By Cassandra Balentine
The November issue of Digital Output discusses rigid materials well suited for exterior signage. Here we offer highlights from select vendors in this space.
3A Composites USA
3A Composites has a portfolio of ten brands of rigid substrates for the signage and display markets for both interior and exterior applications. These include four products that are ideal for an array of exterior signage applications—DIBOND, SMART-X, SINTRA XT, and SINTRA.
“3A Composites focuses on developing, manufacturing, and selling through commercial distribution a range of products that provide exceptional printing characteristics, unsurpassed quality, a dedicated professional sales team, and first-class customer service. Our full product line includes ten brands of rigid substrates for the graphic display and signage markets, enabling 3A and our distribution partners to truly offer ‘A Product for Every Project,’ says Chuck Kunze, director, product management and marketing, 3A Composites.
DIBOND is a aluminum composite material, comprised of facers of aluminum alloy bonded to a polyethylene core, providing an exceptionally flat and stable board that can be printed, fabricated, and formed easily, according to Kunze.
SMART-X is a 100 percent polystyrene foam board that is co-extruded to provide light, rigid boards with exceptional surface properties for printing. The material includes UV inhibitors to offer UV stability for up to two years. There is no adhesive used in the manufacture of the board providing excellent moisture resistance and stability in exterior applications. Additionally, SMART-X is 100 percent recyclable in the existing commercial polystyrene foam recycling process.
SINTRA XT is expanded white PVC board, available in 19 millimeter (mm) and 25 mm thickness, optimized for longer term exterior applications and ideal for printed signs, cut letters, and other three-dimensional (3D) techniques.
SINTRA is an expanded PVC board, available in thicknesses from two to 12.7 mm in white, black, and an array of colors, suitable for medium to long-term outdoor applications, for direct printing applications, and 3D displays.
Inteplast Group
Inteplast offers corrugated fluted plastic sheets extruded from polypropylene (PP) resin. Its fluted ribs support both surfaces, making IntePro lightweight, tough, and impact resistant. It is available in various thicknesses ranging from two to 25 mm and in more than a dozen different colors.
Due to Inteplast material being made from PP resin, Karen M. Dicang, marketing director, Inteplast, says its product is 100 percent recyclable, water resistant, and strong enough to withstand various outdoor weather conditions. These traits make the product ideal for exterior and interior signage.
Eastsign
Eastsign provides PVC foam board, paper/pressure-sensitive foam board, and acrylic sheets; pressure-sensitive mirror sheets; and aluminum composite panels.
Alin Wang, oversea sales, Eastsign, says the company offers quality assurance and stable lead times.
Plaskolite
Plaskolite offers a series of solutions.
OPTIX Acrylic substrates, including OPTIX Acrylic, OPTIX G Cell Cast Acrylic, OPTIX L Continuous Cast Acrylic, OPTIX DA Digital Acrylic, OPTIX P95 & P99 non-glares; Tuffak Polycarbonate substrates, TUFFAK SL – Sun Life and TUFFAK SL Matte; and VERSEK ABS.
VYCOM substrates include CELTEC Expanded PVC, DIGILITE Expanded PVC, CELTEC Woodgrain Expanded PVC, CELTEC Thick Gauge Expanded PVC, and PLAYBOARD Polycarve HDPE.
Scott Walton, national sales manager, sign and graphics, Plaskolite, points out that Plaskolite products are backed by quality and service. “We offer one of the broadest ranges of materials for exterior signage including both see-through and opaque options. Technical experts can provide support for the most demanding applications and our continuous innovation process means we consistently bring new solutions to the market that solve unmet needs. We also can run-to-size for many materials, enabling our customers to reduce cost by utilizing the optimal sized substrate and eliminating waste.”
POLYVANTIS Sanford LLC
POLYVANTIS manufactures a range of ACRYLITE acrylic sheet products ideal for signage. These products come in various colors, impact strengths, textures, and special formulations, such as ACRYLITE digital print acrylic, which is designed exclusively for wide format direct printing.
ACRYLITE acrylic is made from strong and naturally UV-stable molecules. “This ensures our acrylic remains clear and maintains its high light transmission without yellowing over time—unlike many other substrates. ACRYLITE colors also stay vibrant for years, providing a significant advantage over other materials,” says Yara Linares, marketing manager, POLYVANTIS Sanford LLC.
POLYVANTIS also manufactures a post-industrial recycled version, ACRYLITE proTerra digital print acrylic. It’s a high recycled content acrylic that contains up to 95 percent post-industrial recycled material. ACRYLITE proTerra digital print acrylic offers the same exceptional qualities as regular acrylic, including outstanding brilliance and high weather resistance, and is ideal for wide format printing. If considering using the product outside, it’s important to make sure the inks used are suitable for exterior use.
Rigid Materials
Many rigid materials are manufactured out of plastic subsets and are well suited for outdoor use, vendors mentioned above offer options.
Nov2024, Digital Output
