GJ Plastics Ltd

Correx or fluted polypropylene has never been more popular for short to medium term signage use. It is lightweight and very durable, making it a far better choice than card or laminated paper. There are many different uses for printed correx signs, here are the top 5 in no particular order:-

1) Estate Agent Signage

Nearly all For Sale boards are printed onto correx, as it is cheap, weatherproof and durable. There are 2 main types of estate agent board. The flag style is usually printed onto 6mm fluted board, which is then attached onto the post on one of the short edges. The other option is a “T”  style board, these are often 2 x 4mm pieces of printed correx, which is glued or welded along the short edges to create a pocket, which in turn, allows a post to past up through the middle of the boards. In the past, estate agents were stuck with just screen printed boards, so could only have certain colours. However, with modern digital print, the number of colours and even photographs is not a problem.

 

Printed Estate Agent Signs

2) Construction Sign Boards

All construction sites need to have the relevant health and safety board in place at the site entrance. Often these signs only need to last for a few months or a year at most, so correx board is the perfect substrate for the job. All on site rules, PPE equipment needed and also potential hazards can all clearly be marked at the site entrance. Printed Corrugated signs are fully waterproof and can easily be cable tied or screwed into place.

Safety Signage

3) Directional Signage

If you are organising a running, cycling, triathlon or tough mudder, you need to tell the participants where to go. Using printed correx boards as wayfaring signage is ideal. They are cheap, weather proof and very easy to cable tie in place. You can then go round and cut them all down, store and then use at the next event. You can also use printed correx boards as advance warning signs, notifying locals of events or possible road closures.

Directional Printed Correx

4) Trade Signs

If you are a builder, scaffolder or roofer and are proud of your work, then tell passers-by about your recent work. Printed Correx boards are an ideal way of advertising your company. They can be fixed to scaffolding or a simple board outside the property you are working on.

Trade Signage

5) Festival and Event Signage

With most festivals and events only being a couple of days at the most, correx is probably the most common substrate you will come across. It is the event organisers go to material as it is cheap and also weatherproof, so it is ideal for temporary use. With often thousands of people in attendance, people need to know where the toilets are or even the beer tents! Using correx keeps the cost down but ensures guests can be direct around the site. Bar menus are often printed onto correx as prices and brands often change from one event to the next, so having good looking, yet cost effective menus is a must.

Festival Signage

As you can see from these 5 examples, printed correx boards are a very versatile. They are also cost effective, lightweight and weatherproof. Corrugated plastic signs can be made as small as A5 size all the way up to A0 and even 8ft x 4ft. Large format digital print now allows for full colour and even photographs to be used. So if you are planning and event or festival or own an estate agents, then why not give correx a try on your next marketing campaign.

Section 2, Everything you need to know about Foamex.

Large format printing, What can Foamex be used for?

Foamex is a high quality, extremely versatile Foam PVC sheet, it can easily be fabricated.

The material is easy to heat bend, cut, drill and glue and UV and Latex inks adhere well to the surface.

Foamex sheet is produced by the foam PVC being when compressed to create a strong board.

This material is rigid and hardwearing, extremely lightweight and perfect for display purposes or Foamex Signs.

The substrate is weatherproof, and is unaffected by changes in temperature so it can be used for outdoor signage.

Large format Printing works exceptionally well on Foamex, providing you with a professional finish of high quality.

A variety of methods for attaching Foamex such as by screws or bolts, Velcro or double sided tape.

Available in a choice of colours, it can be used in the home to cover unsightly walls and uneven surfaces.

What can Foamex be used for?

Foamex great for producing Signs, exhibition display panels and even display products such as suggestion boxes, magazine dump bins and product counter displays.

Digitally printed to customise to your brand or event.

High quality visually pleasing results can be achieved with Foamex.

You can print and cut to shape for hanging signs or wall signage, or produce information plaques for an office.

Now you know a few of the things you can produce with foamex why not? Let your creativity run wild GJ Plastics always happy to help you.

Popular uses for Foamex.

Foamex Printing.

Point of sale Signs.

Exhibition panels.

Outdoor signs.

Plinths.

Brochure displays.

Hanging Signage.

Suggestion Boxes.

Museum signage and displays.

Indoor Signs.

Wall graphics.

This is just a few applications for Foamex many more are available so get your imagination working I am sure you could come up with other uses.

 

Printed Foamex Boards

 

Foamex Circle

 

Foamex Brochure Dump Bin

Is Foamex fire retardant?

Foamex sheet, class 1 fire rated offering a high fire resistance.

 

Can it be recycled?

Foamex board, easily recycled so when it comes to the time you can no longer use your product, you can be safe in the knowledge that you can send it for recycling.

Foamex sheet thickness.

Popular thicknesses 3, 5 and 10mm however, 19mm is also available.

Machined and printed by GJ Plastics who would be happy to quote you.

 

Take a look at the following.

Sections

1 Vinyl.

3 Correx.

4 Dibond.

5. Acrylic Printing

6. Banners.

7. Roller Banners.

 

Large format printing is a vast array of different types of printing far too large to explain over one article, so we are going to break it down into seven sections with a report for each section.

These are Vinyl, Foamex, Correx, Dibond, Acrylic Printing, Banners and Roller Banners.

