Aluminum vs Plastic Price Tag Molding

As the old saying goes, “the devil is in the details.” When outfitting a retail store, you may not think that customers notice something as small as price tag molding – but they do. Investing in quality fixtures not only creates an upscale ambiance, but it saves money over time.

Today we’ll talk all about aluminum vs. plastic price tag molding, the pros and cons of each, and which one is right for your business.

What is Price Tag Molding?

Price tag moldings are strips that attach to shelves and hold price tags and product information, usually on an insertable label. Price tag molding is commonly seen in retail stores and warehouses but can also be used in homes to organize garages, laundry rooms, pantries and crafting closets.

Price tag molds are available in straight and curved styles.

How Do Price Tag Moldings Work?

Price tag moldings are designed to mount as edge trim on the front of shelves. You secure them to shelves with screws through holes in the front of the molding.

Whereas aluminum price tag moldings are screwed into the edge of a shelf for stability, plastic price tag moldings are usually clipped to the edge of a shelf or basket. Price tags or product information is printed on reusable vinyl labels or laminated onto strips of paper which are slid into the rail or applied directly with an adhesive.

Price Tag Molding: Aluminum vs. Plastic

So which price tag molding is better: aluminum or plastic? The short answer is that it depends on your application. Let’s compare and contrast plastic and aluminum price tag molding in a few ways.

Appearance

Aluminum Price Tag Molding

• Aluminum fixtures have a quality appearance and are available in a variety of finishes.

Plastic Price Tag Molding

• Plastic doesn’t age as well as aluminum.
• Plastic generally looks cheap compared to aluminum.

Durability

Aluminum Price Tag Molding

• Aluminum is very durable, ideal for price tag molding and many other applications.
• Aluminum is resistant to water, corrosion and UV rays.

Plastic Price Tag Molding

• Plastic is more fragile than aluminum and can crack during installation.
• You risk breaking plastic molding if you bang products against it.
• Extreme heat or cold can make plastic brittle, increasing its potential to fracture or shatter.

Earth-Friendliness

Aluminum Price Tag Molding

• Aluminum is non-toxic and sustainable.
• Aluminum is 100% recyclable and can be recycled into itself repeatedly without losing any of its properties.
• Recycling aluminum requires only 5% of the necessary energy to produce the same amount.

Plastic Price Tag Molding

• Only certain kinds of plastics can be recycled.
• Most plastics cannot be recycled into themselves.

Weight

Aluminum Price Tag Molding

• Aluminum is about one-third the weight of steel, making it the ideal material for sturdy price tag molding rails.

Plastic Price Tag Molding

• Plastic is much lighter than aluminum but not as durable.

Cost

Aluminum Price Tag Molding

• While more expensive than plastic, aluminum’s strength, versatility, recyclability, light weight and lifespan make it a better investment than plastic.

Plastic Price Tag Molding

• Plastic is less costly than aluminum. However, its fragility requires that you replace broken parts far more often than aluminum, increasing lifetime costs.

Choose Orange Aluminum For All Your Price Tag Molding Needs

If you’re looking for quality aluminum price tag molding, you’ve come to the right place. Orange Aluminum provides standard and custom top-quality aluminum extrusions through an unparalleled combination of logistics, technology and innovation. Plus, we work directly with local mills to provide the most competitive pricing to our clients.

Our strength is our customer service, and aluminum is our specialty! We carry a wide range of styles and types of aluminum products to suit every need. Want a quote for your next project? Contact us today — we’re happy to help!