Industrial signage and marking: tapes, signs or punches?

To mark off a zone you need tapes or tape barriers; to signal a hazard or a prohibition, signs and adhesive labels; to identify a piece of metal, numbers and letters for stamping. These are three different jobs, with different products. First decide what you need to do (mark off, warn or mark permanently), then look at the material: polyethylene, PVC, laminated polyester or galvanised steel.

The types

• Barrier tapes: red and white striped tapes, or tapes in other colours, for marking off work areas, excavations and no-go passages. They are stretched between stable supports. There are also reflective tapes and safety tapes, such as the Panfilm Mark 60.
• Tape barriers: supports with a retractable tape, including wall-mounted ones, with a stainless steel body and a 5 m tape, such as the Vigor retractable tape barrier. They are used to close off an opening quickly and reusably.
• Signs and adhesive labels: floor signs, “prohibited”-type labels, magnetic labels and label holders. For example the adhesive floor sign saying no entry for unauthorised personnel.
• Marking letters and numbers: steel punches for stamping codes and numbers on metal parts, such as the Fervi marking numbers. They are struck with a hammer.
• Small accessories: key rings for identifying keys and tools.

How to choose by job

The features to check

• Material: the collection includes polyethylene, PVC, laminated polyester, nylon, plastic, galvanised steel and zinc sheet. For outdoor use and for signs used every day you need materials that stand up to wear; for short indoor use the simplest one is enough.
• Size: sizes range from 15 x 5 cm, for labels, up to 80 x 60 cm for the largest signs. The sign must be readable from the distance at which it is viewed.
• Colour: red and white for prohibitions and boundaries, yellow for hazards. If your company already has a colour code, follow it.
• Character size: for punches it ranges from 3 to 8 mm. A small character is enough for a code on a part; for a clearly legible number take a larger character.
• Punch hardness: HRC 58-60. The punch must be harder than the piece you are stamping; with this value you can work on ordinary steels, not on steels already hardened to a similar hardness.
• Pack size: from 2 to 72 pieces: look at how many areas or parts you need to cover.

Common mistakes

• Applying adhesive labels to dirty or damp surfaces. They come off after a short time: clean and dry the surface first, then press down firmly with no creases.
• Using only tape where a barrier is needed. Tape warns but does not stop anyone: for a dangerous zone you need barriers or fences.
• Stamping with several blows. The punch shifts and the character comes out doubled. Hold it straight and give a single firm blow.
• Choosing a character too small to read. A 3 mm mark can only be read from close up.
• Forgetting to replace damaged signage. A faded or peeling sign no longer signals anything.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between barrier tape and reflective tape?

Barrier tape marks off the area; reflective tape reflects light and stays visible even in poor light.

Are marking numbers suitable for every metal?

They are made of steel with a hardness of HRC 58-60, so they stamp metals that are softer than they are. On steels that are already very hard it is best to check with the technicians.

How do I apply an adhesive sign?

On a clean, dry surface, laid flat with no creases and pressed down firmly over the whole area.

Can I order several pieces of the same sign?

Yes, many items come in packs of 2, 10, 24 or 72 pieces. For larger quantities, request a quote.

The whole range is in the Industrial marking and signage collection: if you are not sure which sign your area needs, request a quote or ask the AMES technicians for advice.