When it comes to ADA-compliant signage, durability is not optional – it’s essential. From tactile signage like raised characters to Braille dots, ADA signage must withstand frequent touch, cleaning, and long-term environmental exposure. That’s why choosing the right ink and primer is critical to ensuring long-lasting performance.
At Boston Industrial Solutions, we provide complete ink and primer solutions engineered specifically for industrial printing applications including ADA signage.
Why Adhesion Promoters Matter for ADA Signage
ADA signage is most commonly produced on acrylic substrates, though aluminum is also widely used in architectural and commercial environments. Because these surfaces are non-porous and frequently handled, UV ink alone is not enough to guarantee proper bonding. Without the correct primer, the ink can chip, peel, or fail over time.
Using the correct adhesion promoter ensures:
- Superior ink bonding to the substrate
- Increased resistance to abrasion and cleaning chemicals
- Long-term durability
- Compliance with performance expectations for public signage
Printing on Acrylic: Use M74F Adhesion Promoter
Acrylic is the most common material used for ADA-compliant Braille signage due to its clarity, versatility, and professional finish. However, acrylic requires a specialized primer to ensure proper ink adhesion.
For acrylic substrates, Boston Industrial Solutions recommends the M74F Adhesion Promoter.
The M74F is specifically formulated to enhance bonding between UV inks and acrylic surfaces. When producing ADA signage, this primer is essential for ensuring Braille dots and raised characters remain intact and legible over time especially in high-traffic environments where signage is touched repeatedly.
Printing on Aluminum: Use MD3 Adhesion Promoter
Aluminum is another popular material for ADA signage, particularly in commercial and institutional applications where a metallic finish is desired.
For metal substrates such as aluminum, we recommend the MD3 Adhesion Promoter.
MD3 is engineered to promote excellent adhesion of UV inks to metal surfaces. It provides the strong bonding required to maintain durability under frequent handling and cleaning.
Recommended UV Inks
Pairing the correct adhesion promoter with the appropriate UV ink is equally important for optimal performance.
For Epson i1600 and i3200 printheads:
Use the 512N Series UV Ink. This UV LED ink delivers excellent adhesion (when used with the appropriate primer), high opacity, and outstanding durability for ADA signage applications.
For Ricoh Gen 5 and Gen 6 printheads:
Use the 270 Series UV Ink. This ink provides superior bonding and durability on both acrylic and aluminum substrates. For acrylic substrates, pair with M74F. For aluminium and ACP materials, pair with MD3.
Ensuring Durability
If you are printing Braille and tactile signage, don’t leave adhesion to chance. Use a complete, engineered system from Boston Industrial Solutions to ensure your signage stands the test of time.
To learn more about our primers and UV ink solutions for ADA signage, contact the team at Boston Industrial Solutions today at +1 (781) 281-2558 or email info@bostonindustrialsolutions.com.
