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Business Growth: Can Sign-Duplicators

Can Sign Industries offers engraving services, while Duplicators offers graphic design, printing and laminating services.

When Alfred Nicholls opened a print business more than 20 years ago in downtown Sudbury, it boasted two photocopy machines and computers to rent by the hour.

Flash forward to 2017 and Duplicators Printing and Copy Centre has expanded its service offering beyond copy and print to include graphic design, large format printing and laminating, and professional marketing material, all the while utilizing the latest technological advances in the production process.

Located on Brian McKee Lane, Duplicators remains a family business today with daughter Tracy Lauzon now at the helm as co-owner and general manager. Her husband Joe Lauzon, joined in 2014 as co-owner and general manager, bringing with him decades of sales and customer service experience.

In 2015, the Lauzons purchased Can Sign Industries, then located on Lorne Street. Specializing in commercial, industrial and personal engraving, Can Sign has the equipment, technology and staff trained to etch, laser cut, sandblast, sublimate and hand engrave a wide variety of different surfaces wood, glass, mirror, metals, textiles, rubber, leather, stone and plastic. It was a strategic business decision to expand services offered at Duplicators.

Shortly after, Tracy and Joe Lauzon merged the two businesses under one roof. Can Sign is now located next door to Duplicators at 100 Brian McKee Lane. They merged staff from both businesses and upgraded equipment and technology.

Today they work with clients from across Northern Ontario and take pride in their customer service, attention to detail and capacity for fast turn-arounds and less down time than most providers.

“Having the two businesses we can offer a lot more services to our clients,” said Joe Lauzon.

“We can design and print wedding invitations on card stock and then laser cut a one-of-a-kind design out of them next door. The two shops work well together.”

The business owners recently invested in a new vinyl printer, a leading-edge cutting machine that functions with precision and efficiency, producing clearer graphics for both small and large projects, as well as a high speed engineering printer to keep up with growing demand for both black and white and colour prints.

Together, Duplicators and Can Sign are a one-stop printing and signage shop, where each step of the design and manufacturing process are completed in-house. Many businesses don’t have the same capabilities and are forced to outsource services.

“There’s not much we can’t print on,” said Tracy Lauzon. “We are doing a lot more creative work these days.”

Duplicators and Can Sign have eight employees and there are plans for expansion including the addition of more services, while growing the team and client base.