There are many good reasons why polyester labels, vinyl labels, and Lexan labels are seen as the best choices for many of your tagging needs, and these reasons are all due to the inherent characteristics and features of each one. The main draw when it comes to choosing a tag material is in its durability. So if you are in need of a durable type of label that can withstand a good number of rough conditions, then any of these three is a good choice.

When faced with a choice as to what material is best for labeling requirements, the choices you may face include these three – vinyl, polyester (Mylar) and polycarbonate (Lexan). All of these options are durable, but some are better suited to specific uses than others. In order to show you which one is best, here are some things you need to know about each type:

Vinyl – vinyl labels are indeed a good choice when you are looking for a durable label to use for your company’s needs. These are flexible, versatile, and best of all, one of the most cost effective materials for labels around. These are great for use with curved surfaces due to its flexibility however, this material does have its limitations. If you are looking for a tag that can withstand very harsh chemicals and conditions, both indoors and outdoors, vinyl is not at the top of the list. It can have added protection to it to toughen it up in the form of laminates, which can help increase its resistance to chemicals and harsh environments.

Polyester (Mylar) – another option you have when it comes to tough label materials is Mylar, or polyester. This is considered a stronger material than vinyl since it is more tear resistant and can withstand exposure to oils, solvents, and a number of chemicals. Labels that are made using this material are also great for humid and other similar conditions, making these great for a number of indoor and outdoor applications. Also worth noting is that polyester tags do not shrink as time goes by, unlike some other label materials that other companies use.

Polycarbonate (Lexan) – probably the most durable of these three options is polycarbonate, or Lexan. This material is so durable that you can actually find products like crash helmets, sunglasses, and the like, being made with the use of the material. Tags made out of this material are scratch-proof and can withstand many different kinds of chemicals as well as harsh conditions. These are great for use with labels that are used on control panels, as overlays, and many more.

One of the choices you have when you are looking for labels for your products is aluminum foil. It is also one of the more popular choices around, and is the go-to label material of many companies for a wide variety of reasons. Some businesses choose this particular label due to its relatively low cost, while others choose it for its metallic look. A few other companies opt for this particular label type due to the fact that these are rather durable, and still a few more use this because it can withstand heat and cold.

Whatever the reason may be, this kind of a label is indeed rather popular. But is it the right kind of label for you? Is it really as good as it sounds, or is there flaws that make this particular label not right for you? To find out whether or not this label is what you should choose for your labeling and tagging needs, here are some pros and cons that may help you decide:

PROS

Cost effective – when you say cost effective, this means that an item is worth what you are paying for it, regardless of whether it is more expensive or less expensive than other options. Aluminum foil labels are cheaper than a few other label options, but are also more expensive than say, paper or cardboard. These are cost effective because these are more durable than paper or cardboard, and almost as durable as more expensive options.

Versatile – depending on your manufacturer of choice, you will find that this material is actually very versatile and can be printed on with the use of many different mediums. You can even print on these yourself with the use of hand-held stamping machines and equipment, and in some cases, standard printers.

CONS

Not as durable as other materials – as mentioned earlier, these labels are more durable than paper and cardboard, but are not as strong as other materials like Lexan and Mylar. If you want a label that is hardier and can withstand rougher environs, then aluminum foil labels may not be right for you.

Metallic sheen can be limiting – in terms of design, if you want the thinness and durability of aluminum foil, but do not want the metallic look, then you may need to reassess your options. You might do better with materials like vinyl and Mylar, which are also rather thin but are not metallic looking. If you are thinking of painting over the entire label to remove the metallic look, then you are actually defeating the purpose of using a metallic material for your labels.

These are just a few of the pros and cons that come with choosing aluminum foil labels and tags for your company’s needs. If you are unsure as to whether or not these tags will work for you, do not hesitate to get in touch with us, and we will gladly go through your concerns to find the best label materials for your needs.

