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Everything You Need to Know About Brass Nameplates

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A brass nameplate with a company name & logo

Key Takeaways

  • Brass nameplates are highly attractive and durable, suitable for various environments due to brass’s unique alloy composition of copper and zinc. Brass is an excellent choice for customized, long-lasting nameplates that offer a luxurious appearance without the high cost of gold.
  • Their non-sparking and antimicrobial properties make them ideal for industries requiring safety and sanitation, while customizable finishes and designs ensure they meet specific aesthetic and functional needs for up to 20 years.
  • If your company needs attractive and durable brass nameplates, MPC’s brass substrate is a popular choice. Brass is a metal alloy made from copper and zinc, and depending on what you order, the metal can have a yellow, gold, or reddish color.

    As a manufacturing material, this alloy is known for performing well in various indoor and outdoor environments. Brass is also malleable, which means you can easily form it into nearly any application. This allows you to customize your company’s nameplates in less time.

    Whether you want a decorative plaque or an equipment tag suited for a highly sterile environment, brass might be the right substrate for your needs. Here’s everything you need to know about brass nameplates.

    Brass nameplate on factory equipment

    Advantages of Using Brass Nameplates

    Although sleek options like aluminum are always popular, brass nameplates are making a bit of a comeback. Brass is not only visually appealing, but it also has several practical applications too. If you’re on the fence about which substrate to use, brass offers several benefits.

    Durability

    While brass is a soft metal that’s prone to surface scratches and abrasions, it still performs well in many interior and exterior environments. In fact, it can withstand extreme weather conditions, and in some cases, it can last outdoors for as long as 20 years. Brass nameplates are also resistant to corrosion, chemicals, solvents, and dirt.

    Appearance

    Unlike other metals, brass has a unique golden color that comes from a mixture of copper and zinc. Few metals have such a naturally decorative, polished appearance, and companies will often use brass nameplates instead of gold to get a luxurious look without the luxurious price.

    Versatility

    If you want a versatile metal that can transform into nearly anything, brass is the way to go.

    Brass is partially composed of copper, which is incredibly malleable and easy to manipulate. This malleability allows our machines to easily fabricate your custom nameplates in a variety of shapes, sizes, and thicknesses. Since brass is a softer metal, it’s easy to use techniques like etching and embossing to achieve your desired look, too.

    Affordability

    Companies use brass nameplates when they want the elegant look of gold or bronze without the hefty price tag. While the cost of brass varies, it’s still an affordable option that gives nameplates a striking appeal at a lower cost.

    Sanitation

    Did you know that brass is naturally antimicrobial? Clean surfaces made from uncoated copper alloy materials can continuously kill bacteria. If you’re in an industry with high sanitation requirements, like healthcare or food service, brass is a safe option for equipment nameplates.

    Spark Resistant

    The most unique benefit of brass is its non-sparking properties. Unlike iron or steel nameplates, brass is a nonferrous metal that can’t spark on impact. This makes brass the safest choice for industrial businesses, electrical work, or plumbing.

    Brass sign welcoming customers to a bank

    Common Uses for Brass Nameplates

    Whether for safety reasons or aesthetics, a wide number of industries opt for brass nameplates. You can find brass nameplates in commercial, industrial, and consumer applications.

    Some of the most popular applications for brass nameplates include:

    • Equipment identification labels and tags
    • Plaques, awards, and trophies
    • Desk nameplates
    • Corporate signs
    • Healthcare equipment
    • Personnel identification badges
    • Plumbing and electrical applications
    • Retail labels
    • Food service materials
    • Trail markers
    Brass plaque award

    Brass Nameplate Customization Options

    MPC’s brass nameplates are available in various sizes, thicknesses, and finishes. If you want to stretch your imagination, brass is a malleable metal that you can turn into just about anything.

    MPC will work with you to determine the best approach for your nameplates. Our brass nameplates come in a face stock with thicknesses ranging from .014” to .062”.

    Our finish options include:

    • Polished (mirror-like, highly reflective finish)
    • Satin (brushed, semi-reflective finish)

    Feel free to customize your brass nameplates with your company’s logo, custom fonts, or other fun designs. Although we don’t recommend using colors on brass for long-term outdoor applications, we do offer color options for indoor applications. MPC will screen print or chemically etch your graphics into the brass nameplates with or without color fill.

    Brass nameplate on factory equipment

    Why You Should Choose MPC’s Brass Nameplates

    Brass nameplates aren’t just a safer, more hygienic option. They have an instant “it” factor that’s perfect for aesthetically pleasing nameplates.

    While brass nameplates are already a solid choice, it’s also important to work with a reputable nameplate manufacturer. Businesses opt for MPC because:

    • Our brass nameplates are decorative, durable, lightweight, and malleable
    • Our products are skillfully fabricated in machine and print shops to your design specifications.
    • Brass nameplates have an expected exterior lifespan of up to 20 years
    • Brass offers excellent resistance to saltwater, corrosion, tarnish, chemicals, solvents, and extreme temperatures

    When you need brass nameplates, Metalphoto of Cincinnati has you covered. With no minimum piece requirement and quick shipping options, we value your business and look forward to helping it grow. Contact us today with any questions or to request a quote.

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