Paper or cardboard labels and stickers do have their place but if you want durability and a unique look then metal is a better choice. You could choose stainless steel, brass, bronze, copper, and aluminum. Of these, aluminum is a better choice in terms of cost and workability for use as aluminum plaques and aluminum labels. Simply find a maker of aluminum plaques Sydney based and a whole new world of possibilities opens up.
The various common uses for aluminum plaques
Aluminum plaquesSydneybased manufacturers offer is easy to customise according to your needs. You may design plaques for:
- Use as labels on packaging
- Use as label on machinery and products that are likely to be used for a long time
- Affix plaques on doors or walls to give our information or directions
- Memorials and acknowledgment
Given today’s technologies, it is also possible to create photographic image plaques using laser engraving.
Technology
Aluminum plaques may be made using different processes.
The standard label or nameplate type plaque in smaller sizes may be made using the photoresist-etch process. This is how it usually works:
- The manufacturer takes a sheet of aluminum, anodizes it and then polishes it.
- The plaque receives a coating of photoresist liquid and it is exposed through a film and UV light.
- The plaque undergoes development to remove unexposed or exposed parts of the photoresist depending on whether it is a negative or positive photoresist that has been used.
- The sheet is put into an acid etching bath. It is then cleaned and anodized once more.
This process works fine for plaques and labels that do not have fine details. It is great for line artwork and lettering. However, if it is images then you will get only coarse details. In such cases, you will find laser cut aluminum plaques to be a better option.
Laser cut plaques can be made in less than an hour. The process is simple enough and fast:
- An anodized sheet of aluminum is mounted into the laser engraving machine.
- You feed in the design into a computer connected with the engraver.
- Start the process and the software drives the engraver to laser engrave the sheet.
- You can have fine details with laser engraving, even laser cut photographs onto aluminum.
Laser cut is better than acid etch since the acid etch process eats away some aluminum and you may lose fine details. Laser engraving results in fine details and sharp outlines. This process is ideal if you are planning to make a commemorative type plaque with an individual’s photo on it or nice, cursive fonts and some artwork.
New possibilities
While the acid-etched polymer photoresist made plaques or labels are ideal for industrial and business use you have more possibilities with laser engraving.
The laser-engraved plaque can be used as a table piece or wall piece. You can engrave a photo onto it, a landscape or any other design to embellish your interior.
It can be used in corporate work to create unique gifts or to create certificates or awards.
Anodized aluminum is available in various colours such as metallic blue, green, gold, bronze, red and black. When put the blank coloured plaques through the engraving process what you get is white lettering or image on the coloured background.
Plaques can enshrine memories too and evoke emotions. People are known to get cemetery plaques made for their loved ones. Pet lovers get memorial plaques made to fondly remember their favorite cat or dog. Since the laser engraving process does not need the use of resistive masks it is fast and especially useful if you want a metal plaque in a hurry.
It is easy to get customized etched or laser engraved aluminum plaques form Sydney based manufacturer offers.
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