📜 Our Saga: 40 Years of Viking Signs

For four decades, Viking Signs has navigated the changing tides of British manufacturing. Our story is not just about making signs; it is about the relentless pursuit of a better way to build.

The Origins (1986): The Spark

The Viking Signs saga began in 1986, founded by Ron Gray in Grantham. In those early days, we were a traditional local sign shop - focused on craft, community, and the simple act of making things well. It was here that our "Viking" spirit was born: a commitment to hard work and serving the local kinsfolk of Lincolnshire.

The New Era (1997): The Family Takes the Helm

In 1997, the torch was passed to the Joint family. Simon and Michèle Joint took command of the ship, instilling the deep family values that define us today. They didn't just buy a business; they adopted a crew. Under their stewardship, the company began to expand its horizons, moving to larger premises and investing in new equipment, laying the groundwork for the major player we would become.

The Lean Revolution (2007 – Present): Engineering Excellence

The turning point in our modern history came around 2007, with the arrival of the next generation. Darren Joint (now Managing Director) brought with him not just a passion for the family business, but a rigor born from the automotive electronics and manufacturing sectors.

We stopped being just a "sign shop" and became a Digital Manufacturing Powerhouse.

We embraced Lean Manufacturing principles - not as a buzzword, but as a survival strategy during the recession and a growth strategy thereafter. We replaced "batch and queue" with "single-piece flow." We automated where it made sense and doubled down on human craftsmanship where it mattered most.

This transformation allowed us to:

• Launch SafetySignSupplies.co.uk, becoming a national leader in safety signage.
• Weather economic storms & the COVID pandemic, by being adaptable and efficient.
• Win the MakeUK Midlands & East SME of the Year Award (2021), recognizing our resilience and innovation.

Today, we stand as a testament to what British manufacturing can be: agile, digital, and fiercely competitive.

🔭 Our Vision: The Horizon Ahead

We do not rest on our shield. Our vision for the future is clear, ambitious, and driven by the same dissatisfaction with the "status quo" that fuelled our past.

1. The Digital-Physical Hybrid

We see a future where the line between a digital file and a physical product is seamless. We are building a "Smart Factory" where on-demand manufacturing is the standard, not the exception. We aim to be the benchmark for Mass Customization in the UK—giving every client a bespoke solution with the speed and cost-efficiency of an off-the-shelf product.

2. Sustainability Through Precision

Waste is the enemy of the Viking. Our future is Green because it is Lean.

• Zero Inventory Waste: By manufacturing on demand, we eliminate the need for warehousing piles of unsold stock that eventually end up in landfill.
• Material Efficiency: We are constantly refining our nesting algorithms and production tech to use every square inch of material.
• Eco-Innovation: We are actively using and pursuing new, sustainable materials that do not compromise on durability, ensuring our signs last a lifetime but leave a lighter footprint.

3. Championing British Manufacturing

We believe in the strength of the UK manufacturing community. As leaders in both the Greater Lincolnshire & MadeSmarter manufacturing scenes, our vision extends beyond our own walls. We want to demonstrate that high-wage, high-skill, high-tech manufacturing is the future of the UK economy. We will continue to share our learnings, support local skills, and prove that the best way to predict the future is to build it yourself.

With 40 years of history, we are just getting started.