If you have ever used an identification tag or a label to identify a product, chances are you have used Traffolyte. Traffolyte is a sturdy type of plastic which is widely used to make tags and labels – and thanks to its superior properties, Traffolyte labels are in high demand.
An identification tag which can be made using Traffolyte material
On numerous occasions, we have looked at the wonders of Traffolyte engraving. We have looked at it in written form, but previous accounts haven’t been quite as easy to read over a quick coffee. Or on a ten minute train journey.
A Traffolyte valve disk with a valve name.
One of the greatest things about Traffolyte is its use in labelling. Lettering is well defined and legible with text on a high contrast background. They are often used on electrical installations as the plastic does not conduct with electricity. This was why Metropolitan Vickers invented it for their Trafford Park works in 1927 (hence the first six letters of ‘Trafford’ forming its name).
Cast your mind back to 1927 when Trafford Park, Europe’s first industrial estate, was in full swing. The industrial estate was dominated by Metropolitan Vickers, which in its prime employed 10,000 people. With the formation of the Central Electricity Board (which led to the creation of a national power grid network), 1927 was a record year for Metrovicks. During the same year, there was a quiet revolution at Trafford Park, incidental to changes in Britain’s electrical supply: the creation of Traffolyte.
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