Vinyl.

Vinyl is PVC (poly vinyl chloride).

It is a robust and durable plastic resistant to moisture and humidity, used for printing signage.

Types.

Two types can be purchased; these are calendered or cast.

What is the difference?

The critical difference is in the manufacturing process and the plasticisers used.

Calendered is usually cheaper with Cast being considered the premium product.

Calandered is excellent for most flat sided applications and has a lifespan of between two and five years and is the main vinyl for sign makers.

Cast Vinyl offers excellent dimensional stability and highly recommended for cars or boats having a life span of between five and twelve years.

Advantages of Calandered.

Vinyl performs well on flat surfaces.

Thicker vinyl for better handling.

Modern Calendered Vinyl is available in a wide range of colours.

Low shrinkage on the high quality calandered vinyl.

Greater production yields.

Lower cost than cast.

Suitable for most client’s jobs.

Advantages of Cast.

More Durable.

Maintain colour better.

Perfect for contours and curves.

Longest lifespan.

Ideal for cars and boats.

Self Adhesive.

Self adhesive vinyl is a flexible, versatile material that can be used to produce signs and logos for business or personalised stickers.

It is commonly used for indoor and outdoor graphics for advertising.

You can also use it to decorate walls and windows.

Self-adhesive vinyl printed with UV or latex inks with any design and up to full colour images.

These can be cut to shape on a cutting plotter by following a pre designed cut file.

Vinyl stickers or shapes can stick to most flat and curved surfaces

Self-adhesive vinyl is available in white and clear.

Common type of uses.

Wall Graphics.

Floor Graphics.

Company logos.

Self adhesive stickers.

Insperational quotes.

Cartoon Images for childrens rooms.

Educational posters such as multiplication tables or alphabet.

Window Graphics.

 

Window Graphics

Can be used for promoting, privacy or for decoration.

Types of materials for producing window graphics.

Clear Vinyl requires back printing so you can display through the window.
It will allow visibility and let light through.

White has a solid white backing and is an effective method of covering a surface or creating privacy.

Perforated one way vision window graphic.

 

Perforated one way vision.

Allows you to see through the graphic while offering privacy by preventing people seeing in through the graphic.

Indoor and Outdoor Signs.

Can be used for signs indoor or outdoor.

Vinyl is resistant to moisture and humidity.

It can be cut to shape and size and applied to a variety of backing boards such as Correx foamex, acrylic or Dibond.

Vehicle Graphics.

Vehicle graphics is where cast comes into its own.

You can apply cut letters or stickers or a full wrap.

They can transform your car or vans appearance.

Well, that’s it for vinyl keep a look out for our next section on Foamex printing.

If you want to discuss a project you can drop us an email at info@gjplastics.co.uk or call us on 

0161 723 1374

.

Further reading.

Section

2. Foamex.

3. Correx.

4. Dibond.

5. Acrylic Printing.

6. Banners.

7. Roller Banners.

Acrylic, often known as Perspex is the perfect substrate to laser cut. It can be used in projects such as signage, point of sale displays, advertising and more besides. Laser cutting reduces the post processing so can be more cost effective than CNC routering, which requires additional finishing processes. Panels of up to 20mm thick Perspex Acrylic can be cut using a CO2 laser cutter. Most CO2 laser are also able to engrave acrylic sheet.

Uses of Laser Cutting Technology:

• Perspex Trophies
• POS Displays
• Acrylic Letters
• Indoor and Outdoor Signage
• Models
• Advertising

 

Laser Cut Frosted Perspex Sheet

There are lots of advantages to laser cutting:-

• Edges come out already flame polished, so it eliminates the need for additional post processing.
• Precision: – A typical laser beam is 0.2mm in diameter, which in turn allows for very accurate cutting.
• Material does not warp under heat due to the pin point accuracy of the laser beam itself.
• Tiny shapes and minuscule radius can be cut with laser cutting machines.
• No tool wear.
• No shavings or small waste particles produced.
• Parts do not move on a laser, as there is no tool.
• Less need to deburr edges.
• Can work from many file types such as dxf, AI, EPS and PDF.

Artwork Setting:

When having a product laser cut it is important to set your drawing up correctly. Laser cutting software uses a single line, which it processes and either cuts or engraves into the acrylic sheet.

If there are a lot of parts to cut, it is best to “nest” them together, so that the laser can track the least amount of distance and therefore work most efficiently. Some laser software has automatic nesting tools available, which will layout drawings for optimum efficiency.

Try not to use too many nodes on your outputted artwork, as this can caused the output to be angled or blocky. Using smooth curves will give you a better end product.

Finally, when Perspex acrylic is laser cut to a sharp angle, it can snap a lot easier, by putting a small hole or radius on the inside of the angle, this will help relieve the stress and make the component a lot stronger.

Further reading.

Which rigid sign material do I choose.

What type of outdoor sign do I need.

Shop Signs and internal signs for Bury Hospice.

10 x 8 perspex branding block.

7 x 5 printed branding block.

6 x 4 Perspex Branding block.

What type of outdoor sign do I need? Having the correct signage is very important, whether it is for your business premises, advertising an event or even for health and safety. When looking on the internet you will find all manner of outdoor signage from a couple of pounds all the way up to thousands, so how do I work out what is the best signage for me?

