Surfaces on Aluminum Blog

Aluminum Trim and Nameplates 

Why do we love working with aluminum? 

Let me count the ways...  

I love to watch a blank sheet of aluminum come to life before my eyes as we decorate it.- S. VonRuden, Design
It can look like anything you want it to.  You can decorate it to look like a piece of art. - J. Webber, Design 
There are endless possibilities when it comes to decorating aluminum. The natural reflectiveness gives a unique look to each nameplate. - B. Humphrey, Process Engineering
I love the reflectivity of the metal when it is combined with tints of color and mechanical finishes. - R. Schultz, Design
Because it's bright and shiny and fun to play with.  And it's recyclable. - J. Hoerres, Art Department
It's real.  You can tell the difference between imitation and real metal. - D. Roberts, Automotive Trim Sales
It's versatile with a variety of options for decorating and forming including simulating stainless steel. - J. Sullivan, Appliance Trim Sales
I like the way light plays with the surface. - M. Larson, Design
It's versatile and flexible with endless possibilities for patterns.- L. Aspeslet, Gage Customer Service
I like the many different possibilities for decoration. - C. Jensen, Customer Service
I like the authentic look of the material when compared to plastic.- D. Kerska, Program Management  

Do you like working with aluminum?  Tell us why in the comments below.

Request a disc collection to begin exploring the variety of finishes available for panels, overlays and decorative trim.

Carbon Fiber Patterns on Aluminum Trim

Carbon fiber finishes on aluminum are considered by designers of everything from automobiles and televisions to golf clubs and exercise equipment.  Over the years, we have developed a large palette of interpretations of carbon fiber on to aluminum.  One trait every one of the carbon fiber finishes has in common is movement.  Carbon fiber veneers are beautiful surfaces with movement and depth.  Carbon fiber finishes printed on aluminum capture movement in several ways.  Three options for adding depth to a carbon fiber finish are explored here.

1. Selective Brushing: a resist or mask is used to apply a brush selectively
2. Engine Turn: small overlapping spins catch light and your attention
3. Printed Texture: tightly spaced lines create movement with highlights

Selective Brushing

The number of possibilities are endless when you begin to consider variations in structure and color available to you in the design of a carbon fiber finish.  Layering of transparent inks combines with selective brushing to create an interactive surface with movement.

Engine Turn

Layering a printed carbon fiber finish over an engine turn finish disguises the engine turn.  The result is a surface with movement that is not recognizable as an engine turn.  The flash of the small overlapping spins is added to the carbon fiber finish.

Printed Texture

Texture adds another layer of dimension to carbon fiber finishes.  It can be combined with selective brushing or engine turn or used only with printing.

The choices in carbon fiber finishes are many.  How would you incorporate one of these surfaces into trim or a nameplate.  Would movement and depth be an important component of the finish?

Request samples of carbon fiber finishes on aluminum to see the movement available in these surfaces on aluminum.

The Lampshade Pattern

Ask anyone in our Design department about the lampshade pattern and this is the finish they will point you to.  The finish is featured on the Colored Darks mood board in our trend presentation.  It is another example of creative inspiration coming from just about anywhere.  The theme of this board is to play with shadow and light.  The finishes rely on layering and rich shadowy darks.  The aluminum patterns are dramatic, mysterious and veiled. 

How does this finish have anything to do with a lampshade?  It does in two ways.  First and foremost is the overall translucent effect.  The pattern takes advantage of the reflective metal surface with a layering of transparent tints of color.  The near black finish shifts in appearance from translucent blue to shadowy black.  Think of how light glows softly through a lamp shade.  This finish mimics this quality taking on an appearance of almost being lit from behind.

The structure itself is also inspired from an actual lamp shade.  The lamp shade served as a seed of inspiration, a starting point to launch into exploration.  Here is is interpreted into a midnight blue finish.  What if were printed in translucent off white or bronze?  This finish then becomes the starting point for additional exploration.  What further exploration would you do with this finish?

Request a sample of this finish to begin exploring the possibilities available to you in incorporating aluminum patterns into decorative trim.

Custom Aluminum Finishes

A quick look through our library of finishes on aluminum and you'll recognize that inspiration comes from all around us.  The metal surface is a blank canvas.  Pure aluminum finishes are an option or you can push the envelope with unique custom finishes.  Layering processes and effects creates interactive surfaces.

