Sign Making

We're going to take a different look at printers today. Instead of label printing, this post focuses on sign making.

Many label printers can also print signs. For example, the DuraLabel, using four inch wide vinyl tapes, can make signs that are 2' x 3' in size. Today, however, we're going to take a look at the Brady PowerMark. This is a machine designed to print larger format items. The smallest width tape it can use is four inches, and it can use tapes up to ten inches in width.

The Brady PowerMark can print in monochrome or color. It can be used as a stand-alone machine or connected to your PC.

The biggest advantage of the Brady PowerMark is that it can make signs, using multiple colors. The disadvantages are that it is slow and supplies can be expensive. However, you can start a multi-color OSHA safety sign printing, walk away, and come back when it is finished. You do not need to hang around to change ribbons.

5S Standard Colors

5S is a lean manufacturing technique that involves getting organized. A powerful tool that helps things stay organized is color coding. Color coding allows us to quickly recognize which group an object belongs with. For example, tools can be color coded to show the work area where they are used.

There is no 5S standards organization, however over time a set of standard colors has developed. A free guide is now available that shows the color standards typically used with 5S. This guide is available to businesses with 20 or more employees, government agencies, the military, schools and nonprofits.

Request your free 5s standard colors guide.

Where Do You Need Glow-In-The-Dark?

The DuraLabel thermal transfer printer has a wide range of supplies available. Supplies that include phosphorescent glow-in-the-dark tape. Use the DuraLabel to print on this special tape and you'll have black text and graphics on a white background. But, when the lights go off the label will glow, producing an easily readable black text and graphics on a bright green background.

Use the DuraLabel to make both labels and signs that glow in the dark. Phosphorescent tapes are available up to four inches in width. However, the DuraLabel can tile the printing across multiple strips of tape. That means, for example, that six lengths of tape can be combined to create a 2' x 3' glow-in-the-dark sign.

Where do you need glow-in-the dark labels and signs? In any location in which it is important to provide information during a power or lighting failure. Signs marking exit doors and fire extinguishers are excellent applications. You may need to identify emergency equipment, or potential hazards such as stairs, areas of low headroom or locations where hazardous materials are stored. Phosphorescent labels and signs do not need batteries or any source of outside energy. They will glow, illuminating their message, for up to ten hours.

Need To Make Traffic & Parking Signs?

What you need is a printer that can economically make reflective signs. One option is to purchase reflective board and use a vinyl cutter to make the text and graphics for the sign. A machine such as the DuraCut Pro Vinyl Cutter is a good choice for making signs this way.

Another option is to use a printer such as the DuraLabel to print on reflective vinyl tapes. The self-adhesive tapes can be applied to fiberglass, metal or plastic backing material to create medium and small size signs. Making a two foot by three foot parking lot sign is not a problem.

The advantage of using the DuraLabel printer over a vinyl cutter such as the DuraCut Pro (both come from the same supplier) is that the DuraLabel printer gives you the ability to do a lot more. A vinyl cutter makes signs... that's it. The DuraLabel printer makes signs, wire labels, hazardous material labels, general purpose labels, bar code labels and a lot more. With the DuraLabel printer you have a lot more capability... even when compared with other printers.

With the huge variety of DuraLabel supplies, that are available at about half the price you'd pay for supplies for comparable printers (because you'll be buying direct), you'll have a machine that quickly pays for itself.

DuraLabel Supplies - Huge Selection

There is no other 4" industrial thermal transfer printer that has as wide a selection of supplies as the DuraLabel. DuraLabel supplies range from standard industrial grade vinyl tapes, to highly specialized supplies such as low temperature and reflective tapes.

Why is this an advantage? Because no matter how good a label printer is, it will be limited by the available supplies. If the supplies to make a certain type of label are not available, the printer is of no use in that area. The DuraLabel is a VERY good label printer. When it comes to supplies it has few limitations.

Because the DuraLabel has such a wide selection of supplies available, it is a very versatile printer. You may purchase a DuraLabel to handle a very specific labeling need, such as arc flash labels or making pipe markers. But you'll find that the DuraLabel can handle just about any labeling task. Electricians and datacomm installation techs can make the wire, instrument and panel labels they need. The safety manager can make OSHA required safety signs and labels. Security can make reflective traffic control and parking signs. The facilities manager can make directional signs and use clear vinyl tapes to make text and graphics for glass doors and windows. The warehouse can make repositionable labels to temporarily identify shelves and racks as needs change.

When you are evaluating which label and sign printer to purchase, be sure to consider the impact of the availability of supplies, and put the DuraLabel at the top of your short list. Yo'll be glad you did.