Industrial signage vinyl help please

[Hugh Band]

Just a thought but might be worth trying a motoX vinyl with matched laminate as laminate is v tough. Would need to check spec sheet. Also an anti-graffiti laminate?I’d try a couple of samples and then destruct test yourself with chemicals your customer might use in their cleaning/operating of machines. Get customer to give you some of their current labels for your comparison tests and also get their operating temp ranges, for samples might be worth doing some with laminate say 1/4" overhang of base vinyl for extra protection. Also have a comparison cost with their existing material to see if print & lam is viable on cost. If you crack it you have a new market 🙂

[Michael Kalisperas]

Thank you for that. I was thinking motox vinyl but I would need to check their budget. I may outsource to thermal printers?? 😉
I’m sure their would be a way. Like the idea of graffiti stuff will look into that also.

[Martin Pearson]

What sort of quantity are we talking about here? If it’s just a few for their machines then do them with cut vinyl rather than printing. Main problem with any health & safety signs is that being printed they don’t last as long as cut vinyl would.
Problem is price because printed SA stickers are so cheap.

[Michael Kalisperas]

Thanks Martin. They build and sell machines so quantity would be ongoing it’s a contact through a friend abroad. He’s genuine but need to see if it something I can do. I’m guessing from a meeting the signage is best printed because of imagery on the signs. I could clarify this and if it’s not important cut vinyl is certainly an option but it’s the old balance of time weeding and cost etc.

Thanks again guys.
Mike

[Martin Pearson]

Michael, it’s always going to come down to cost, cut vinyl is impervious to most chemicals so would definitely be the best option as far as longevity goes but unfortunately is also the most labour intensive so it comes down to what the customer really wants from them.
I’ve made them at pretty small sizes for customers when it’s been one off’s & the customer didn’t want them to fade to quickly but they were prepared to pay more for that.
Other option as you say is to find someone with a gerber edge to print for you.
Just out of interest were the solvent ones they have had in the past laminated? I ask this because a lot of the cheaper ones produced are not laminated at all.

[Michael Kalisperas]

The customer was not sure if it was laminated but he assumed so. He took over from a previous manager and said that he is sure it was laminated but did not hold up that was the reason for the themal choice in the end but was not absolute certain. He was going to find out for me so will see. I will do some samples and give them to try. Never used mx vinyl or laminate anyone suggest a brand ? Also could I use a cheap base vinyl with a mx laminate??
Thanks Martin.
😉

[Martin Pearson]

Bet they weren’t Michael, have you asked for a sample of one of the problem signs or at least a picture. I doubt very much that this is due to chemicals finding their way between the printed vinyl & a laminate layer.
I also doubt if using a thicker laminate like a motox laminate will make any difference what so ever, from what you have said it’s not that the signs have had any sort of physical abuse & although the adhesive used might have a better grip it won’t stop anything being absorbed.

[Michael Kalisperas]

Martin I thought the same because laminate should be good enough for solvent ink so in theory Would be for solvent splashes , coolant , oil etc. If it’s laminated should be done for me 😉