What lamination to use on printed reflective?

[TopFliteGraphics]

I have some street signs I need to make for a builder client that require printed reflective material. Also, the specifications require any digitally printed material to have lamination. The only lamination material that I see specified anywhere is Oralite 5095 but I am having difficulty sourcing it locally.

What materials do you guys recommend for this application?

 

[MNT_Printhead]

I usually use a cast but have gone with Avery's Graffitti Gaurd recently (6060)

 

[TopFliteGraphics]

From what seeing, the Avery 6060 only has a 3 year durability rating. Not sure that will be good enough.

 

[Gino]

Street signs should be screen printed, not digitally printed on a machine. Then, they'll last 8 or 10 years.

 

[TopFliteGraphics]

Street signs should be screen printed, not digitally printed on a machine. Then, they'll last 8 or 10 years.

The bid package I got said if digitally printed, then lamination must be applied. I am probably overthinking it since we are only talking about a few signs but I want to make sure I provide the best possible product to my customer.

 

[StarSign]

In my area all MUTCD signs need to have a lifespan of 7 years.

 

[ProColorGraphics]

I use optically clear cast on mine.

 

[MNT_Printhead]

Street signs should be screen printed, not digitally printed on a machine. Then, they'll last 8 or 10 years.

The Avery/Mutoh printers on Avery reflective Omni are rated for 18 years, their lower reflective is 7-8 IIRC. The 3M HP latex machines are at 10 with Diamond Grade. Printing traffic reflective on and HP that doesn't allow you to raise the carriage sucks, I don't have the traffic setup on my 360s, but I have the profiles and it melts at times.

When I was in traffic signs full time, most older cities would require 3m EC over lays and not deal with printed because that is how they have always done it since cut graphics were approved.

 

[TopFliteGraphics]

The Avery/Mutoh printers on Avery reflective Omni are rated for 18 years, their lower reflective is 7-8 IIRC. The 3M HP latex machines are at 10 with Diamond Grade. Printing traffic reflective on and HP that doesn't allow you to raise the carriage sucks, I don't have the traffic setup on my 360s, but I have the profiles and it melts at times.

When I was in traffic signs full time, most older cities would require 3m EC over lays and not deal with printed because that is how they have always done it since cut graphics were approved.

Yeah, I was thinking about doing overlays instead. Not sure.

 

[Notarealsignguy]

I use regular cast laminate, 3220, 8518, briteline... whatever is on hand. Works fine

 

[P Wagner]

For Regulated Traffic Signage, HP Latex 36x and 700/ 800 is Certified with:

3M 3930 Series High Intensity Prismatic films for 10 years (3M Traffic MCS Warranty)
3M 4000 Series Diamond Grade Reflective film for 12 years (3M Traffic MCS Warranty)

Both media require 3M laminate film 1170C and FlexPrint 3M Authorized Traffic Edition RIP software. This is for Regulated Traffic signage on public roads. Non-regulated signage located on private property does not have these requirements.

 

[MNT_Printhead]

The lam I used when I worked with the Avery Traffic traffic jets are hard (impossible even, I have tried for years) to get aside from 6060 and I had to wait for it. They sell most of that stuff direct to the end users in my experience.

 

[ikarasu]

Street signs should be screen printed, not digitally printed on a machine. Then, they'll last 8 or 10 years.

3M Digitally printed traffic signage has a higher warranty than screen printed does now - 3M Warranties for 12 years when digitally printed on a Latex.

Screen printing inks have gotten more and more "Eco" friendly... which means screen printing is on par, or worst than digital these days.... Our competitor uses UV Screen printing inks, and his signs fade in 5-7 years - We still use solvent screen printing, and I dont think I've ever seen one fade... but I havent seen one of our latex ones fade, and I have one outdoors from about 8 years ago with no signs of failing yet. I'm sure theyre both comparable now

 

[Modern Ink Signs]

The Avery/Mutoh printers on Avery reflective Omni are rated for 18 years, their lower reflective is 7-8 IIRC. The 3M HP latex machines are at 10 with Diamond Grade. Printing traffic reflective on and HP that doesn't allow you to raise the carriage sucks, I don't have the traffic setup on my 360s, but I have the profiles and it melts at times.

When I was in traffic signs full time, most older cities would require 3m EC over lays and not deal with printed because that is how they have always done it since cut graphics were approved.

Let me see where on 3Ms MCS warranty that they say 10years! I don’t have mine in front of me but I HIGHLY doubt they say that. I could be wrong. I carry a 3M MCS Warranty and don’t recall anything that high.

 

[Modern Ink Signs]

No need to screen.

Look at Orafol site and you should see a “recommended” lamination. If not, I’d recommend a cast lamination.

 

[Aaron Hunter]

The hardest part about making street or DOT specific signs is that the spec'd materials are typically not available through traditional sign vendors. They fall under Traffic and Safety. I'd be curious if they require DoT stamps.

 

[ikarasu]

Let me see where on 3Ms MCS warranty that they say 10years! I don’t have mine in front of me but I HIGHLY doubt they say that. I could be wrong. I carry a 3M MCS Warranty and don’t recall anything that high.

https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media...ssories-for-traffic-sign-production-flyer.pdf on my.phone so I can't find it. Above it says "up to 12". Diamond grade is 12... And I believe the rest is 10.

IIRC, the warranty is higher for digital than it is for screens... But I haven't looked at screen printing warranty for awhile.

 

[Modern Ink Signs]

 

[ikarasu]

None of those are traffic series.

Try this -

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/2169456O/3m-permanent-signage-warranty-brochure.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwisyIPkg6eEAxWZHTQIHZgZBekQFnoECBQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw10P3P88X_Th7m8iY3NPpht

Actually that's UV ink and screen I think. Search for 3m diamond grade digital and it'll come up

 

[P Wagner]

Let me see where on 3Ms MCS warranty that they say 10years! I don’t have mine in front of me but I HIGHLY doubt they say that. I could be wrong. I carry a 3M MCS Warranty and don’t recall anything that high.

Here you go...