When buying outdoor signage you need to ask yourself the following questions:-

What size do I need?

How long does it need to last?

What budget do I have?

Where is the sign going to be located?

All the above factors should be considered when buying an outdoor sign. The following breakdown gives you the pro’s and con’s of various materials.

Correx Signs:

Choosing correx for your signage needs is certainly kind on your wallet as they are the most cost effective solution. Correx signs are great for short to medium term use and are ideal to advertise your event or promotion. They are strong and lightweight and can easily by cable tied to lamppost or railings. Correx is fluted, similar to corrugated cardboard, but in plastic format, so it can bend on the flutes with heavy use.

Printed Correx Sign

Foamex Signs:

Foam Pvc or foamex is a material for medium term use and is mid-range on the price scale. Despite its name, it is not a squishy foam but a solid, rigid plastic. It has a very smooth surface so you get an excellent print. Foamex Signs can also be easily drilled and screwed, making installation very easy.

Printed Foamex Sign

Aluminium Composite or Dibond Signs:

Aluminium composite, often known by its brand name Dibond is a premium material, which also carries a premium price tag. As such, it is the most expensive signage material of the three. Dibond signs are ideal for long term use making a great outdoor sign, the print can also be laminated making them even longer lasting. Popular uses for aluminium composite signs is shop fronts, permanent car park signage and post signs.

PVC Banners come in a huge range of sizes and shapes and are one the best ways of promoting your product or event. Made for durable, hard wearing PVC, vinyl banners are digitally printed in full colour and are nearly always hemmed and eyeletted.

PVC banners are everywhere, next time you are out and about, you are more than likely to spot them on railings in high traffic areas, attached to scaffolding, outside the local church or community centre and certainly at nearly all sporting events. They are very low cost but make a big, colourful impact. PVC outdoor banners are also very portable so can be moved to different locations and can also be rolled up for storage.

What Type of Banners are Available?

The most popular banner printing on the market by far is the 440gsm banner with hems and eyelets. These are ideal for short to medium term use and tend to be the most cost effective, making them ideal for events or promotions.

Thicker, more premium banners are also available, these are usually printed on 510gsm material, making them ideal for medium to long term use. They will be quite a bit more expensive than a 440gsm banner, so they are more suited for long term use, rather than short term promotion.

Mesh banners are the other PVC Outdoor Banners display you are likely to come across. The outdoor banners have tiny holes in the material, which allows wind to pass through them, so they are ideal for buildings, cranes, scaffolding wrap etc, as they are more likely to stand up to strong wind than a standard PVC outdoor banner would be. Mesh outdoor banners are also ideal for using on Hera fencing, as they won’t cause the fencing to collapse. Hera Banners are very popular at large events and festivals.

PVC Outdoor Banners

What printers are used to print PVC banners?

Three main types of printer used to make your PVC Outdoor Banners, all methods have their pros and con’s.

It is always worth checking with your supplier as to which method they used to create your vinyl PVC banners.

Solvent Printing.

Firstly there is Solvent or Eco Solvent printing, this used to be the most widely used method of printing banner material.

You get good strong vibrant prints, which are long lasting and durable.

The downside to solvent printing is that it takes time for the prints to dry and “gas off” so increasing lead times and consequently production costs.

Solvent printing is also not the most environmentally friendly production method, as it mixes pigment and solvent to form a liquid ink.

When the solvent is dissolved it can become toxic, so a lot of ventilation is required when using solvent printers.

UV Printing.

Another method of printing is UV, which uses ultra violet light to “cure” or dry the ink.

It comes out of the printer, the banner prints are perfectly dry.

UV print technology gives you a strong and durable print, which sits on top of the material, rather than soaking into it.

As the ink is cured instantly, lead times are usually quicker.

UV printing tends to be a more cost effective way of producing banners.

Latex Printing.

Finally, Latex print technology is now at the forefront of PVC Outdoor Banners printing.

Developed by HP, it is one of the most cost effective methods of printing outdoor banners.

And is also certainly the most environmentally friendly production method.

Due to the way the ink is laid down onto the banner substrate.

You also don’t get any major gloss banding with latex printing.

Like UV, the prints come off completely dry and ready to be finished,

It is a very quick way of producing banners.

Making them cheaper to produce and ultimately cheaper to buy.

How do I fit PVC Banners?

As a standard your PVC banner will come hemmed and eyeletted with either brass or plastic eyelets. Depending on where you would like your banner will depend on how you go about installing your banner.

If your PVC banner is to be attached to a fence or railings then you can use the eyelets and secure them using either cable ties, rope or cord.

This will then keep your banner in place and able to withstand most windy conditions.

Bungee cords or toggles, that can be used to secure your pvc banner to a fence or railings.

Bungee cords are especially good to use in windy locations as they act like shock absorbers, making it less likely that your banner with tear or rip.

If your PVC Outdoor Banners is to be secured to a wall, then you can still use the eyelets that come punched into your banner display.

Use large penny washers over the front of the eyelets and secure using a screw and/or Rawl plug. This will then keep your banner tort and secure against the wall.

Banner frames are another option for displaying banners outdoors, they are a lightweight aluminium frame ideal for sporting events such as golf days and cricket matches.  

