Some manufacturers, through effective marketing or by being the first, have managed to have their brand name become a part of the vernacular. Some have even made it into the dictionary (Aspirin, for example). We wipe our noses with Kleenex (facial tissue) and seal our gift-wrap with Scotch Tape (cellulose tape). In England they Hoover (vacuum) their carpets and write with a Biro (ball point pen, named after its Hungarian inventor). But specifying brand names for signage materials may cost you and your customer money.
Let us start by making it clear that brand names that are synonymous with a material have earned that distinction. But, when the doctor tells you “Take two Aspirin and call me in the morning” you can buy Bayer’s brand of acetylsalicylic acid or a house brand ASA and usually for less. The active ingredient is the same! Specifying a brand name instead of a material type might limit your ability to provide a more economical or, perhaps, a more appropriate product. There may also be the same material type from another manufacturer with characteristics and performance that are more suitable to your specific application.
The following are some sign materials commonly referred to by a typical brand name:
Acrylic Plastic Sheeting: Clear, white or coloured. Used for sign faces, display fixtures, glazing and dimensional graphics. Brands: Plexiglas, Acrylite, Perspex.
Polycarbonate Sheeting: Clear, white or coloured with very high impact resistance used for sign faces and glazing. Brands: Lexan, Tuffak
Expanded PVC (polyvinyl chloride): Used for sign backgrounds, display fixtures and dimensional graphics. Brands: Sintra, Komatex, Intecel
MDO (medium density overlay) Plywood: Exterior grade plywood overlaid with resin impregnated paper to make it smooth and weather resistant and used for exterior sign boards. Brands: Crezon.
Reflective Vinyl: Used for high visibility of signs in the dark. Brands: Scotchlite, Avery
2mil Cast Vinyl: Used for extended life sign and vehicle graphics. Brands: Scotchcal, Avery
Solid Surface Material (polyester or acrylic): Designed for counter tops and furniture and used for sign backgrounds and dimensional graphics. Brands: Corian, Fountainhead, Avonite
HDU (high density urethane): Used for exterior carved and dimensional signage. Brands: Signfoam.
Aluminum Composite Sheeting: A sandwich of two thin aluminum sheets with a plastic core and used for sign backgrounds, display fixtures and dimensional graphics. Brands: Dibond, Alucobond
Paper or Styrene Skinned Styrofoam Sheeting: Used for sign backgrounds and dimensional graphics. Brands: Gatorfoam, Gatorplast, Duroplast
After all, in the end, you want to win the job, maximize your margin and give your customer the greatest value. So what’s the bottom line? Don’t hesitate to ask for options and always consider offering alternatives, matching the right material to each job.
What’s in a Name?
Some manufacturers, through effective marketing or by being the first, have managed to have their brand name become a part of the vernacular. Some have even made it into the dictionary (Aspirin, for example). We wipe our noses with Kleenex (facial tissue) and seal our gift-wrap with Scotch Tape (cellulose tape). In England they Hoover (vacuum) their carpets and write with a Biro (ball point pen, named after its Hungarian inventor). But specifying brand names for signage materials may cost you and your customer money.
Let us start by making it clear that brand names that are synonymous with a material have earned that distinction. But, when the doctor tells you “Take two Aspirin and call me in the morning” you can buy Bayer’s brand of acetylsalicylic acid or a house brand ASA and usually for less. The active ingredient is the same! Specifying a brand name instead of a material type might limit your ability to provide a more economical or, perhaps, a more appropriate product. There may also be the same material type from another manufacturer with characteristics and performance that are more suitable to your specific application.
The following are some sign materials commonly referred to by a typical brand name:
Acrylic Plastic Sheeting: Clear, white or coloured. Used for sign faces, display fixtures, glazing and dimensional graphics. Brands: Plexiglas, Acrylite, Perspex.
Polycarbonate Sheeting: Clear, white or coloured with very high impact resistance used for sign faces and glazing. Brands: Lexan, Tuffak
Expanded PVC (polyvinyl chloride): Used for sign backgrounds, display fixtures and dimensional graphics. Brands: Sintra, Komatex, Intecel
MDO (medium density overlay) Plywood: Exterior grade plywood overlaid with resin impregnated paper to make it smooth and weather resistant and used for exterior sign boards. Brands: Crezon.
Reflective Vinyl: Used for high visibility of signs in the dark. Brands: Scotchlite, Avery
2mil Cast Vinyl: Used for extended life sign and vehicle graphics. Brands: Scotchcal, Avery
Solid Surface Material (polyester or acrylic): Designed for counter tops and furniture and used for sign backgrounds and dimensional graphics. Brands: Corian, Fountainhead, Avonite
HDU (high density urethane): Used for exterior carved and dimensional signage. Brands: Signfoam.
Aluminum Composite Sheeting: A sandwich of two thin aluminum sheets with a plastic core and used for sign backgrounds, display fixtures and dimensional graphics. Brands: Dibond, Alucobond
Paper or Styrene Skinned Styrofoam Sheeting: Used for sign backgrounds and dimensional graphics. Brands: Gatorfoam, Gatorplast, Duroplast
After all, in the end, you want to win the job, maximize your margin and give your customer the greatest value. So what’s the bottom line? Don’t hesitate to ask for options and always consider offering alternatives, matching the right material to each job.
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