Bench Card Sign Material
LaserTag™ 305 from GrowTech Solutions
The Bench Cards are printed on our standard product line, LaserTag™ 305 stock which is essentially plastic paper that is 5ml thick. It is very durable, prints well through both lower and upper trays on our printers, accepts and retains laser toner very well, and has a nice "ironed" finish that gives your sign a rich glossy look. Even though it is pure plastic, it is of the consistency of a "heavy grade" paper and is sometimes, upon initial evaluation, viewed as "not thick enough".
Durability / Printability:
The product is, without question, durable enough for Signage application. Although your printer inks will start to fade after a few months exposure, the sign media itself will last for years. It is cross-laminated so it is tear-resistant and it does not curl. In years past, manufacturers had to make the stock extremely thick in order to obtain tear resistance, curl resistance and waterproof qualities. No longer so. LaserTag 305 has all of these qualities in a much "thinner" package, hence making it more affordable and much easier on the printers, since most laser printers don't handle plastics or heavy card stocks well.
Weight:
Thickness is not the issue, but rather: weight and rigidity. LaserTag 305 definitely is not rigid enough to use as a "free-standing" sign: it needs to be placed in a framed / backed signholder as opposed to simply stapling it on a stake or post. If the signholder has the 'ear tabs' on all four sides, in many cases, that is all that is required to secure the sign. However, exceptionally windy areas or storms can sometimes blow the signs out of the signholders, depending on which type you have. Here are some quick fixes for signs being blown out:
- Squeeze the tabs down tighter: If you have metal signholders, the tabs can be squeezed down tighter to fit snugly against the media. They are typically manufactured with a .30" gap, whereas the media is .05". Just crimp or squeeze them down tighter and that will typically solve most of the blowout issue. Of course, you can't do this is you have plastic signholders.
- Paper Clips / Binder Clips: insert two paper clips over the signholder, one at each of the top corners to hold the sign tight. If you slide them all the way over to the left and right, they are hardly noticeable. You can also use the small, office "binder clips". Though not as discrete, they will hold the product in place through fierce winds.
- Hook & Loop fasteners: "Velcro" tape or dots can be used to secure the media in place. If you get the "industrial" rolls, they are very strong and inexpensive. Place the male, hooks, on the signholder and attach the female loops onto the back of your printed signs.
If you would like additional information or have a questions, please contact us.
