The most common materials for industrial nameplates are metal, plastic, and paper. Of our plastic nameplates, Polycarbonate (Lexan®) and Polyester (Mylar®) are the most frequently used. We can also work with customer-supplied materials. Some materials work best for inventory labels and barcode tags, while others are better suited for equipment asset tags, schematics, scales, dials, and overlays.
Our experts at Hallmark Nameplate can work with you to choose the best material, but here are some basic guidelines.
Metal Nameplates
The major advantage of a metal nameplate is that it’s extremely durable. Made with the proper finish, a metal nameplate can withstand the harshest environmental conditions, including many years of outdoor use, and it is resistant to various chemicals, tarnish, rust, and ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Available options for metal nameplates include three-dimensional detailing and custom inks, domed nameplates (Magni-Lens technology), and high-end MetalPhoto® nameplates.
- Aluminum – Of all the available nameplate materials, aluminum is the most durable, lightweight, versatile, and scratch-resistant, which makes this material one of the most widely used for nameplates. Aluminum can stand up to harsh weather as well as various chemicals. Available in a wide variety of alloys aluminum plates withstand harsh environments and heavy industrial use. Aluminum nameplates can be designed to meet military, ANSI, UL, and CSA specifications. Aluminum is a great nameplate material for clients who want an attractive finish in a hard, tarnish proof and rust-proof material. Aluminum is frequently used for outside applications, but it can also be used inside. Its most common use is for equipment asset tags.
Available Options: Custom die-cut shapes in any thickness; can be fabricated for the bolt, rivet, or screw installation, or can be affixed with a strong adhesive; screen or digital printing; various custom textures and finishes. Thickness range between 0.008 inches and 0.125 inches. The special MetalPhoto® process makes aluminum asset tags especially rugged and easily scannable.
- Aluminum is a non-ferrous metal that is often used as an alloy, combined with metals such as copper, zinc, and manganese, to enhance its inherent qualities. Pure aluminum, while rare, can be used corrosion resistance and workability are the key requirements, rather than durability or strength.
- Aluminum alloys are available in various series, with four-digit numbers that indicate the use, main features, and amount of aluminum in the alloy. These numbers range from the 1000 series to the 8000 series. The 1000 series contains the greatest amount of aluminum. The 2000 series metals are combined with copper, while the 3000 series metals contain manganese.
- Each aluminum series has recommended uses. The 2000 series were made to satisfy aerospace requirements (later replaced by the 7000 series), while the 5000 series is used for marine applications. The 3003 aluminum alloy is ideal for uses that require good corrosion resistance and strength. Other aluminum alloys are available, depending on the requirements. Common alloys are 3003, 5052, and 6061.
Aluminum Finishes:
- Anodized Aluminum (Sealed) – Lightweight yet durable, anodized aluminum is suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications. It’s known for its corrosion and abrasion resistance and is lighter than other metals. Anodized aluminum can be customized with various colors and designs. Color anodizing of an aluminum tag or nameplate converts the finish using a vibrant background color. We offer blue, green, red, yellow, black, and clear, or can create a custom color that matches your brand. Anodized aluminum nameplates are used for instructional tags, serial number and corporate identity tags, scales, dials, templates, and rating plates.
- Undyed / Unsealed Aluminum – Designed to conform with military specifications and other requirements.
- PhotoSensitive Aluminum (Photo-Sealed, Clear Sealed, MetalPhoto).
- Stainless Steel – Used for cookware and kitchen utensils, this is an extremely strong, long-lasting, tarnish proof and rust-proof material. Durability, versatility, and corrosion resistance sets stainless steel nameplates apart from other metal tags. It is an alloy that’s mostly composed of low-carbon steel and chromium. Other elements, like nickel, titanium, and molybdenum, can be used to enhance the quality. Chromium adds to the “stainless” qualities, while other elements make the material more durable and malleable. Available thicknesses include .018”, .030”, .050”, .062” and .125”.
Stainless steel has 3 main classifications – austenitic, ferritic, and martensitic. Austenitic stainless steel carries 200 and 300 series numbers while ferritic and martensitic classes belong in the 400 series. Nameplates often use the 304 series, which is the most common stainless steel grade and has a composition of 18% chromium and 8% nickel. We also carry 316 series stainless steel, which includes additional molybdenum that helps raise its resistance to more types of corrosion. If you have other alloys in mind for your stainless steel nameplates, these can be made available upon request. Types of stainless steel (304 and 316 – Nameplates Div., pg. 60)
- Brass – An attractive and affordable alternative to classic gold nameplates, brass nameplates are constructed from a copper and zinc metal alloy, which makes them resistant to corrosion. It’s similar to bronze, a copper and tin alloy, although brass usually appears more gold, while bronze has a reddish tone. Brass is sometimes chosen for nameplates because of its decorative quality and rich, golden color. Common uses of brass nameplates include plumbing and electrical applications, and for environments where sparks are a concern, as it’s a non-sparking material. Available brass thicknesses are .020”, .025”, .032”, .064” and .125”.
- Bronze – Bronze nameplates are rustproof and tarnish proof, and are also resistant to saltwater corrosion, making them a great material for seaside applications. Bronze is formulated from mostly copper and mixed with tin, and this material is like brass, but with a reddish color. Other properties of bronze include malleability and density. It is frequently used for custom bronze plaques, badges, and signs, in addition to other metal nameplate applications. Like brass, bronze is a non-sparking material. Available bronze nameplate thicknesses include .032”, .064”, and .125”.