Banner Frames

Indoor Use.

Finally, if your banner is for indoor use, then you could request the banner without hems or eyelets. Secure into place using strong self-adhesive Velcro. Your PVC banner will then sit perfectly flat onto a wall or exhibition panel. 

Fabric Banner displays

Over the last few years fabric banners have become more popular. They are usually lighter weight and are more environmentally friendly to produce. They are also usually printed using dye sublimation, which is perfect for fabric material.

Fabric banners are ideal as backdrops. For the stage, musicals, sports and television industries and also theatrical, pantomime and band backdrops.

One of the best materials for band backdrops is a 210gsm polyester.

Standard outdoor banner material is far cheaper but it is a lot heaver and more awkward to pack, store and to transport.

Using a 210gsm polyester material makes the backdrop a lot lighter, it can also be folded very small.

It is great for packing and storing without the danger of it becoming badly creased.

Dye sublimation print technology produces stunning rich and vibrant colours, making your artwork really standout. You can also easily attach bespoke effects like Rhinestones or glitter. 

Printed Posters are one of the most cost effective ways of promoting your business, product or service. Posters can be used in all manner of settings from shops to train stations and supermarkets to airports. Maximising your visual impact is one of the best marketing strategies available.

Create a Brand

With the dawn of TV advertising and later the internet, building a brand has never been more important. Put you logo and your social media contacts on all your printed posters, this will help grow your brand by constantly keeping your logo in front of your customers and clients.

Excite and Entice

Have a brand new product or service or a great special offer? Then use posters to create some excitement and entice them into your store or business. Getting your customer to take a closer look and through your front door will almost certainly lead to additional sales. A well placed A1 poster came really maximise sales for very little outgoings.

Give information

Ok, so not the most glamorous point, but posters certainly give information to your customers and clients. Make sure you use bold take and don’t make it too wordy. Even if it is a directional message or instruction, having a bespoke poster made looks professional, rather a sheet of A4 you ran off your own printer and plastered up with a bit of sticky tape. Don’t forget to include your logo and social media handles; keep building the brand.

 

Printed Paper Sales Posters

Exhibitions and Trade Shows

Most exhibitions and trade shows only last a few days, so posters are very cost effective, as they can be placed in the paper recycling after the event. Large poster printing can be the way forward as you can have superb full graphics which will look great for a few days and will really help to get your message across.

Make sure everyone is on board

Large format posters as part of a marketing strategy are hugely important, make sure everyone knows your brand guidelines, so everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet. Don’t allow plain posters to be printed and put up, they don’t have your brand and don’t look professional.

Try to find different or unique places to put your posters up

Try and get your posters up in high traffic areas. Do deals with other local businesses, the more exposure you can get, the better. Try and think out of the box and place posters in places that are not just the norm. Making a controversial or funny poster campaign can also really boost your profile and brand, if you are really lucky it could also go viral. Just make sure you don’t sail too close to the wind as it could end up having the opposite effect.

Put posters up at your own premises

People often neglect to use posters on their own premises. Having posters up in your reception or foyer are a great marketing opportunity. They can also be used a directional or informational signage.

Advertise your event

Posters are one of the best ways of letting people know about your upcoming events. Whether it’s a charity race night or your Christmas party, what better way to let your employees, customers or clients know.

 

Snap Frames for Printed Posters

Advertise your social media

Make sure you add your social media handles to all your posters, as this is great for online and offline marketing. Social media is becoming ever more important as an online market place.

Posters are green

Printed paper posters can be placed in the normal paper recycling, so you can be assured that it isn’t going into landfill.

Most suppliers of large format posters use FSC approved paper and often use already recycled paper, so printed paper posters are considered as a very green option, compared to other printed mediums.

Hopefully the above information gives you some good ideas on how to use large format printed posters. GJ Plastics Ltd produce all manner of bespoke and standard size paper posters, why not visit the website today and order yours.

Acrylic Photo Frames have been around a while now but they are still proving very popular. They have a large variety of uses from using them as traditional photo framing, to certificate frames and even as sign holders. Perspex photo frames hold your print, poster or certificate slightly off the wall using sign support stand offs. Here we highlight 7 great reasons to think about using acrylic photo frames.

1) Acrylic Frames make the ideal gift

Relatively inexpensive, acrylic sandwich frame are a great way of gifting a photo of yourself or your loved ones. You can choose from wall mounted version right through to desktop blocks. They also make very popular wedding gifts, as the focus is on the print, rather than the frame itself.

 

Acrylic Photo Frame

2) The focus is on print rather than the acrylic picture frame

Most frames on the market seem to make more of a statement on the frame rather than what’s inside. Perspex acrylic frames allow the focus to be on the print inside the picture frame rather than on the frame itself. Your photo print “floats” inside the 2 pieces of Perspex, giving the most importance to the image inside.

3) Acrylic Photo Frames have a modern appeal

Modern, contemporary homes need classy and contemporary frames, therefore the use of acrylic Perspex frames is ideal. With the frames being crystal clear you don’t need to worry about matching or clashing colours as they will fit with any decor. Acrylic photo block are one of the bestselling clear frames you can buy in the UK today

4) Ideal for the Office Environment

A3 Perspex frames are one of the best ways of displaying important documents such as your public liability insurance certificate. They look extremely smart in your reception or foyer. They also stand up quite well to high traffic areas. Wall Mounted Perspex frames allow you to change the print quickly and easily, so you can ensure you have the latest certificate displayed.

