Have you ever wondered why traditional magnetic signs won’t stick to aluminium vehicles? Magnetic signs for aluminium vehicles pose a unique challenge since aluminium is non-magnetic, preventing standard magnets from adhering. Fortunately, Gripper Mats offer an ingenious solution that lets you use magnetic signage easily and securely on your aluminium trucks, vans, or trailers. This article explains exactly how Gripper Mats enable magnetic signs to stick on aluminium vehicles without damage or complicated installation, giving your fleet versatile and professional branding options.
Why Magnetic Signs Don’t Stick on Aluminium Vehicles
The Non-Magnetic Nature of Aluminium
Aluminium is widely used in vehicle manufacturing due to its lightweight strength and corrosion resistance. However, unlike steel, aluminium is not magnetic. This means that the iron-based magnets on traditional magnetic signs cannot generate the necessary magnetic force to cling onto aluminium body panels. As a result, signage that relies solely on magnets will simply slide off or never attach securely in the first place.
Limitations of Alternative Methods
Some businesses attempt to affix signs to aluminium panels using adhesives or tapes, but these typically cause damage to paint finishes or leave residues. Vinyl wraps or decals offer permanent solutions but lack the removability and flexibility of magnetic signs. That’s where magnetic sign grippers for aluminium vehicles come in, bridging the gap with a non-permanent, paint-safe, and reusable way to apply signs that behave like magnets.
How Gripper Mats Enable Magnetic Signs to Stick to Aluminium
What Are Gripper Mats?
Gripper Mats are specially designed rubberized mats that create a high-friction surface between the vehicle and magnetic signs. When placed behind a magnetic sign, these mats grip tightly to both the vehicle’s aluminium panel and the magnet, preventing slipping and movement. This clever design replaces magnetic attraction with mechanical grip and friction.
Mechanism of Action
Unlike traditional magnets, the mats do not magnetically bond. Instead, the fine texture and rubbery material of the Gripper Mats cling securely to smooth surfaces such as aluminium, plastic, or fibreglass. The magnetic sign adheres firmly to the mat’s rubber surface, which in turn holds fast to the vehicle panel. This creates a stable, damage-free mount that can be easily removed and repositioned.
The Benefits of Using Magnetic Sign Grippers for Aluminium Vehicles
Advantages Over Other Methods
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Non-permanent: No adhesives or glues required, leaving the vehicle’s paint intact.
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Reusable: Gripper Mats can be washed and reused indefinitely, maintaining their gripping power.
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Customizable: Easily cut to fit any size or shape of magnetic sign or vehicle panel.
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Weather-resistant: Perform reliably in rain, snow, and wind, even at highway speeds.
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Paint-safe: No risk of scratching or damaging vehicle surfaces.
Ideal Use Cases
Gripper Mats are perfect for businesses that need temporary or mobile signage on aluminium vehicles, such as rental fleets, contractors, and service companies with aluminium truck bodies or trailers. Their ease of use makes switching signage between vehicles or locations quick and hassle-free.
Step-by-Step Guide to Applying Gripper Mats with Magnetic Signs
Preparing the Surface
Ensure the aluminium vehicle panel is clean, dry, and free of dirt or grease. This step maximizes the gripper mat’s friction and the magnetic sign’s contact area.
Applying the Gripper Mats and Magnetic Sign
- Cut Gripper Mats to the desired shape if necessary.
- Attach the Gripper Mats to the back of the magnetic sign.
- Press the combined sign and mats firmly onto the aluminium vehicle panel.
- Allow the grip to settle; the sign should now hold securely without slipping.
- To remove, gently peel off the sign and mats without damaging the paint.
Note that this type of magnetic sign gripper for aluminium vehicles offers detailed instructions and sizing guidelines to help get the best hold.
Maintaining and Storing Gripper Mats for Longevity
Cleaning the Mats
Over time, Gripper Mats can accumulate dust and grime, which reduces their effectiveness. Simply wash them with warm water and mild soap, then air dry completely before reuse. This restores their sticky surface without the need for adhesives.
Storage Recommendations
Store Gripper Mats flat or laid on their packaging to avoid folds or creases that could affect grip. Avoid leaving them exposed to direct sunlight or extreme heat for prolonged periods, which can degrade the material over many cycles.
Conclusion: Secure and Versatile Signage with Magnetic Signs for Aluminium Vehicles
Magnetic signs for aluminium vehicles no longer have to be a frustrating challenge thanks to Gripper Mats, which perfectly solve the issue of aluminium’s non-magnetic nature. By creating a reusable, paint-safe grip between your magnetic signs and aluminium panels, Gripper Mats provide a flexible and reliable way to display professional signage without damage or permanent adhesives. Whether you manage a fleet of trucks, trailers, or RVs, exploring magnetic sign grippers for aluminium vehicles will streamline your branding efforts. To learn more about how this solution can work for your business, check out our trusted range of grippers designed specifically for this purpose.
