Aluminum Composite Material
Aluminum Composite Material (Dibond ACM)
SpeedPro Windy City is a full-service aluminum composite material (ACM) sign fabrication studio in Chicago, printing and installing 3mm and 4mm Dibond and Max Metal panels for exterior facade signs, restaurant storefronts, monument and pylon faces, and large-format flat-panel signage across DuPage County, Cook County, and the greater Chicagoland area.
Request a QuoteWhat Makes Dibond ACM the Right Choice for Exterior Signs?
Aluminum composite material (ACM), commonly branded as Dibond or Max Metal, is two thin aluminum skins bonded to a polyethylene core. The result is a panel that is lighter than solid aluminum, more rigid than PVC, and flat as glass even at large dimensions. ACM is the workhorse material for exterior facade signs, restaurant storefronts, and monument sign faces because it does not warp in Chicago freeze-thaw cycles, takes paint or vinyl wrap cleanly, and ships and installs easier than solid metal. Recent Chicago-area ACM work includes facade signage and dimensional letter backers at corporate facilities in Oak Brook and Schaumburg.
ACM Sign Applications for Chicago Buildings
Most exterior flat-panel signage in Chicago and the suburbs is fabricated on ACM. The material's combination of weight, rigidity, and weather resistance makes it the default exterior substrate when stainless or solid aluminum is overkill and PVC is undersized.
3mm vs 4mm. 3mm ACM is the standard for most exterior panels up to 4 by 8 feet. 4mm ACM adds rigidity for larger panels (4x10 and up) and high-wind exposure locations.
Finish options. Painted (polyurethane finish, matched to PMS), vinyl-wrapped (full-color print over white ACM substrate), digital direct print (UV-cured ink directly on the panel surface), or natural brushed aluminum face for premium architectural signage.
How much does Dibond ACM signage cost in Chicago?
Standard 3mm ACM panels with digital print typically run $18 to $35 per square foot fabricated and finished. 4mm panels run $25 to $50 per square foot. A 4x8 foot exterior facade sign runs roughly $700 to $1,500 fabricated, plus install.
How long does ACM signage last outdoors in Chicago?
Properly fabricated ACM panels with appropriate finish last 10 to 20 years in Chicago exterior weather. The aluminum skins do not corrode, the polyethylene core does not warp, and UV-stable face finishes hold color for the full lifespan.
Where ACM is the right substrate. Typical Chicago-area ACM applications include exterior facade signs along Oak Brook commercial corridors, restaurant storefronts in downtown Naperville and Hinsdale village center, monument and pylon sign faces at office parks like Highland Landmark and Esplanade at Locust Point, and dimensional letter backer plates for corporate identity programs along the I-88 and I-355 corridors.
Related Substrate and Sign Services
- Rigid Signage: full substrate deep-dive
- Business & Exterior Signs: storefront and facade programs
- Custom Sign Fabrication: in-house CNC and finishing
- Building Wraps Chicago: large-format building exterior
SpeedPro Windy City
MAKE A STATEMENT WITH LARGE FORMAT PRINTING
Any plan to build brand recognition and awareness of a business or event should include large format printing. The size, artistry and spectacular colors of indoor and outdoor signage, vehicle wraps, environmental graphics and banners will get you noticed and distinguish you from competitors.
BEST IN CLASS WITH PRODUCTION AND SERVICE
SpeedPro Windy City provides:
- UNMATCHED QUALITY
- Truly a cut way above the rest.
- QUICK TURNAROUND
- Even with a tight deadline, we can deliver.
- STELLAR COMMUNICATION
- Stay up-to-date with the progress of your project.
CONTACT SPEEDPRO WINDY CITY TODAY
We are located in DuPage County and serve our local clients in LaGrange, Elmhurst, Downers Grove, Oak Brook, Naperville, Aurora, Schaumburg, Chicago, and the South Suburbs.
Come visit our studio, We are conveniently located in Downers Grove at 2600 Warrenville Road, off Finley.
Get a quote or make an appointment to speak to an associate about your specific needs.