Alu-Dibond signs in comparison

The Alu-Dibond signs are used indoors and outdoors as door signs , advertising signs, company signs and even as gallery pictures. These are becoming more and more popular because Alu-Dibond® has many advantages. Let's get acquainted with this material in more detail.

What is Alu-Dibond®?

The predecessors of Alu-Dibond® are composite panels that used to be called Alucobond and were used in architecture. Then this material was patented as Dibond® brand, owned by 3A Composites GmbH from Singen, and is now world famous. The composite panels are also called aluminum sandwich panels and consist of 3 layers. The outer layers are made of 0.3 mm thick aluminium, the middle layer - of a polyethylene core thermally bonded to aluminum.

Such a combination of aluminum and polyethylene makes Dibond® panels much lighter and cheaper than aluminum panels, stiff and extremely durable. From the outset, Alu-Dibond® was specially designed for the production of advertising signs, so the composite panels are excellently suited for outdoor use . They are very robust, UV and weather resistant, fireproof and easy to handle.

Types of Alu-Dibond®

The types of Alu-Dibond® differ in surface, color and thickness.

A common surface of Alu-Dibond® is smooth and white, you can also find colored finishes. However, the aluminum layer can be specially processed – brushed (or brushed). This version is called Butlerfinish® and is characterized by a metal look that is particularly elegant and of high quality. The brushed surface of these plates is often found in silver and gold, there are also versions in other colors, such as copper, stainless steel, rose gold, anthracite. Butlerfinish® has all the properties of Alu-Dibond®.

As far as thickness is concerned, the smooth aluminum composite panels can be from 2 mm to 6 mm thick, Alu-Dibond® Butlerfinish® is usually 3 mm thick.

How can Alu-Dibond® be printed?

Thanks to its properties, Alu-Dibond® is often used for the production of large-format printed signs, for example in trade fair construction or as shop signs, advertising signs. Since the Alu-Dibond® print is low in reflection and reflection , it presents high-quality photos, art prints and graphics with a particularly elegant and effective look.

Regardless of the printing method used to print on the Alu-Dibond® panels, the smooth Alu-Dibond® panels can be printed on both sides and the Butlerfinish® panels can only be printed on one side .

In digital direct printing, your motif is printed directly onto the plate using UV printing. This creates a slightly matt print image; the white areas are not printed, the metallic surface remains visible. Alu-Dibond® signs look particularly impressive on the Butlerfinish® panel.

The processes of fine art printing and laminating are more suitable for the smooth Alu-Dibond® panels. Both processes are not recommended for printing Butlerfinish® panels as they will lose the brushed metal effect of the surface.

With fine art printing , the photo is first printed on high-quality photo paper. The printed paper is then laminated in a matte or gloss finish. Finally, the laminated image is mounted on the board. This is how the Alu-Dibond® signs are stylish, scratch-resistant, with a brilliant and elegant look.

With the lamination printing method, the photo is printed on the film, often self-adhesive, and then mounted on the plate. The motif can be printed entirely or contour-cut. The quality of such Alu-Dibond® signs is similar to the signs on photo paper. However, it should be noted that the board must be free of dirt, grease and dust before lamination.

Some manufacturers of Alu-Dibond® signs also offer varnishing . The signs are painted over, then sanded with wet sandpaper and finally the sanding dust is removed.

Regardless of the surface, the Alu-Dibond® panels can be screen printed.

Types of fastening for Alu-Dibond signs

There are various ways of attaching the Alu-Dibond® sign to the wall.

Wall spacers are very popular. The spacers are made of brass and finished in silver, gold or chrome. The set includes 4 pieces and a complete assembly set. In order to attach the Alu-Dibond® sign to the wall, it should be drilled in the corners. If you don't want to drill your sign, you can mount it with a clamping system , with aluminum rails, mirror plate or hooks or with an adhesive.

Like the wall spacers, clamps are visible from the front. The clamps are suitable for signs with a thickness of 3 mm to 10 mm. For the aluminum rails, mirror plate or hook , you have to drill the wall, set screws and then simply hang up the sign.

Since Alu-Dibond® is extra light, the sign can be mounted as a self-adhesive . Due to the low weight, only a little adhesive is used for the sign attachment. This makes it fairly easy to dismantle the sign later if needed.