Plates are utilitarian and extremely useful. They help to navigate in the names of streets, house numbers, in the corridors of institutions make it easy to find the right office and person in charge. They indicate the direction of traffic, and much more can signs. The manufacture of these products has long become widespread, and the number of materials used is diverse. What the plate will be, what it is better to make of, depends on the place of its further placement and the goals for which it is made.
Plastic plates
The manufacture of plastic plates is most in demand for several reasons:
- Low cost.
- Unlimited in the choice of shape, size, color.
- Resistance to negative external influences.
- Speed of manufacture.
Plastic plates are used everywhere both indoors and outdoors. A popular type of material for their production is PVC (polyvinyl chloride polymer). The simplest manufacturing of plastic plates consists of a rigid PVC base with a self-adhesive film applied . Previously, a full-color image is printed on the film, holes for mounting are made at the base, and the finished plate is mounted in its intended place.
Plastic is a material that can be easily processed, so you can give the plate a very different shape, add internal illumination or print directly on the surface. A variety of adhesive films allows you to make a plate with the effect of wood, metal, mirrors, holograms and so on. Also, the plastic base can be used repeatedly: the film is easily dismantled, and a new one is applied with a different image or text.
Metal plates
Metal is one of the most durable materials, originally used to make various plates, until it was slightly replaced by plastic. But plastic is a lightweight material, and metal gives solidity. In addition, the metal has the best anti-vandal qualities, which is very important for any tablet. The manufacture of signs, numbers for a house or car is made using several technologies and using several types of metal. Practical and popular materials:
- Brass. Soft metal, has a noble matte sheen, easy to process. A polished brass plate will decorate the cabinet door, and will serve as a sign with the name of the institution for a long time without changing its appearance. Periodically, it must be sanded with a soft cloth, as the metal oxidizes over time.
- Aluminum. In lightness, this material is comparable in PVC, but significantly superior in anti-vandal qualities. The aluminum plate can be anodized and give it a silver or golden hue. It can serve without time, but soft metal is easily scratched, therefore it needs additional protection (varnish, anodizing, self-adhesive film , etc.).
- Stainless steel. Expensive high-quality material, has a large weight and is of interest to everyone who wants to profit from the transfer of non-ferrous metals to scrap. However, such disadvantages are not able to cross out all the advantages: resistance to any type of damage and aggressive environments, unlimited service life, constancy of appearance, ease of care. It is no accident that reputable institutions prefer to order the production of plates on stainless steel doors . Polished steel can be golden or silver.
Of course, the metal for the manufacture may be gold, platinum, complex compounds of different metals, but this already refers to personal preferences or the appropriateness of using available resources.
Door signs
It is rare to find private apartments where the name of the owners and their status flaunts on the door. Most often, an apartment requires a number, and for a private house - the name of the street. The numbers can be purchased at any store, and if you want something special, then you can easily order it from a company that manufactures outdoor advertising. The basic requirement is quality and durability. You can choose from an individual design of a plate or numbers, as well as a wide range of materials.
A house plate requires a bit more attention. It will definitely not work to get it ready-made. Individual labels must be ordered. Manufacturing is carried out both by private companies (advertising agencies, agencies for the production of outdoor advertising), and state-owned enterprises, which are responsible for orders for the production of autonomy. In this case, you can be sure of the quality of the product.
Cabinet plate
For any institution, public or private, signs are required for cabinets. This simplifies communication, helps visitors find the right office, gives the company status and openness. The manufacture of signs for the office is a piece of work, for each room an individual sign is required, including the number, name of the department or position.
For offices of higher administrative staff, a plate with the designation of the position, surname, name and patronymic of the owner is preferable. Indication of reception hours and lunch hours is also welcome. The material for the cabinet plates is plastic, wood, metal, glass, etc.
Address plates on the house
Until recently, the production of address plates was purely in state jurisdiction, but now the situation has changed and the rules have become more democratic. Navigation systems can easily help you find the right address, but what's the use of logistics if the house is unmarked? There may be failures or inaccuracies in the navigation system, and a plate will precisely indicate the address you need, which is convenient for residents and their guests, as well as for offices located in the house. In addition, the rules of urban improvement require a plate.
Manufacturing can be ordered from any material, but the most popular are plastic or metal products. A plastic product is easy to order and quickly receive, not too much money will be spent on its creative execution. For the inscription to be clearly visible in the dark, backlighting or the use of a reflective film is required. A metal plate will last a long time, but it will cost an order of magnitude more expensive. It is also important for her to use a reflective film or paint.
Street signs
Similarly, with the license plates for cars, plates with the name of the streets are produced. Production includes several stages, at one of which letters are squeezed out on a metal plate using a press and templates. The inscriptions are convex, they are covered with black resistant paint. The name becomes clearly visible on a reflective white background.
For these plates, there are GOSTs that take into account the font, the size of the letters, the height of the product, the paint used and the type of metal (it should not rust, oxidize, most often the base is made of aluminum). The quality of these plates is regularly checked. Non-conforming products are discarded. This type of street signs is set by city services, but often in insufficient numbers, so private initiatives are strongly encouraged.
City signs
An important type of signs that help to navigate in the underpass, in the subway and on the streets are signs. They contain various information: designation of the entrance, exit, public place, location of the hotel, hiking trail and the like useful information. The design of the signs may be different, but there are generally accepted signs that are understandable to everyone.
The city improvement service is most interested in the availability of signs. Plates are made of metal, plastic and mounted in common areas.
Road signs
Road signs organize and structure the movement of vehicles. In addition to them, road signs are installed along the roads - signs with the name of the settlements, the number of kilometers to the next settlement, turns and so on. Over the past few years, road signs, in addition to the main purpose, began to be used as an advertising medium. This is convenient for a driver moving in a car in search of the right company, greatly facilitating the search for a better way.
Traffic signs are made according to state standards with the obligatory use of reflective paints. Not more than 30% of the total area of the road sign is allocated for advertising messages.
Quality and conciseness
Plates for various purposes help to navigate in the surrounding space. They can be individual design or made in accordance with state standards. But whatever they are, they perform their role properly. When choosing a finished product or ordering the production of plates at home, pay attention to the quality of work, materials and the brevity of the information provided. The label serves as a pointer and should contain only the necessary information.