Name Plates

Nameplates can be made out of many materials and engraved or imprinted with many designs. Metal nameplates are generally the most expensive and require the most maintenance. Brass nameplates, for example, can be affixed to outdoor statues or buildings to identify them. When brass is used for this purpose, it must be coated with a protective layer of weather-resistant chemicals that will keep the brass from becoming tarnished. Gold nameplates are among the most expensive nameplate varieties and can be affixed to doors, paintings and plaques, usually in the offices of professional companies or in institutions like universities. Aluminum nameplates are among the least expensive and most widely used nameplate varieties. Aluminum can be used to identify offices, or it can be affixed to consumer products like washing machines and lawn mowers to provide instructions for use and warnings of operational hazards. Plastic nameplates are the least expensive nameplate variety and require the lowest amount of continuing maintenance. All nameplates, even mass-produced nameplates, are characterized by some degree of customization; every nameplate is a custom nameplate, as each variety features its own instructions, messages, labels and other information.

Nameplates are generally not used for the display of large amounts of information. Nameplates are used to indicate the occupants and contents of desks and offices, to give directions in buildings and some outdoor settings, to indicate the brand name of consumer products like cars and lawn mowers and to provide instructions and warnings relevant to the operation of consumer and industrial equipment. They are also used to indicate the name, origins and authorship of works of art, and they are very commonly affixed to commemorative plaques to indicate the recipients of awards. Objects used to display larger volumes of information fit more appropriately into the category of signs. Nameplates are not meant to be viewed from a distance, nor should they require more than a few seconds of attention to convey their complete meaning. Office nameplates, for example, are usually limited to one or two lines of information. A typical desk-mounted nameplate will feature a name and possibly a job title. Nameplates can also identify work areas, provide directions and indicate emergency exits. Smaller nameplates are commonly used as title plates for trophies, awards of merit or memorials. Suitcases, briefcases, trunks and chests also can be affixed with nameplates to identify brand name and ownership.

Nameplates can be affixed to surfaces in three ways. They can be drilled with holes at each end and affixed with pins, screws or other fasteners. Others are coated on one side with strong adhesives and pressed onto their surfaces. Adhesives vary in terms of the weather and temperature resistance; depending on their adhesive composition, adhesive-backed nameplates may be more appropriate for indoor use to prevent accelerated degradation of the adhesive. Others, though, are very well suited for outdoor use. Vehicle nameplates like hood and trunk ornaments are often affixed with adhesive. Nameplates that are not affixed with fasteners or adhesives must be supported by a stand or other structure. Many desk and office nameplates, which can be heavy, are placed in metal, plastic or wooden stands in order to make them visible. The method by which a nameplate is affixed depends on the nameplate's application. They can be found on aircraft brakes, Navy destroyers and the International Space Station. Nameplate material, thickness, printing method and other properties also vary depending on a nameplate's application. Materials used by nameplate manufacturers include metal, stainless steel, brass and alloys, polycarbonate, Mylar®, rigid PVC or plastic, MetalPhoto®, vinyls, foils and more.

Nameplate labeling methods include hot stamping, screen printing, sub-surface printing, etching, embossing, mechanical or laser engraving, photo anodizing and lithography. Serial numbers can be hot stamped or printed on both the surface and sub-surface of most materials. Sub-surface serial numbers are the most durable and resistant, being fully protected from abrasions and solvents. Screen printing involves applying a photographic stencil to a piece of porous, tightly stretched polyester through which enamel colors are forced. Chemically etched nameplates are manufactured by masking certain areas of metal with an acid resistant material. The uncovered areas are then exposed to a corrosive material, which creates engraved words based on the configuration of the stencil while preserving the covered area. The embossing process involves squeezing a nameplate material between a female metal die and a male counter using heat and pressure. Mechanical and laser engraving involves cutting a nameplate with a rotary tool or a laser beam. Photo anodizing is like developing a picture on specialized aluminum sheet, and in lithography, a printing press is used to move a master image to a nameplate using an ink-transferring roller device. Because of the wide range of materials and labeling methods at the disposal of nameplate manufacturers, nameplate configuration possibilities are only as limited as the imaginations of their designers.

Images Provided by ID3, Inc.

Name Plate Types

• Aluminum nameplates are metal nameplates made from aluminum, and they may be brushed, bright, etched or screened.
  
• Barcode, serial number and model number plates offer encoded numbering systems for identification of each and every part, product or piece of equipment. Manufacturers can either provide the encoding or go with what their client gives them.
• Brass name plates are nameplates made of brass. They are commonly used to identify the occupants of desks and offices.
• Custom nameplates are manufactured to a customer's design specifications. Depending on material and application, custom options could be limited or unlimited.
  
