What are Locker Tags?
Locker tags are a great way to keep track of your belongings while at the gym, school, or work. They can also be used as a key chain or identification tag. Locker tags can be customized with your name, logo, or any other design you choose. Something as simple as a locker tag can play an important role in keeping your organization’s premises safe and secure. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at identification tags and explain why they are such an essential part of any security plan.
Applications
Organizations of all sizes utilize lockers for their employees to provide personal storage space. Many workplaces don’t have an area to keep belongings during the workday, and in some cases, workers need to access items throughout the day. Marking these storage areas with locker tags provides a simple but effective identification solution.
Manufacturing Plants/Factories
Large-scale manufacturing plants are home to many workers during all hours of the day. Various shifts and hours can mean workers need a place to store belongings during their work.
Factories often implement lockers on site for employee usage. This gives workers a place to store clean clothes, any identification badges, or other personal items.
Healthcare Organizations
Hospitals and other healthcare organizations are one of the most prevalent users of lockers. These facilities host hundreds if not thousands of workers on a 24/7 schedule. Nurses and other staff are frequently rotating shifts.
Many hospital workers need access to a change of clothes or other personal items. In addition, hospital facilities often provide storage locker areas for patients.
Locker Tags
Organizations using lockers and storage areas for employees typically need to label them with metal numbered tags.
If workers are assigned specific lockers, numbered tags provide traceability in the event of theft or damage.
In some cases personalized tags are required for each locker. For example, professional sports teams will often directly mark a player’s name and number above their locker.
Durability
Unlike many identification tag applications, durability is typically less of a concern with locker tags. Lockers are usually not in a setting which is exposed to heavy wear or chemical exposure. Weather is also not a concern since the marker will be used indoors.
There are some cases where lockers are placed on the factory or warehouse floor. Regardless, these lockers will not face much wear. Since the tags will not face tough conditions, they can be produced with a wider range of materials and marking processes.
Materials
Anodized Aluminum
Anodized aluminum is a popular material for tags due to its lightweight but highly durable properties. The material is corrosion resistant, protecting it against spills or other weathering.
The anodization process can also add a solid color to the material. This provides the ability to color code lockers for various reasons.
Stainless Steel
Industrial applications often call for components to be of the highest durability. Lockers are not usually exposed to these conditions, so stainless steel is not necessarily required.
However, due to the nature of the material, stainless tags are considered permanent. Once the lockers are marked, they will not likely need their nameplates replaced.
Brass
Brass is a commonly used material for locker nameplates due to its unique appearance. The golden-tinted hue turns to a tarnish over time. This provides a vintage, rustic look.
The substrate is also highly durable, ready to easily withstand everyday wear and tear.
Marking Processes
Photo Anodization
Photo anodization is popular for industrial applications due to its high level of durability in addition to full customization.
Since the process can include any imaging, these tags can be produced with various fonts, number types, etc. In addition, a solid background color can be added to the metal material for branding or sorting purposes.
Designs can even include an organization’s logo or a barcode if necessary. With this process, the information can also be different on each tag. This is essential if marking unique names on the lockers.
This is only a small sample of the freedom photo anodizing provides. For example, a sports team might include a player’s number, name, and position on their locker.
Designs can even include an organization’s logo or a barcode if necessary. With this process, the information can also be different on each tag. This is essential if marking unique names on the lockers.
This is only a small sample of the freedom photo anodizing provides. For example, a sports team might include a player’s number, name, and position on their locker.
Etching
Etching uses a chemical process to create a slight indentation in a metal substrate.
After the impression is made in the material, color can be filled in to create a vibrant design in the nameplate.
While these tags are customizable and easy to read, they are not the most durable marking process. However, with applications such as locker tagging, durability is not much of a concern.
Assuming the nameplates aren’t exposed to harsh conditions, they will easily see many years of use.
Engraving
Another process that often gets brought up for marking locker tags is engraving. Engraving uses a special tool to cut directly into the metal material, leaving a deep impression.
This process is very slow and can be costly.
Engraving is really best suited for very small quantities. For example, if you need a handful of lockers marked, your best bet is a local trophy shop or engraver.
Mounting Options
Attaching tags to a locker is pretty straightforward. The nameplates are produced with either holes, or an adhesive backing.
Holes allow for one or multiple screws to firmly secure the plate to the locker. If a simpler installation is preferred, or drilling holes in the locker is not feasible, adhesive backing is used.
Industrial-grade adhesive provides an incredibly sturdy hold, meaning your tag is not going anywhere.
Get Custom Locker Tags
Locker tags are an effective method to mark and identify sets of storage lockers. With a range of marking processes and materials to select from, there are solutions for every locker marking application.
Whether you need custom locker nameplates with your logo, or just want to order some bulk blank tags as an afterthought, we at Metal Marker can help! If you’re not quite sure what type of metal tag will serve your needs best, contact us today and let our experience guide the way.
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