Materials & Marking processes
What we can and cannot do...
MATERIALS
Aluminum (powder coated, anodized)
VIN, HIN tags, data, property, serial number, information plates
Standard thickness is .020" & .025"
Can be used indoor and outdoor.
Strudy material, can be bent/formed slightly to fit on a frame or curved surface.
You can clean your tags with alcohol based products and even acetone and it won't remove the engraving!
Paper, Vinyl, soft stickers
VIN, HIN tags, data, property, serial number, information labels
WE DO NOT OFFER THIS MATERIAL
WE CAN REPLICATE ALMOST ANY DESIGN ON ALUMINUM
Acrylic plastic, PMMA
Plaques, name tags, signs
Standard Thickness 0.020", 1/16", 1/8", 1/4"
Indoor & Outdoor use
At this time we cannot work with provided tag/material.
Most of the time materials are not compatible with our marking process and imply risks of damaging the tag.
In addition, cost of shipping 2 ways plus customization is often as high as if we would make a full tag for you.
If you want to receive an offer for a full replica including customization with your data, please send us a reference picture and/or specs of the tag you need to receive a quote.
MARKING METHODS
LASER ENGRAVING
All our aluminum tags are laser marked.
Laser engraving, laser marking or laser etching is one of many types of engraving.
This process leaves a permanent, solvent resistant and UV stable marking and is the same used by manufacturer now.
Depth is light but you can feel some relief when you pass your finger on the letters and even make a pencil tracing.
PERFECLY ACCEPTABLE FOR REGISTRATION PURPOSES even if original tag used a different process.
(old tags were embossed since laser technology didn't exist and/or produced in mass and customized later with numbers in relief to be legible when tag fade/rust.
New materials won't fade or rust)
DEEP ENGRAVING
Depth is light but is felt and seen easily. Pencil tracing is possible.
EMBOSSING, STAMPING
This process is accomplished with a machine or manual punch tools.
Depth/relief is very important. Pencil tracing is possible.
WE CAN PROVIDE BLANK TAGS FOR YOU TO GET STAMPED LATER.
DIGITAL PRINTING, SCREEN PRINTING
This process is the only one that will allow for multi color on aluminum.
Low relief, pencil tracing almost impossible.