How to eliminate the challenges and confusion regarding plastic materials.
Written by: Elise Baumann, Chelsie Moua, Michael Neely
Edited by: Lisa Oleksik
Disclaimer: *Opinions expressed by author(s) are their own. We do not warrant, endorse, guarantee, or assume responsibility for the accuracy or reliability of any information offered through third-party sources.
Every week, the Quality Business Engraving team has the opportunity to work with customers looking to buy plastic tags for their business/job. As a business owner, with over 30 years of manufacturing experience, I’ve run into common questions concerning the different types of plastic. For instance, customers often send in quotes for phenolic or lamacoid tags without knowing what they are or their characteristics. It is commonly asked which materials will be compatible with their projects. However, due to the lack of information online, customers have been misinformed and confused about which type of material is right for them. Here are some common questions we answered to help eliminate the challenges and confusion of plastic materials.
1: What is Phenolic?
Phenolic is a resin-based material made from a mixture of phenol and aldehyde which becomes hard and sturdy after molding. This material is not so commonly laser engraved because of its brittleness and ability to easily chip. Instead, it can be rotary engraved, which is a more expensive process. Over the years, I have seen phenolic material used by manufacturers to label high-voltage areas. It was also commonly used for kitchen countertops. Even though phenolic was one of the first types of engraving material, it isn't actually considered plastic. When plastic was invented and developed, the use of phenolic decreased. There are so many different types of plastic today that have become part of our everyday lives: the toothbrush we use in the morning, the water bottle we drink from, the chairs we sit in, etc. It is not surprising that phenolic materials make up less than 1% of our manufacturing sales today.
2: What is Lamacoid (Lamicoid)?
Lamicoid, or Lamacoid, was a brand name for phenolic but is not considered the material name. Just like facial tissue and Kleenex or bandage and Band-Aid. Today, both are spoken as if they were the same thing and are common terms used in the plastic industry. Today, the name brand for phenolic or Lamicoid is Norplex. Lamacoid is an engraving material that is usually 2 or 3-ply. This allows markings to be more visible through different colors. When customers ask for lamacoid or phenolic tags, they usually mean they want engravers plastic since it also has 2 or three plies.3: What is Engravers Plastic?
Engraving plastics are more cost-efficient to purchase and engrave. Like Phenolic or lamacoid it has layers to show off the markings once engraved, however, it is usually made of ABS plastic or acrylic resin. ABS plastics need to be rotary engraved and are less flexible than acrylic plastic. Acrylic plastic can be laser engraved, which is the preferred method of engraving. Both types of engraving plastics are the most popular types of material used for manufacturing and industrial purposes. However, laser engraving is cheaper, faster, and more modern than rotary engraving. Engraving plastics are commonly used as valve tags, machine status indicators, push buttons, and other technical labeling. They are known to be stronger than phenolic and lamacoid because of their flexibility.
ABS vs Acrylic Plastic
4: What's the best option for my business?
Engraving plastics, lamacoid, and phenolics generally have the same purpose as manufacturing indicators and labels. In most cases, Phenolic and Lamacoid are not necessary, so engravers' plastic will do just fine. Engravers' plastic is stronger, cheaper, and faster to engrave. When looking for what materials are right for you, determine what main functions you need them to have. Follow the characteristic chart below or email us at marketing@qbetags.com for any questions about the different types of plastic material.
Phenolic & Lamacoid vs Engravers Plastic
Rochester Hills, MI 48309
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