Lewis Howes

What Lewis Howes does

Lewis Howes (legal entity Lewis Howes Signs & Engraving Ltd) is a Liverpool-based, privately held manufacturer of architectural, commercial and industrial signage and engraved products. Founded in 1988 by Dave Lewis as David Lewis Sign Services and re-formed in 1990 as Lewis Howes following a partnership with John Howes, the company operates from a single headquarters and manufacturing facility at 19 Paul Street, Liverpool, with a staff of approximately 15. It serves B2B customers across the North West of England, including hospitals, councils, schools, retailers, engineering and industrial firms, and heritage/memorial clients, producing business signage, health and safety signs, Braille and tactile signs, commemorative plaques, flat-cut and built-up lettering, control panels, industrial labels, machine plates, wayfinding systems, and vinyl graphics.

The company's core technical capability is a multi-process in-house manufacturing stack covering manual, computer and laser engraving (Milgrav and VX2 IS000 machines), acrylic and metal laser cutting (1.5mm–20mm acrylic, precision to ±0.1mm on metal), Mimaki UJF 3042 flatbed UV and Roland VG 640 wide-format digital printing, chemical etching and photo anodising (with claimed durability of up to 30 years), screen printing, and plaque refurbishment. It holds material stock across stainless steel, brass, aluminium, Traffolyte, Gravoply, acrylic, Foamex, Correx and Dibond, and operates a full project management workflow from site survey and design through manufacture, installation, maintenance and renovation. No software platforms, APIs, AI or data-driven components are part of the offering.

Revenue is generated through bespoke, quote-based, project-driven sales to B2B customers, with one-off product sales complemented by installation and professional services (including plaque refurbishment). Pricing is not publicly listed; the company provides artwork for approval prior to manufacture and serves customers through direct sales, a website with case studies, phone and email contact, and a referral-driven repeat business model. Ownership remains entirely within the Lewis family following Dave Lewis's 2000 buyout of John Howes, with co-founder John Howes retiring in 2010 and Fran Lewis and Rebecca Lewis now driving operations alongside the founder.

Name

Lewis Howes

Legal name

Lewis Howes Signs & Engraving Ltd

Website

https://lewishowes.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lewis Howes is a privately held Liverpool-based manufacturer of architectural, commercial and industrial signage, engraving, laser cutting, chemical etching, and digital printing products, serving B2B customers across the North West of England in healthcare, education, government, retail, and industrial sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Liverpool

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Signage Products: One-off bespoke signage products ranging from nameplates to complete rebranding solutions. Products include business signage, health & safety signs, Braille & tactile signs, commemorative plaques, flat cut & built up lettering, control panels, industrial labels, vinyl graphics, machine plates, and wayfinding signage. Revenue is generated through one-time project-based sales with pricing based on complexity, materials, and quantity.
2. Installation & Fitting Services: Full project management including site surveys, design, manufacture, installation, maintenance, and renovation services. Provides complete sign service from concept to completion.
3. Plaque Refurbishment Services: Restoration and refurbishment of old plaques including bronze, brass, stainless steel and aluminium. Services include bead blasting, hand painting, re-engraving, and bronze toning.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Lewis Howes is a Liverpool-based architectural, commercial, and industrial signage manufacturer producing bespoke physical signage products and providing in-house manufacturing services including laser cutting, engraving, digital printing, chemical etching, photo anodising, screen printing, and metal fabrication. The company delivers end-to-end project management covering site surveys, design, manufacture, installation, and maintenance for B2B customers across healthcare, education, government, retail, industrial, and commercial sectors.