Magnetic signs won’t stick to many modern vehicles because more and more body panels are made from aluminium, fibreglass, plastic and other non-magnetic materials.
Models like the Ford F-150, Jaguar XJ, Audi A8, Tesla Model S/X and the Chevrolet Corvette are well-known examples where magnets simply fail.
Gripper Mats solve the problem by creating a strong, paint-safe, adhesive-free grip between your sign and the vehicle surface — allowing you to use your existing magnetic signs on any panel, even when it isn’t magnetic.
When traveling abroad, especially in countries like France, it’s essential to display angles morts (blind spot) warning signs on your camper van to protect vulnerable road users. But if you’re hesitant about sticking signs directly onto your paintwork, there’s a better solution: Gripper Mats. Unlike traditional adhesives, Gripper Mats hold signs securely without risking paint damage and allow for easy removal once you’re back home. This reusable approach keeps your camper van in top shape and lets you comply with local laws effortlessly. Discover how using Gripper Mats can make your travels smoother and safer in our latest blog post!
Gripper Mats by Proper Design offer a non-adhesive, damage-free solution to securely display blind spot or "Angles Morts" signs on campervans, lorries, and horse boxes. Ideal for non-magnetic surfaces, they are reusable, weather-resistant, and easy to apply, protecting both your vehicle and other road users.
How to hold magnet signs to the amazing, new Ford F150 Pickup truck. Gripper Mats.
"The most effective suction bowl system on the market for parents who want to help their little ones enjoy calm, stress free mealtimes".
You've lovingly made the food and some of it has actually been eaten! This isn't the end though as you then have to clean up the mess. It isn't just on the high chair, it's all over the room, on the baby and then you have to wash up. Parenting is hard enough without your little one throwing their bowl of food all over the room.
At Gecko Grippers, we understand from first-hand experience and from our work with parents that you need the simplest, most effective solution: Gecko Grippers.
Exhausted parent, Jane, was fed up with bowls that were being launched across the room by her little boy. It wasn't his fault, it was the cheap bowls that didn't do what they were supposed to. She was at her wits-end when she discovered Gecko Grippers and became one of our earliest customers. "Gecko Gripper Suction Bowls offer great value for money. They have the best suction power by far as well as help to develop independence when eating. Being available in a 3 pack, they are ready at all times of the day. It's worth remembering that you get 4 products; 3 of the best suction bowls on the market and a Gecko Gripper place mat".
What if you didn't need to clean up so much because your little one didn't throw their bowls? Imagine how relaxed mealtimes could be if you had a bowl that actually stayed put. Imagine how much your relationship could be improved if you had calmer mealtimes with less stress. Parents worldwide are enjoying lower-stress mealtimes with their little ones:
"Such a brilliant product. The bowls are fantastic and hold really well onto my son's high chair and being silicone haven't distorted at all in a hot dishwasher".
"I'm beyond happy with this product and for anyone looking to buy suction bowls for a cleaner baby led mealtime don't bother with the cheaper options-get the best-you won't be disappointed!!!".
"My 1 year old was never trusted to have the bowl as, I'm sure most parents will understand, it either ended up on the floor or someone else so I needed something that would be really secure. I was expecting her to be able to lift the bowls off or work out how they came off but no".
As a calm parent using Gecko Gripper Suction Bowls, you'll benefit from the high quality, chemical free and versatile Silicone as they are oven, microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe. This means that you have the ultimate in convenience and can simply pop them in the microwave to warm food and into the dishwasher afterwards. The suction power ensures that the bowls stay put and your little one can concentrate on improving their eating skills rather than making a mess. The fun colour adds a splash of style and fun too and they'll last indefinitely meaning they're around to help as long as you need them.
Get a set 3 of Gecko Gripper Suction Bowls and a FREE Gecko Gripper Place Mat with no risk. In fact, we're so confident in our Gecko Grippers that we will provide you with a 365 day, 110% Money Back Guarantee. If you're not 100% happy at any point in time over the next year, we will give you a full refund plus an extra 10%.
Enjoy calmer, relaxed mealtimes knowing that you have the highest quality and most versatile bowls available. Add a set to your basket now to start enjoying mealtimes with your little one.
Remember, we are so confident in our Gecko Grippers that you have a 365 day, 110% Money Back Guarantee.
