The humble tabletop QR code, or even a simple table number, has to endure one of the most destructive environments you can imagine. They get bashed, scraped over by metal objects, cleaned with harsh chemicals, more wear and tear than just about any other type of sign. Our anoprinted aluminium stands up to this, and a lot more.
Surface prints wear off, engravings fill with dirt, laser engraved laminates also fill with dirt and wear away, and any sort of painted surface gets bashed into oblivion and destroyed by an aggressive cocktail of cleaning chemicals. In a busy restaurant, a laser engraved laminate may only last weeks before the QR code stops working, filled with grime or damaged, then you have an unhappy customer, and quite rightly so, because you sold them a product that failed.
Anoprinted aluminium, a superior version of anodic printing specially developed for labels and signage in tough environments, will take all this in its stride. The surface of our anodised aluminium is hard, extremely robust, and we create the graphics inside that tough surface. Not on the surface, genuinely under the surface, where it is untouchable. Just a quick wipe with any type of cleaner is all it requires to make it hygienically clean, and it will probably outlast the table.
Think of other environments where other types of sign get wrecked. Kerb plates in car parks, or even on the ground where they will be driven over. Not only do they suffer a lot of wear, but also concentrated salt in the winter, weathering, oils and hydraulic fluids. Signs in washrooms, anywhere near washbasins with soap, water, cleaning products, soon fail. Saunas destroy signs, as do indoor pools, and possibly worst of all is the sea. Signage in marinas or on the decks of ships gets ripped apart by the action of salt water, but our anoprinted aluminium isn’t affected by any of this, and just keeps on doing its job.
For a really tough job, imagine having to display vital safety information on the sleepers of railway tracks, each plate with unique identification numbers and information. Sprayed with weedkiller and things you probably do not want to think about, exposed to full sunlight and clattered with stone ballast. Our anoprinted aluminium serves well even in this environment. The design, colours & material specifications, have been developed with Network Rail to ensure sustainable safety. All key information is in black which will never fade, even after prolonged daylight exposure. Because the graphics are digitally created, it is ideally suited for variable texts and codes, and unlike laser marking which damages the anodising with intense heat, the surface remains intact and resistant to corrosion.
Anoprinted aluminium is an important product for any signmaker’s toolkit. Find out more from our technical guide: Digital Anoprinting Guide
If signs in your next signage project are going to take a battering, just send a quick email to sales@multitechnic.co.uk with a brief description, and we will advise what will work for you and your customer.