One of the tags that most companies find very useful when it comes to their inventory and tracking needs are asset tags. Inventory and asset tags are used by almost every business that requires the use of a quick tool for keeping track of everything that the company owns and uses. These are attached to these assets, as well as on items that are for sale, and are often made to carry barcodes that make it easier to mark and track.

While these tags are indeed necessary tools used by many in their establishments, some do not know where to put these for optimal results. Some people even have the mistaken notion that these tags should be placed in areas that people cannot see them easily. It should be said that inventory and asset tags, even when these are not made of destructible material or are not tamper-evident, are also used to help deter theft. For these to be effective in preventing theft, these have to be placed in areas that are visible to everyone.

It is also ideal that these tags be made using tamper evident or tamper proof materials. You should also consider using adhesive that makes your tags stick to these items so well that you would need an adhesive remover to succeed in removing these. Also worth considering when using these inventory and asset tags is to have people these items are assigned to be held accountable if these disappear, which will make them more vigilant in protecting your company’s assets.

But we digress from the main topic here, which is the placement of your asset tags. To get back on track, here are some of the more commonly used items in most offices and where these tags should be ideally placed for easy inventory and tracking:

Computers, laptops and other similar equipment – for computers, since these consist of a monitor and a CPU, you should place one tag for each part. For monitors, place one tag at the back where it can be easily accessed and scanned with a handheld optical scanner. For CPUs, you can choose to put your tags in the front, on the top part of the casing, or in the back. For laptops, you can attach your inventory and asset tags on the underside of this portable computing device.

Furnishings – offices also have furniture that you have to keep track of, and account for. Asset tags should also be placed on these, although in areas that are not as visible as smaller items since these are generally difficult to try and pilfer given that these are rather large items that are highly visible. For cabinets, bookcases, and other similar furnishings, place your tags on the upper right corner of the topmost part of these items. For seats such as office chairs, sofas, and the like, tags are often placed behind the backrest, either in the middle or to the upper right side as well. Tables, desks, workbenches, and other furnishings that have the same functionality as these, should carry these asset tags on the top part of the right leg, or near the top of the right corner.

Kitchen appliances and small office equipment – small kitchen appliances as well as equipment like fax machines, mini-copiers, and others like these, should have inventory and asset tags placed in an area that is also easily visible and easy to scan. The usual location is the top right corner of these items. For bigger office equipment and kitchen appliances like large copiers and refrigerators, asset tags can be placed on the top right corner as well.

Equipment exposed to dirt, grime and heat – power tools, heavy machinery, and other similar equipment also need to be tagged for inventory and asset tracking purposes. These items should carry inventory and asset tags in the areas where the least grease, grime, heat and dirt can reach them.

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Did you know that due to customization options most manufacturers offer consumers these days that you can actually do almost anything with your vinyl labels and decals? The limit to what you can do with these stickers is dictated only by your imagination (and the kind of surface you are thinking of sticking it on, of course). Any smooth surface can easily accept these labels, and stickers on them without any problems whatsoever, as long as the area is clean and devoid of any grease or dirt.

So, what can you do with your vinyl labels and decals, aside from the usual company labels and branding tags that most companies order from manufacturers? Read on and find out what other things can be done with the use of these labels.

Drawer Labels – oftentimes, you will find your kids digging through their drawers to find a shirt, a pair of shorts or even their underwear. Messing up their drawers can sometimes be attributed to their not remembering where particular types of clothes can be found (this usually happens to younger kids), hence the need to either constantly remind them of this, or to fix their clothes every so often. Stop having to do this by labeling each drawer so that they can easily find what they need without having to dig through everything.

Have labels like shorts, underwear, pants, shirts and socks created and stick each one to a corresponding drawer. You can also do the same thing to all other drawers in the house, if you feel that you need to remind people of where things can be found. This can be used in the kitchen, in the bathroom and even in your own bedroom, if you think you need to attach vinyl labels to your own storage units.

