Stainless Steel — Material Guide
Internal · Updated July 2026
What it is
Stainless steel signs are one of Signmax's most durable sign materials. They are designed for demanding industrial and outdoor environments where maximum durability is required. The material uses fiber laser engraving, where the laser creates a permanent high-contrast marking through a chemical reaction in the metal surface. This creates markings that do not fade, resist wear, resist corrosion, and handle extreme temperatures.
Note on terminology: the process is technically etching (fiber laser, chemical reaction in the surface) but is communicated to customers as "laser engraving".
What it is used for
Stainless steel is the material used for our Stainless Steel Signs and for stainless steel under Labels & Plates in the Design Page. Both products use the same material and the same fixing method options.
Printing on stainless steel is not a standard service. In some cases a simple printed background colour combined with laser engraving has been approved — but requests for custom RAL colours or complex printed designs are declined and aluminium is recommended instead. Without lamination, printed stainless steel will have lower outdoor durability than printed aluminium. Always check with production via the Special Routine before agreeing to any printed stainless steel request.
Material and specifications
| Material | Stainless acid-proof steel (316/1.4404), brushed finish |
| Thickness | 1 mm |
| Available in Design Page | Yes — as Stainless Steel Signs and under Labels & Plates |
| Production method | Laser engraving (fiber laser etching) — standard. Printing possible in limited cases but requires separate flow — see above. |
| Surface | Brushed finish |
| Use | Indoor and outdoor |
| Minimum size (Design Page) | 25 × 10 mm |
| Maximum size (Design Page) | 180 × 180 mm |
| Maximum size per engraving pass | 180 × 180 mm |
| Dimensional accuracy | ±0.1 mm |
| Engraving sides | One side only — if double-sided engraving is needed, recommend Aluminium (Anodized) instead |
| Outdoor lifespan | 7–10 years |
| Corrosion resistance | Yes |
| Chemical resistant | Yes |
| Temperature resistance | Up to +1,200°C (material specification value) |
| Bending | Possible — confirmed March 2026. See Special Routine — Bent Signs. |
| Lamination | None — stainless steel is not laminated |
| Origin | Italy |
| CO2e | 24.48 kg per m² |
| Technical sheet |
Engraving depth and accuracy — important note
Etching on stainless steel does not have a comparable fixed engraving depth — the process is a surface-level chemical reaction rather than a physical cut into the material. If a customer asks about engraving depth, the relevant value to give is dimensional accuracy: ±0.1 mm.
Note: dimensional accuracy and engraving depth are two separate values. Always confirm which one the customer is actually asking about before answering.
Size — important notes
- The laser engraves up to 180 × 180 mm in a single pass. For larger signs, text can often be split into separate engraving areas — confirm with production before quoting.
- For very small signs — avoid designs with frames or text placed too close to the edges, as these cannot be produced cleanly.
- For larger signs — avoid frames and large filled objects or images, as these cannot be reproduced well beyond the engraving pass limit.
- Corner radie and custom holes are possible on stainless steel (under label & plates).
Important material notes
- Stainless steel vs nickel-plated steel — nickel-plated steel is not the same as stainless steel. Confirm explicitly if a customer asks whether a material is stainless.
- Stainless steel vs chrome steel — customers sometimes ask for "chrome steel." We do not offer chrome steel — stainless steel is the correct recommendation in those cases.
- Engraving side — stainless steel can only be engraved on one side. If the customer needs double-sided engraving, recommend Aluminium (Anodized) instead.
- Bending — stainless steel can be bent. See Special Routine — Bent Signs.
Barcodes and QR codes
- QR codes work well on stainless steel.
- Barcodes can be difficult to scan depending on the customer's reader or scanner. Always recommend sending test signs for larger orders before confirming full production.
Fixing method options
The same fixing methods and size limits apply to both Stainless Steel Signs and Labels & Plates (stainless steel).
| Fixing method | Min (W × H mm) | Max (W × H mm) | Article |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | 25 × 10 mm | 180 × 180 mm | |
| Custom holes | 25 × 10 mm | 180 × 180 mm | |
| Screw | 25 × 10 mm | 180 × 180 mm | Screws — Fixing Method |
| Keyring | 25 × 10 mm | 180 × 180 mm | |
| S-hook | 25 × 10 mm | 180 × 180 mm | |
| Adhesive tape (foam pads) | 25 × 10 mm | 180 × 180 mm | Adhesive Tape — Fixing Method |
| Hanging | 28 × 15 mm | 180 × 180 mm | |
| Cable labelling | 25 × 10 mm | 80 × 20 mm | |
| Magnetic strip | 25 × 15 mm | 180 × 180 mm | |
| Ball chain | 25 × 10 mm | 180 × 180 mm |
Shape-specific exceptions — stainless steel
| Shape | Fixing method | Min (W × H mm) | Max (W × H mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arched top/bottom | None, Screw, Keyring, S-hook, Adhesive tape, Hanging, Magnetic strip, Ball chain | 28 × 49 mm | 28 × 49 mm |
| Rounded Corners, Oval, Stop, Arched top/bottom | Custom holes | Not available | |
| Oval, Stop, Arched top/bottom | Cable labelling | Not available | |
| Arched top/bottom | Ball chain | Not available | |
Custom options
Most stainless steel requests can be handled through the standard assortment. Custom requests fall outside the standard Design Page flow and require a minimum order value of SEK 5,000. Always confirm with production before quoting — never estimate prices for custom requests without checking first.
| Option | Notes |
|---|---|
| Custom sizes | Special Routine — Size |
| Custom shapes & cut out | Special Routine — Shape and Cut Out |
| Bent signs | Special Routine — Bent Signs |
| Printed stainless steel | Limited cases only — simple background colour combined with laser engraving. Complex designs or custom RAL colours declined. Confirm with production before quoting. |
Common use cases
- Industrial and machine labels — permanent markings that resist chemicals, heat, and physical wear in demanding production environments.
- Equipment and asset labels — long-term identification for machinery, vehicles, and industrial assets.
- Outdoor technical signage — suitable for exposed outdoor installations where other materials would degrade over time.
- High-temperature environments — the only Signmax material rated up to +1,200°C (material specification value), suitable for boilers, furnaces, and industrial equipment.
- Safety signs — permanent safety and regulatory signage for industrial facilities where durability and readability over many years are required.
- Name badges and jewellery tags — 1 mm stainless steel can be bent by hand and is used for dog tag-style badges and similar small items.
Sustainability
Stainless steel is sourced from Italy with a CO2e of 24.48 kg per m² — the highest footprint in the Signmax range due to the energy-intensive production of steel. The material is designed for very long-term use, which reduces how often it needs to be replaced and lowers total environmental impact over time.