Lamacoid Resources & Guides

This is the Llamacoids resource hub — plain-English guides to lamacoid labels, phenolic nameplates, and the electrical-code labelling that runs on them. Whether you're figuring out what a lamacoid actually is, choosing colours and sizes, or trying to spec a plate that passes inspection, start here. Everything below reflects how engraved ID is really made and used in the field, written by the shop that engraves it.

Start here: lamacoid basics

New to the product, or explaining it to a client? These cover the fundamentals.

• Lamacoid vs lamicoid vs traffolyte vs phenolic → — the four words everyone confuses, and why they usually mean the same engraved plate.
• What is a lamacoid? — A custom-engraved plastic ID plate: a coloured surface layer over a contrasting core, with text cut through to reveal it. No ink, no adhesive film — the identification is engraved into the material, so it can't peel, fade, or wipe off.
• Lamacoid tags, plates, and labels — different names for the same family of parts, from small breaker tags to full equipment nameplates. What you call it doesn't change how it's built; the spec does.

Choosing your spec

The part number is really a spec: colour, size, thickness, and mounting.

• Colours and what they mean — black/white for general electrical ID, red/white for danger and code-mandated solar disconnects, yellow/black for caution, blue/white for mandatory action. The first colour is the background; the second is the engraved text.
• Sizes and thickness — from 1/2" × 1" breaker tags to large equipment nameplates, in 1/16" up to 1/8" phenolic. Flush panel tags run thin; standalone plates run thick and rigid.
• Mounting — 3M adhesive for smooth indoor surfaces, pre-drilled holes for screws or rivets on metal panels, ball chain for hanging valve tags. Screw or rivet mounting is the reliable choice anywhere there's heat, moisture, or vibration.

Code & compliance labelling

Where engraved plates aren't just preferred — they're specified.

• Breaker & panel labels → — permanent circuit and disconnect ID that inspectors accept where stickers don't.
• MCC & switchgear nameplates → — bucket, feeder, and cubicle ID engraved to your drawings.
• Arc flash labels (CSA Z462) → — incident energy, boundaries, and PPE data on durable red/white plates.
• Solar PV labels (CEC Section 64) — the Canadian Electrical Code calls for permanent engraved lamicoid plates, white lettering on a red background, for rapid-shutdown and disconnect marking on PV systems. See our solar kits →

Why engraved instead of printed?

It comes up on nearly every job. Printed labels and label-maker tape fail in months in industrial environments — heat lifts the adhesive, solvents smear the ink, UV fades the print. An engraved lamacoid lasts the life of the equipment, and because it's genuinely permanent, it satisfies the "permanent, legible identification" language in codes like CSA Z462 and CEC Section 64 that inspectors regularly cite when rejecting stickers.

Ready to order?

When you know your spec — or even if you just have a drawing or a list — you can get an instant online quote. We engrave in Burlington, Ontario, serve the Greater Toronto Area, and ship Canada-wide, with most orders out the door in 1–3 business days at about $1.14 per square inch.

Frequently asked questions

What is a lamacoid, in one sentence?

A lamacoid is a custom-engraved plastic ID plate made of a coloured surface layer over a contrasting core, where the text is physically cut through the surface to reveal the core colour — so it can't peel, fade, or rub off like a printed sticker.

What's the difference between a lamacoid tag, plate, and label?

They're different names for the same family of engraved parts. "Tag" usually implies a small piece (a breaker or valve tag), "nameplate" implies equipment ID, and "label" is the general term. Construction is identical; only the size, colour, and mounting change.

Can I make a lamacoid myself with a label maker?

A consumer label maker prints on tape — it doesn't engrave. A true lamacoid is cut into multi-layer phenolic on an engraving machine, which is what gives it permanence and code acceptance. For one-off or bulk plates it's faster and cheaper to have them engraved to spec than to buy an engraving machine.

Do you have guides for code-required labels?

Yes. This hub links to dedicated pages for breaker and panel labels, MCC and switchgear nameplates, CSA Z462 arc flash labels, and CEC Section 64 solar PV labels — each covering what the code expects and how we engrave to match. Always confirm exact requirements with your local authority.

Where are Llamacoids made and how fast can I get them?

We engrave in Burlington, Ontario, serve the Greater Toronto Area, and ship Canada-wide. Most orders are engraved and shipped within 1–3 business days, priced at about $1.14 per square inch. You can get an instant quote online.