5) There is no glass in any of the frames

A lot of traditional picture frames have glass as the front face. This glass is often very thin and is rarely toughened, so it breaks very easily. Perspex acrylic is up to 8 times as strong as glass of the same thickness so it is a lot stronger than glass. In the unlikely event the Perspex does break, it will only crack and not shatter like glass. Therefore, you are very unlikely to cut yourself with an clear photo frames like you could be with a glass picture frame.

 

Acrylic Photo Blocks

6) Not as bulky

Once of the benefits of acrylic frames is that they are often less bulky than traditional framing, so they are ideal where space could be a premium. Having only a small border around the print makes them very sleek and compact. Traditional mounted frames can sometimes have borders of 20cm or more depending on the size of the print inside.

7) Cost

Perspex frames do not come with a traditional mounting, as the importance is on the print inside, not the mounting or the frame. You can spend hundreds of pounds on getting prints professionally mounted and frames. With a Perspex frame you can simply mount your print or photograph inside yourself, you don’t need to pay for expensive mounting.

8) Green Credentials

Acrylic or Perspex is becoming a lot more widely recycled. In fact most acrylic manufactured would accept your old and damaged frames as they will have large scrap bins which are picked up and sent back to be reground and made into new acrylic sheet. Most acrylic photo prints are manufactured right here in the UK, unlike a lot of other frames that are often manufactured aboard and shipped thousands of miles to our shores.

 

Desktop Perspex Acrylic Frame

9) Bespoke Sizes:

If you go to a good manufacturer of acrylic photo frames, they will be able to manufacture you bespoke sizes of frames to order. This is because they cut the frames from huge Perspex sheets using CNC routers or Laser cutters, so it is a very simple process to make a bespoke size frame. Frames that are imported in are nearly always set to a standard size and cannot be adjusted, so if you have an unusual size print, you have to settle for an ill-fitting frame.

As you can see from above there are some really great reasons why you should buy acrylic photo frames.

GJ Plastics is a UK based manufacturer or Perspex picture frames, so why not check out the website for their complete range.

Take a look.

What is the difference between Acrylic Perspex and Polycarbonate?

Acrylic Photo Frames.

Laser Cutting Acrylic.

Perspex Acrylic Displays merchandisers.

Wall mounted Photo frames.

Leaflet Holders are a very simple, yet very effective and neat way of presenting your latest offers, sales or promotions.

A variety of desk top and wall mounted leaflet holders to suit a variety of brochure and leaflet sizes.

No matter what industry you are in, it is always worth having printed information as a way to communicate to your customers and clients.

If you are after a leaflet dispenser for a waiting room, reception desk, customer till point or even outdoors, there will be a literature holder that meets your needs.

Why do I need a Leaflet Dispenser?

Nothing looks worse than a stack of leaflets sprawled on a reception desk or waiting room table, it doesn’t look professional or indeed inviting for your customers and clients. Making a good, lasting impression with your printed media, shows you are professional and mean business. Utilising plastics leaflet holders, whether they are desktop or wall mounted makes your flyers and leaflets look neat and can even create a very inviting display.

Having all your printed brochures, flyer and leaflets in one place creates a focal point to ensure your customers and prospective clients take away important messages.

Should a customer request a printed copy of your literature, you have it to hand or can direct them to it, rather than having to fumble around trying to find a ragged copy you had at the bottom of a drawer.

What style of Leaflet Holders are available?

Desktop leaflet holder:

Table top or desktop literature holders are one of the most popular plastic leaflet dispensers. If you just have a small number of flyers to present then a neat desktop holder is a great way of displaying your printed leaflet. Desktop leaflet dispensers are normally moulded in material such as Perspex Acrylic or even High Impact Styrene.

This makes than durable as well as good value.

Bespoke Perspex leaflet holders can often be fabricated to order, right here in the UK.

 

A5 Desktop Leaflet Holder

Wall Mounted Leaflet Holders:

This type of literature dispenser is ideal for reception areas and waiting rooms.

You can actually create very attractive leaflet displays by using wall mounted leaflet dispenser kits.

These kits are usually made up of an aluminium wall bar and high impact styrene leaflet pockets that clip to each other and form one display.

You can get relatively small wall mounted leaflet dispenser kits all the way up to huge kit.

Most wall leaflet displays cater for standard size leaflets such as A4, A5 and Trifold (DL or Third A4).

 

Wall Mounted Leaflet Display

Free Standing Leaflet Holders:

There are a number of options in this category, from leaflet carousels, to brochure trolleys and even more substantial Perspex leaflet display stands. Leaflet carousels are widely used in foyers and reception waiting rooms, you can display multiple leaflets in a neat freestanding display, which also turns. It is ideal to be placed in a corner, some customers can spin each tier and select which leaflet or flyer is most relevant to them.

Brochure leaflet trolleys are very popular brochure stand for the NHS or Libraries, as they have wheels so can be move from one room to the next. They also hold a lot of printed literature, so you can ensure you have the correct leaflets for all your clients, customers or patients.

