Recommended sign panels: Alumalite, Econolite and D-Lite

Laminators Inc. has UL approval for Alumalite, Econolite and D-Lite panels as an electrical enclosure to house active
electronics. This means that separate, self-contained letters can use our plastic (CPA) core panels to contain the ballast and/or solid state electronics. This is an advantage when llarge letters require the lightweight rigidity offered by our CPA core panels, but must be mounted without a raceway or with a great deal of spacing between letters. Each sign can be fed 120V AC power by traditional means and all electrical components can be housed inside the letter or cabinet. Use it as you would plate, but with much less weight and the added strength of Laminators’ CPA core panels.

In addition to the sign enclosures themselves, many sign manufacturers use Laminators CPA core panels to make up raceways between sign letters. Because our panels are aluminum, there will be no bleeding rust on the building surface (see photo inset above). Buildings with stucco are very hard to clean when steel raceways start to rust in the weather.

Channel Letterbacks
Alumalite increases production capability while reducing labor costs and accidental damage during handling Alumalite can be used as a structural backer in place of wood core letter back products or as a routed face, without changes to your UL procedural manual.

Ten times stronger than .060 aluminum sheet
Alumalite offers significantly more rigidity for larger letters or sign faces. It is twice as strong as 0.125 aluminum with only one-quarter the weight.

Minimize costly damage to channel letters
Alumalite letters are more rigid than letters fabricated with aluminum sheet and becomes the structural foundation of the letter. Alumalite’s strength reduces racking and twisting
of letters during handling and installation, decreasing the risk of broken lamps and neon.

Save on labor costs
Alumalite replaces expensive welding labor with lower cost stapling and can be routed up to three times faster than heavy gauge (.080 - 0.125) aluminum sheets. Alumalite’s highly reflective painted face eliminates the need to paint the letter after assembly. Alumalite is easy to cut with CNC routers and saws and, since you can staple the letter edges quickly, no welding is necessary.

Routed faces
Alumalite makes it easy to install acrylic behind a routed letter. Rout out the back of the Alumalite around the letter (about 1/4”), taking away the aluminum back plate and the intervening honeycomb. This creates a “shelf” behind the letter which the acrylic will sit in allowing the remaining aluminum to be flush against the acrylic letter. (See routing and bending Alumalite in the product section, page 25.)

Push-through letters
The thicker acrylic inserts protrude beyond the opaque face to create a halo effect around illuminated copy. Alumalite helps reduce the overall weight of the sign box, comes pre-painted, saving labor and material costs, and the unique design of the corrugated core lends itself perfectly to this application. Alumalite is ideal for use with push-through letters. It is easy to handle and almost 10 times stronger than .060 aluminum, providing significantly more rigidity for larger letters or sign faces.