Advertorial
Keeping signs standing against the elements
A shopfront sign is often the first physical interaction between a business and its customers. Roly Ward, head of business development at MEDITE SMARTPLY, explains how you can produce signage that stands against the elements.
O
n the high street or along the seafront, signage communicates quality, sets
expectations and reflects brand values. Yet in the UK, outdoor signs face
some of the most challenging conditions imaginable: rain, humidity, UV exposure, and, in coastal towns, the constant assault of salt-laden air. These environments expose the
limitations of many traditional materials, forcing businesses to reinvest in replacement far sooner than they might expect. It’s typically taken as a standard guideline in the industry that expanded foam PVC may last three to seven years outdoors, while aluminium composite panels and stainless steel extend that life to seven to 15 years depending on specification, and acrylic offers between five to 10 years depending on application and care. These figures largely assume average
conditions – which, as everyone knows, is a risky assumption when it comes to UK weather – and don’t factor in coastal conditions where salt spray significantly accelerates material degradation. Generally, salt in the air breaks down protective layers, speeds up corrosion, and makes plastics more brittle over time.
Overcoming challenges If we look at aluminium, research shows that the protective oxide layer can be stripped away within weeks of exposure to salt-laden air, leading to rapid pitting and corrosion unless high-performance coatings are used. The result is that signs in seaside towns often fail to reach their expected service life without regular maintenance, forcing earlier replacement and higher long-term costs. By contrast, MEDITE TRICOYA
EXTREME (MTX), an acetylated wood-based panel, is engineered to overcome precisely these types of challenges. Backed by a 50-year
www.signupdate.co.uk
guarantee above ground, MTX redefines the performance benchmark for signage. Crucially, this durability is not diminished in challenging environments: whether installed on a shopfront in London, the seafront in Brighton, or at a visitor attraction in Northern Ireland, MTX retains its dimensional stability and structural integrity. That long-term reliability is why
companies such as LE Graphics, based in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, have made MTX a core part of their production. Working on heritage and visitor attraction projects for organisations including the National Trust, LE Graphics has used MTX for over a decade to create bevel-carved plaques, gilded lettering and wayfinding systems exposed to harsh weather. And the benefits speak for themselves.
David Donaldson MBE, managing director of LE Graphics, says that the team has ‘received excellent feedback from clients whose signs have retained their integrity and finish for years. That reliability has strengthened our reputation for producing signage that looks great and stands the test of time, even in exposed locations’.
Remaining solid Standard timbers expand and contract as they absorb moisture, leading to cracked coatings and premature paint failure. MTX, by contrast, resists swelling and movement, meaning paints and finishes stay intact for longer. Because MTX is
An installation by LE Graphics using MEDITE TRICOYA EXTREME (MTX)
dimensionally stable it has very minimal expansion and contraction, meaning coatings remain solid without cracks forming. Beyond its resilience, MTX offers a
premium finish and design flexibility. Like MDF, it provides a smooth, knot- free surface that is ideal for painting, routing, or intricate branding work. This combination of machinability and outdoor durability makes it well-suited to high-impact signage such as fascias, totems and decorative housings where aesthetics cannot be compromised.
• For more information on MEDITE TRICOYA EXTREME, visit
www.mdfosb.com
About MEDITE SMARTPLY
MEDITE SMARTPLY is part of Coillte, an innovative, FSC certified Irish forestry and forest products manufacturer. Based in Clonmel and Waterford, Ireland, MEDITE SMARTPLY produces a versatile range of Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) and Oriented Strand Board (OSB) building products.
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