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Thermoformed Signage: A Sustainable Choice for Long-Lasting Impact

As a dedicated sign company account executive, I’ve had the privilege of introducing businesses to a wide range of signage options. Among these, thermoformed signage stands out as a remarkable choice that not only captures attention but also aligns with environmental consciousness. Let’s delve into why thermoformed signage is an eco-friendly solution that makes a lasting impact.

What Is Thermoformed Signage?

Thermoformed signage is a manufacturing process that involves shaping plastic sheets into three-dimensional forms using heat and pressure. The result is a lightweight, durable, and visually appealing sign that can be customized to fit various design requirements. Whether it’s outdoor signs, point-of-purchase displays, or architectural elements, thermoformed signs offer versatility and longevity.

The Eco-Friendly Edge of Thermoformed Signs

1. Durability and Longevity

Thermoformed signs are built to withstand the test of time. Unlike some other signage materials that degrade quickly due to weather exposure, thermoformed signs remain intact for years. Their robust construction ensures that they won’t fade, warp, or crack easily. By choosing thermoformed signage, businesses reduce the need for frequent replacements, thereby minimizing waste.

2. Energy-Efficient Production

The thermoforming process consumes less energy compared to other sign manufacturing methods. It requires lower temperatures and shorter production cycles. Additionally, thermoformed signs can be produced in-house, reducing transportation-related energy costs. As a salesperson, I often emphasize this energy efficiency to environmentally conscious clients who appreciate sustainable practices.

3. Recyclability

Thermoformed signs are primarily made from recyclable plastics such as PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified). When a sign reaches the end of its life cycle, it can be recycled into new materials. This closed-loop approach minimizes waste and contributes to a circular economy. By investing in thermoformed signage, businesses actively participate in resource conservation.

4. Lightweight Design

The lightweight nature of thermoformed signs has multiple benefits. First, it reduces shipping weight, leading to lower transportation emissions. Second, installation becomes more straightforward, requiring fewer resources and labor hours. Whether it’s mounting a sign on a storefront or affixing it to a trade show booth, the lightweight design streamlines the process.

5. Versatility and Customization

Thermoformed signage allows for intricate designs, textures, and shapes. Businesses can create eye-catching signs that reflect their brand identity. Whether it’s a curved sign for a restaurant or a dimensional logo for an office lobby, thermoforming offers endless possibilities. By choosing customized thermoformed signs, businesses enhance their visual presence while minimizing waste from generic, short-lived alternatives.

Closing Thoughts

As a sign company account executive at Encompass Sign Systems, I take pride in recommending thermoformed signage to environmentally conscious clients. Its longevity, recyclability, and energy-efficient production make it a sustainable choice. When businesses invest in thermoformed signs, they not only enhance their brand visibility but also contribute to a greener future—one sign at a time.

Daniel LedoComment

A Gold Timex to Photopolymer ADA Signage!

Thanks for your service to industry for the last 25 years. Photopolymer signs have been the predominant choice of designers for tactile ADA signage for a quarter of a century. Thankfully, at the inception of ADA legislation in the late 80’s and early 90’s photopolymer signs provided a standard process and uniform look for ADA signage. 

Without photopolymer ADA signs, designers in the 90’s would have chosen sub-standard, ineffective and random sign designs for their building environments. 

Before Beanie Babies, the World Wide Web, and before anyone understood the importance of branding…. photopolymer signs made it easier to outfit a building with ADA signs.  Even after the Japanese tsunami forced core prices to double, photopolymer signs remained the only good choice for designers. Thankfully, new technology has finally evolved. 

Thermoformed ADA signs give designers the creative latitude and durability that designers need to meet their client’s branding needs, at an appealing price point.  It’s no surprise that according to Dodge Analytics, “Thermoformed ADA signs” saw an increase of 237% in Specifications in 2016. Thermoformed signs are now universally acknowledged in Specs as an “approved equal” to photopolymer signs and that’s a big win for ADA thermoforming manufacturers. Those who really know about the differences between photopolymer ADA signs and thermoformed ADA signs are knocking clients off their feet with new ideas never available until now.

Photopolymer signs are still plenty viable.  There are over 3,000 sign-makers that still maintain their relationship with the two surviving raw material photopolymer providers. Machinery needed to produce these signs still exists and is almost free to get started; it’s the raw photopolymer material price increases to watch out for...  While Father Time and new technology may have caught up to photopolymers signs, their contribution and service to the industry over the last 25 years certainly must be treasured!   

To learn how to use this new thermoforming ADA technology and provide your design team a new design tool belt, durability and scalable branding offering, follow this link http://www.encompasssign.com/gallery/ or simply contact us 855-672-2201

Adam Halverson, Chief Strategist : adamh@encompasssign.com

About Encompass Sign Systems

Encompass Sign Systems specializes in thermoformed tactile signs and leading-edge directional and wayfinding systems. We provide designers and architects with highly scalable wholesale signage that have limitless branding capabilities and unsurpassed durability.