Custom Industrial Control Panels
A control panel is the fabricated, printed face of a machine’s control system, the surface that labels and organizes the switches, indicators, displays, and connections an operator uses to run the equipment. NPI – Nameplates Inc. manufactures custom control panels in Metalphoto® anodized aluminum, metal, and plastic, printed with durable legends and graphics and fabricated to your exact layout.
A well-made panel does two jobs at once: it makes equipment easier and safer to operate, and it carries the branding and identification that make a machine look finished. Whether you need one prototype panel or a full production run, we match the material, printing process, and fabrication to how and where the panel will be used.
What Goes Into a Custom Control Panel?
A custom control panel brings the graphics, legends, and fabrication of a finished panel together on a single durable surface. The printed layer identifies each control, port, and indicator, while the fabrication adds the cutouts, holes, and shaping needed for switches, displays, and hardware to mount cleanly. The result is one professional assembly built to your drawing.
Control Panel Materials
The right material depends on the environment the panel will live in and the look you want. We manufacture control panels in three core materials, plus dedicated instrument panels.
Metalphoto® Anodized Aluminum Panels
Metalphoto® panels are the most durable option, with a high-resolution image sealed beneath the anodized aluminum surface. As a certified Metalphoto® converter, NPI produces panels that resist heat, abrasion, corrosion, and chemicals for decades without fading or chipping, which makes them a strong choice for demanding industrial and outdoor equipment.
Metal Panels
Metal panels in aluminum or stainless steel offer strength and a premium finish, and they can be printed on the front, or on both the front and back when the design calls for it. They stand up well to heat, wear, and repeated handling.
Plastic Panels
Plastic panels in polycarbonate or polyester are lightweight, flexible, and cost-effective, typically printed on the front and available in a range of textures and finishes. They suit indoor equipment and applications where weight and cost matter.
Plastic Panels
Plastic panels in polycarbonate or polyester are lightweight, flexible, and cost-effective, typically printed on the front and available in a range of textures and finishes. They suit indoor equipment and applications where weight and cost matter.
Instrument Panels
Instrument panels organize gauges, readouts, and controls into a single clear, legible face. We fabricate them to the same durability and precision standards as the rest of our panel line.
Fabrication, Printing & Finishing
Every panel starts with the printing method that fits the material and the run. We screen print, digitally print, chemically etch, and laser mark, and we recommend the process that gives you the durability and detail your panel needs.
From there, we fabricate the panel to your specification with standard or custom punch holes and shapes, sized to accommodate the gauges, dials, knobs, and switches typical to controlling your equipment. We finish with laminates or specialty adhesives where the application calls for them. The goal is a panel that arrives ready to install and holds up in the field.
