FAQ

February 8, 2010

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FAQ

How to place orders with AGE Nameplate

OEMs can place orders directly with experienced customer service representatives at AGE Nameplate by calling 1-866-819-8212. Normal business hours are from 7am to 5pm Pacific Time. Orders may also be faxed to 1-562-483-7305.

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How to transfer graphic files to AGE Nameplate

Send your graphic and spec files the secure, easy way: Simply load them into our FTP utility. Our process engineers will receive an alert message telling them your instructions have arrived, and your order will immediately be scheduled for production.

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How are orders priced?

The complexity of your graphic design, along with the substrate materials that best capture the image your company wishes to create, will determine the overall cost. AGE Nameplate uses multiple graphic processes with “best in class” materials from world renowned suppliers. The detail capabilities of digital graphics combined with the color blending capabilities of screen printing produces beautiful results.

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What is the turn-around-time for laser die cutting?

Along with state-of-the-art roll-cutting, AGE Nameplate offers the quickness and accuracy of laser die cutting. Great for small volume orders or OEM prototypes where quick turn-around is critical to the development or production of your product – we’ll have your order ready in as little as two (2) working days.

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What is the turn-around-time for multi-step screen print small format?

AGE Nameplate has the process technology to produce graphic overlays with complex designs, fine lines and curves, all with brilliant color. AGE does this by combining both digital and silk screen print processes. At AGE Nameplate, we start by calling on our digital presses to effortlessly apply multiple colors, lines, and shapes in just one pass. Then we transfer rolls or sheets to the screen printers to apply as many layers as needed to create the ultimate graphic image. Backing materials, adhesives, and die-cutting complete the job. We offer most of our products in just 10 working days!

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What is the largest format AGE can produce?

AGE Nameplate produces Graphic Overlays, Labels, and Nameplates in any size using any combination of state-of-the-art digital and traditional silk screen print processes.

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What is the difference between CMYK and Pantone?

CMYK is the standard for digital print 4-color process. With 256 variations (0~255) of each of 4 colors, the result is nearly 4.3 Billion color combinations. The differences between most combinations are so subtle that they are rarely detectable by the human eye. Pantone^® has created 1,114 solid colors for easy use in 4 color digital processes.

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Can all Pantone colors be matched?

Precise color matching usually starts with a specimen provided by the OEM. We color match the specimen to our digital printing equipment using spectrographic tools. Then we take the time to visually examine and determine the best corresponding CMYK (4 color) process. Differences in material substrates (plastic, paper, metal, etc) have different light characteristics that affect the visual result. As a final step, AGE Nameplate produces a press-proof for our customers to approve before moving into final production.

The Pantone^® Matching System (PMS^®) is a reference tool for selecting, specifying, matching and controlling ink colors. The Pantone^® formula guide, consisting of 1,114 solid PANTONE Colors on coated, uncoated and matte stock, shows corresponding printing ink formulas for each color.

The digitally-created PANTONE Process Color System® chips and guides provide a comprehensive palette of more than 3,000 colors achievable in four-color (CMYK) process printing. The PANTONE solid to process guide compares a solid PANTONE Color to the closest possible match in CMYK four-color process that can be achieved on a computer monitor, output device or printing press.

More information on Pantone^® can be found at www.pantone.com.

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What are the advantages of digital print?

Produce brilliantly detailed graphic images with digital process technology. The digital press has the ability to reproduce fine details by regulating the amount of ink applied to the substrate material. Six-color (6-color) digital presses like those at AGE Nameplate, allow two additional colors to be blended with the standard CMYK. This greatly increases the potential for custom colors. Fine lines and curves with intense color transitions produce graphic overlays with eye-catching results.

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What are the advantages of silk screen printing?