Decorative Bedroom Decals – if you think that wallpaper, stencils and mural painting is not the kind of décor you want for a bedroom, you can actually have custom made vinyl decals made in any design motif you want for use as wall decorations. You can have different kinds of dinosaurs in plain black crafted for your kid’s bedroom or butterflies and trees for your teenager’s room. You can also choose to have special sayings or slogans created for your own home office and you can post these all over the walls and the ceiling to serve as motivation and inspiration for yourself.

Customized Wedding Giveaways – if you are trying to save on wedding giveaways, or any event giveaways for that matter, you can actually do so by purchasing bargain items like goblets, mugs, jars and the like and attaching customized vinyl labels onto these to make them look unique. For weddings, you can have your names and the date of your wedding printed out on these vinyl stickers and you can stick these on any item you feel will make a good souvenir, like a cookie jar or something like that.

The same goes for corporate giveaways. You can attach vinyl stickers with the company logo or name on it onto items that you want to give away as souvenirs for special events. Some of the items you can consider using include ashtrays, mugs, glasses, coffee tins and even metal business card holders. As long as the surface is smooth and clean, whether curved or flat, these vinyl labels and decals will easily adhere to these items and will stay on them for a long time, depending of course on the kind of adhesive you choose to use for these stickers.

A lot of products use aluminum, and a lot of items on this site use aluminum plates. Ever wonder how aluminum plates are manufactured? Ever ask yourself how the plates you are using for your business first came about?

The journey for aluminum plates and sheets start with the mining of the mineral used to create this metal. Bauxite, which is the raw material where aluminum comes from, is in clay-like type soil. This is usually found only a few meters underneath the ground and is most abundant around the equator.

Once the bauxite is mined, it is washed off of any clay sticking to it then ground up and prepared for the extraction of aluminum oxide, or alumina. In order to extract the alumina from the crushed bauxite, a process that involves a mixture of hot caustic soda and lime is used. The result of the heating of the crushed bauxite and the purification of the resulting crystals is the alumina needed for the creation of aluminum metal.

The next step in this process is the creation of the aluminum metal. This is done with the help of carbon and electricity. In a process called electrolysis, using negative and positive cathodes made of carbon, the alumina is then converted to a liquid state with the creation of CO2. This liquid aluminum is then poured into different forms that produce sheet ingots or slabs, which are then used to create aluminum plates and sheets.

In the production of aluminum plates, the sheet ingots or slabs are first smoothed for these to get that mirror-like shine that aluminum is known for. These are then rolled through a rolling machine after being heated to 400ºC and this comes out as a thin sheet of metal. This process is called hot rolling. The sheets produced here are rolled into coils in preparation for the next stage.

The next stage for these aluminum sheets is called cold rolling. This is where these sheets are flattened into different thicknesses to suit the many applications these are to be used for and to suit the needs of various clients. These are also stored in rolls, just like the rolls that were produced after hot rolling.

These rolls undergo different finishing processes where different types of aluminum are produced. This is where annealing, surface treatments and many more are done. Before these are shipped out to the respective companies that ordered them, inspection is conducted to ensure that these aluminum plates and sheets are of the right quality.

Domed LabelsLots of companies use domed labels for their branding needs and for many good reasons. For starters, these labels are great to look at since these have a 3-dimensional look about them due to the clear dome that is on these tags. The clear dome is made using urethane, which is why it is also a durable tag. Urethane, which is short for polyurethane, is a material that is not brittle like plastic and is has a high impact resistance.

This durability also means that these domed labels are not prone to cracking under shock loading and pressure. These labels have a dome that is somewhat elastic, which helps it return back to its original shape and form even after it gets dented or dimpled. This makes such tags a great choice for applications where these things are liable to occur.

These clear domes are also “self-healing”, which means these will return to their original form after a short while. This means that when these tags are bumped and damaged, these will slowly return to their original shape without you needing to do anything. This self-healing feature is what a lot of people love about this kind of a tag.

Aside from being this resilient, you will also find that these domed labels make the tags underneath it look better than ever with the clear dome top that help make these look 3-dimensional. These also help capture the attention of people due to the raised look of the label and the shiny dome on top. These added aesthetic factors help make these tags look better than when these were flat and somewhat plain looking.

