Metal Front Panels
Built for Abusive Environments
MPC’s custom metal front panels and back panels are the ideal choice for outside and heavy-duty applications that require exceptional durability. Our metal front panels meet many Department of Defense and aerospace specifications, as well as other industry standards for agriculture, construction, food service, manufacturing, marine, military, transportation, utilities/energy, and more.
Our metal front panels attach to equipment fronts, providing graphical labeling, protecting underlying electronic components, and providing a rigid mounting for switches, gauges and other control devices.
Why Choose MPC's Metal Front Panels?
- A versatile selection of substrates that provide resistance to weather, UV, extreme temperatures, chemicals, abrasion, corrosion, dents and scratches with little maintenance required. Ensures that your panel is readable for the life of the part.
- Your design specifications dictate our fabrication process, including forming and bending; incorporating mounting studs, adhesive or mechanical fasteners; creating countersink and counterbore holes; and digitally or screen-printing graphic elements.
- Designed to provide the necessary rigidity and support for flexible membrane switches and overlays.
- MPC’s advanced fabrication capabilities allow us to reduce your lead time and costly tooling charges.
Metal Front Panel, Control Panel and Back Panel Choices
Our most durable and popular material for front panels, providing extreme durability in virtually any environment.
- High-resolution graphics are sealed beneath an impenetrable sapphire-hard anodic layer, with superior resistance to chemicals, abrasion and solvents
- Built to withstand exterior exposure in harsh environments such as extreme cold, heat and UV. Expected exterior life of 20+ years. Colors options have limited UV resistance.
- Available in one- or two-piece front panel constructions.
- Most cost-effective for small to medium volumes.
An ideal choice for use in the aircraft/aeronautical, automotive, marine and military industries, with an anodized surface with built-in protective finish.
- More durable than regular aluminum, with excellent abrasion and corrosion resistance, high resistance to chemicals and solvents, and moderate outdoor durability.
- Most economical in higher-volume applications.
- Graphics are screen printed and sealed beneath the anodic layer. Black graphics possess the greatest durability, with expected exterior life up to 10 years. Color options have limited UV resistance.
- Available in one- or two-piece front panel constructions.
A lightweight yet strong material that is easily formed, aluminum is a popular choice for front panels because of its machinability and versatility.
- Frequently used in such applications as aircraft, marine, military and transportation.
- Moderate outdoor durability and heat resistance. A protective coating increases abrasion resistance. Expected exterior life is up to 10 years.
- Less expensive than many other metal front panel materials.
- Available in one- or two-piece panel constructions. Graphics may be printed on the surface or chemically etched.
A dense metal with exceptional resistance to chemicals, corrosion, and high temperatures; ideal for use in marine, heavy industrial and food processing applications.
- Frequently used for front panels in highly caustic and acidic environments that would otherwise attack aluminum.
- Offers low maintenance, and dent and scratch resistance.
- A relatively inexpensive material when lifetime cost is examined. Expected exterior life of up to 20 years.
- Available in one- or two-piece front panel constructions. Graphics may be printed on the surface or chemically etched.
A lightweight yet strong material that is easily formed, aluminum is a popular choice for supportive back panels because of its machinability and versatility.
- Almost exclusively used to provide rigidity and support to many types of control and instrument panels that have a thinner metal or plastic overlay. Back panels are most commonly bare aluminum.
- Moderate outdoor durability and heat resistance. Expected exterior life of up to 10 years.
- Additional corrosion and abrasion resistance may be obtained with a formulated paint, alodining or anodizing treatment.
- Less expensive than many other metals for back panels.
A low-weight metal with high strength, durability, and corrosion resistance.
- A good choice for back panels because it is easily fabricated to form any desired shape.
- Remains dimensionally stable even after many years in extreme environmental conditions. Expected exterior life is up to 20 years.
- Additional corrosion and abrasion resistance may be obtained with special paints.
No minimum quantity. Get a quote for any size job.
No minimum quantity. Get a quote for any size job.
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