How are Zhanjiang traffic signs made? Let’s talk about the production methods you may not know about

Speaking of Zhanjiang, you may think of fresh seafood, blue coastline, or the warm climate with salty sea breeze. But today, let’s not talk about these. Let’s talk about something you see every day on the road, but you may never think about it – traffic signs. Don’t underestimate the blue patch on the road. The production behind a brand with white letters or red circles and a white background, especially in a city like Zhanjiang with a unique climate and complex traffic environment, is very particular. It is definitely a "handicraft" that combines material science, craft aesthetics and localized wisdom.

We have to start from the "root", which is the material. Zhanjiang is close to the sea, with high salt content and high humidity in the air. The sun is very hot in summer, and the typhoon and monsoon rain are also unambiguous. The first requirement for traffic signs is not to look good, but to build ! In the early years, many signs were made of ordinary aluminum or iron plates. In the high-salt and high-humidity environment of Zhanjiang, they became rusty and blurred within a few years, which was not only ugly but also affected safety. Now the mainstream use is High quality aluminum alloy plate , especially 3 series aluminum alloys (such as AA3003), why? Because it has good anti-rust properties, is light in texture, and strong enough, it is easy to process, and the thickness is also particular. Generally, small signs use 1.5mm-2.0mm, while large support structures or signboards must be thickened to 3.0mm or even thicker to withstand the occasional "violent" typhoons at the beach.

After the materials have been selected, the next step is the "face project"”—— Reflective film , this is the soul of the sign. Whether you can see it clearly at night depends on it. Zhanjiang's urban roads, national highways, highways, and rural roads have great differences in lighting conditions. It is not random to choose which kind of reflective film to use. For example, in places with good lighting in urban areas, you may use Engineering grade (Category III)  or High-strength level (Category IV)  Reflective film is enough and cost-effective, but for those national highways, highways, or key intersections without street lights, you have to hire a "big brother"”—— Diamond level (Category V) or super level (Category VII)  Microprism reflective film, this kind of film has extremely high reflective efficiency. When the car lights are illuminated, it is clearly visible hundreds of meters away. It is basically used on key road sections such as the approach bridge of Zhanjiang Bay Bridge and Shugang Avenue to ensure that drivers can see the instructions clearly in advance on rainy nights and sea fog. Apply the film This job sounds simple, but in fact it is a delicate job. The environment must be clean and dust-free, and the temperature and humidity must be controlled. Workers must use professional tools to scrape the film flat and smooth. There must be no bubbles or impurities, otherwise it will be a defective product and affect the service life and effect.

After talking about face, let’s talk about “bone profile””—— Master plate processing and printing , the aluminum plate is not directly pasted with film. It must be processed first. The normal operation is Degreasing, cleaning, pickling (or alkali cleaning) , remove surface oil stains and oxide layers, some demanding requirements will also be carried out Chromating or phosphating , forming a protective film that allows the board to be more firmly combined with subsequent coatings and films. This is like priming the skin. Only with a good foundation can makeup last longer. These pre-treatment production lines are standard equipment for some large-scale local manufacturers in Zhanjiang.

Printing or engraving pattern text is now basically computer design and CNC operation, but there are also "careful thoughts" of Zhanjiang localization. When pointing to place names such as "Donghai Island", "Huguangyan" and "Jinshawan" that are familiar to locals and frequented by tourists, how can the font size and arrow pointing layout be clearer and more intuitive while complying with national standards? This requires designers to have an in-depth understanding of Zhanjiang's road network. After the pattern is cut, it is time to apply film or spray paint , for parts that do not require reflection, or some background colors of specific colors (such as some brown tourist signs), high-quality outdoor special paint will be used for spraying. The environmental control of the spray paint room is also very strict to ensure that the paint surface is uniform, firmly adhered, and has strong weather resistance.

Next is Forming and assembly Simple square and round signs are easy to talk about, but when it comes to complex special-shaped signs, combination signs, or signs with three-dimensional curvature, you need to use bending machines, arc curling machines and other equipment for processing. The assembly is a labor-intensive and technical job, especially those large cantilevered and gantry-type traffic signs. For the connection of rods, beams, and signboards, the tightening strength of each bolt has requirements. It must be firm, but it must not be over-tightened to damage the components. In Zhanjiang, wind load must be particularly considered during assembly, and the anti-loosening measures for the connecting parts (such as adding spring washers and applying thread locking glue) must not be sloppy at all.

Do you think this is the end? Not yet! Quality inspection It is the last and most important step before leaving the factory. This is not just a casual look. Regular size check and appearance inspection (whether there are scratches, bubbles, dirt) are the basis. What’s more important is Photometric performance testing and Weathering resistance assessment , will use a professional photometer to measure the retroreflection coefficient of the reflective film to ensure that it meets the national standard (GB/T 18833). Although it is impossible to put every brand in the scorching sun and sea breeze of Zhanjiang for several years, it can be passed Salt spray test chamber To simulate a high-salt environment, use UV aging box Long-term exposure to the sun is simulated to accelerate the evaluation of its corrosion resistance and anti-aging properties. Only signs that pass these "torture" tests are eligible to be shipped out and erected in the streets of Zhanjiang.

I have to mention Installation and maintenance , It is useless if the production is good, but the installation is not in place. In some places in Zhanjiang, the soil is soft, or the underground pipelines are complex. The pouring of the foundation, the burial depth of the poles, and the angle adjustment must be strictly in accordance with the construction specifications. Regular inspections and maintenance after installation are also critical. Timely cleaning of areas blocked by branches and Signs that are polluted by small advertisements or damaged by accident can ensure that they continue to function effectively. Some responsible local manufacturers often provide one-stop services from design and production to installation and maintenance, because they know best where the "test points" of the local environment are for their products.

You see, a seemingly ordinary traffic sign in Zhanjiang, from an aluminum plate to standing on the roadside, has gone through a series of close "tempering" such as material selection, design, cutting, processing, lamination, printing, molding, assembly, inspection, installation, and maintenance. It is not only a cold indicator tool, but also a fusion of material technology, manufacturing technology and a deep understanding of the local environment of Zhanjiang. The next time you drive through an intersection in Zhanjiang, you may be able to appreciate the "ingenuity" and "consideration" behind the signs that shine brightly in the sun and provide clear guidance in the night. This road, because of these carefully crafted "silent guides", makes each of us' travel a little more smooth and secure.