The urethane dome on these tags is added on after the tags are made, which helps protect the print on these. The tags that you can use to create these domed labels include cardboard printed labels, plastic labels, and metal labels. Making domed labels using metal tags like those that come with etched designs or digitally printed designs, help make these even more attractive to look at.

This is why these domed tags are used on products that require tags that are resilient, eye-catching, and amazing to look at. Some of the products you will see these on include vehicles, outdoor equipment, kitchen appliances, and other similar items that are exposed to rough conditions that require brand tags that can withstand such harsh environments. These give such tags a longer life and helps companies prolong their brand exposure, which helps them improve chances of brand recognition.

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Embossed Metal Tags

When it comes to embossed metal plates, you will find that there are a few customization options you can tap in order to create the best kind of tags for your business and needs. These customization options allow you to tweak your tags in such a way that you get exactly what you want for your many requirements. What are these options? Here are some of them:

Material Type – there are many different kinds of metals for you to choose from when it comes to embossed metal plates and most of the ones that are being offered by manufacturers are metals that are tarnish and rust proof. This is to ensure that your tags last a long time. The choices you have include aluminum, brass, and bronze but the most popular choice is stainless steel. This is because stainless steel is deemed as one of the most durable metal options for this particular tag.

Size of Tag – of course, one of the things you need to choose for your embossed metal tag is the size of the tag itself. These can be as big as the stamping die will allow it to be, since these tags have to be marked with a custom die that will be made for your embossed plates. These custom dies are also made out of metal and have a male and a female part which are then used to stamp the design on your tag while the metal is being heated up.

Design of the Tag – this is one of the more important aspects of the tag since this is where your brand and ideas come in. These tags can carry your brand, decorative designs, and even information about your company. As long as these can be incorporated into the custom die used to create these tags, you can make embossed tags with many different design elements on them.

Inked or As Is – these tags can also have some color on them or can remain as is, with a metallic look that some people like. These can be inked in to give the details and information on the tag more definition, with those that carry company brands and logos being colored to match the exact colors that are used for these things. You can also have a combination of inked and as is, with some parts being painted in and other parts showing the metal being used for the tag.

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Etched plaques and signsWhen you have etched plaques and signs customized, one of the things you will need to do is to choose all of the elements that are to go on it. One of the things you will need to decide on is how these plaques and signs are to be mounted. Of course, before you can decide on these, you will need to first take into consideration a number of things.

Not all mounting options are ideal for specific signs and plaques. For instance, if your etched plaque or etched sign has a rather heavy backing or substrate, you cannot use ordinary adhesives on it. You will need to use other types of mounting materials that can sustain the weight of the entire thing.

There are a number of mounting options for you to choose from however, so there is no need to worry about creating an etched sign or plaque that uses a heavy material for the plate and for the back. Here are some of the options you have when it comes to mounting your etched plaques and signs:

Adhesive – when you say that you want an adhesive as your mounting choice for your etched signs and plaques, you should be aware that there is more than just one kind of adhesive for this. There are actually a number of adhesives that you can choose from, and these range from the reusable, to the high-strength, to those that can be used on rough surfaces, and those that can withstand high heat as well as extreme cold.

The adhesive you choose for your plaques and signs should be compatible with where these are to be mounted and the conditions in which these plaques are to be exposed to. If the surface is smooth but is exposed to high heat, then an adhesive that can withstand high heat should be chosen. If the surface is rough but is not exposed to any changes in temperature, there is an adhesive for that.

Screws – more often than not, when a plaque or sign is pretty heavy, the go-to mounting option is mounting holes with screws. These holes are pre-drilled into the plaque or the backing of the plaque (which can be anything from wood to stone to glass), and used with specific tools to mount the plaque or sign properly into place. The right kind of screws are also chosen for this task, with longer screws often chosen to ensure that the plaque stays in place after mounting no matter what the situation (people bumping into it, shaking, etc.).

