Understand its many aspects and applications in our environment

In this new edition of our monthly newsletter, dive into the fascinating world of signage through its many facets: from its many applications to its different forms (directional, informative, nominative, normative or industrial). Discover how they influence our daily lives, sometimes in subtle but significant ways, or when they are imposed on us for our safety.

Often discrete, but omnipresent, signage plays a crucial role in our orientation, safety and overall experience in the various spaces around us.

Much more than just a set of signs and arrows, signage is the art of guiding, informing, warning of risk, but also of creating a pleasant experience in public environments, for example.

Whether it's signage in public buildings such as hospitals or museums, small name badges on employee shirts in a hotel or amusement park, information panels on an industrial site to warn of possible risks, or even informing us about the flora and fauna in a nature park, for example.  The choice of engraving technology, machine and materials can sometimes be difficult.

Discover the different types of signage 👇

Directional, informational, nominative, normative and industrial signage are important elements of visual communication in public spaces, as well as in personal and professional environments. They are used to orient, inform, identify and secure places, both indoors and out.

1. ⏩ Directional and informational signage

Their purpose is to orientate, inform and guide people to specific destinations. They are often located inside buildings.

In different sizes, shapes and colors, it needs to be as clear as possible to make it easy for everyone to understand. Information can also be written in Braille for the visually impaired.

This type of signage is designed to facilitate navigation within a location or group of buildings. This type of signage can include information panels, maps, diagrams or posters providing information on services, schedules, special features, etc. It can be made of metal, plastic or wood, or integrated directly into a support. They are usually engraved or printed, and can even be illuminated for even greater visibility.

2. 🔤 Nominative signage

Its purpose is to precisely identify specific places, areas, people, events or objects, using elements such as plaques, panels or signs bearing names, numbers, logos or other identifying elements. Name signage is used in particular to help people identify offices or services, homes (e.g. letterbox plates), people (badges), or sportsmen and women (plates on trophies or medals).

3. 🔆 Outdoor signage

Its aim is to provide clear, precise directions for people moving around outdoors, whether in urban, professional or entertaining settings. It can take many forms.

Large cut-out letters in acrylic or metal can be arranged to attract attention and convey important information, such as the name of a company, specific areas…

Professional signs or plates can be engraved or printed to identify specific areas such as law firms, medical practices or institutions, but also public parks or gardens; ensuring clear, permanent identification of the area, and providing the necessary information.

Whatever its use, this type of signage will have to withstand harsh outdoor conditions (bad weather, UV, temperatures, salty air). Careful consideration must be given not only to the choice of substrate, but also to the marking technology used, to ensure its durability over time. Today, engraving is the technology that lasts the longest, and is generally deeper than alternative technologies.

4.⚠️ Industrial signage

This type of signage is intended for a large proportion of manufacturers who need identification on their production site, on their finished products (without the need for traceability), and which remains legible and resistant over time (electrical cabinets, for example).

Nameplates provide all the information you need about a product, machine, piece of equipment, stock or any other component of your business. Available in various sizes, they can include elements such as a logo, contact details or references, text, pictograms or symbols.

5. ☢️ Normative signage

Normative signage is similar to industrial signage, but is limited by strict regulations that can dictate the color, size or even text to be affixed.

For example, materials in submarines must not be flammable, those in nuclear power plants must meet specific specifications, and fire extinguisher signs are standardized. Gravotech has a range of materials to meet the majority of standard signage applications.

Rotary engraving or laser engraving, what's the best way to create signage? 

To find out, this article on our website gives you an overview of these two signage technologies. Discover all the advantages and inconvenients of each solution, and choose the machine best suited to your signage, directional signage, normative identification or labeling needs.

Among the various signage applications, discover two of them 👇

Braille (ADA)

Braille is a writing and tactile reading system for blind and partially-sighted people. It is important to note that there is no such thing as universal braille. Different standards are used around the world, each defining sizes, spacing and line spacing specific to each language.

Gravostyle™'s Braille option, compatible with many of our engraving machines, enables Braille text transcription in 127 languages (from Discovery level upwards) and offers a fully automated drilling procedure followed by bead insertion.

To find out all about our braille solution, discover here our Engraving Source Book.

Ink Stamp

Laser engraving and cutting of rubber stamps

Companies, government departments, public institutions and many other organizations make frequent use of rubber stamps. Laser engraving remains the most effective method for producing high-quality rubber engravings, either in series or individually. This technique produces fine, delicate letters, particularly necessary for certain stamps.

Our specialized rubber stamp machines, coupled with our Gravostyle software, can create text, logos, images and shades of gray according to the engraving depth.

They are used not only to design fancy stamps for print media or hobbyists, but also to make seals and stamps.

Making custom ink stamps with a laser cutting machine.

Discover the different materials for engraving signage 👇

To meet the specific needs of the signage industry, Gravotech offers engraving and cutting solutions, as well as a wide choice of over 900 engraving materials.

Plastics are characterized by the number of layers they contain.

“Acrylic" type single-layer materials are very popular for cutting out letters or shapes, for example, in the manufacture of point-of-sale displays. Acrylic is available in a variety of finishes: colorless transparent, colored translucent, colored opaque or frosted opaque.

Two-layer materials are used for plates, badges and general signage. They are generally made of acrylic or ABS, but there are also variants in other materials (metal or flexible film).

New materials are regularly added to the range to meet market demands. For example, one of the most popular materials in recent years has been wood. Our Laser wood works very well with laser technology, as the renderings are very varied and the species diverse (beech, oak, birch…).

To help you select the right materials for engraving signage and create striking visual communication, take a look at our guide!

To go further...

A Gravotech partner for over 40 years, Aluplex Signalétique handles residential, technical and industrial signage. To meet their customers' needs, they have over 20 Gravotech laser and rotary engraving machines at their disposal. Discover their experience through their video testimonials!

Discover all Gravotech solutions for signage!

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