Traffolyte is a trade name for multi-layered phenolic plastic sheet in contrasting colours, long used for engraving. It describes a material rather than a format, and it has been in the trade so long that most people now use the word generically.
What we supply is an imitation traffolyte: a durable multilayer plastic sheet that retains the same excellent properties in use. Same contrasting core, same behaviour under the engraver, same resistance to chemicals and heat, same legibility after years in service. It is suited to the same three jobs the original is — labels, signs and identification tags.
We call it traffolyte because that is what the trade calls it, and we say imitation because that is what it is.
How the engraving works
The sheet is built in layers, with a top layer in one colour over a core in another. The laser removes the top layer exactly where the lettering goes, and the core beneath shows through.
That is the whole trick, and it is why the result lasts. There is no ink sitting on the surface and no printed film to peel. The text is a physical feature of the material, so a glove, a solvent or ten years of weather cannot take it off. The contrast between the two layers is what makes the lettering read clearly from a distance, even in poor light.
What people have us make
The same material covers a wide range of jobs, which is why the word turns up in so many different trades.
Nameplates and door signs for offices, surgeries, schools and public buildings, where a name or a room number has to stay put and stay readable.
Switchboard and control panel labels for circuit identification, isolator labels and panel warnings. This is the use the material was originally developed for, and it is still the most common one.
Valve tags and plant labels in pump rooms, breweries, water treatment and food production, where the labelling is washed down and the text has to survive it.
Asset and equipment tags for plant registers, calibration records and maintenance rounds, where the tag needs to be readable at the end of the asset's life and not only at the start.
Caution, danger and fire labels where the wording is specific to your site. For standard regulated formats and colours, see our safety signs instead.
Keyrings and small identification tags for keys, lockers, tools and hire equipment.
Made to your own size and shape
Every label is cut to the dimensions you specify. There is no fixed list of sizes to choose from and nothing to compromise on: if the gap on the panel is an awkward shape, that is the shape you order.
The same applies to a set. Set the design once in the design tool, then change only the text on each label. A switchboard full of circuit descriptions, a valve schedule or a year of asset numbers arrives looking like one system rather than a collection. If the list is long, send it to our customer service team and we will prepare the order with you.
Fixing
Screw holes, self-adhesive backing, or both. Choose the option in the design tool before you order, based on where the label goes and whether it ever needs to come off again.
Specification
Material: plastic laminate (acrylic)
Production method: laser engraving
Thickness: 1.6 mm or 0.8 mm
Engraving depth: 0.08 mm
UV and weather resistant: yes
Temperature resistance: −40 to +80 °C
Outdoor lifespan: 10+ years
Colours: full palette in the design tool
Frequently asked questions
What are traffolyte labels?
Labels engraved from a multi-layered plastic sheet with a contrasting core. The engraver cuts through the top layer to reveal the colour beneath, so the lettering is part of the material rather than printed on it.
Is this genuine Traffolyte?
No, and we would rather say so. Traffolyte is a trade name. What we supply is an equivalent multilayer laminate with the same engraving behaviour and the same resistance to chemicals, heat and weather.
Do you sell traffolyte sheet?
No. We supply finished engraved labels cut to your size, not blank sheet material for engraving yourself.
What sizes can I order?
Any size and shape you specify. The examples above are starting points and can be changed completely.
Will the text wear off?
No. The lettering is engraved into the laminate, so there is no printed surface for handling, cleaning or weather to remove.
Can I use them outdoors?
Yes. The material is UV and weather resistant with an outdoor lifespan of 10+ years.
Can I have them self-adhesive?
Yes. Choose self-adhesive backing, screw holes, or both, in the design tool.
Can I order a numbered set?
Yes. Set the design once and change only the text or number on each label, so a full set arrives in one style.