Floral Embroidered Silk Inspiration

The inspiration for this finish came when one of our coworkers was sharing a beautiful embroidered silk purse that her daughter had bought her while on a trip to Asia.  The beauty and detail of the luxurious fabric caught our attention.  We knew immediately that this would be a great starting point for an aluminum finish.  We began development focusing on interpreting the finish on metal.  Our first efforts focused on creating movement, detail and shimmer in the metal finish.  This finish uses a combination of mechanical finishes including selective brushing and engine turning.  Printed halftones add depth.  Texture is used as an accent to add visual and tactile interest.  The surface is interactive with layers of processes and color adding to the interest of the finish. 

The same finish takes on an even more jewel-like appearance when a urethane dome is added to it.  The domed finish can be a small button or an accent strip.

Layering a transparent red tint on the finish changes the look completely.  The surface is still obviously metal.  Forming the finish emphasizes the natural highlights and shadows in the aluminum surface.   

In an interesting twist, this finish served as inspiration for a much larger version of the same finish.  This interpretation measures fifteen inches across.  Similar processes were used to create a large version of the floral design as elegant as the original embroidered silk.

What surfaces inspire you?  Do you have other examples of inspiration from a completely unrelated material translated into another substrate?

Request samples of these finishes to see the detail and movement in these aluminum finishes.

The Story Starts with the Finish was the title of our presentation at the IDSA Midwest District Conference this past weekend in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  The presentation was part of the IDSA Materials and Processes Section's efforts to share information on materials and processes used in product design.  The title was a tie in to the fact that everything Northern Engraving manufactures, from nameplates and badges to appliance and automotive trim, begins with the printing of the finish.  We will feature aspects of the presentation in an upcoming webinar and in articles on the Surfaces on Aluminum Blog.  This short video highlights the finishes featured in the portion of the presentation where we shared the story behind the development of aluminum finishes featured in our trend presentation.

The conference featured a great line up of presenters including:  Ziba Design; HP Design Director, Sam Lucente; Laga Brand Image VP, Mark Dziersk; Fiskars; Radio Flyer; Milwaukee Tool; Harley-Davidson; and Chuck Pelly, founder of Designworks.  Enthusiasm and energy were high as the event took place across multiple locations including: MIAD, the Eisner Museum and the Harley-Davidson Museum.  The Harley-Davidson closing event was fantastic as expected, complete with loud music and motorcycles.

IDSA has two more district conferences in the next two weeks: this Friday-Sunday in Denver, and next Friday-Sunday in Grand Rapids, MI.  Both conferences provide valuable opportunities for dialogue with fellow design colleagues. 

Coined aluminum finishes are popular in automotive trim design.  The authentic metal surfaces can also be integrated into trim for laptops, cell phones and cosmetic compacts. 

Our library of aluminum finishes includes many textured surfaces.  Typically the texture on aluminum finishes is printed on the metal creating visual and tactile relief.  Recently there has been increased interest from designers in creating textures in the surface of the metal using a mechanical process (tooling).  Coining presses texture into the surface of metal.

Nova Trim Finishes

Nova Trim combines standard decorative processes with coining creating interesting surfaces.  Brushed and bright aluminum adds movement while texture creates natural highlights and shadows in the metal.  Stainless steel mesh was the inspiration for both of these aluminum finishes.  Application to a small trim piece adds to the jewel-like quality of the trim.

Textured aluminum trim is a good fit for applications where customers will be interacting with the product through touch.  The steering wheel insert shown above is one example.  Laptop covers, cell phones, cameras and cosmetic compacts are other applications which come to mind.  Textured trim piece can be used to add to the consumer experience of a product.

What applications can you think of very textured aluminum trim?  What type of patterns would you like to see integrated into the texture? 

Request samples of Nova Trim finishes to begin exploring the options available to you in coined aluminum finishes.

Aluminum In-mold Trim

Aluminum trim integrates authentic brushed metal finishes, geometric structures, patinas, woodgrains and custom finishes into simple or complex shapes.  We are often asked how we do this.  Many assume that color and graphics are added after forming the metal.  This is not the case.  All of our decoration is done in the flat sheet.  This facilitates tight registration of graphics or accent beads to openings in the trim or an edge of the part.  Decorating flat sheets also allows alignment of a finish as it flows across mating parts.  Specific areas of a finish can be chosen, for example a particularly interesting area of a woodgrain, to maximize the impact of the finished part.  Each part will then be printed with the exact same area of woodgrain.

Aluminum Trim Manufacturing

Aluminum is decorated in the flat sheet.  The metal is formed after decorating.  If the trim component includes a plastic carrier it is crimped around the plastic or in-molded.

