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A DFC Company

The Airmark blog

Guides to decals, labels and vehicle graphics

Straight answers on materials, standards and specifications — written from the production floor in Artesia, California, for fleets, manufacturers and facilities across Los Angeles County, Orange County and beyond.

  • Decals & Labels · 2
  • Vehicle Graphics · 2
  • Materials · 1
  • Emergency Vehicles · 1
  • Compliance · 1
  • Graphic Overlays · 1
  • Signs & Floor Graphics · 2
Stacked rolls of white service labels, each carrying a barcode, a unique alphanumeric asset code and bilingual service instructions

Decals & Labels

Industrial Labels for Harsh Environments: Materials and Adhesives That Last

A label that falls off or fades is worse than no label at all. Here is how to choose the face stock, adhesive and protection for labels that have to survive a factory floor, a wash-down or years outdoors.

· 4 min read

More guides

White service van with a die-cut Arctic Cooling Systems snowflake logo, web address, phone number and contractor licence number

Decals & Labels

Decal vs. Label: What’s the Difference, and Which One Do You Need?

They look alike on a spec sheet, but a decal and a label are built for different jobs. Here is how to tell them apart, and how to choose, from a manufacturer that makes both in Artesia, California.

· 4 min read

Side view of a second Veg Fresh Farms box truck carrying matching produce graphics

Vehicle Graphics

Reflective Vehicle Graphics: What Fleets in LA County Should Know

Reflective graphics make a vehicle visible in headlights long before a driver would otherwise see it. Here is how they work, which grade to specify, and where the rules come in.

· 4 min read

Refrigerated trailer wrapped with a full-length illustration of tomatoes, peppers and vegetables against a mountain landscape

Vehicle Graphics

How Long Do Fleet Graphics Last in Southern California?

Year-round sun is hard on vinyl. Here is how long fleet graphics really last in Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire, what wears them out, and the habits that add years.

· 4 min read

Ford Transit van wrapped in a magenta and purple gradient with the First Choice wordmark and a QR code

Materials

Cast vs. Calendered Vinyl: How to Choose the Right Film

The biggest single decision in any vinyl graphic is the film. Here is how cast and calendered vinyl are made, how each behaves on a vehicle or a wall, and when each one is the right call.

· 4 min read

Gold Coast Ambulance Ford Transit EMS unit 606 in an apparatus bay, carrying reflective blue and gold striping, an agency seal and large unit numbering

Emergency Vehicles

NFPA 1901 Chevrons Explained: Rear Reflective Striping for Fire Apparatus

Rear chevrons are the most recognizable safety marking on a fire apparatus. Here is what NFPA 1901 asks for, how side striping works, and how to specify chevron panels that fit your doors and compartments.

· 4 min read

Overview of what UL 969 evaluates: a complete marking and labeling system — label material, adhesive and printing on a specific surface — tested for legibility and adhesion after exposure to conditions such as heat, humidity, water and oil.

Compliance

UL 969 Labels: What OEMs in Southern California Need to Know

Rating plates and warning labels on certified products are part of the certification. Here is what UL 969 evaluates, why the label is tested as a system, and how to specify labels that keep your listing intact.

· 4 min read

Front view of a custom graphic overlay on a control panel, pointing out the printed graphics, the clear display window, LED windows, embossed key areas and the adhesive-backed border.

Graphic Overlays

Lexan vs. Mylar: Choosing a Film for Graphic Overlays

Every graphic overlay starts with a clear film printed on the back. Here is how polycarbonate and polyester compare, and how to choose for panels that get pressed, wiped and cleaned every day.

· 4 min read

Dimensional acrylic Smurfit Westrock logo and lettering mounted on a white office wall above a wooden desk

Signs & Floor Graphics

Commercial Signs in Los Angeles County: Materials, Permits and Planning

From monument and pylon signs to lobby letters and wayfinding, here is how to plan commercial signage that lasts in Southern California sun and gets through your city’s permit process.

· 4 min read

Large Smurfit Westrock logo and wordmark decal applied to a polished concrete warehouse floor

Signs & Floor Graphics

Floor Decals for Warehouses and Retail: Slip Resistance, Life and Installation

Floor graphics brand a space, direct traffic and mark safe routes. Here is how they are built to be walked on, how long they last, and the preparation that decides whether they stay down.

· 4 min read

Have a question these guides do not answer?

Tell us the surface, the environment and the service life you need. Our team will recommend the construction and quote the job.

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