Finally, Perspex brochure stands are ideal for smart office receptions and foyers. These tier acrylic stands are a perfect way of ensuring your clients leave with the latest copy of your glossy brochure or price list.

 

Freestanding Leaflet Carousel Stand

Outdoor Leaflet Holders:

Yes, you can even get outdoor brochure dispensers. They are ideal for leaving outside your premises so they can carry on advertising for you long after you have left for the day. Outdoor leaflet holders are usually injection moulded in Perspex or Styrene making them cost effective, yet durable. A5 leaflet holder is usually the most popular size.

 

Trifold Outdoor Leaflet Dispenser

Where should I display leaflets?

The most popular places for leaflets and brochures are receptions and waiting rooms when people are waiting and looking for something to do. Having your printed offering lined up in leaflet dispensers is a great way of engaging your customers or prospective clients with your latest product or service.

Leaflet holders are also ideal hot spotted around tills, desks, entrances and exits, ensuring your customers can take away your latest price list or promotion. They are already interested in your company as they are on your premises, so make sure they leave with something in hand.

What are the most common sizes of leaflets?

The 3 most popular sizes for leaflets or flyers are A4, A5 and Trifold (also known as DL or Third A4), less popular sizes are A6 and A7. Bespoke size of leaflet are also sometime produced, which often means that you need to purchase bespoke size leaflet holders that usually will come at a premium price.

How do I look after my leaflet holders?

Most of our leaflet and brochure dispensers are manufactured in either high impact acrylic Perspex or styrene, so they are made to last in even the busiest of settings. To clean your leaflet holders, just use a same cloth and a bit of warm soapy water. Avoid using any strong cleaning chemicals or alcohol as this can cause the acrylic to crack. A micro fibre or cotton cloth is best to use, as this stops your holder from being scratched.

Helpful Hints and Top Tips:

• Keep your holders well stocked at all times. There is nothing worse than a leaflet display with very few leaflets in it.
• Try “hot spotting” your leaflet holders around to measure the take up and work out the best place for them to receive a permanent home.
• Add your corporate branding to the leaflet holders, this helps build your brand but can also stop rival companies from using your dispensers!
• Try and stick to standard size leaflets, bespoke leaflet sizes can make them stand out but it can also be costly to have bespoke holder manufactured for them
• Keep them up to date, having last year’s price list still floating about isn’t helpful for you or your customer.

GJ Plastics offers one of the largest range of leaflet holders in the UK with many products available for next day delivery. Why not pop over to the GJ Plastics website and check out the full range on offer and don’t forget, fully bespoke options are also available.

Take a look.

Carousel leaflet holder stands.

Leaflet display stands.

A5 brochure dump bins.

Brochure display stands.

If you need clear plastic sheeting then most of the time you are going to go for Perspex (acrylic) or polycarbonate sheets, they are probably the 2 most popular clear plastic sheets on the market today. Firstly, let me point out that Perspex and acrylic is exactly the same thing. Perspex is the brand name and brand leader, acrylic is the generic term, think Hoover vs Vacuum cleaner. This little guide will take you through the pros and cons of both materials, which will hopefully help you when choosing which cut plastic sheeting to go for.

So which is the strongest material?

Polycarbonate sheet is by far the strongest, in fact it is one of the strongest clear materials you can buy. That’s not to say acrylic is a weak material, compared to glass of the same thickness acrylic has approximately 10 times the impact resistance. Polycarbonate has 250 times the impact resistance of glass of the same thickness.

However, acrylic sheet is quite a bit more rigid than polycarbonate sheeting, making it more likely to crack under stress. Polycarbonate can be more bendy and flexible, especially in thinner grades.

Acrylic or Perspex is often still used in secondary glazing, as well as the display market. Polycarbonate is the option to go for if you want an almost unbreakable clear plastic sheet. Polycarbonate sheet is often used in bullet proof glass and riot shield and helmets.

 

Clear Perspex Acrylic Sheeting

What about light transmission?

Acrylic is the clearer of the two material, with a light transmission of 92%, whereas polycarbonate sheeting is a little lower at 88%. Both materials still offer good clarity and can be used in secondary glazing.

The edges on Perspex or acrylic sheet can be polished back up to restore the clarity, making it ideal for the display industry. Polycarbonate cannot be polished, so the edge will remain dull once cut.

How to work with Acrylic and Polycarbonate

Acrylic sheet can be saw cut, router cut and laser cut. It can also be drilled and heat bent. It is widely used in point of sale displays, kitchen splashback and as secondary glazing.

Polycarbonate can be saw cut or router cut, it cannot be cut using a laser. It can also be drilled by hand or CNC router. Heat line bending is possible but you can get some bubbling, when the moisture leaves the material. Polycarbonate can also be could bent, often using machinery more widely used for steel.

Polycarbonate is a lot more chemical resistant than acrylic. Chemicals use on acrylic can cause fisher cracking around the edges or even on the surface.

Which material cuts the easiest?

Both materials are quite easy to cut with conventional power tools such as saws or routers. Although, if you had to choose, then polycarbonate is slightly more difficult as with it being so strong it will fight against the initial cut.

Which clear plastic sheet material drills the best?

