Wilde Signs create outside-the-square signage with unique personality, in all shapes and sizes, including 3-D display props. Precision engineering is required for this, going beyond the limits of traditional materials and components.
Ryan Rogers, owner/director, is from the U.S. out of the film industry, and wanted to do something different with signage. He tells us about his explorative journey and how Heliner has enabled him to realise his creative visions…
First step – DIY
“I was working in digital effects for Weta workshops for many years and wanted a change, with a break from the long hours. With my love for building challenging stuff, I thought I could innovate the signage market with bolder aesthetics like I’d seen in the U.S., beyond the flat panels I saw around New Zealand.
I knew the engineering would require a CNC router, so I researched and built one myself. But I came up against limitations with that, so went to Google to find something with more capability.”
The step-up solution
“I came across James and he seemed to have the best equipment, considering my big concerns about robustness and reliability. The price point was well below machine imports from the U.S. or Germany. After speaking to James, I knew straight away that I could trust him, that he was the real deal – a nice guy and very knowledgeable.
He delivered the machine, and I found it straightforward to learn after my previous experience, so I was able to ‘take it off to the races’ pretty quickly.”
Flexibility and innovation from machining in-house
“Unlike most sign shops who outsource their CNC machining, having it in-house has big advantages. We can play around, test, and innovate to find better ways of doing things. Whereas with outsourcing, you only get one shot at it. It also cuts out the turnaround time so we can deliver quicker.”
Branching out to architectural, museum, and film sectors
“The machine is now the heart of our business, where each job is an engineering project. It’s been our workhorse for over four years and hasn’t stopped a beat, which is much appreciated. This has enabled us to branch out to different markets, including architectural products, museum pieces, and film props.”
The reassurance of local support
“It’s been great to have James on-hand locally for short-notice help when we need it to do new or tricky things on our path of innovation. He is providing a great service and will be the first person to call on for any future upgrades or developments.”
