Have you ever thought “I really wish I knew more about sheet plastic and all its attributes”? Well, you’ve come to the right place! We’re spilling our top 7 secrets about sheet plastic.
1) Multiple Material Finishes Available
Can’t decide on the right finish? Luckily LaFrance has you covered. You can choose from gloss, matte, or brushed base material options to help decide which one best complements your overall product design. Our gloss material offers a shiny and smooth finish while our matte material is more subtle with a velvety feel. Sometimes metal branding isn’t compatible with end products due to the inner-workings of the electronics. Utilize our brushed sheet plastic material to simulate the metal look without compromising your product’s performance.
2) Depth Is Possible
The word “sheet” in the product line name doesn’t exactly evoke the image of dimension, does it? Not to worry, our sheet plastic can achieve the illusion of depth when we add high resolution graphics to the back of the part via rear-printing. Create even more dimension by adding our clear doming material onto the top surface. Not only does it add dimension, but it also helps magnify the finer details of your part and can even help achieve an embedded appearance.
3) It’s More Durable Than You Think
You might not realize it, but even something as low profile as sheet plastic can be durable. It all depends on how you process it. By printing on the rear, all graphics and patterns are protected and are able to withstand some pretty tough environments. Not all industries are created equal. Depending on your requirements, top surface printing might be just fine. Fortunately for you, LaFrance has teams of industry experts to recommend the right process to meet your durability needs.
4) Tactility Without Major Surface Level Changes
Product branding isn’t just about how it looks; how it feels is just as important. Awaken all the senses by adding puff ink to the top surface of your part design. When applied selectively, puff ink is somewhat invisible but very tactile. The fact that you can feel something that you can’t quite see is a pretty cool trick, isn’t it?
5) Metallic Accents are Possible
As addressed in item #1 on this list, we know plastic isn’t metal. However, you can still use metallic finishes on sheet plastic to achieve a metal aesthetic. Using a proprietary process, we are able to add metallic accents to our sheet plastic to convey richness within your part design. When designed correctly, our metallic accents on sheet plastic can almost be mistaken for actual metal - it looks that good!
6) Seamless, Low Profile Material
Seamless aesthetics are all the rage these days. When design trends call for “subtly” and “elegance”, our sheet plastic rises to the occasion. Oftentimes people think “I need a seamless look, so I’ll just print our brand name.” Don't settle for the assumption that printing is the best seamless solution. Available in varying thicknesses, we can meet your seamless branding needs with sheet plastic without sacrificing top-quality aesthetics. Your brand name is important, don’t risk hurting consumers’ perceptions of your brand with printing when alternatives are available.
7) Cost-Effective
Sheet plastic is a cost-effective option that fits nicely into anyone’s budget. With different tooling required, lead time is a bit quicker than a standard molded plastic part as well. Commonly seen in the eyewear, sporting goods, and cosmetics industries, sheet plastic is the perfect solution to convey sleek aesthetics with your brand’s logos and trim pieces.
Struggling to find a branding solution that works for you? Maybe sheet plastic is the answer. Or maybe it’s one of our other product line offerings. Regardless, we are here to help. For samples, or to speak with one of our industry experts, please complete our form. We look forward to working with you!
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