Easy Signs, headquartered south west of Sydney, has seen increased sales to the US and is opening its first US manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania to continue that growth.

The company has leased a 72,000-square-foot facility in Lehigh County, located at 7346 Penn Drive in Upper Macungie Township, Allentown. Easy Signs anticipates a soft product launch at the beginning of May 2022, with a full launch by July 2022.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has announced that the move by the manufacturer of high quality digitally printed signage will create 130 jobs in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania, with the opening of its first US manufacturing operation in Allentown, about 150km West of New York.

Hiring for the new location will begin as early as March 2022.

“We have spent years building Easy Signs into a customer centric, ultra-efficient manufacturing company. With a focus on technology and continual innovation we knew it would one day be ready to launch into a much larger market such as the US. That day has now arrived and we are thrilled to be establishing in Allentown,” Easy Signs co-founder Andy Fryer said.

“We look forward to creating a wide range of jobs for Pennsylvanians in the Lehigh Valley, and developing a facility and culture that allows people to enjoy coming to work each day.”

Easy Signs manufactures high quality digitally printed signage using the latest technology. Located in Smeaton Grange, New South Wales, the company’s efficient production system allows it to provide some of the fastest production times of any signage manufacturer in Australia.

Over the last 10 years, Easy Signs has invested in the latest state of the art machinery, including a HP Indigo 7800 Digital Press and a HP R2000 in 2018 to ensure the supply of consistent, high quality products at the lowest cost. The company has been exporting to the US since 2019.

For the opening of the US manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania, Easy Signs received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for a $225,000 Pennsylvania First grant, a $75,000 workforce development grant to help train workers, and a $1 million loan through the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA). The company was also encouraged to apply for the department’s Manufacturing Tax Credit (MTC) program.

Easy Signs has committed to investing more than $2.8 million into the project and creating 130 full-time jobs over the next three years.

The project was coordinated by the Governor’s Action Team, an experienced group of economic development professionals who report directly to the governor and work with businesses that are considering locating or expanding in Pennsylvania and DCED’s Office of International Business Development, which offers both export and foreign direct investment assistance to help companies grow in the commonwealth.

A warm welcome

Wolf said Pennsylvania’s friendly business climate and manufacturing excellence is well-known internationally and welcomed East Signs to the state.

“Manufacturing has long been a key part of the commonwealth’s economy and we have much to offer the industry, from our skilled workforce to prime northeast location, and more. Easy Signs’ choice to locate their first US manufacturing operation here speaks volumes about the commonwealth and I’m thrilled to welcome them to Pennsylvania,” Wolf said.

The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) president and CEO Don Cunningham also welcomed Easy Signs to the Lehigh Valley.

“We’re glad to work with them to help identify sites and provide economic data about the region,” Cunningham said.

“Manufacturing is the second-largest sector of the Lehigh Valley economy, and our region is attractive for international companies seeking a presence in the United States due to our prime northeast location, talented workforce, and excellent transportation infrastructure. Businesses from many countries have made the Lehigh Valley their home, and I’m sure Easy Signs will find the Lehigh Valley a perfect fit for its first US manufacturing operation.”

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