Corflute Signs

Corflute signs are lightweight signs made from fluted polypropylene, commonly referred to as corrugated plastic or corflute board in Australia. Corflute is in fact a brand name that became the generic term here, the way Esky did for coolers — so corflute signs, corrugated plastic signs and Coreflute signs all describe the same product. In short, they are waterproof, UV-stable and light enough to stake or hang, which is why they are the default for temporary outdoor signage.

Polypropylene, extruded into a twin-wall sheet with hollow flutes running between the two faces — the same structure as cardboard, in plastic. That is where corrugated plastic signage gets both its strength and its light weight: the flutes resist bending along their length while the sheet stays hollow. In addition, polypropylene absorbs no water, so it cannot swell or delaminate, and it is fully recyclable.

The number is the depth of the flutes, and the difference is rigidity, not print quality — both print identically. In practice, 5 mm corflute signs hold their own weight, which is what you need for anything staked into the ground, fixed to a fence, or left outdoors for a season. By contrast, 3 mm corflute signs are lighter and cheaper and suit short-run indoor and promotional work where the sign is supported or hangs flat. We hold 5 mm and every sign ordered from this page is printed on it; 3 mm is not currently stocked, so contact us before ordering if your job specifically needs it. If in doubt, choose 5 mm — after all, a sign that flexes in the wind fails the job, whereas no sign ever failed for being too rigid.

Yes. Polypropylene does not absorb water, so a corflute sign will not swell, warp or go soft the way a cardboard or timber sign does, and it shrugs off rain, frost and washdown. Furthermore, the UV inks are printed directly into the board on a flatbed press rather than applied as a vinyl skin, so there is no laminate to lift or peel. It is resistant to most chemicals as well, which is why corflute is often used on wash bays and around plant.

Roughly 12-18 months in direct Australian sun. That is the figure we quote across the site, and it assumes the worst case: a sign in full exposure, all day, through a summer. Out of direct sun — under an awning, on a south-facing fence, or brought in between campaigns — a sign lasts considerably longer. Full exposure on a north or west face softens the colours first, and reds and fluoros go before anything else. For signs that live outdoors permanently, order 5 mm and mount them flat against a surface rather than leaving them to flex, because flexing is what eventually cracks a flute. Stored flat between uses, one sign will comfortably cover several seasons of campaigns.

Five standard sizes price instantly in the calculator above. For example, 600 x 450 mm suits small site, parking and directional signs, while 600 x 900 mm is the most popular size overall. Similarly, 900 x 600 mm gives the same area in landscape, and 900 x 1200 mm or 1200 x 900 mm cover large signs read from the footpath or road. Otherwise, any other dimensions can be entered as a custom size.

Yes — enter any dimensions from 150 x 150 mm up to 2400 x 1200 mm in the calculator and the price is worked out on the same rate per square metre, with no custom-size surcharge. Specifically, 2400 x 1200 mm is the largest single corflute sign we can print. For anything bigger, the job is normally split into panels that butt together on site; send us the dimensions and we will work out the panel layout with you.

Not at the moment. Double-sided corflute printing is not currently available, which is why that option is greyed out in the calculator above. Instead, where a sign has to be read from both directions, the usual answer is two single-sided corflute signs mounted back to back — it also gives you a stiffer sign. Either way, contact our Melbourne team and we will quote it.

Yes, and ours are clear plastic rather than metal — no rust, and therefore no rust stain running down the face of the sign after the first wet month. So choose the placement that matches how you are fixing it: 4 in the corners, 2 in the top corners, 2 centred left and right, 2 centred top and bottom, 6 across the top and bottom, or 6 down the left and right edges. Finally, add them in the calculator above.

Yes. Contour cutting is included at no extra charge — for example circles, triangles, hexagons, arrows, or a shape traced from your own logo. Similarly, rounded corners are available; just tell us the radius you want. Custom cut corflute signs are cut on a digital table from the same file we print, so the cut line follows your artwork exactly.

Yes. Full colour corflute printing is done directly onto the board with UV flatbed technology, so the graphics are crisp and saturated and there is no vinyl layer that can peel or bubble. As a result, photographic images, gradients and fine type all reproduce well, provided the supplied artwork is high enough resolution.

Four common ways: wire step stakes pushed into the ground through the flutes, cable ties or rope through eyelets, screws or washers through the face into a hard surface, or double-sided tape for short indoor use. However, stakes are the one method that depends on flute direction — therefore read the flute direction note on this page before ordering if you plan to stake your signs.

Yes, and it is one of the most common installations. On chain-link or mesh, order eyelets and use cable ties through them — six eyelets rather than four on anything 900 mm or wider, so the sign does not drum in the wind. On solid timber or colorbond, by contrast, screws with a washer through the face work, or exterior double-sided tape for a flush finish. Either way, choose 5 mm for a fence installation; a thinner sign flexes and the fixings eventually tear out.

A print-ready PDF at 300 DPI in CMYK, with fonts embedded or converted to outlines. In addition, we add 3 mm bleed. However, if you do not have print-ready artwork you can order first and upload later, edit one of our free templates in the browser, or use our design service. Either way we send a free digital proof for approval before anything is printed. For the full specification, see our print-ready guide.

Production is 24 hours once you approve the digital proof, provided the artwork is approved by 3 pm AEST on a working day. Delivery is on top of that: roughly 1-3 business days to metro areas, 3-5 to regional and 5-7 to remote. Alternatively, free pickup from our Derrimut factory in Melbourne is same-run if you are local. That said, large or complex jobs can take longer — therefore tell us your deadline and we will confirm before you order.

As corrugated plastic signs are made from recyclable polypropylene, are 100% recyclable, and are highly durable, which allows them to be used time and time again, they are a moderately eco-friendly signage solution. While not biodegradable, when they're high-quality, are used on multiple occasions, and are recycled correctly, their eco-friendliness increases. Moreover, ours stay recyclable with the clear eyelets left in, because there is no metal to separate out.

Very little. Clean with mild soap and water, and avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive pads, because they will dull the printed surface. Also, store signs flat rather than leaning, so the flutes do not take a permanent bend, and they will come out ready for the next campaign.

You can bring your ideas to life with VividCanvas, our powerful online design tool that lets you personalise products instantly with no design experience needed. In addition, there are free editable corflute templates on this page for safety, real estate, construction, retail and event signage. Alternatively, our design team will perfect your file for you and send a proof for your approval before it's printed.