You may have heard of anodised nameplates, and know that they are synonymous with outstanding durability and excellent resistance to abrasion. But do you know what is involved in creating anodised nameplates?

There are anodised nameplates

An anodised metal nameplate is where your print is applied to a metal surface, and the nameplate is then put through an electrochemical process that effectively seals the print onto the metal, converting the metal surface into an anodic oxide finish. This finish makes the metal nameplate extremely durable with a surface strength harder than steel – making it able to withstand harsh weather conditions and abrasion.

For anodising to be effective when creating nameplates, the anodising process must take place after the print has been applied to the nameplate, forming a protective coating of aluminium oxide on the surface of the metal.

And then there’s the other version

It pays to be aware that there are some printing companies in the market that are buying pre-anodised aluminium sheets from overseas, and selling these as ‘anodised nameplates’. Not entirely inaccurate, as the metal is indeed ‘anodised’ – but unfortunately, the print is not anodised or sealed onto the metal surface. The printing company in most cases simply applies the print on top of the pre-anodised sheets, usually digitally. Given the printing is added after the anodising process has occurred, it is not sealed at all, and will not have the durability or qualities that are normally associated with an anodised nameplate.

Below is an example of one such nameplate. Because the digital print has been applied to a pre-anodised sheet, the text can be easily removed and will be subject to fading. Often nameplates made in this way will start to fail within a year, if not before.

The moral of the story?

If you obtain a number of quotes for anodised nameplates, and one supplier offers you a price that seems too good to be true, it probably is!

You want to make sure that when you are asking for anodised nameplates, the anodising process is going to take place after the printing has been applied to the metal. Otherwise, you are simply purchasing anodised metal, with printing on top. Be sure you always check what process is being followed before accepting any quote that seems to be a bargain.

You can be sure that the metal nameplate will last when a print is applied to a pre-anodised metal surface, but the text on top will fade, scratch, or wipe off.

If we take a closer look at the print on the label used in the previous example, you will see that it is not crisp and appears a bit blurred when you zoom in. This is a good indication that it is a lower-quality nameplate, that has not been anodised and has probably been printed digitally.

The second label below is an anodised nameplate created by us at LNI. See how much clearer and crisper the text is? And rest assured, this text will not fade or scratch. It has been made to be long-lasting with superior durability. Read here about the LNI Process.

Zoomed in on the image of printing applied on top of the pre-anodised metal                             

An LNI anodised nameplate, where the anodisation process has occurred on top of the print

Talk with the experts

If you have any questions about anodising or any other tricky labelling requirement, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

And if you receive a quote for creating nameplates using a particular method, we would be happy to discuss it with you, and help you work out if the process you have been offered is long-lasting or fit for purpose. It is always good for you to know that you are comparing apples with apples, not comparing apples with oranges!

At LNI, we don’t only use printing and anodising for our metal nameplates: we can offer etching and embossing as well. Each particular method has its own benefits and features. We would be happy to talk you through all the options available, and what would best suit your project.

Contact the experts at LNI to discuss what is the best solution for your product. All our products are Australian-made, designed, and manufactured. Request a quote from LNI today.