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Having already looked at Foamex and Correx (see 5th December and December 11th December blog posts respectively), it’s now time to move on to the hardier, more long-term-solution member of the direct to board family – namely, aluminium composite board.

Aluminium composite board is also known as Dibond, Dilite, Dibond Digital, Raybond and Raynobond, and consists of an aluminium faced board with a polyethylene core. Despite the fact that it is very rigid and robust, it is extremely lightweight and has a flat surface and consistent thickness.

As with Foamex and Correx , we use 8 colour UV inks on our aluminium composite board displays, which ensures that the graphics and logos printed on the surface of the board look striking and clear, whilst also being durable, fade resistant and waterproof.

Because the aluminium composite board itself is weather resistant and won’t rust or crack, it is ideal for creating long-term – even permanent – outdoor signage. It comes in thicknesses of 2, 3 or 4mm, and can be easily drilled or riveted, and fixed to posts or walls. In addition, aluminium composite board can be printed on one or both sides, so it is ideal for uses such as traffic signs, corporate signage, construction hoardings, real estate signage and other long-term displays.

Of course, aluminium composite board can also be used for indoor displays – though alternatives such as Foamex or Correx may be more economical for this, depending on your individual needs.

If you would like further guidance on any of our direct to board materials with respect to your specific requirements, please feel free to get in touch with us by dropping an email to info@exantia.co.uk, or by calling us on 020 8507 1612.

Variously known as Correx or Corex Fluted Display Board, Huntsman Fluted Display Board or Estate Agents Board, this material is great for indoor use or short-term outdoor use.

Like Foamex, we use UV curing inkjet printing to print onto our Correx boards. Correx is made from polypropylene plastic, so it provides a finish that is high quality and clear, and in addition it can be printed on both sides if required. The printed inks are resilient against UV fading and Correx is also weather-resistant, so the board maintains its appearance even with prolonged exposure to the elements.

Because Correx isn’t as rigid as other direct to board materials such as Foamex (see 5th December post) or Dibond/Aluminium Composite Board, it isn’t quite as hardy; however, this does mean that it is an inexpensive and extremely lightweight option, making it perfect for temporary signage such as that used for indoor point of purchase displays. Such credentials – combined with its high resistance to moisture and the fact that it is easy to wipe clean – also make it a firm favourite with estate agents for uses such as spiked ‘for sale’ signs (hence its ‘Estate Agents Board’ alias).

Correx is available in thicknesses of 4mm and 6mm, and can be riveted, glued, Velcro backed, nailed, attached with suction cups and even stapled with ease. Plus, because it is so light, it can be hung with minimal effort, so it is a great low-cost solution for event signage or exhibition displays, and even road signs.

One final, all-important bonus for Correx Fluted Display Board is that it is fully recyclable, so its environmental impact is minimal.

It’s time to get technical! Over the coming months the Exantia blog will be bringing you the lowdown on the various materials we use to create our range of direct to board displays, in order to give you a better idea of what to use and when.

But first, a note on printing…

We thought it would also be useful to explain a little about the printing method we use for direct to board. It is known as UV curing inkjet printing, and allows for printing large, borderless panels using 8 colour UV inks printing at resolutions of 1270 x 800 dpi. The resulting print is weather resistant, vivid and highly durable – plus, the method doesn’t use harsh solvents like some other printing methods, so we earn some environmental brownie points too!

Foamex

Foamex, or foam PVC, has a fine cell structure and a flat surface. When coupled with the UV inks we use, this makes for a display board whose printed images are clear, crisp and vibrant.

Foamex also has a consistent thickness, and is available in thicknesses of 3mm, 5mm or 10mm . It is extremely easy to work with in terms of bending, gluing, drilling, nailing etc., and the finished board can be framed, although Foamex is rigid enough to be mounted on walls without framing if preferred. In addition, it won’t crumble away, which means that it doesn’t leave a trail of debris or lose its high-quality appearance.

The durability of Foamex makes it ideal for long-term indoor use, and it can also be used outdoors on a short-term basis (though if you are looking for a more long-term outdoor solution, you are better off with an Aluminium Composite Board, which will be covered in a future blog post).

All this combined with Foamex’s smooth, matt finish means that it is perfect for creating exhibition or advertising signage such as event graphics, point of purchase displays, trade show graphics or retail signage.