Engraved Metal Plaques for Buildings, Donors and Memorials

• Building opening and dedication plaques
• Donor and sponsor recognition walls
• Memorials and commemorative plates
• Law firms, practices and consultants with entrance name plates
• Schools, churches and community buildings
• Equipment and asset plates where text must last; see industrial asset and equipment labels

Plaques are about permanence and detail. For large visible names, consider letters rather than a plate.

• Engraved fill: cut text filled with black or colour paint for contrast.
• Engraved only: natural metal text with no fill for a subtle look.
• Plate size and edges: square, bevelled, rounded or shaped plates.
• Logos: engraved or combined with applied shapes.
• Mounting: screw-fixed, adhesive-fixed or on stand-off posts.
• Frame or stone mount: metal plates set into stone or timber.

• Brass: traditional, warm, polished or satin.
• Stainless steel: modern, resistant and easy to clean.
• Aluminium: lighter, economical, anodised or painted.
• Bronze or copper: special orders, subject to availability.
• Fill colour: black is most common; others on request.

For very fine detail, etched signs are an alternative.

Plaques are not self-lit. They are usually unlit or lit from outside.

• Spotlights or wall-washers on dedication plaques
• Entrance lighting that already covers the wall
• Interior downlights in lobbies
• No lighting for small door or desk plates

If lighting is wanted, electrical access is checked at survey. Gloss polished surfaces can reflect light as glare, so satin finishes are often easier to read.

• Etched signs suit fine, shallow detail and large logos; engraving gives deeper, sturdier lines for text.
• Brass letters are better when the name should stand off the wall and be seen from afar.
• Flat-cut letters suit larger building signs.
• Office door signs and desk nameplates are for interior identification and may use other materials.

• Text size: close-reading plaques can use small text; as a rough guide, many designers allow around 25 mm of letter height per 10 m of viewing distance for anything seen further away.
• Wording: check names, titles and dates carefully before approval; engraved errors cannot be undone.
• Surface: stone, brick, plaster and glass each need appropriate fixings.
• Glare: polished metals reflect; satin is easier to read in bright light.
• Security: concealed fixings can discourage removal.
• Approvals: memorial, municipal or building-owner approval may be needed; we check at survey and design.

• Plate size, thickness and metal
• Amount of text and logo detail
• Fill colour and finishing
• Shape and edge treatment
• Quantity, since sets of matching plaques are efficient
• Mounting method and installation access

Wipe with a soft damp cloth. Keep polishes away from engraved fill. Brass can be re-polished. Check screws and adhesive occasionally. We can refresh or replace plaques; see signage cleaning and maintenance.

Surveys and installation are by appointment from Rivonia. Plaques are requested by institutions, practices and developments in Sandton, Johannesburg, Parktown, Pretoria, Centurion and Germiston.