Sid De Leo, owner of Sid’s Signs, said the Peterbilt tanker truck is one of the largest vehicles they’ve spruced up with a vinyl graphics-job, and Searles Well Drilling picked it up from their shop last Wednesday.

The work of applying the vinyl wrap to the truck’s tank lasted about four days, Sid’s son and co-owner Chris De Leo said. All the materials for the job were printed and produced in the De Leo’s office and shop.

Sid said the process for producing the graphics begins with large sheets of white vinyl which is run through a printer that applies colored graphics and text. Depending on the size, a graphic is printed on individual sheets and sections. The printed graphic is then laminated to make it ultraviolet light resistant.

“It takes about three of us to do it,” Sid’s wife and co-owner Jan said.

Submitted photo Chris De Leo applies the vinyl graphic to the tanker truck in Sid’s Signs On Broadway’s shop.

Sid and Jan said it took a lot of time and precision to apply the graphic to the truck’s rounded tank. One person had to stand on top of the tanker, holding the adhesive-backed vinyl sheet, while others would be on the ground. Constant precision and extra care were needed to avoid air bubbles or misaligned edges.

“It’s kind of tough to do when you have something that’s rounded,” Sid said. “It’s tough to get it up there and that’s why it can take a while to do it.”

Sid said the process for producing signs and graphics has changed since when his business opened in 1972. Much of the work used to be done by hand or aided by mechanical tools and machines.

But now in the digital age, graphics can be created and printed with computers and electronics.

“It used to be a lot of cut vinyl letters, but it’s going to the printing process more all the time,” he said.

Staff photo by Gage Cureton The Peterbilt tanker truck, owned by Searles Well Drilling, pictured outside of Sid’s Signs On Broadway July 17. Searles Well Drilling picked up the truck later in the day.

Sid’s Signs On Broadway has also applied vinyl graphic wrap jobs on other businesses’ company vehicles. Some include C.W. Plumbing and Klassen Plumbing and Heating and Air Conditioning.

“You’ve probably seen them around town,” Sid said.

Other projects include a majority of the signs in Mueller Park in New Ulm and the baseball field in Sleepy Eye — including a five foot by 10 foot commemorative mural to baseball legend Babe Ruth.

Gage Cureton can be emailed at gcureton@nujournal.com.