Silk screen printing provides durability, opacity, and color-blending flexibility that are unrivaled by any other process. First, UV-curable and solvent-based silk screen inks are deposited onto the substrate thicker than digital inks. These inks are then bonded to the substrate producing a finished product that lasts for many years, even in harsh environments and climates. At AGE Nameplate, we finish our digital products with a silk screen printing process, adding opacity to otherwise translucent graphic overlays and enhancing the color brilliance of the fine digital graphics.

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How can I change my graphic requirements to utilize 100% digital?

Screen printing adds opacity to your custom overlay – a feature that cannot be produced digitally. In addition, screen print technology offers the ability to create custom blended colors not found in the CMYK spectrum. Six-color (6-color) digital presses like those at AGE Nameplate, allow two additional colors to be blended with the standard CMYK. This greatly increases the potential for custom colors.

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Are there limitations to digital print?

Color blending and opacity are typically the only limitations to digital print technology. That’s why AGE Nameplate combines digital printing with screen print process. The result is fine graphic details with brilliant color backing and opacity to hide the controls, switches, and housing materials behind the graphic overlay.

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What is In-mold decorating?

In-mold decorating (IMD) is a multi-step process. AGE Nameplate begins with a flexible printed substrate which is then vacuum-formed. The semi-completed product is incorporated into an injection molding process to produce a rigid or semi-rigid final product.

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What is the role of conductive inks in membrane switches?

Special high-quality inks that contain metallic compounds, such as carbon or silver, are applied to either rigid or flexible substrates using a silk-screen process. These inks carry electrical signals from the actuation point to a wiring harness, and eventually to an application processor in the main PCB of the OEM product.

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What is the life expectancy of conductive inks?

At AGE, we use high-quality conductive inks to ensure low resistance, typically 30~50ohms per circuit (switch) depending upon customer requirements. AGE performs on-going life tests and maintains empirical data – All polyester membrane switches are tested to exceed 1,000,000 (one million) actuation cycles per circuit.

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How do membrane-switches work?

Membrane switches are comprised of several layers of processed materials. AGE Nameplate uses both digital and screen print processes to produce brilliant graphic overlays utilizing simple or complex designs provided by the OEM. Embossed domes enable buttons to function mechanically as actuation points. Beneath the graphic layer is the circuit layer: Special high-quality inks that contain metallic compounds, such as carbon or silver, are applied to either rigid or flexible substrates using a silk-screen process. These inks carry electrical signals from the actuation point to a wiring harness, and eventually to an application processor in the main PCB of the OEM product.

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Advantages: Membrane switches versus mechanical switches?

Quite simply, mechanical switches wear out sooner than membrane switches. In medical, food-service, and many factory automation applications, membrane switches are specified to meet bacterial requirements. Seamless graphic overlays cover and protect membrane switches, making them much easier to keep clean and bacteria-free than mechanical switches.

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How many actuation’s can a membrane-switch withstand?

At AGE, we use high-quality conductive inks to ensure low resistance, typically 30~50ohms per circuit (switch) depending upon customer requirements. AGE performs on-going life tests and maintains empirical data – All polyester membrane switches are tested to exceed 1,000,000 (one million) actuation cycles.

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Polyester Vs. Polycarbonate Substrates: What’s the difference?

Polyester substrates have been tested to achieve greater than 1 Million actuations per circuit. From a cost standpoint, polyester is slightly more than polycarbonate. Polycarbonate meets the life-expectancy of many applications while producing greater color brilliance.

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What is roll-to-roll feed?

AGE Nameplate uses a system of roll-fed equipment to produce large-volume orders with exceptional quality and consistency. From complex graphic overlays to pressure-sensitive or adhesive labels, roll-fed equipment gets the job done on time.

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Why does AGE Nameplate use both roll-to-roll and sheet feed?

AGE Nameplate offers flexibility to its OEM customers. Our best customers turn to us for prototype runs that require a quick turn-around. Product development and proof-of-concept rely on the sheet-fed equipment that AGE is committed to keeping as part of its overall customer support program. When OEMs gear up for large production runs, they can count on AGE Nameplate to be ready with roll-to-roll processing from beginning to end.

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