Bayan Signage CNC-routes, folds and finishes ACP signboards in its own Ajman factory for shopfronts, offices, warehouses and building bands across the UAE. We choose the panel thickness and core for the location, build the subframe so the face stays flat in summer heat, and add vinyl, print or 3D letters made in the same workshop.
An ACP signboard is a sign panel made from aluminium composite panel: two thin coated aluminium skins bonded to a polyethylene or fire-retardant mineral core. Routing a groove through the back skin and core lets the front skin fold cleanly, so a flat sheet becomes a tray with crisp returns and no visible welds. It is the standard background for UAE shop fascias, office entrances, warehouse frontages and building signage bands, carrying cut vinyl, printed graphics or 3D letters on top.
Two ACP boards can look identical on the day they go up and very different a year later. The difference is the panel and what holds it. A 3 mm panel with thin skins on a big fascia looks wavy in low sun. A sparse subframe lets the face drum. Mixed production batches show as patchy colour, and protective film left on through a summer bakes onto the finish. We specify 4 mm panels with 0.5 mm skins for larger boards, keep supports at 600 to 900 mm centres and fold every tray on our CNC routers.
Bayan Signage has fabricated ACP signage in Ajman since 2016 as the production arm of Bayan Advertising, which has been active in the UAE for 15 years. CNC routing to ±0.1 mm, galvanised steel frame welding, powder coating, printing and 3D letter fabrication all happen in our factory at Alam Square, Industrial Area 2. More than 500 clients across the UAE have used our signs, and most of our work comes from returning clients and referrals.
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The panel is the background; what goes on it decides how the sign looks by day and after dark. These are the builds we make most often.
A folded ACP tray across the shop width with cast vinyl lettering. The most economical outdoor sign, quick to produce and simple to update later.
View details →Acrylic, aluminium or stainless letters fixed through the panel to backing plates. Adds depth and shadow, and the letters can be lit.
View details →Letters routed out of the panel and backed with acrylic, LEDs inside the tray. By day a solid board; at night only the name glows.
View details →A long ACP band on the facade carrying the building name in large letters, built on a frame fixed back to structure.
View details →A contrasting ACP panel behind a building logo, giving the mark the background it needs on a busy or glazed facade.
View details →Sign panels detailed like facade cladding, aligned to the building grid, for new buildings and tenant bands designed with the architect.
View details →We measure the fascia, check what sits behind the existing cladding or render, locate power for any lighting and photograph the street view. The survey is free in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman.
Our draftsmen choose thickness, skin and core for the location, plan joints between words or on door lines, and draw the subframe, fixings and graphics for approval.
Panels from a single batch are CNC-routed to ±0.1 mm with V or U grooves, then folded into trays and riveted or bracketed at the corners.
Cast vinyl is cut and laid, or graphics are printed and UV-laminated on our printers. 3D letters are made in the same workshop and fitted to backing plates.
The aluminium or galvanised steel subframe is cut and welded. Trays and letters are checked against the approved artwork for size, colour and alignment before dispatch.
The subframe is fixed level to structure, trays are lifted on and riveted or clipped, joints aligned, and the protective film removed before we hand over.
This is the specification we start from for an outdoor shop fascia. Building signs and facade work move up the upgrade column, and every change is itemised.
| Component | Our standard | Upgrade options | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panel | 4 mm ACP, 0.3 to 0.5 mm skins | Thicker skins for large or exposed boards | Thicker skins resist dents and the waviness that shows on long panels in low sun. |
| Core | PE core for small, low-level signs | FR mineral core or A2 limited-combustibility | Signs forming part of a facade generally need a fire-rated core. |
| Coating | PVDF in a standard colour | Metallic, brushed, custom RAL | PVDF holds colour far longer in UAE sun than cheaper polyester coatings. |
| Subframe | Aluminium angle at 600 to 900 mm centres | Galvanised steel box section for big boards | Close supports keep the face flat; the frame carries wind load to structure. |
| Graphics | Cast vinyl lettering | UV-laminated print, push-through acrylic, 3D letters | Cheap calendered vinyl shrinks in heat and lifts at the edges within a year or two. |
| Joints and fixings | 10 to 15 mm movement joints, rivets or clips | Hidden clip system, stainless fixings near the sea | Aluminium grows in summer; without joints, panels buckle and pop rivets. |
ACP is forgiving to work with, which is why mistakes in the specification often only show months later. These are the points we raise first.
Plain polyethylene core is fine for a small board at low level or indoors, but signs that form part of a building facade are generally expected to use a fire-retardant FR core or an A2 limited-combustibility core. Choosing PE to save cost on a facade sign can lead to a permit refusal or a removal request later. We confirm the requirement with the landlord or consultant before ordering panels.
A 3 mm panel works up to about 1 m tall on a short board. On a 6 m fascia, thin skins show as ripples when the sun is low, a problem called oil canning. Use 4 mm with 0.5 mm skins and keep supports no more than about 900 mm apart. The price difference is small compared with remaking a wavy fascia.