Polycarbonate is the easiest material to drill due to its high strength. You can even drill it very close to the edge with no danger of it splitting or cracking. Acrylic can crack or split, especially when drilling close to an edge. You must leave enough gap around the edge and take it slow and steady when drilling acrylic.

Which material polishes the best?

Without doubt acrylic or Perspex can be polished to a really nice shine, almost to the same clarity of the front face. Perspex sheet can be diamond or flame polished and can even be shines back up on a buffing wheel.

Polycarbonate cannot be polished under any circumstances, not matter what you do you will still be left with a dull edge.

Can I bend acrylic or polycarbonate?

Being a thermo plastic, acrylic is ideal for heat bending, lots of point of sale displays are manufactured using heat line bending. Due to its hardness and stiffness you cannot cold bend acrylic.

Polycarbonate can be heat bent, however, moisture is often released when bending, so you can get unsightly bubbles in the bend. Polycarbonate can be cold bent using industrial metal being equipment.

 

Clear Polycarbonate Sheeting

Can they be glued?

Both materials can be glued but acrylic tends to be more widely fixed by this method, as you get a lot neater and clear glue joint. Polycarbonate sheet tends to work best mechanically fixed with screws or bolts.

How do I clean acrylic or polycarbonate?

Both materials are very easy to clean but should be treated slightly differently. As mention earlier, you need to ensure no strong cleaning chemicals are used on acrylic or Perspex. Warm soapy water is one of the best ways to clean acrylic sheet. There are specialist acrylic cleaners or polishes on the market, a quite internet search will bring you up many options, if you follow the manufacturer’s instructions you can’t go far wrong.

Polycarbonate can be cleaned in the same way as acrylic and warm soapy water is still usually the best solution. Polycarbonate sheeting does have a higher chemical resistance, so cleaning chemicals such as ammonia can be used if required.

Do not use cleaners with solvents on acrylic or polycarbonate sheets.

A clean micro fibre or 100% cotton cloth is the best thing to use when cleaning the panel as it avoids scratching the surface of the material.

Which material is more durable?

Both materials are a good durable sheeting option. Both have excellent weather resistance and can expand and contract with temperature without longer term permanent shrinkage.

Polycarbonate and to a slight lesser extent, acrylic, both can and do scratch. You must try to avoid touching them with any abrasive substance.

Perspex is a lot more likely to chip than polycarbonate with it being less impact resistant but it is less likely to scratch.

Polycarbonate is class one fire rated, so is the ideal solution where this is of paramount importance such as airports, train stations and shopping centres.

Which is material is the most cost effective?

Acrylic is far cheaper than polycarbonate, it tends to be 30-40% cheaper overall. You can see our online price calculators for an accurate quote.

I hope the above information has allowed you to make an informed choice for your clear plastic sheeting purchase. Do not hesitate to give one of the GJ Plastics team members a call or email as they will be more than happy to assist with any further enquiries you may have.

Further reading.

Laser cutting Acrylic.

9 great reasons for using acrylic photo frames.

Buying roller banners can be a bit of a minefield with so many makes and models to choose from. They also come in a wide range of prices, from budget banners all the way up to a premium version with several in between.

GJ Plastics offers a good selection of roller banners and will have one to suit any budget or event. Let’s go over the runners and riders, so you know exactly which banner to choose.

Standard 800mm Wide Roller Banner:

This is by far our most popular roller banner we do. Having sold thousands of these units over the years and with customers coming back year after year, they are our tried and test staple. They have a budget price but don’t mistake this for a budget product. Your banner graphic is still printed in the exact same way on the exact same material as our more premium banners, the only thing that differs is the mechanism itself.

We are so confident in this banner that we actually offer 1 year guarantee on the mechanism, which is almost unheard of in the economy or budget banner world. This is probably the best roller banner you can buy in the UK for the price. The tough aluminium mechanism also comes with a steel plate in the bottom, which makes it even more durable and a lot less likely to lean over.

As with all our banners, they also come with a free carry case, making them nice and easy to transport to your events and shows.

Our standard banners are ideal to use in the short to medium term use. We can also offer a 1200mm wide version of this banner stand.

800mm Standard Roller Banner

Prism 800mm Wide Roller Banner:

This is our mid-range offering, the mechanism also has stylish round ends, making it stand out from the crowd. Your artwork is printed on 300 micron, anti-curl and stay flat material, giving you a high quality printed graphic.

We are so confident with this banner, we offer a 5 year guarantee on the mechanism, so you can be rest assured of the quality of this roller banner stand.

The prism is perfect for medium to long term use.

Prism Roller Banner Stand

Barracuda Roller Banner 800mm Wide:

Introducing our premium roller banner stand, the Barracuda is one of the best you can buy on the market today. It is outstanding quality and has great reliability, making it the go to banner for long term use.

The extra wide and stable mechanism looks sleek and stylish and compliments the high quality graphic panel which is printed using the latest in latex technology.

This Barracuda banner stand also comes with a 5 year guarantee, so you can be confident it will keep going for many years to come.

This banner comes complete with a luxury carry bag, which protects the mechanism and makes it nice and easy to transport or to store when not in use.

This roller banner is also available in a 1000mm wide version.

