Berlin sign manufacturer National Sign Corp. is doubling the size of its facility with a nearly 24,000-square-foot expansion underway.
National Sign will use about a third of the additional space at its 780 Four Rod Road building to enlarge its manufacturing floor, President and CEO Russ Hassmann said. He’ll use the remaining space to store digital printers the company bought from Hartford printing and graphics provider Joseph Merritt & Co. two years ago. National Sign is currently operating those printers out of rented space in East Hartford. The project is budgeted at $1.5 million.
Hassmann is moving forward with the expansion because it makes more logistical sense to consolidate operations, and he expects business to increase as National Sign has added to its capabilities.
“The integration between sign and print is going very well,” Hassmann said.
Before buying the digital printers, National Sign made signs for building exteriors for clients like Barnes & Noble, Reebok and Adidas, Hassmann said. The digital printers enabled the company to make wall graphics and other indoor signage as well.
Initially the COVID-19 pandemic landed a solid blow to the company, which has about 60 employees and did about $11.3 million in 2019 revenue. About half of National Sign’s printing revenue dropped off toward the beginning of the pandemic, until the company pivoted into making things like social distancing decals and face shields. National Sign did about $10 million in revenue last year, more than they expected when COVID first hit, Hassmann said.
Berlin-based general contractor Fortunato Construction Group is handling the expansion project, and crews have already poured foundation, Hassmann said. He expects the project will be complete by the end of 2021, and said the company could possibly  add another 10,000 square feet to the building in the future.
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