • Our team members, past and present
  • Our customers, past and present
  • Our suppliers, past and present

For Sharing the Vision That Has Driven & Maintained Our Company for 150 Years

Today, Albert Smith Signs is owned and managed by Samuel Smith’s great grandsons. They proudly carry on the values and traditions of their forebears, Samuel, Albert and Keith.

Essential Elements For Your Business Signage Decisions

Your branding and signage can have a significant contribution to your marketing and the success of your business.

Here at Albert Smith Signs we understand how important it is to perfect your company brand and signage and we are able to offer solutions that are innovative, deliver quality and reinforce your brand.

The following are the main elements you need to consider before choosing the appropriate signage for your business:

Visibility:

Your sign placement is crucial. Your signage should be in an optimal location to deliver the best return on your business investment. We can assist you with advice on this element.

Design & Legibility:

After choosing a good location, the next elements are crucial: sign design, font style and colour

Good design is essential and should reflect the nature of your business and clearly show what you do and if appropriate incorporate your company colours. Legibility often adheres to the mantra “less is more”

What is the message you want your branding and signage to deliver?

Our Signspec department is All About Design – we can assist you with your design development, art work and photo montages

Quality:

At Albert Smith Signs we pride ourselves on being able to design and manufacture quality signage which will both enhance and add value to your business and brand.

Quality runs deep in our company’s DNA – and means doing the right things right and is uniquely defined by each individual customer’s needs.

Our manufacturing quality procedure ensures individual department checks on their product quality as it moves from department to department and a final overall quality check on despatch

Our total in-house manufacturing facility allows us to achieve the highest quality and standards for your signage products.

Installation:

When your signage is complete, the final step that is as equally important as design and a quality product is quality sign installation.

Our Brandcare department has a network of signage installers responsible for all our onsite installation activities that operate Australia-wide and throughout the Asia Pacific Region.

Your checklist considerations prior to your sign installation:

  • Has your sign installer of choice conducted a site audit to ensure they have all the necessary site information?
  • Have all local authority approvals been procured?
  • Is there a safety plan and a work method statement in place?
  • If required, who is responsible for connecting your building signs to power?
  • Has your installation date been reconfirmed?
  • Is there a final approval sign off process?

Durability:

Naturally, your sign must be able to withstand all weather and environmental conditions. You can choose from our range of sturdy and durable materials and components such as acrylic, poly carbonate, steel, aluminium and vinyl all able to be illuminated with our LED technology

To protect your signage investment and ensure your brand stays looking good for the life of your sign we recommend a preventative maintenance agreement, tailored to suit your individual needs.

Some of our key checklist items:

  • Inspection of signs for defects and or failure
  • All external sign graphics and faces fully cleaned
  • All sign electrical components checked

A maintenance report will be provided to you, evidencing attention to each of the comprehensive check list items.

In today’s marketplace brands need to stand out from their competition – Albert Smith Signs can assist you with all elements of your business signage decisions!

 

 

 

 

Consistency is key – your next brand roll-out

Maintaining a consistency of quality and service is the key for any corporate brand strategy.

Albert Smith Signs has been a leading supplier in providing corporate signage solutions to a range of corporate clients throughout the years and still maintain these relationships today.

But what makes a corporate brand roll out consistent?

Many clients do provide their own style guides and standard to adhere to; However, what creates the consistency over most is the:

  • Ability to adapt to the site-specific requirements while still maintaining your corporate brand.
  • The knowledge and experience to manufacture your required signs to council and state regulations from the get-go & provide you options that are within these requirements.
  • Working with you to provide finishes and materials that will improve the longevity of your signs in Australia’s sometimes extremely harsh climates.
  • Working with a project management team that oversees the entirety of the roll-out from start to finish and across the country.
  • Working with a team of credited installers throughout Australia and overseas which follow our guidelines and work to our high level of quality and service.

It’s not unusual for companies who have not updated their corporate branding for an extensive period, to require additional resources and knowledge to provide a corporate signage strategy that meets both their brand and can be reproduced as a physical product that works!

Our team from sales, design, manufacturing to installation have the experience to work in creating and implementing your brand, providing design and manufacturing solutions to create brand standards that will work for you now and in the future.

We don’t just preach it, we do it! And more!

We have prepared signage specifications and have carried out corporate branding roll outs for companies such as BP Australia & New Zealand, CEVA Logistics, Bunzl Group, Amora Hotel Group, KFC just to name a few! & most recently working with and carrying out the corporate roll out of FEDEX Australia wide.

 

Maintaining Strong Relationships – Iconic Green & Yellow Sandwich Franchise

Quick Service Restaurants are a common sight in both urban and rural landscapes, and we are proud to provide signage solutions for some of the most iconic QSR brands known throughout Australia.

Boasting over 1311 stores Australia wide, Subway with its key colours of yellow and green, “as if its meant to be”, is Australia’s largest fast-food franchise. Even though Subway are one of the youngest QSR’s in terms of entering the Australian market, they have firmly embedded themselves into our food culture.

Albert Smith Signs has been a dedicated supplier to Subway since the early 2000’s. The branding has continued to evolve since then, and today you’ll see their refreshed Corporate Image rolling-out in full swing.

The multi moulded design of the contour signs have now been replaced with a sleek and modern Permasign letterset. These have been designed to be set either as individual, on rails or on a staging panel to provide continuity throughout the brand whilst maintaining the flexibility to work within the constraints of the franchisee’s unique building situation.

The internal Neon signage have now been replaced with the Halo lit Choice Mark, a combination of the Subway arrows to create the internal “S”, applied to the green textured wall print maintains brand recognition and working within the confines of the internal space.

The new Subway brand design has developed with a more modern approach, including their digital printed graphics. With increased brand recognition, Subway have developed a range of exciting and interpretive window and wall graphics that clearly reflect the Subway brand in a lighter and more playful aesthetic.

We have been working with Subway Systems and their franchisees to manufacture and install their new signage Australia wide. With the projected roll out to be completed by the end of 2021, keep your eye out for their new look at your local Subway store.

Subway Cannon Hill

Subway Cairns

Subway Rockhampton

Subway Shepparton

YOU CAN’T MISS US!

Our fleet of Brandcare vehicles have had a makeover in celebration of the launch of our dedicated print division ASPrint!

The vehicles are designed to catch your eye from all angles whether it be while on the road or stationary. The chosen imagery highlights the range of products and brands we specialise in and provides the chance to show off our vinyl application expertise.

Although Albert Smith Signs do not provide vehicle wrapping services, we are proud to house a team of professional vinyl applicators that are skilled at all vinyl application practices.

The Brandcare team are our internal installation and project management specialists!

Running multiple projects from QLD to WA, our team of qualified project managers & installers whether in the office or out on site are fully equipped to get your job done!

Visit our Brandcare Website for more information https://www.brandcare.com.au/