• Decals are made of light-weight, non-metallic material such as heavy duty paper, polyester, vinyl or soft plastic or rubber and are usually made with backing to be torn off to reveal adhesive. Many customization options are available for these products, and they can generally be made in any size.
  
• Desk name plates are used to identify the occupants of desks in all kinds of industrial and commercial settings.
  
• Dial faces are labels, panels or plates that identify the calibration or measurements on dials or scales.
• Door name plates are nameplates affixed to doors in offices, industrial facilities and institutions to identify the contents or occupant of a room.
• Engraved nameplates are typically produced using mechanical engraving, laser engraving, whittling or photo-chemical etching processes to permanently cut out lettering or a design.
  
• Equipment nameplates are bound to the machinery that they identify. Small and rectangular or square, they can simply include the machinery manufacturer's name and logo or offer details like location, phone number, power capacity, size, complementary machinery or components and model, make, stock or job number.
• Gold name plates are nameplates made of solid gold or other gold-plated materials. They are used to indicate the names of people, places and artwork.
• Graphic overlays are decorative designs with bright colors and crisp copy typically used for faceplates, control panels, instrumentation, consumer appliances, food equipment, medical equipment and electronics.
  
• Industrial labels are nameplates used to identify equipment, provide instructions for use and warnings related to operation. They can also be used to identify areas in an industrial facility.
  
• Metal nameplates are usually made out of aluminum, stainless steel, brass, bronze, copper, zinc, titanium or alloys.
• Nameplate manufacturers design and produce nameplates. 
• Nameplates are specially designed signs and symbols that are used to identify things.
• Office name plates are used to identify the occupants of rooms and desks in an office setting.
• Panel fronts or front panels are thinner plates made to fit over specific control or instrumentation panels with openings and identifications for buttons or lighted displays.
  
• Personnel nameplates are any tags, badges or plates that identify employees or members of a company or organization, usually used as clearance or admittance for certain areas.
  
• Plastic nameplates offer a cost-effective alternative to using metal and other materials.
  
• Safety labels contain instructions for the proper use of the labeled object.
  
• Tags are pieces or strips of strong paper, plastic, metal or leather that attach by one end to something as a mark or label. These ID tags can be used when not a lot of surface area is available for items like valves, wire rope or cable.
  
• Unique Identification (UID) labels are permanent, machine-readable, inscribed with a dot matrix and attached to qualifying items. They are part of a system of distinguishing one object from another to allow for Department of Defense tracking.
  
• Warning labels stand out in bright colors like orange or yellow or red and have big bold words like "Warning!" and "Danger!" on them to bring

Name Plate Terms

Anodizing (or anodising) - A technique used to coat the surface of a metal with an oxide layer. It may be used to increase corrosion resistance, increase wear resistance, allow dyeing or to prepare the surface for other processes and coatings including paint.

Embossing - The process of creating an image or design in ductile materials by combining heat and pressure. This is achieved by using a metal die (female) and a counter die (male) that fit together and squeeze the fibers.

Etching - The process of using strong acid to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design.

Hot Stamping - A process in which an engraved image is heated then forced against a part with a marking foil in between. Ink from the foil is left behind where the die meets the part; it is a dry process and the parts can be handled right after stamping.

Laser Engraving - A process that can precisely and quickly engrave very fine details using a laser beam combined with a CNC driver.

Lithography - An offset printing process where a rubber cylinder "blanket" rolls over a metal printing plate, picks up the master image and transfers it to another area of the press where the nameplate is located. It is possible to achieve extremely fine detail in both direct and reverse print but does not weather well when placed outdoors or in other harsh environments.

Mechanical Engraving - A high-speed rotary tool cuts into the surface of a metal or plastic. Then enamel paint is filled into the engraved area.

MetalPhoto® - An anodized, photosensitive aluminum offering a sharp print quality that's highly durable and extremely resistant to abrasion, corrosion and high temperatures. This material doesn't fade or chip and is used in many military applications because it meets strict government regulations.

Mylar® - A strong laminated polyester film suited for sub-surface printing that has good temperature, chemical and abrasion resistance.

Photo Anodizing - Exposing an image onto specially coated aluminum that is developed much like a piece of photographic film and then sealed, thus trapping the image in the metal under an anodized layer. This method can produce small quantities of highly durable nameplates with a fast turn-around time.

Polycarbonate - A particular group of thermoplastic polymers easily worked, molded, and thermoformed. This material is extremely resistant to chemicals, corrosion and temperature; it also has excellent durability and light transmission.

Screenprinting (also silkscreening or serigraphy) - A printmaking technique that creates a sharp-edged image using a stencil.

Sub-surface printed - Processed with the ink on the underside of transparent plastic materials, making it abrasion, oil and chemical resistant.

Vinyl - A non-laminated polyester suited for surface printing. This material has good chemical and abrasion resistance for normal indoor use.