Barracuda Pull Up Banner

A3 Desktop Roller Banners:

Need a little display? Did you know we now do mini desktop roller banners? These mini displays are ideal to be placed in a handbag or brief case and are prefect for taking to breakfast clubs, small seminars or local meetings. You can advertise your brand or even a product and are a simple but very effect way of having some of your marketing on show.

Your banner is printed full colour onto thick, heavyweight banner material, not paper, using the latest in latex print technology.

A3 Desktop Roller Banners

X Banner Stands:

OK, so they are not strictly a roller banner but our X Banner Stands are a very popular and extremely cost effective way of displaying a graphic. You simply put the X frame together in seconds then hang your full colour printed banner from the frame. These banner displays are very light weight and come in a neat canvas bag, so they are great for small shows or exhibitions.

X Banner Stands, Spider Banner Stands

How do I order and send the artwork?

Place the order online and pay via card or PayPal, you will then receive a confirmation email with your order number. You can then reply to this email and attach your artwork. We can accept files up to 15mb via email. Larger files can be sent over for free via www.wetransfer.com

Sign Materials for Acrylic printing, dibond sign Printing and Printed correx Signs, come in all shapes and sizes but which one should I go for and what are the benefits? This article will go through some of the most popular signage materials and will guide you through the benefits and most popular uses.

Correx Boards:

Also known as Corriboard or fluted polypropylene, it is an ideal sign material for durable yet extremely cost effective indoor or outdoor signs. Its fluted properties gives a slight ribbed appearance in the print when viewed from very close up. It is widely used as Estate agent boards but also for temporary event signage. Printed correx boards are available in a range of standard sizes, you can choose from A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and even 8ft x 4ft. Corriboard is often available at custom sizes and even shapes as well. Most correx signage is printed on UV flatbed printers which produce high quality, UV Fade Resistant prints.

 Correx boards are:-

• UV resistant
• Durable and waterproof
• Offer Fast turnaround
• Cost-effective – ideal for volume orders
• Light weight for easy installation
• Printed correx Signs Can be customised to any shape, size or design
• Versatile
• Suitable for interior and exterior use
• Short to medium term use

Correx boards are typically available in 4mm and 6mm thickness, although other thicknesses are usually available on request. Some of the most popular uses for Printed correx Signs are events signs, temporary road signage, estate agent boards, directional signage, construction boards and security signs.

Correx printing, Corriboard signage

Foamex Signs:

Foamex or the more general term, foam PVC is a hard, rigid plastic, ideal for signage. It is also know via several brand names such as Palight, Forex or Foamalite. Most foam PVC signs are manufactured in 3mm or 5mm thickness, however thicker material such as 10mm or 19mm is often available. Being relatively lightweight, weatherproof and very smooth, foamex makes an ideal printing substrate. Foam PVC is not a squishy foam sheet, it is a hard, rigid material, making it durable. It can also be drilled and cut to shape. Foamex is often used for shop signage, retail POS displays, Exhibition Panels, Flat cut letters, internal and external sign boards.

Foamex Boards are:-

• UV resistant
• Waterproof
• Economical
• Come in a variety of sizes and thicknesses.
• Can be customised to any shape, size or design
• Versatile
• Moderately durable
• Suitable for interior & exterior use

Printed Foam PVC Boards, Foamex Printing

Aluminium Composite Boards (Dibond):

Aluminium composite, also widely known by the most popular brand name Dibond is a hard and rigid substrate, perfect or permanent signage solutions. It consists of two very thin aluminium sheets, stuck either side of a polyethylene core, this makes it fully weather resistant and it will also never rust. Dibond create really high quality signage, whilst being more expensive than correx or foamex it will also last for many years and is perfect for long term use. Almost all aluminium composite sheet comes in 3mm thickness. It can be cut, drilled and shaped, it can also be grooved and folded into sign trays or boxes. Some of the most popular uses for aluminium Dibond sheet is shop fascia signs, exhibition panels, directional and road signs, sign trays and cladding.

Dibond Sheet is:-

• Waterproof
• Economical
• High corrosion resistance
• Ideal for long-term displays
• UV resistant
• Medium weight for easy installation
• Versatile
• Can be customised to any shape, size or design
• High durability – suitable for interior or exterior signage

Printed Dibond Signs, Aluminium Composite Signage

Clear Acrylic Signage:-

Acrylic is a clear thermoplastic which had a very similar appearance to glass. It has good strength, stiffness and optical clarity. It is often seen as a great alternative to glass as it is lighter, stronger, safer and more cost effective. It is less than half the weight of glass and can be up to 8 times as strong. Acrylic sheet is often known as Perspex, which is the premium brand available. Acrylic sheet can be router or laser cut and can be drilled and cut to shape. It can also be direct reverse printed, making luxury office or reception signs. Popular uses are also as exhibition displays, Retail POS, Light boxes, Name Plates and Office Signage.

Acrylic Signs are:-

• UV resistant
• Waterproof
• Rigid Material
• Economical alternative to glass
• Variety of widths
• Can be customised to any shape, size or design
• Versatile

Perspex Printed Signs, Acrylic Signage

I hope the above gives you some pointer at to what material to choose when looking for your perfect sign. Why not pop over to GJ Plastics Ltd to view their huge range of printed signs.