One of our biggest selling products, the CE and serial nameplates (also referred to as Data Plates) we produce can be made in Anodically printed Aluminium from 0.3mm up to 2mm thick. We can also provide them in stainless steel.

These plates are extremely durable with scratch resistant print and they comply with the requirements of the Machinery Directive and can be customised to your company's requirements.

Nameplates (Etched)

These plates are available in 304 & 316 Grade Stainless Steel or Brass from 0.5mm to 3mm thick. They can be chemically engraved and infilled with the colours you require or left without infill to give a contrast where the use of infill is not possible due to extreme conditions.

Nameplates (Anodically Printed)

It is a requirement that the 'CE' mark, under the machinery directive 1995 that the mark be "permanently and indellably marked " on a machine manufactured or supplied within the European Union. This requirement is completed with when an anodically printed nameplate is used as in the plate shown below.

The process of anodic printing is also known as subsurface printing. This is achieved by opening the pores in a sheet of aluminium, immersed in an electrolyte. The open pore aluminium is then printed with a copper dye, which is absorbed into the aluminium sheet. The product is then sealed in boiling water.

The Nett Effect is the print is impervious to steam cleaning, and is not affected by any petrolium products. This process is used also for chassis plates for vehicles and has been harnessed to produce fine quality architectural sinage using the "Anocolour" digital equipment for the ultimate full colour outdoor architectural market.

Anodised Aluminium Nameplates are on of Alpha's most popular products!

UKCA Marking

As you may be aware, UKCA marking came into effect on 1 January 2021. However, to allow businesses time to adjust to the new requirements, you will still be able to use the CE marking until 1 January 2022 in most cases.

If you placed goods on the UK market (or in an EU or EEA state) before 1 January 2021, you do not need to do anything for these individual goods.

EEA states include any country in the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

They can continue to circulate on either market until they reach their end user and do not need to comply with the changes that took effect from 1 January 2021. This guidance explains what you need to do for any goods you are placing on the GB market after 1 January 2021.

Goods that are lawfully CE marked will be accepted in the UK until 1 January 2022 for certain products. You must be ready to use the UKCA marking from 1 January 2022 at the latest, although you should look to use the UKCA marking as soon as possible.

If you’re a Northern Ireland business, you can place qualifying Northern Ireland goods on the GB market with an EU conformity assessment marking, such as the CE marking.

The table below illustrates the accepted markings on each relevant market.

The CE marking is only valid in Great Britain for areas where GB and EU rules remain the same. If the EU changes its rules and you CE mark your product on the basis of those new rules you will not be able to use the CE marking to sell in Great Britain, even before 31 December 2021.

In terms of how this affects the serial plates you purchase from Alpha, in most cases it will be a case of adding the UKCA mark to the existing artwork.

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact our Sales Team