Custom Industrial Safety Labels
UL authorized. OSHA compliant.
Custom industrial safety labels produced from your approved wording and symbols, in constructions rated for the environment they hang in. U.S. Nameplate Co. is a UL approved label supplier working from an ISO 9001:2015 certified facility.
About custom safety labels
A customized safety label lets you display important operating and safety information directly on a machine or piece of equipment — from weights and capacities to hazard alerts and equipment specifications. It gives operators instruction and safety information at all times of operation, lowering the risk of misused equipment and keeping safety concerns visible.
We have been helping customers promote and enforce safety since 1946. In practice that means we ask a lot of questions before quoting, because the answers change the construction more than the artwork does.
-
Warning and hazard labels at the point of operation
-
Workplace compliance labels answering to a regulation or specification
-
Operating instruction and procedure labels
-
Weight, capacity, and specification notices
-
Lockout, service, and maintenance access labels
-
Inspection and certification labels
-
Branding and model identification alongside the safety content
Specifying a safety label
In order to provide the best design, we need to understand how the label will be used. These are the questions we will ask, and having the answers ready shortens the quote considerably.
-
Will the labels be subjected to harsh weather conditions?
-
Do they need to be visible from long distances?
-
Will they be affixed to moveable parts?
-
Do you need text only, or text and symbols?
-
Who is the intended audience, and what languages do they read?
-
What surface do they mount to, and what is its finish?
-
How long must they stay legible — one season, or the life of the machine?
The more detail we have, the more customization we can provide, and the less likely it is that the label comes back as a warranty problem in three years.
Safety label materials and finishes
Labels can be custom-made from polycarbonate, polyester, or vinyl at any size, with unlimited PMS, standard, or custom colors.
Polycarbonate — .005″–.125″
Clear gloss, clear gloss scratch resistant, clear matte scratch resistant, velvet gloss, velvet matte, velvet UV resistant, suede, and brushed. High temperature resistance, mar resistant, sub-surface printable, and easy to emboss, thermoform, and die cut.
Polyester — .002″–.010″
White gloss, yellow gloss, clear matte, bright silver chrome, matte silver chrome, brushed silver chrome, writable matte chrome, and bright gold. UL recognized, with 2–5 year expected exterior life.
Vinyl — .002″–.030″
3M Controltac™ in clear, white, or sunflower yellow; 3M Scotchcal™ in white, black, red, or white reflective; white matte, black gloss and matte, silver satin aluminum, yellow satin, fluorescent yellow, and clear static cling.
MetalWhere a label must outlast any flexible substrate, the same content can be produced as an etched or Metalphoto® plate. See
metal nameplates.
Processes and fabrication
Design options include screen or digital printing, thermal transfer, laminating, embossing, and die or digital cutting.
Screen printingDense, opaque ink with strong abrasion and solvent resistance. On clear materials the printing is sub-surface, protecting it from abrasion and chemicals. See
screen printing.
Digital printingNear-photographic quality, unlimited colors, and variable data. See
digital printing.
Thermal transferRoll-to-roll printing with pigment or metallic resins, for labels applied by equipment. See
roll labels.
Overlaminate and UV clearcoatA protective film or coat over the printed face to resist abrasion and prevent fading. See
laminating.
Cutting and finishingSheared, trimmed, die cut, or digitally cut to custom shapes. See
die and digital cutting.
Labels can be produced as UL listed products, with 2–5 year outdoor exposure typical for flexible constructions and considerably longer where a metal substrate is used.
Decal or metal plate
This is the decision that most affects total cost, and it is usually made on the wrong basis — the price of the first order rather than the number of times it will be replaced.
A flexible label is right
For interior service, moderate outdoor exposure, curved or irregular surfaces, high volumes, and anything where the content is likely to be revised.
A metal plate is right
Where the information must survive the life of the machine, the environment is severe, or an unreadable label takes equipment out of service.
A protected flexible label bridges the gap
Polyester with an overlaminate and a correctly matched adhesive costs a little more than plain vinyl and lasts several times longer.
Formats and delivery
-
Individual pieces, for low volume or large format
-
Rolls wound to your applicator
-
Strips, or kiss-cut on a carrier sheet so labels peel in sequence
-
Consolidated as a
label set under one part number
-
Bundled with plates and panels as a
kit
-
Held and released against your build schedule under
stock and release programs
How a safety label order runs
- 1
Tell us about the equipment and the audience. Our seasoned art department turns your artwork into a press-ready proof at no charge, and quotes are free on every order.
- 2
We recommend the construction. Substrate, finish, overlaminate, and adhesive, chosen against the mounting surface and the exposure.
- 3
You approve the proof. Wording, symbols, color, and size signed off before printing.
- 4
Production. Most jobs finish 7–10 days after the proof is approved, in an ISO 9001:2015 certified facility. Rush work runs 3–5 business days for an additional fee.
- 5
Delivery or release. Orders ship within a 10% over/under quantity standard, or run against a stocking program.
Safety label RFQ checklist
-
The wording and any symbols, or a sample of the current label
-
Finished size, and whether a custom shape is needed
-
Any standard or customer specification that applies
-
What the label mounts to, including the surface finish
-
The exposure — weather, wash-down, solvents, abrasion, temperature
-
Whether you need rolls, strips, individual pieces, or a set
-
Quantity and your timing, including the date the line actually needs parts
If you do not have all of that yet, send what you have and call 319-895-8804. Customer service is open 8:00 AM–4:30 PM CST Monday through Thursday and 7:00 AM–3:30 PM CST Friday, and you will always reach someone in person.
Since 1946
Family-owned and operated in Mount Vernon, Iowa
3,000+
OEMs supplied across the U.S. and abroad
25 years
Outdoor exposure, some products guaranteed longer
7–10 days
Typical production after proof approval
$0
Tooling fee on in-house equipment
Why U.S. Nameplate Co.
Why OEMs source custom safety labels from U.S. Nameplate Co.
One partner, one roof
Metal identification and flexible labels are produced under one roof in Mount Vernon, Iowa, so a single supplier covers plates, tags, overlays, decals, and safety labels instead of three.
No tooling fee on in-house equipment
U.S. Nameplate Co. does not charge a tooling fee for any in-house equipment. A one-time charge applies only when a tool has to be created for your order.
You reach a person
Customer service representatives are available 8:00 AM–4:30 PM CST Monday through Thursday and 7:00 AM–3:30 PM CST Friday. You will always reach someone in person.
Built to outlast the equipment
Metal nameplates are built to withstand up to 25 years of outdoor exposure, with some products guaranteed for 25 years or more. Safety labels are UL authorized and OSHA compliant, produced in an ISO 9001:2015 certified facility.
Family-owned since 1946
Supplier of choice to more than 3,000 original equipment manufacturers in the U.S. and abroad, with team members averaging 10+ years of service.
One piece or one million
The 55,000 sq ft climate-controlled facility is equipped to handle orders from a single plate to production volumes, on repeat release schedules.
Request a quote for custom safety labels
We offer free quotes on all custom safety labels orders. Send the drawing, artwork, quantities, application, and timing you have today — our art department turns a blueprint into a press-ready proof, and we will tell you what is still open.
Most jobs finish 7–10 days after the proof is approved. Rush orders can be produced in 3–5 business days for an additional fee. Orders ship within a 10% over/under quantity standard.
Request a Quote or call 319-895-8804 and you will reach someone in person.
