A small Modderfontein start with practical standards
From Modderfontein, projects are approached with attention to site conditions, material selection and proper installation. The scope includes printed vinyl, wayfinding, shopfront signage and site installations that depend on careful measuring and accurate fitment.
From the start, the team understood that signage is only useful when it stands up to real conditions. In Johannesburg that means dust, sun, wind, load-shedding interruptions and the pressure of tight programme dates. Those early lessons shaped the way the business still works today, with attention to fixings, finishes and the order in which a job is planned.
- Started in Modderfontein serving nearby Gauteng clients
- Focused on site checks, production detail and safe fitting
- Began building a reputation for dependable turnaround
Building skills, one project at a time
As work increased, the company moved from single-item signage to larger coordinated packages. Projects began to include routered Perspex lettering, aluminium panels, brass elements and fabricated signs for offices, retail, property developments and public-facing buildings. Each job brought new lessons in fixing methods, access, visibility and finish quality.
These years also established a way of working that still defines the business: inspect the site, confirm the brief, check the structure, then build the sign to suit the environment rather than forcing a standard solution. That approach reduced call-backs and helped clients budget more accurately from the start.
- Expanded from small items into multi-part signage packages
- Started handling material specification and structural coordination
- Developed regular work in Johannesburg, Sandton and Germiston
Wayfinding and developer work take shape
Over time, the team was being brought in earlier on projects, often before fabrication had begun. Developers and project managers wanted support with wayfinding planning, approvals and the practical detail that sits behind a signage schedule. Deep3 responded by formalising its consulting work so the sign family, positions, sizes and mounting methods could be agreed before production started.
This period saw stronger demand for road signs, pylons and directional systems across commercial, industrial and mixed-use sites. The team learned to work closely with architects, engineers and site managers, making sure the signage made sense for traffic flow, pedestrian movement and municipal requirements. It was also the period when the company’s project control became more structured, which made large rollouts far easier to manage.
- Added formal wayfinding planning and approval support
- Worked more closely with developers and municipalities
- Handled pylon signs, road signs and site direction systems
Bigger fabrication and more demanding installs
As the business matured, fabrication moved onto a larger footing. The team took on more fabricated 3D lettering, metal finishes, illuminated features and signage for buildings that needed a stronger visual presence. Light boxes and exterior sign structures became more common, and the work required better sequencing between design, fabrication and site access.
These years also brought more demanding installations in busy environments such as Midrand, Randburg, Pretoria and Centurion. Sites often had limited access windows, live operations, or strict estate rules, so installation planning had to be accurate. Riaan Smit and the fabrication team spent more time coordinating tolerances, brackets and pre-install checks, while Omolemo Msiza managed rigging and site movement with care. A missing bracket or a late delivery could cost a full day, so every detail mattered.
- Delivered more fabricated 3D lettering and illuminated signage
- Managed installations in active commercial and mixed-use areas
- Improved site sequencing, access planning and rigging control
Staying active through pressure and change
A tough trading stretch tested every part of project delivery. Work continued under tighter site controls, shifting schedules and supply interruptions, and the business had to stay responsive while maintaining quality. Load-shedding also affected fabrication timing and on-site work, so planning became even more important. The team adapted by scheduling production carefully, confirming power-dependent steps in advance and keeping clients informed when dates moved.
This period sharpened the company’s maintenance planning and handover process as well. Clients wanted signage that could be serviced, cleaned and repaired without hassle, especially on larger sites where downtime affects trading or tenant moves. Deep3 strengthened its aftercare support and became more deliberate about documentation, maintenance advice and sign-off on completion.
- Adjusted project planning for load-shedding and site restrictions
- Expanded maintenance planning and handover detail
- Kept delivery moving on high-pressure commercial programmes
African project capability from a Johannesburg base
Today, Deep3 Signage Consultants works from Modderfontein with a team led by Sibusiso Mthembu and supported by Leanne van Wyk, Sakhile Motsepe, Thandiwe Ndlovu, Riaan Smit and Omolemo Msiza. The business now supports signage strategy, site surveys, material specification, fabrication management, LED screen integration and installation management on projects across Gauteng and into the rest of Africa.
The work has broadened to include billboards, light boxes, fabricated letters, brass and aluminium finishes, road signage and LED video screens. Some projects are local and straightforward, others need travel, specialist rigging and close coordination with municipal or private stakeholders. The same principle still applies as at the start: specify carefully, build properly and install with respect for the site. That has kept the company trusted by clients who need signage that looks right, performs properly and lasts in South African conditions and beyond.
- Base in Modderfontein serving Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and wider Africa
- Now covers signage consulting through to rigging and handover
- Supports brands, developers and municipalities on complex sites