1988: A Boksburg workshop with a clear purpose
In 1988, Executive Screen Printers opened its doors in Boksburg with hands-on work and a straightforward idea: if a business needs a sign, label or printed item, it should be made properly the first time. The early jobs were local and practical, from name plates and safety boards to cut vinyl lettering for shopfronts, workshop doors and office fronts. Word travelled quickly in the East Rand because people wanted a supplier who understood site conditions, deadlines and the realities of outdoor work in Gauteng.
Those first years shaped the way we still work today. Measure carefully, keep the finish neat, and make sure the item suits where it will be used. That approach mattered then and it still matters now, whether the job is going onto a wall, a vehicle, a fence or a busy construction site.
The early 1990s: Building trust one sign at a time
As the business settled in, the work widened from simple lettering to more structured signage and print production. The team took on commercial signs, estate-agent boards, branded boards for local businesses and silkscreen printing for clothing and promotional items. Each new job added experience, and each returning client helped confirm that dependable service counts for more than loud promises.
- Cut vinyl lettering for glass, steel, painted panels and vehicles
- Safety signs for warehouses, workshops and access areas
- Silkscreen printing on T-shirts, overalls, ribbons and corporate gifts
- Boards for retail, property sales, events and internal wayfinding
By the end of that period, the workshop was doing more than printing. It was helping clients keep sites compliant, brands visible and operations organised. That became a steady pattern for the years that followed, and it still guides the way we approach new work.
The 2000s: Expanding into full-service signage
In the 2000s, the business grew into a proper one-stop sign shop for the East Rand and beyond. More clients needed everything handled in one place, from site surveys and artwork setup to manufacture, delivery and installation. That meant the team had to become stronger across planning, production and fitting, not just printing. Fleet marking, site boards and maintenance work became a bigger part of the mix, especially for businesses that needed signs installed safely and kept in good condition.
This is also when the business built a stronger process around workmanship. Accurate measuring, clear layout checks, neat finishing and careful fitment became part of the routine. Outdoor signs in Gauteng take a beating from sun, wind and dust, and coastal humidity can be a factor for clients working further afield, so the right materials and correct installation methods matter. A sign that is fixed badly or made for the wrong place will show problems quickly.
- Site surveys before manufacture, so the sign fits the space properly
- Vehicle fitment for company cars, bakkies and delivery fleets
- Board mounting for walls, poles and boundary fencing
- Sign refurbishment and vinyl removal for updates and rebranding
The 2010s: Wider reach across Ekurhuleni and Gauteng
During the 2010s, Executive Screen Printers became a familiar name across Boksburg, Benoni, Germiston, Kempton Park, Alberton, Springs, Edenvale and Midrand. The business was no longer only serving nearby streets and industrial areas. It was installing and supplying signage for companies spread across Ekurhuleni and greater Gauteng, with many clients coming back for repeat work as their branches, vehicles and premises changed.
As the region grew, so did the range of jobs. More estate-agent boards, more construction site signage, more fleet marking and more safety notices were needed. Clients also needed maintenance visits, quick replacements after weather damage, and practical delivery service when a project had a tight turnaround. The team adapted by keeping production organised and installations properly scheduled, which helped keep downtime low for busy sites.
Michael Johannes van der Merwe continued to guide the business with a strong focus on service and workmanship, while the team grew into clear roles that support day-to-day delivery. Lerato Mokoena handles sales, Johan Pretorius supervises production, Nokuthula Dlamini leads client care, Sibusiso Khumalo manages installations, Ayesha Patel coordinates design, and Pieter Erasmus keeps the workshop running properly.
What stayed the same as the business grew
Even as the equipment, client base and workload changed, a few things never moved. The business still values clear communication, honest advice and tidy work. It still aims to give clients practical options, not complicated talk. And it still understands that a sign is not just decoration, it has a job to do.
That is why the company keeps close control over the full process, from the first enquiry to the last screw or blade of vinyl. A safety sign must be readable from the right distance. A fleet vehicle must look sharp and stay neat through washing and daily use. A printed shirt or overall must hold up in real working conditions, not just for a photo. Those details are where experience counts.
- Practical advice on materials, sizes and placement
- Careful production for indoor and outdoor use
- Installations planned around site access and working hours
- Refurbishment and maintenance to extend the life of existing signs
Today: A steady local team with a long memory
Today, Executive Screen Printers remains based in Boksburg, still serving the East Rand from the same practical mindset that started in 1988. The difference is scale. The team now supports commercial signage, cut vinyl lettering, name plates, safety signs, fleet marking, estate-agent and site boards, plus silkscreen printing on clothing and corporate items. Clients across the region can also rely on delivery service, board mounting and installation work handled by people who know the local areas and the conditions on site.
Nearly four decades in, the business has grown by staying useful. Not every client needs a large production run. Sometimes they need one clean name plate, one replacement safety board or one vehicle marked before Monday morning. We keep that in mind. It is part of why the company still has a place in a competitive market, and why many clients return when the next job comes up.
From the first workshop jobs in the late 1980s to today’s wider service across Gauteng, the story has been steady rather than flashy. That is the real history here: consistent work, local knowledge, and signs that do the job properly. It has taken years of long days, careful fitting and a fair amount of problem solving, but the approach has stayed the same, even when load-shedding or weather made the day a bit harder than planned.