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Railroad

Uniquely durable identification options for railroad freight and transportation assets and applications.

Uniquely Durable Identification for Freight & Passenger Railcars, Locomotives & Maintenance-of-Way Equipment

The vast majority of equipment and assets in the railroad freight and transportation industry operate outside and are routinely exposed to sunlight, abrasion and extreme temperatures, as well as corrosive elements. Items such as locomotives, passenger and freight railcars, maintenance-of-way and inspection equipment are often labeled to:

  • identify them as property
  • provide operating instructions and house mechanical switches for control panels
  • track location and lifecycle

These labels, data plates and front panels must withstand the same conditions as the assets to which they are affixed while remaining legible after years of abuse. Faded, corroded or otherwise illegible nameplates and labels threaten readability, which may lead to unauthorized transfers or impede safe operation – even downtime or regulatory fines.

MPC’s Metalphoto® photosensitive anodized aluminum is the preferred choice for panel fronts and data plates for equipment in harsh environments. The reason is simple: durability and legibility.

TRUSTED AROUND THE WORLD SINCE 1950

Find The Ideal Identification Products For Your Application

Explore our wide range of durable identification products, custom designed for your project, application or organization. Our product development team is on standby to design and build your perfect identification solution.

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Create Your Own Nameplate, Data Plate, Label, or Front Panel Design Online

The MPC Nameplate Designer is an online tool that you can use to easily create a design for any piece of identification, including nameplates, data plates, warning labels, asset tracking labels, control panel faceplates, overlays and signs.  Load a starting template and edit the elements to your specifications, or start from scratch and build your design.  Using this designer, you can set the dimensions, material, and add adhesive backing to your identification piece, and then add holes, cutouts, text, serial numbers, bar codes or QR codes, shapes, and even images and photos to your design.  Once the design is complete, you can save a PDF print of the design to download and share.

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Specialized Material Options for Your Application

Metalphoto of Cincinnati offers nameplates in a variety of standard material options, including our proprietary Metalphoto®  substrate. Metalphoto is photosensitive anodized aluminum, which features a silver and black photographic image that is embedded within the sapphire-hard anodic layer of the aluminum. This combination gives a Metalphoto part an outdoor life of over 20 years, and makes it extremely resistant to damage or degradation from environmental factors like abrasion, UV fading, harsh chemicals, extreme temperatures, and corrosion from saltwater exposure. The National Association of Graphic and Product Identification Manufacturers (GPI) Industry Standards and Practices Manual identifies Metalphoto as the most durable printed aluminum substrate available, and it has been trusted by industry, government and military organizations like Caterpillar, The US Navy, NASA, and Boeing for over 50 years.  Metalphoto offers many unique features including:

  • Lasts over 20 years outdoors without fading or degradation.
  • Uniquely resistant to damage or degradation from environmental factors like abrasion, UV fading, harsh chemicals, extreme temperatures, and corrosion from saltwater exposure.
  • Exceptional image resolution that allows for photo image, security and microprint options.
  •  Ability to support unique information, including a unique barcode or QR code and letter/number combination on every piece.
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Stainless Steel Nameplates

Request a Free Railroad ID and Tracking Tag Evaluation Kit

Request a free evaluation kit today and we will send you a sample kit to test our durable identification products in your own operating environment.

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FEATURED CASE STUDY

Exceptionally Durable Nameplates for Transportation Asset Identification

See how A leading manufacturer of tractor trailers and shipping containers found that nameplates made of Metalphoto photosensitive anodized aluminum have greater durability and legibility than etched stainless steel at a fraction of the price.

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20 Years with No Problems

LeBlond Ltd. has been using Metalphoto of Cincinnati for at least 20 years with no problems. I never worry about the quality of product. We always receive competitive pricing and on-time delivery.

Ken Smith
LeBlond Ltd.

Made To Specs and Made To Last

We never have to reject or return items any of the nameplates we have ordered from MPC. The nameplates are made to specs and made to last.

Manufacturing Company

Create The Ideal Solution For Your Product Identification Needs

If you’re having trouble finding the ideal identification solution for your project or application, build it with Metalphoto of Cincinnati. Talk with our experienced sales engineers today.

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