Product overview

Lewis Howes is a Liverpool-based architectural, commercial, and industrial signage manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of physical signage products and manufacturing services. The core product range includes Business Signage (external and internal), Health & Safety Signs, Braille & Tactile Signs, Commemorative & Memorial Plaques, Flat Cut & Built Up Lettering, Control Panels & Switchplates, Industrial Labels & Valve Tags, Vinyl & Printed Graphics, Machine Plates, and Wayfinding Signage. These products are supported by in-house manufacturing services including Laser Cut Acrylic, Engraving (manual, computer, and laser), Digital Printing, Chemical Etching & Photo Anodising, Screen Printing, Metal Laser Cutting & Fabrication, and Plaque Refurbishment. Originally named David Lewis Signs and founded in 1990, the company serves sectors including hospitals, councils, schools, retailers, engineering, industrial, oil and gas, medical, and commercial industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Signage Internal and external business signage including panels, posts, fret cut lettering, fascia signs, LED illuminated signs, and projecting signs for commercial and retail premises.
• Health & Safety Signs Safety signage for hospitals, schools, commercial buildings, and construction sites including construction signs, warning signs, first aid signs, fire safety signs, COVID secure signs, and parking signs.
• Braille & Tactile Signs Standardised or bespoke Braille and tactile signs with raised text and symbols for partially sighted or blind people, manufactured from stainless steel, aluminium, brass, plastic, or acrylic.
• Commemorative & Memorial Plaques Bespoke commemorative and memorial plaques available in various materials including anodised aluminium, lacquered brass, and marine grade steel, with optional oak or mahogany bases.
• Flat Cut & Built Up Lettering Flat cut or built up 3D letters, symbols, and logos manufactured in acrylic, stainless steel, aluminium, brass, Foamex, and MDF, available in various thicknesses with powder coating options.
• Control Panels & Switchplates Industrial control panels and switchplates in stainless steel or engraving laminate, ranging from simple to intricate designs, precision laser cut and CNC machined.
• Industrial Labels & Valve Tags Industrial engraved labels, identification plates, valve discs, key tags, badges, and asset plates manufactured in Traffolyte, Gravoply, stainless steel, and brass.
• Vinyl & Printed Graphics Full colour digital printing and vinyl graphics including window graphics, wall graphics, vehicle graphics, pop up display banners, labels, stickers, leaflets, posters, and business cards.
• Machine Plates Bespoke machine plates manufactured from durable industrial materials including 316 marine grade stainless steel, aluminium, brass, and plastic, with options for QR codes and blank fields.
• Wayfinding Signage Directional wayfinding signs for hospitals, schools, universities, office blocks, hotels, and outdoor spaces including door signs, floor signs, wall graphics, finger posts, and nameplates.
• Laser Cut Acrylic In-house laser cutting of acrylic, PETG, PVC, polycarb, HIPS, Foamex, Correx, and MDF in thicknesses from 1.5mm to 20mm with polished edges and accurate hole positioning.
• Engraving Engraving services including manual engraving, computer engraving (Milgrav and VX2 IS000 machines), and laser engraving on stainless steel, brass, aluminium, bronze, Traffolyte, Gravoply, and acrylic materials.
• Digital Printing Digital printing using Mimaki UJF 3042 flatbed UV printer and Roland VG 640 wide format printer on substrates including acrylic, Foamex, Correx, Dibond, steel, brass, PVC, aluminium, and polycarb.
• Chemical Etching & Photo Anodising Chemical etching and photo anodising services for stainless steel, brass, anodised aluminium, and copper panels, producing complex designs with up to 30-year lifespan.
• Screen Printing Screen printing on metal and plastic substrates including PVC, acrylic, steel, brass, aluminium, and vinyls, using stencils for efficient bulk production with durable finishes.
• Metal Laser Cutting & Fabrication Precision metal laser cutting and fabrication services for steel, brass, aluminium, and copper with in-house finishing, guillotine, and saw cutting capabilities.
• Plaque Refurbishment Restoration and refurbishment services for old plaques including bronze, brass, stainless steel, and aluminium, with bead blasting, hand painting, re-engraving, and bronze toning.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 6,500 top quality signs manufactured
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Mulford Plastics: UK-based supplier of plastic sheet, fabrication materials, and signage substrates. Not a direct competitor but an upstream supplier and ecosystem participant relevant to Lewis Howes' acrylic and plastic fabrication work.

Broad incumbents

• Spandex: Large multinational distributor of sign-making materials, equipment, and consumables serving sign producers across Europe. While not a direct signage manufacturer, Spandex operates in the same value chain as Lewis Howes and represents the broader incumbent ecosystem in which the company competes for customers and supplier terms.

Direct peers

• The Sign Group: UK commercial signage manufacturer offering design, fabrication, and installation across architectural, retail, and corporate signage. Comparable to Lewis Howes in scope of in-house production, B2B customer base, and full-service project delivery.
• Signs Express: UK-based sign franchise network offering full-service design, manufacture, and installation of business signage, vehicle graphics, and window graphics. Directly comparable to Lewis Howes in product range, B2B customer focus, and full project management model, though operating through a franchise structure with broader geographic spread.
• Image Sign Studio: UK sign maker offering design, manufacture, and installation of business signage, vehicle graphics, and window vinyls. Comparable to Lewis Howes as a small-to-mid B2B sign manufacturer serving local and regional customers across similar verticals.
• Sapphire Signs: UK-based signage manufacturer producing bespoke architectural, commercial, and wayfinding signage with in-house fabrication. Comparable in scale and product breadth to Lewis Howes, with overlapping capabilities in cut lettering, plaques, and project-managed installations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/signsandengraving
• Xx.com/LewisHowesSigns

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lewis Howes