Handmade Built Up Letters and Logos
Designing built-up letters and logos demands precision and craftsmanship. At NES, we combine advanced fabrication with traditional skills to create durable, high-impact signage built to last.
Our bespoke and handmade built-up letters and logos combine advanced fabrication technology with precision craftsmanship to deliver high-quality, durable and visually striking signage solutions.
Every project is engineered to bespoke specifications, using materials and finishes that deliver both the aesthetic and structural excellence defined by the design brief.
Precision Engineering
Using laser cutting technology and CNC routers, we manufacture letter faces and returns with exacting accuracy from stainless steel, aluminium, brass, mild steel, Corten and acrylic along with various other specialist metals and materials selected to suit the design requirements for the project, whether for internal brand displays or long-term external installations, ensuring optimal performance and finish integrity.Built Up Non-Illuminated
- Built-up non-illuminated letters and logos deliver depth, dimension and a premium brand statement, they can be fitted flush to a surface or mounted with stand-off fixings for added depth, be applied directly to walls, sign panels or frameworks, offering versatile installation options to suit a wide range of design requirements.
Face Illuminated - Rebate Cut Acrylic Faces
- This build feature a fully illuminated acrylic face, precision rebate-cut to fit seamlessly within the metal returns for a clean, high-quality finish, the design allows bright and even illumination across the entire face and full edge to edge, enhancing visibility and creating a striking modern appearance, ideal for where bold and consistent signage is desired.
Face Illuminated - Rim & Return
- Constructed with precisely sized rims to allow for the natural expansion and contraction of the glazing (typically acrylic), these letters combine durability with design flexibility, they can be installed flush to the background, mounted with stand-offs for added presence or affixed to bespoke framework.
Halo Illuminated
- Designed to produce a soft, ambient glow from behind the letter/logo, halo-illuminated signage creates a sophisticated and premium effect.
- Opal or clear acrylic/polycarbonate carrier panels are utilised to support the letter or logo to the relevant background with LEDs positioned within the letter body to cast light onto the background, offering an elegant and eye-catching appearance.
Face & Halo Illuminated
- Combining both front and rear illumination, this design delivers maximum impact and visibility, the acrylic face provides vibrant forward lighting, while a soft halo glow adds depth and sophistication, this dual-effect design offers excellent contrast and presence, making it ideal for premium branding and high-visibility applications.
- The face can utilise rim & return or full edge to edge illumination.
Part Return Illuminated
- Featuring illumination that extends only partially onto the return, creating a distinctive edge-lit effect, this build combines the boldness of a solid face letter or logo with subtle side illumination for added depth and visual interest. Ideal for premium branding, part return illumination provides a refined and contemporary appearance suitable for both internal and external applications, the part illumination can be as big or as small as the design requires.
Channel Illuminated (Neon or Faux Neon)
- This build is designed to integrate neon tubing or LED acrylic faux-neon to create a bold and continuous glow within each character, this style offers vibrant, high-impact lighting with a smooth and even finish, perfect for eye-catching signage in retail, hospitality and entertainment environments, available in a range of colours and animated effects.
Fabrication Process Review - Channel Letter
The descaled stainless steel letter backs are first precision laser cut, along with the corresponding returns from 240-grit satin stainless steel, our professional fabrication team then carefully form the returns to the required letter or logo shape, either by hand or using specialist hand presses.
The returns are tack soldered or welded into position and all alignments are meticulously checked to ensure dimensional accuracy.
At our Excelsior House facility, we combine traditional craftsmanship with modern fabrication technology.
- Hand soldering represents the traditional approach, ideal for fine detail and bespoke builds.
- Laser welding is used where precision, strength and minimal heat distortion are required.
Each letter return is then fully soldered along the entire perimeter, ensuring structural integrity and a seamless join.
Shown here is an example of a laser-welded Corten steel return, completed with Corten welding wire to achieve a consistent and seamless patina as the material naturally ages.
Following fabrication the works are thoroughly cleaned and prepared for painting or coating as required.
Finishing
Each letter or logo undergoes thorough surface preparation and finishing, including powder coating, stove enamelling, brushing, polishing or patination, depending on the material and design intent. In this example, the letter interior will be stove-enamelled reflective white to enhance illumination performance, while the satin stainless steel returns will remain exposed, delivering a refined, professional and bespoke appearance.
Example of internal stove enamelling for enhancing illumination.
LED Illumination in Built-Up Signage
Light-emitting diodes have transformed how built-up letters and logos are illuminated, offering bright, energy-efficient and long-lasting performance for all types of signage, consuming less energy and requiring minimal maintenance makes LEDs ideal for both indoor and outdoor applications, providing exceptional control over colour, brightness and overall visual impact. Combined with smart control systems, they enable dimming, colour change and animation to offer creative flexibility while maintaining reliability and durability, LEDs allow for precise installation within even the most intricate letter or logo shapes, delivering uniform light distribution without hotspots and are available across a wide range of IP ratings and colours, including RGB options for dynamic and programmable effects.
Quality Control
Every part is fully assembled and inspected for dimensional accuracy, solder/weld quality and illumination performance before packaging and despatch to ensure a seamless on-site installation.
From precision laser cutting to final illumination testing, each stage of production at Excelsior House reflects our commitment to quality, durability and design excellence to ensure every built-up letter and logo represents the best of British sign manufacturing.