Metallic and some solid colours vary slightly between production batches and with the direction of the panel. Mixed panels show as patchy squares in sunlight. We cut a whole job from one batch and fit every tray with the arrows on the film pointing the same way, and we record the colour code and batch so a future replacement panel matches.
ACP arrives with a protective film for transport and installation. Left on through UAE sun, the adhesive bakes onto the coating and becomes very hard to remove, sometimes leaving permanent marks. That is why our crews peel it as the last step of installation, after the trays are aligned, and we never leave a board filmed for the client to deal with later.
Heavy 3D letters screwed straight into the thin skin loosen and tilt over time, especially on sun-facing fascias. We fix letters through the panel to backing plates or the subframe behind, and plan their positions before the subframe is made. For lit letters, we also plan the cable holes and driver position so nothing is drilled on site.
There is no fixed price per square metre because the graphics and structure vary so much. Send your logo, the board size and a photo of the facade, and we will send an itemised quote, usually within 24 hours.
Larger boards use more panel and subframe, and long fascias need joints planned between words, which adds layout and fitting time.
4 mm panels with thicker skins, FR or A2 cores and PVDF coatings cost more than thin PE-core panels, and last longer outdoors.
Cut vinyl is the most economical. Laminated print, push-through acrylic and 3D letters each add material and fabrication time.
Lit letters or a routed, backlit tray need LEDs, drivers, deeper trays and electrical connection, all listed as their own lines.
Fixing to blockwork with an aluminium frame is simple. Steel frames, uneven walls and packing out to a true plane add to the structure line.
Height, access equipment, permitted working hours and municipality or free-zone submissions make up the site and approval part of the quote.
Most outdoor ACP signboards need a permit for the trade name and sign size. In Dubai that is usually Dubai Municipality, or the free-zone authority such as JAFZA, DMCC or TECOM where the unit sits within one; Sharjah and Ajman go through their municipalities. Communities and malls often specify colours and sizes too. Our draftsmen prepare the drawings and check the Arabic and English against your licence.
Fire safety applies to the panel itself. Since the UAE tightened its fire and life safety expectations for facade cladding, panels with plain PE cores are generally not accepted where the sign forms part of a building facade. We confirm with the landlord, consultant or authority which core is needed and supply FR or A2 panels with the manufacturer's data sheets. Requirements vary by site, so we check them at the survey.
Every tray is routed and folded on our own CNC machines to ±0.1 mm, so corners are crisp and panels fit the subframe first time.
We specify PE, FR or A2 cores by location and confirm facade requirements before ordering, so the board is not refused or removed later.
3D letters, push-through acrylic and lighting are made in the same factory as the board, designed to fit together.
Outdoor ACP signboards are covered for 5 years on LEDs, powder coat and structure, with a warranty document at handover.
Drawings and submissions for Dubai Municipality, Sharjah, Ajman and free-zone authorities are prepared by our own technical draftsmen.
More than 500 clients across the UAE, including national retail groups and international brands, most of them returning for new branches.
It depends on size, panel grade and core, the graphic method, lighting, the subframe and access. A vinyl-lettered board on a ground-floor shop costs far less than a long, lit ACP band with 3D letters on a building. Send your logo, the board size and a photo, and we will send an itemised quote, usually within 24 hours.
For most outdoor signboards, 4 mm ACP with 0.3 to 0.5 mm aluminium skins is the safest choice, especially for larger fascias and building signs. 3 mm panels suit small boards and indoor signs. Thicker skins resist dents and waviness, which matters on long, flat panels seen in low sun.
It depends on the core. Standard PE-core panels are not fire-rated. FR panels use a mineral-filled core with better fire performance, and A2 panels have limited combustibility. For signs forming part of a facade, landlords and authorities usually require FR or A2, and we confirm the requirement for your site.
Yes. Letters can be routed out of the ACP and backed with acrylic, with LEDs inside a tray behind, or illuminated 3D letters can be fixed onto the board. The tray needs enough depth, usually 100 mm or more, if LEDs go inside. Lit boards carry our 5-year outdoor warranty on LEDs, finish and structure.
A well-made board with PVDF-coated panels and good fixings typically lasts ten years or more outdoors. Cheaper polyester-coated panels fade sooner, and vinyl graphics usually need replacing after several years in direct sun. The aluminium skins do not rust, while steel subframes need galvanising or paint to stay sound.
It depends on the build, and we give you a realistic programme with the quote. Simple vinyl-lettered boards are the quickest, because the trays are routed, folded and lettered in one flow. Boards with 3D letters add letter fabrication, and lit boards add LED assembly and full-brightness testing. Permit time is separate and often the longest step.
ACP is a sandwich of two thin aluminium skins and a core, so it is stiff, flat and light even in large panels. Solid aluminium sheet is heavier for the same stiffness and dents more easily in thin gauges, but it can be bent into more complex shapes and has no core to consider for fire safety.
Usually, yes. Vinyl lettering can be removed and replaced on site, and printed panels can be swapped. If panels are faded or dented, new trays can often go on our original subframe, which costs less than replacing everything. We check the frame and fixings at the same visit.
Send your logo, the fascia size and a site photo. Our estimating team replies with options and an itemised price, usually within 24 hours.