Of course, aside from the mounting options needed to secure the sign or plaque to the wall or area where it is supposed to go, you will also need to choose the right adhesive to attach these metal plates to the backing materials that these are to go on. A heavy-duty adhesive is usually the choice here to ensure that your plate does not fall off no matter what happens to it.

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Etched SignsEtched signs, particularly those that are made using metal, are used by many businesses due to durability and elegance of such signage. These signs can be customized according to what a business wants and these include the size and shape of the sign as well as the fonts used on the sign. These customization options also include the kind of backing material a sign will have and the mounting method of such signs.

What kinds of businesses usually employ these kinds of signs for their needs and where do they usually use these etched signs? Here are some examples:

Restaurants – you will find that restaurants that use these kinds of signs for their business are those that are not considered fast-food. Most fast-food places use lighted and neon signs for their businesses. The dining establishments that choose to use these kinds of signs are those that are considered fine dining. You will see the name of the restaurant usually in fancy script or some other font that is in line with the image they are projecting, and usually on bronze or brass metal mounted on a wooden or stone backing.

Office Buildings – office buildings are also known to use etched metal signs for their signage needs, and this is usually found in the lobby or reception area of these structures. These are often used to create directories that people use to find specific offices or departments in the said building, with these signs often mounted on a wall in a glass case or with a framed backing, to draw people’s attention to it. These directories often use etched metal plates with various names or departments written on them alongside the room number of such an office.

Law Firms – etched signage are often seen as elegant and rather sophisticated, which is why businesses and offices like law firms tend to choose such a signage for their needs. You will find that a lot of law firms, and other similar offices like those for accountants, architects, engineers, and the like, tend to gravitate towards etched metal signs on wood or stone backing for their company signage needs. These give an air of seriousness to the place and will often carry company names in fancy script and other similar fonts.

These are just a few of the businesses that choose to use etched signs for their signage needs. Aside from carrying the company name and being used to create company directories, these are also used by businesses as commemorative plaques, dedications, and company histories.

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Maintenance of Etched PlaquesSome people have the mistaken notion that in order to keep your etched plaques in perfect condition, all you need to do is to wipe it off occasionally, and you’re good to go. What they do not realize is that these plaques actually need a bit more than just the perfunctory wipe with a rag to prevent its deterioration. There are a number of things that you need to do in order to keep these metal plaques from falling to disrepair, and here are some of the dos and don’ts of plaque care and maintenance:

Do take into consideration the materials the plaque is made of – if the plaque is mounted on wood, this needs to be considered. If the plaque is made of a specific kind of metal, this also needs to be considered. All of these come into play when you are cleaning and maintaining your etched metal plaques. This is because you will need to use the right kind of cleaning methods and materials for these in order to ensure that these do not get damaged while being cleaned.

Don’t me careless about the cleaning agents you use – some cleaning materials can be too harsh for the metal and the backing material on it. This is why you should make sure that you choose the right kind of cleaning agent when maintaining your etched plaques. One of the best choices for cleaning these plaques with is a mild dishwashing liquid that is diluted with some warm water. Not only will this clean the surface dirt off the plaque, but it will also remove any greasy dirt on it due to the grease removing properties that this cleaner has.

Do make sure to use soft cloths when wiping these plaques off – no, you do not want your etched plaques to have scratches on them, even when these are supposedly made from tough metal. Metal can be easily scratched, which can mar the cleanliness and beauty of the surface, which is why it is advisable that you use soft cloths like microfiber rags on these to remove any dirt or to polish it with. Stay away from abrasive cloths and rough cleaning materials since these can damage the surface of these plates.

Don’t forget to pay attention to the grooves and indentations in the plaque – since these are etched plaques, there will be recessed areas where dirt can get trapped. You will need to get into these crevices by using a tool that can get the dirt out without damaging the metal around it. The best tool for this is a wooden cuticle stick. You can also use a bamboo skewer that has the pointy end wrapped in a thin layer of cotton. Spray the inside of these recessed areas with the cleaning solution, let it sit, then carefully gouge out the dirt that has now softened inside these recessed areas.

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