Selecting The Right Material For Metal Nameplates

By Author: Melrose Nameplate
Total Articles: 4
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Metal nameplates are manufactured using materials like aluminum, stainless steel, and brass. On the other hand, labels are usually manufactured using polycarbonates, polyester, vinyl and other plastics.

Metal nameplates are manufactured using materials like aluminum, stainless steel, and brass. On the other hand, labels are usually manufactured using polycarbonates, polyester, vinyl and other plastics. These items are used for logo identification, product signs and warnings, and to provide usage instructions among other uses. However, how do you decide the right material to use for product labeling? There are so many factors to consider.

When choosing metal nameplates, you must consider the type of product it is going to be put on. The environmental conditions it is going to be exposed to also matter and so does the expected lifetime. Note that, these material options come with different finishes. For instance, you can get a yellow, white, black, or blue cast if you select vinyl. However, the brass and stainless steel nameplates only come with a brushed finishing.

Aluminum nameplates are very durable and ...
... are chemical resistant. These nameplates can be found in various thicknesses and finishes. Most industries use them for serialized numbering since the process is simple and it utilizes low cost equipment. If your metal nameplates have curvatures or angles then aluminum is the best material to use. Recently, metal nameplates made of aluminum have been used in making modern business cards.

If you prefer stainless steel nameplates, you will benefit from durability and strength. However, expect to invest more on this kind of nameplates. If your labels will be exposed to salt water, then stainless steel is the most suitable material since it is non-corrosive. These nameplates do not allow bending and denting, which is why they are most suitable for stress environments like being used by construction workers.

Brass nameplates have many of the benefits of stainless steel. However, the additional benefit of these metal nameplates is that they have a distinct gold look, which makes the product appealing. However, brass nameplates are somewhat costly since it is a hard metal and requires heavy equipment for designing.

When it comes to asset labels, you have the option of using vinyl. Vinyl is the most cost effective and economical material used in equipment labeling. This material can produce great identification graphics and has a wide range of finishes. There are also different thickness ranges, which give you plenty of options. The labels made from vinyl can last between 2 to 7 years depending on the ink system used, and the many lamination materials used to enhance durability. The main disadvantage of vinyl is that it can tear when stressed and it is not resistant to chemicals if you compare it to other substrates.

Polyester is used to make lightweight machinery nameplates. This material works better than vinyl in industrial or agricultural settings since it is more resistant to chemicals. If your products will be subjected to high temperatures then polyester labels will work well. Polycarbonate is a nice material due to the wide range of features it offers. It can accommodate virtually any adhesive and is quite strong and durable. Polycarbonate can go well with highly textured and smooth surfaces.
Resource: http://www.melrose-nl.com/permanent-label.html