Custom Nameplates

Custom Nameplates

Custom nameplates are plates of metal, plastic, wood and other materials that are labeled with names, instructions, warnings and other information. Most nameplates qualify as custom nameplates; mass-produced nameplates, like those used to label vehicles and products with brand names and logos, are the main exception. In offices, in institutions, in homes, on products and in industrial workplaces, nameplates provide a venue for the communication of names, the contents of a room, instructions on a piece of equipment, warnings on machinery and many other kinds of information. Because the contexts for information display vary so widely, a great diversity of nameplate materials and nameplate labeling methods exists to accommodate them. Bronze nameplates, for example, are affixed to monuments to indicate their purpose and the date of their construction. Gold nameplates are affixed to plaques hanging in universities to indicate the names of scholarship recipients. Plastic nameplates are used to indicate the direction of restrooms in concert halls. Each of these nameplate examples could be imprinted in some way with an institution's seal, a company's logo or other graphic. This is especially the case in institutions like colleges, which often affix custom nameplates inscribed with room numbers or department names near doorways.

There are several ways by which custom nameplates can be produced. Some methods are limited to certain materials. For example, laser etching, which is the process by which a concentrated heat beam engraves symbols, is mainly used for the engraving of plastic nameplates. Lasers are limited in their ability to cut through thick or dense materials, and it is generally more cost effective to use mechanical engraving when working with stronger materials, as laser engraving can be very energy intensive. Mechanical engraving and etching methods are more commonly used for the marking of titanium, zinc, bronze, steel and other metal nameplates. Custom nameplates, depending on their composition, can be affixed with fasteners or with adhesive. Nameplates intended for extended outdoor use are generally more likely to be affixed with fasteners, as many adhesives are sensitive to variable temperatures and weather conditions. Many kinds of machinery are affixed with custom nameplates in order to indicate the specifications of the equipment as well as safety precautions and operational instructions. Such nameplates can be considered both custom and standard nameplates because the plate itself can be mass produced, but the stamping must be done on a basis that is specific to the machinery.

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