Richard Vincent

A Career in Signs & Plastics: From the Driver’s Seat to Manufacturing Innovation

The Early Years: Learning the Industry (1985–1999)

My career in the plastics industry began in 1985 as a 7.5-tonne wagon driver for VT Plastics. Within 18 months, I moved into internal sales, eventually rising to Commercial Supervisor. It was during this time that I was first introduced to Flexface signs via Signtech products.

Working with major accounts like Forge Plastics, I saw firsthand how Flexface systems were revolutionising forecourt signage for brands like BP and Shell, and creating complex shapes for retailers like Texas Homecare.

In 1990, I co-founded Acrylic Supplies Ltd in Hull. Two years later, I was headhunted back to VT Plastics as Branch Manager. Following an acquisition by the Dutch firm Vink, I was appointed to lead a specialist signage sales team of eight reps, managing a £16 million budget.

Joining Brownings: Modernisation & Digital Revolution

I joined Brownings in October 1999. At the time, the business was operating manually; I immediately introduced computerised costing systems and streamlined production by migrating our product catalog into Sage.

I also recognised a massive shift in the market: the move from labour-intensive vinyl-applied skins to digitally printed Flexface skins. Working with partners like Macro Art, we moved from a 3-day decoration process to one that took only a few hours, drastically increasing our capacity.

Engineering Solutions & Technical Milestones

My role has always been defined by solving the "impossible" problems for our trade partners:

The Esso Canopy Solution (2005): When XMO Strata faced an obsolete 220mm canopy system, I engineered a bespoke solution using 1” angles on our Econoflex boxes. By ensuring the skin lines matched perfectly across the estate, we secured a £1 million account and solved a major maintenance backlog for Esso.

TexSign & LED Integration (2010): As the exhibition market shifted to fabric graphics, I led the development of TexSign, our proprietary silicone-edge graphic (SEG) system. We spent months in R&D to perfect LED illumination for ultra-slim 60mm profiles, ensuring flawless light distribution.

The Carnaby Street Robins (2013): To create double-sided, robin-shaped Christmas lights for London, I pioneered a "reverse-engineered" fabrication method. By CNC-cutting the backing sheets first and building the frames around them, we achieved 100% accuracy—a unique method we still use for bespoke shapes today.

Heathrow Terminal 2 (2018): We manufactured complex header panels with radiused corners and non-90° angles. To prevent the skins from "pulling in," I designed internal acrylic support tubes that maintained the shape without shadowing the illumination.

Driving the Future: Magnwall & Beyond

Today, Brownings manufactures approximately 1,000 Flexface boxes annually for brands including McDonald’s (Netherlands), Premier Inn, and Sports Direct.

My focus remains on pushing manufacturing boundaries. We recently secured the UK license for Magnwall, a revolutionary magnetic retail system. In just 18 months, our team has developed more accessories for the system than the original designers achieved in four years.

At Brownings, we don't just manufacture signs; we engineer the solutions that keep the UK’s signage industry moving forward.