Life as a toddler must be hard. Imagine; you're hungry, tired and just want to battle through it and carry on playing. As if things weren't bad enough though, mummy or daddy stop you playing to have something to eat. But it gets worse. They kindly give you the food but you can't quite seem to get hold of it because the plate or bowl keeps sliding around. Frustrating!
There is a very simple answer... Gecko Grippers - Toddler Placemats. These wonderful sticky placemats will take away the frustration your little one has during meal times. They simply stick to any smooth surface such as the high chair table and the bowl simply sits on top and is held in place. Toddlers want to be independent but don't quite have the skills to cope yet so Gecko Grippers help to bridge the gap in their ability by holding the bowl or plate for them while they just concentrate on scooping the food.
Gecko Grippers work by using microscopic suction. Basically, if you zoomed in with a microscope, you would see thousands of suction cups like the ones used to hold things to windows. This may sound a little gimmicky but they really do work. They're so strong in fact that they can hold a 2Kg weight to the ceiling! We've received countless comments thanking us for developing this product and it's lovely to know that you have helped in some small way.
Gecko Gripper - Toddler Placemats have hidden benefits for parents and carers too. Calmer, happier children are the main ones but also less mess and your little one can learn to become an independent eater much faster which means you're able to eat your own meal in a reasonable fashion at the same time if you wanted to!
Life using Gecko Grippers couldn't be easier, due to the PU Gel properties in the Gecko Grippers, they are extremely easy to wash. A quick rinse under warm soapy water and allow to dry and they will literally be as good as when brand new. They simply do not wear out meaning you have a lasting investment. Gecko Grippers are environmentally responsible being recyclable but also coming in packaging that is designed to keep the product safe but can also be recycled when the time comes.
If you have any questions about Gecko Grippers, please do get in touch and we'll be delighted to help.
How do you stop baby bowls from slipping and sliding or even worse being picked up and the contents being emptied all over the floor? There are three main ways to solve this problem:
1. Silicone based bowls and plates.
These are standard bowls and plates but have a grippy material permanently attached to the bottom. These are ok but do not really grip that well. They can be quite expensive and some can only be hand washed. They do not hold the bowl or plate down at all.
2. Suction.
There are bowls with built in suction and separate units that attach to your existing bowl/plates. The suction systems vary enormously in quality and the aim is that the bowl is held completely down eliminating spillage. This is fine in theory but the problems start as soon as you try to use them. Our research suggests that many users complain that they simply do not work. Others say that they need pumping several times to create enough suction. Our tests verify both of these complaints but the results do vary between products. The difficulty we found was that when pumping the air out of the suction cup it was very difficult and impractical to do when the bowl or plate is full of food. We also found that babies didn't want to sit and wait patiently while we pumped their food up and down in front of them until it was firmly held in place. Nearly all of the suction systems lost suction during the babies meal and some to the point that they completely came loose and toppled off defeating the purpose completely. There is also a moral question for parents and carers to ask themselves here. If the suction cup does manage to completely hold the bowl in place, what are we teaching our young children? Is it really teaching them how to eat?
3. Gecko Grippers.
Gecko Grippers are a revolution in the baby market. They are highly sticky, flexible mats that are designed to hold any smooth object to any smooth surface. They do not use any adhesive whatsoever, leave no marks whatsoever and last indefinitely. We have taken these through the strictest testing possible, comparing them to the other options discussed above and they outperform them all. They are incredibly grippy little things. Only 3mm thick and 12 cm diameter but can hold a solid metal 2Kg weight to the ceiling. How is this possible? The science can be discussed in another blog post but for now lets think about baby bowls and plates. Gecko Grippers are the best all-round solution for when your baby / toddler starts weaning / self-feeding. They will hold the bowl or plate securely but not completely as a prolonged peeling action will release the bowl. Only 3 of our 10 babies realised that they could eventually lift the bowl and we had to sit and watch them as they put every ounce of effort in to do it. In the real world this would buy parents and carers the time they need to intervene if they chose to. An important thing to bear in mind is that most standard plates and bowls have a small ridge on the underneath. Depending on the size of the ridge, this means that the surface contact and therefore the grip is limited. I.e. the more surface contact, more more grip. This is not normally a problem though as the Gecko Gripper sits inside this on most bowls and plates. In the washing tests, the Gecko Grippers also won. A very quick rinse in lukewarm, soapy water and any food on the mat simply slipped off. It's interesting to note that the properties of the Gecko Grippers completely changed when wet. They became very slippery instead of grippy, weird. When dry, the Gecko Gripper really did stick just as well as when it was used for the first time. All in all, a remarkably simple yet fantastic solution to the age old problem of baby bowls!
