Sign Fabrication and Manufacturing in Tucson
Commercial signs built in our own U.L.-certified shop on East 38th Street, by the same team that designs and installs them.
Sign Fabrication Tucson: Commercial Signs Built in Our Own U.L.-Certified Shop
Addisigns handles sign fabrication in Tucson from our shop at 3808 East 38th Street.
We have been building signs here since 1955, when Tom Addis opened the business as a sign painter. Today our team builds channel letters, monument signs, pylon signs, cabinet signs, neon and more under one roof.
Building in-house means we control the materials, the workmanship and the schedule. Your sign is made by the same company that designed it and will install it. When questions come up during the build, the answers are a few steps away.
A U.L.-Certified Manufacturing Facility
Our shop is a U.L.-certified manufacturing facility. For lighted signs, that matters. It means the electrical side of a sign is built to recognized safety standards, which inspectors and property owners look for.
We run current industry hardware and software in the shop. Designs move from our in-house designers into production with the same drawings you approved. That keeps what you saw on paper and what we build in line with each other.
Lighted signs built to recognized electrical safety standards that inspectors and property owners look for.
Built from the same drawings you approved, start to finish.
Materials We Work With
Every sign is a mix of materials picked for its job. The common ones in our shop include these.
The right mix depends on the sign type, the look you want and where the sign will stand. We help you choose during design.
- Aluminum. Light, strong and resistant to rust. We use it for channel letter returns, sign cabinets, monument and pylon skins, and backs.
- Acrylic. Used for lighted faces on channel letters and cabinet signs. It comes in many colors and lets light pass through evenly.
- Polycarbonate. A tough, impact-resistant face material. It is a common choice for larger sign faces and spots where a sign may take a hit.
- LED modules. The light source inside most of the lighted signs we build today. LEDs use less power than older lighting and give even light across a face.
- Neon. Some brands want the warm, classic glow only neon gives. We still build and repair neon signs.
How Sign Fabrication Works in Our Shop
Most of the signs we build pass through the same basic steps. The details change from one project to the next, but the process stays consistent.
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Cutting
Sheet metal and plastics are cut to the shapes in the approved drawings. Letter faces, backs and cabinet panels all start here.
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Forming
Metal is bent and shaped. For channel letters, the sides of each letter, called returns, are formed to follow the letter’s outline.
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Welding and assembly
Parts are joined into a solid structure. Cabinets, frames and supports for monument signs and pylon signs are welded and assembled so they can stand up to years outdoors.
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Painting
Metal parts are painted to match your brand colors. A good paint finish protects the metal and keeps the sign looking right.
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Wiring
Lighting is installed and wired inside the sign. LED modules or neon are placed for even light, and the electrical parts are connected and secured.
Quality Checks Before It Leaves the Shop
We check every sign before it goes out the door. Lighted signs are powered on and looked over for even light and working components. We check the finish, the fit of faces and the overall build against the approved drawings.
Catching a problem in the shop is far easier than fixing it on a ladder. A sign that leaves our building ready to go makes for a cleaner installation day.
Built for Arizona Sun, Heat and Monsoons
Southern Arizona is hard on signs. Strong sun fades colors and ages plastics. Summer heat bakes metal and electrical parts. Monsoon storms bring wind, dust and sudden rain.
We have been building signs in Tucson for more than 70 years, and we build with these conditions in mind. Material choices, finishes and sealing all aim at a sign that keeps looking good and working well in this climate. When a sign does need attention later, our repair and maintenance team can bring it back.
Sign Fabrication Examples
Here is a look inside our Tucson shop and at finished signs that came out of it.
Shipping Signs for Multi-Location Brands
Many of our customers are local businesses in Tucson and across Southern Arizona. We also serve Phoenix and surrounding cities from our Tucson shop. For businesses with locations in other states, we build matching signs here and ship them nationwide.
Building every location’s signs in one shop helps keep colors, sizes and finishes consistent from one store to the next. Your brand looks the same in every city.
Every location’s signs built in Tucson, so colors, sizes and finishes match from store to store.
Shipped nationwide for multi-location brands.
Mike Addis, our CEO, personally oversees projects, and our team of about 20 has completed more than 3,000 projects. Call 520-748-1540 to talk about your sign, or see more of our work in the portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you build signs in-house?
Yes. We fabricate signs in our own U.L.-certified manufacturing facility at 3808 East 38th Street in Tucson.
What kinds of signs do you fabricate?
We build pan and reverse pan channel letters, monument signs, pylon and pole signs, multi-tenant signs, cabinet signs, neon, building address numbers, interior signs and more. See all sign types.
Do you use LED lighting?
Yes. Most lighted signs we build today use LED modules. We also build and repair neon, and we offer LED retrofits for older signs.
Can you build signs for businesses outside Arizona?
Yes. We ship signs nationwide for businesses with multiple locations.
Ready to Build Your Sign?
Tell us what you need and our Tucson shop will build a sign made to last.