1) printed texture: (optional) high or low gloss, colored or clear
2) topcoat: protective layer which also determines gloss level of the finish
3) decoration: inks/colors applied via lithography, screen printing and roll coating
4) mechanical finishes: (optional) brush, engine turn, engine stripe, spin
5) aluminum:  mill finish or bright aluminum
6) plastic carrier: (optional) aluminum in-mold or crimped metal

A library of finishes serve as inspiration and a starting point for creating custom finishes on aluminum trim.  The surfaces can be customized in color, scale and process.  Or you might pull one off the shelf to be integrated into your trim.  The finishes can be applied overall or selectively.  Multiple finishes, for example a woodgrain and brushed aluminum, can be combined into a trim piece.  The result is a premium look without the cost of multiple components.  Graphics, functional or representing a brand or model, can be integrated into trim.  Embossing the graphics adds to the premium look and can be used to give the illusion of a separate badge attached to the trim. 

Aluminum Trim with Plastic Carrier

A plastic carrier adds rigidity to decorative trim and often includes attachment features.  Most automotive trim includes decorated aluminum attached to a plastic carrier.  The crimping process is used when an edge of the trim is visible in application (i.e. door rail, instrument panel).  The aluminum in-mold process is a robust process providing superior dent resistance.  Applications include center consoles and sill plates.  There are additional advantages and considerations in deciding which process is appropriate for a specific piece of trim or application.  Our engineering group is available early in programs making recommendations for improving part design and lowering costs.

Aluminum trim isn't limited to the automotive industry.  The appliance industry uses the both the crimped and aluminum in-mold process in ice and water dispensers.  You'll also find aluminum in consumer products and electronics.

What questions do you have about aluminum decoration?  Place them in the comments below and we'll try to answer them.  Request samples of trim components to begin exploring the options available to you.

In honor of St. Patrick's day and as a reminder that aluminum finishes are available in color, we're sharing this series of metal finishes in green.  Mechanical finishes, transparent tints of color and printed texture are used to create this group of  finishes.  A simple technical or geometric structure takes on a bold new look when printed in bright colors.  A low gloss finish on a tinted brush takes on the richness of anodized finish.  The options in structure are as varied as your options in color. 

A full palette of custom colors are available on aluminum trim.  Red, blue, white or green, in vivid brights or muted pastels, finishes are custom matched to meet your project needs.  While grey, gold, copper and bronze may be seen most often... think about the alternatives.  How would use a vivid color in product trim?  What product would be a good fit for this bold treatment? 

Piano Black Finish

Piano black, the smooth lustrous finish found on the finest of grand pianos, is a stylish option in decorative trim for luxury automobiles.  Northern Engraving uses traditional decorating processes to achieve the gloss black finish on aluminum.  Aluminum trim allows the premium finish to be incorporated into dash panels, switchplates and consoles creating a look of elegance.  

Why Aluminum?

One of the attractive qualities of aluminum trim is its versatility in finish options.  Finishes taking advantage of the real metal character of the material feature brushing and transparent tints of color.  Textures are printed adding further detail.  Other patterns reinvent the metal surface matching faux finishes or interpreting your vision.  Piano black is only one example from the library of aluminum finishes.  The main advantages of working with aluminum finishes are:

• Finishes can be customized to meet the design intent for your product
• Most finishes can be applied selectively to trim or nameplates
• Finishes can be applied in combination with other finishes
• Your trim can be cost-effectively updated with a new finish

What other applications do you see for a piano black finish?  Consumer products?  A nameplate? 

Request a sample of this piano black finish on aluminum to begin exploring the possibilities available to you in decorative trim design.

This aluminum finish from our trend presentation takes inspiration from shibori, the famous "shape resist dyed" cloth of Japan which is akin to tie-dyeing.  We focused on dark near black colors and layered offset lithography with selective gloss to create an aluminum pattern with depth and movement.  This finish is created on recycled aluminum and is one example of what can be done with this substrate. 

The large scale finish compliments larger aluminum trim pieces.  In addition, detailed areas can be selected for use in small inserts or appliqués.  Transparent inks and selective gloss work together to create an interactive finish that "flips" changing appearance depending your angle of view. 

There are many different knots and ties used to create different  shibori patterns on fabric.  The technique can be used to make striking and detailed images.  These images can then be interpreted with endless possibilities on to aluminum.  Using a resist or mask to protect areas of the aluminum while brushing a pattern into the metal is one option for creating a unique metal surface.  Layering offset lithography and brushing adds further depth.  Dramatically different effects can be achieved by altering the size of the image. 

I could see this finish printed in an earthy copper color or for a very different effect a vibrant red.  What color would you like to see this pattern in?  What application do you see for a surface like this?  Request a sample of this unique aluminum finish to see our interpretation of the traditional Japanese shibori design.