One of the most visible communications of your brand is your business sign. This is precisely why you need the right material that will end up serving as the base of your message.
Foam PVC or Foamex is a versatile substrate which works incredibly well for indoor and outdoor signage. Hence, in this instalment of talking about signages, we are going to be diving deep into the world of foam PVC as a Foamex printing company and help you decide whether your needs fit the modern signage and if Foamex should be your go-to for your next project.
So if you’re looking to invest in new signs for your business or are here for a better understanding of printer substrates then you need to read on our guide regarding Foamex Printing.
So let’s begin with the basics first:
- What is Foamex?
Also known as solid foam PVC or foamed PVC – Foamex is the chosen brand-name for solid construction of rigid plastic. Some of the popular brands that are used by Foamex printing company are, Forex, Foamalite, Formalux etc. Taking the example of Correx, Foamex as a brand just got incredibly lucky when the product name became a generic term to refer to the product.
It should be noted, however, that Foamex should not be confused with Foam-x (which is a soft-centred board) – contrary to what the name says, Foamex is not foam like at all- in fact, it is a durable, hard and smooth substrate.
Foamex is a high-quality material that is easy to cut, bend, drill, glue and then finally print on. Foamex Board is a really popular option when it comes to the printing of Business signs, display panels, exhibitions, banners and other outdoor as well as indoor materials. You can easily see you why Foamex printing is a favourite with graphic designers.
PVC foam board is a much cheaper alternative for things like aluminium composite or Dibond and one of the best things about it is that it can be easily cut into thinner gauges as per custom dimensions and will still manage to look good and crisp after several years. Foamex is also a great alternative to plyboard, due to its weather-resistant coating and also the relative ease with which it can be mounted in place.
A lot of graphic designers today are now preferring Foamex printing over other substrates, as it is very effective to print attractive graphics onto it. The fact is that Foamex is lightweight and it’s much more economical when it comes to costs.
- Characteristics of Foamex:
- Thickness: Foamex is available in a variety of thicknesses, which you can use depending upon your signage needs. The most popular fitness for Foamex printing is either 3mm Foamex or 5mm Foamex. This is because these options can be easily cut to custom shapes and sizes. For example, these sizes are sometimes used to create 3D block lettering for signs.
Foamex is also available in much thicker options like 10mm or 19mm Foamex, but it is much harder to cut a board add this thickness. Apart from that, the board is heavy when it comes to lifting and fixing it. A 19mm Foamex panel is a two-person job when it comes to lifting. If you want to cut or rout a thick Foamex like 19mm you would have to use a laser.
3mm Foamex and 5mm Foamex are fairly thin, but don’t let that fool you – they are dense and durable.
- Printing: If your project is the kind that requires a smooth, colourful sign, then Foamex boards might be the perfect solution for you. It is available in a wide range of colours, which include white, black, red, yellow, green and blue. – basically coloured sheets that work well when vinyl lettering is applied to them.
Apart from this, this material works exceptionally well when it comes to digital printing. Foamex printing allows intricate designs to be easily printed onto the Foamex board. In cases, where printed self-adhesive vinyl is mounted on to a board, as opposed to direct flatbed printing, the corners can be wrapped, so that the design can appear seamless and bleed off the surface in that fashion.
- Weight: The greatest advantage of Foamex is actually its lightweight. This allows for an easy installation process by using basic screws, hooks, Velcro or other adhesives.
However, a point to be noted is that just because Foamex is lightweight it does not mean that it is fragile. In fact, one of the main reasons to choose Foamex is because it has outstanding durability. This also brings us to the next topic
- Lifespan: The lifespan of a Foamex Board is roughly 5 years plus, wherein indoor signs tend to last longer of course than the outdoor ones. Foamex has a smooth exterior with a weather-resistant coating, which makes it appropriate for both outdoor and indoor use. However, since it is made of plastic, Foamex eventually begins to warp or bend with the heat. Some low-density boards like 3mm Foamex or 5mm Foamex can become brittle over time if placed in extreme weather conditions which might make them shatter. It is best to ask for the mid-density foam to be on the safer side, especially if it is going to be used for outdoor signage.
Thus for all the above reasons, you can choose Foamex for your signage. In fact, you can explore your options even further by consulting a Foamex Printing Company such as us! Whatever your call might be, Foamex is always a good bet.