Plastic Nameplates (Labels)
Plastics are extremely durable and are recommended for certain uses. They can be affixed with strong adhesive or can be fabricated for a bolt, rivet, or screw installation. With sub-surface custom plastic nameplates, the graphics are printed in reverse on the underside of transparent plastic material (sub-surface printing), so that the image is protected by the material. The graphics are then “backed up” with white ink. This makes them resistant to chemicals, oil, and abrasion. These nameplates are printed on flat, rigid sheets of material, typically .010” to .015” thick, although the thickness can range from .005” to .030”.
Plastic nameplates can be used indoors or outdoors. These permanent weatherproof nameplates are commonly called labels, stickers, tags, placards, and overlays. Plastic nameplates can be printed with bar codes, model numbers, serial numbers, property information, and either static or variable data. Plastic nameplates are made with peel tabs for easy application.
Hallmark Nameplates produces a high volume of polycarbonate and polyester nameplates, such as for a commercial aircraft interior manufacturer. The company makes virtually all the velvet polycarbonate (Lexan) placards that are found inside aircraft cabins (i.e. “No Smoking,” “No Stowage” and weight restrictions).
- Polycarbonate (Lexan®) – Lexan is a polycarbonate resin thermoplastic material that’s transparent, strong, tough, impact-resistant, and temperature resistant. Lexan is suitable for indoor and outdoor use. It’s the best material to use where extreme temperatures and widely varying temperatures are a concern. This material is also resistant to scratches, corrosion, chemical abrasion, and water, and it expands and contracts without damaging the material.
Polycarbonate labels provide exceptional optical clarity, color reproduction, depth effect, graphic design flexibility, printability, and dimensional stability. A common use of Lexan nameplates is as asset tags, in addition to other types of nameplates and labels. Polycarbonate nameplates are perfect for highly detailed printing.
Lexan nameplates come in various grades, including special textures for certain applications. A polished grade is available for panels and arrays used in LED or LCD display windows, medical packaging, audio/video equipment control panels, and home appliances. This material is also widely used for other consumer electronics and indoor displays.
Polycarbonate is also an eco-friendly material, and it can be flame retardant, UV resistant, and compliant with FDA and USP regulations.
Available options for polycarbonate nameplates include thickness/gauge variations (.005” - .030”), die-cutting, and various finishes and textures. You can choose from clear/high gloss, matte/different degrees, anti-glare, satin, or velvet finish. Lexan nameplates are typically transparent or white.
Selective texture, as well as selective adhesives, are available. These tags can be made to UL® or CSA-approved specifications.
- Polyester (Mylar®) – Polyester, also known as Mylar, is ideal for harsh indoor and outdoor environments, since it’s UV resistant, won’t fade in the sun, non-yellowing, electrical resistant and can withstand extreme temperatures, water, abrasion, and chemicals. This extremely durable and highly versatile material can meet rigorous specifications for high tensile strength, durability, resistance to solvents, clarity, resistance to shrinking and stretching, and low electrical conduction. It also resists tears and won’t become brittle when used outdoors. Mylar is well suited for commercial as well as industrial applications.
Common uses for Mylar nameplates include asset tags, product identification, electronics, packaging, magnetic media, imaging, and graphing. Mylar can also be used to create protective overlays. Mylar material is available in many variants, such as plain, metalized, anti-static, adhesion treated and barrier coated.
Mylar options include foil (?), metalized (?), and domed. Polyester nameplates are available in transparent or white, and with different finishes and textures such as chrome, brushed silver, glossy, matte, and anti-glare/velvet (Autotex®, AutoFlex™, Autotype). Domed Mylar ID labels can include serial numbering and they can be used with adhesives or include holes or slots for fastening. Available thicknesses are .003” to .010”.
- Vinyl (PVC) – PVC vinyl, also known as polyvinyl chloride, is very rigid and extremely durable. However, unless it has UV overlaminate protection, it isn’t suitable for outdoor use. Properties of PVC include resistance to moisture and humidity as well as low cost. There’s also magnetic vinyl, convex vinyl, fluorescent vinyl, reflective vinyl, and glow-in-the-dark phosphorescent vinyl.
Custom vinyl labels, due to their versatility, are frequently used for indoor and outdoor applications. Although it’s harder to recycle than other plastics, vinyl can be melted down and reused, so it’s considered a recyclable product.
PVC vinyl nameplates are available in transparent, white, and various colors, and with different finishes and textures like glossy, velvet, and matte. Vinyl labels can be ordered in different thicknesses. We also offer Scotchcal destructive vinyl labels, Scotchlite destructive and reflective vinyl labels, and Tyvek vinyl labels. PVC accepts different adhesives and can include holes or slots for screws.
Scotchcal™ Destructive Labels – Destructive vinyl is frequently used for tamper-evident labels. This material is designed to break apart when removed from its surface. This deters theft, counterfeiting, and asset transfers. However, this is not the only usage of destructible nameplates. They can also be used for asset and inventory tags, warranty seals, package seals and shipping labels, license tags, and calibration tags. The topcoat of these labels protects the label from dirt and grime.
Scotchlite™ Destructive and Reflective Labels – Scotchlite labels are both destructible and reflective, with the same high quality and durability as the Scotchcal destructive labels.
Tyvek® Labels – Manufactured by 3M from high-density polyethylene fibers, Tyvek provides exceptional strength, durability, tear resistance, water-resistance, and resistance to harsh environments. Tyvek can be used for identification tags and labels, warning labels, warranty labels, use labels, care labels, and instruction labels, in addition to various kinds of tags.
Paper Stock – Designed from 60 lb. to 100 lb. plus stock, paper labels are more appropriate for indoor use. The heavier stocks may offer some weather resistance, but they’re not made for harsh weather conditions.
