Ace Sign Co. and Watchfire Celebrate Partnership

Ace Sign Co. (Springfield, IL) was selected to install new signage at Watchfire’s headquarters in Danville, IL, reflecting the two companies’ long history of partnership.

The fourth generation of Ace Sign Co.

Present at the installation were generations of the Bringuet family, whose roots in the craft date to the mid-1800’s, which began with handpainted carriage work by an immigrant ancestor. The family established a sign business in 1887 and then Ace Sign Co. in 1940, following a reset during the Great Depression.

Today, the company is a fourth-generation family business with approximately 65 employees and a 60,000-sq.-ft. facility. Leadership includes CEO Todd Bringuet, alongside his brother and cousin, all of whom grew up working in the business from a young age — some starting as early as middle school. The current leadership team officially stepped into their roles in 2019.

“We fully embrace history and innovation. Sometimes people embrace history too hard and get left behind, and sometimes they chase innovation too hard and run off the rails,” Bringuet says. “For us, maintaining both is essential.”

At the installation, Ace showcased Watchfire technology within the facility, including a digital monument sign and a newly installed indoor display integrated into its on-site sign museum.

“We’ve been doing business with Watchfire before it was even Watchfire. We were working with their folks back in the Sangamo Electric days,” Bringuet says.

This relationship has carried through multiple generations on both sides, evolving alongside major industry shifts, from early time-and-temperature displays to LED technology and now advanced digital signage platforms. The museum also uses digital displays to create immersive storytelling experiences about the sign industry, including planned “Disney-like” presentations that bring the history of signage to life.

“They’ve been an incredible partner. I always refer to them as the tank of the industry,” Bringuet adds. “It’s just a really well-made, dependable product.”

For more information, visit acesignco.com and watchfire.com.