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Premax’s
plain aluminum products are made of 99% pure aluminum.
Aluminum is the most abundant metallic element in the earth’s
crust (symbol AL, atomic number = 13). Aluminum is extremely
reactive: when exposed to air aluminum rapidly becomes covered
with a tough, transparent layer of aluminum oxide that resists
further corrosion. Items made of aluminum do not tarnish or
rust. A given volume of aluminum weighs less that one-third
as much as the same volume of steel. Aluminum has a high strength-to-weight
ratio. Aluminum becomes stronger and retains its toughness
as
it gets colder. Aluminum is highly resistant to corrosion in
salt water, hence its widespread use in boat hulls. World production
of aluminum is approximately 20 million metric tons per year.
Melting point is 660 degrees Centigrade (1,220 degrees F).
Aluminum
Oxide (Alumina Al2O3), the layer which coats aluminum
when it is exposed to air, is tougher than aluminum itself,
and it has a higher melting point (2,000 degrees C; 3,632 degrees
F). The precious gems ruby and sapphire are merely crystalline
aluminum oxide.
Premax’s aluminum products are tough, lightweight, and
highly resistant to the ravages of the weather. As such, they
will last outdoors indefinitely, they are economical to ship,
and they are environmentally friendly. Waste aluminum is recycled
into new products. |
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Premax’s
painted products have a pure aluminum base, hence they begin
with all of the good features and benefits of any product
made
of aluminum.
The base paint on our Crimp-Closed™ tag is a polyester
alkyd enamel which is applied by our vendor in clean room conditions.
There are no imperfections, and the adhesion is perfect, affording
the longest life of this paint.
After embossing our tags, Premax paints the black top plane
of each character to provide reading contrast. The paint which
we use for this purpose is a proprietary mixture, the result
of months of research and development with our paint vendor.
This oven baked enamel has over 45% solids, and it contains
both a UVA (Ultra-Violet Absorber) and a HALS (Hindered Amine
Light Stabilizer). This painted surface will never chip, craze,
or crack, and it will not fade or chalk for a period of seven
to ten years. |
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Vinyl
is a plastic, and all plastics are organic polymeric materials.
This means simply that all plastics are made of linked carbon
molecules. The majority of plastics in use today are synthetic,
manmade materials. They are engineered to have certain properties
in order to serve particular functions.
Often a problem arises in the use of a given plastic for the
wrong purpose. Another problem which often occurs in the use
of plastics is based on the simple fact that few of us are experts
in telling one plastic from another. Thus, it is easy for an
unscrupulous or ignorant manufacturer to offer a product which
looks good but is totally unsuitable for the purpose intended.
When a given plastic is specified for outdoor use, that plastic
has to be engineered for that specific purpose because ultraviolet
rays (UV) break apart the very cross-linked chains of carbon
molecules which make up plastic.
Premax manufactures its labels and decals in light of the purpose
they are to serve. If a label is to serve the longest life
possible
in an outdoor environment, then the vinyl used is a high cost
calendered vinyl with specific additives to inhibit UV degradation.
If a tag is meant to serve only six months as an inventory
tag, then economical paper cardstock will do.
Reflective
vinyl sheeting was pioneered by the 3M
company here
in Minnesota. Their Scotchlite™ line of reflective sheetings
are the world’s benchmark when it comes to quality and
longevity. Premax is proud to manufacture its Nightview™
line of markers exclusively from 3M Scotchlite™ materials.
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Both
the polished aluminum and the polished brass characters are
presented in the Roman typeface, an aesthetically pleasing
serif type font of classic heritage. Both are carefully manufactured
and packaged to preserve their incomparable luster.
Unlike the cast brass characters sold at many hardware and
Do-It-Yourself outlets, Premax’s polished brass characters
have a clear coat finish so that tarnish is prevented.
Premax’s polished aluminum and polished brass characters
are provided in sealed plastic bags. These bags protect the
polished finish of our products. Neatly sealed off at the bottom
of the bag are just the right number of pins/nails for you
to
attach the character. |
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A
nail is a nail is a nail. Not so. Premax offers nails which
have been specifically designed to attach our pole markers and
pole tags. These nails are made of steel so that they do not
bend when they meet a CCA treated pole. These nails have a brabed
shank so that they do not back out as the pole dries. These
nails are electro-galvanized so that they do not rust. And,
finally, these nails have a round head so that the combination
of marker and nail head present a look pleasing to the eye.
Economizing on nail cost is not a good move. Plain steel nails
will soon rust, and their heads will fall off, and your tag
or marker is on the ground. |
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What
is the Difference Between a Stamped Tag and an Embossed Tag? |
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| When aluminum (or any other substance) is embossed it is squished between two dies, a male and a female, so that
the characters, be they letters or numbers end up being raised
toward the reader of the tag. The embossed tag looks clean
and sharp, with each character having a uniform look.
When aluminum is stamped, the characters are merely mashed
or cut into the aluminum with a male die only. The stamped
tag is somewhat harder to read, and the characters are not
as uniform.
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