Materials for industrial marking
AISI 316, aluminium and 2-ply engraving plastic – typical uses, strengths and limits.
Material is chosen by environment, mounting and the information that must appear on the marker. Below are typical choices – not absolute rules.
AISI 316
Stainless steel often used for valve/TAG signs and cable markers when corrosion resistance matters.
- Typical use: HVAC, district heating, water, process, humid and many outdoor technical installations.
- Strengths: Robust, permanent marking; typically better chloride resistance than AISI 304.
- Limits: Not «never corrodes». Permanent seawater requires a separate assessment.
Aluminium
Suitable for nameplates on indoor machines and technical equipment in typical industrial premises.
- Typical use: Machine sign, serial number, logo, QR, technical data indoors.
- Strengths: Light, professional look, good for text and graphics.
- Limits: Not automatically the right choice for high moisture, harsh cleaning or demanding outdoor environments.
2-ply engraving plastic
Duo signs for panels, control panels, machine doors and indoor component marking.
- Typical use: Panels, control fields, section names, many small signs.
- Strengths: Contrast, colours, flexible size, holes or tape, mixed texts in one order.
- Limits: Not automatically right outdoors or in harsh chemicals – consider metal.
Short selection guide
- Indoor machine → aluminium or engraving plastic
- Panel / switchboard → 2-ply engraving plastic
- Moisture / outdoor technical → AISI 316 (or suitable aluminium per job)
- Permanent seawater → separate assessment