Frequently asked questions

There are many reasons, but one of the most important is our experience. With over 15,000 orders a year, we know what is important. We accompany you from the idea to the finished application - saving you time, money and effort.

Our broad product range and personal on-site support offer you tailor-made solutions and fresh ideas. You also benefit from continuous innovation and further development. See for yourself: Give us the chance to inspire you with a test order!

It's simple: Call us directly! We will find the ideal solution for your requirements together in a personal consultation: +49 89 613007-0

Our experienced consultants will be happy to visit you on site free of charge and without obligation.

We offer you a variety of inspiring application examples and success stories from different industries. Be inspired by innovative solutions and get new ideas for your own projects, which we will be happy to implement together with you.

View inspirations for signs and emblems

As we produce each project individually for you, we do not offer standardized original samples in advance. At the same time, we are happy to create a customized sample series for you at a fair price. This way you can ensure that all aspects of your order meet your expectations. Alternatively, it is worth taking a look at other sampling options.

You are already supplied, but would like to buy at better conditions next time? No problem! We will be happy to help you optimize your products and provide you with a non-binding quote.

Simply send us the product specifications, ideally together with an original sample.

Often the best savings can be achieved by redesigning - sometimes a different adhesive or an alternative material is enough. Benefit from the many years of experience of our experts.

Once the order has been placed, we convert your ideas or files into printable graphics. The supplied files often require post-processing, which we carry out using the latest IT and software technology and our many years of expertise.

Within around 2 to 3 working days, you will receive a layout for approval. As soon as this is done, we start the print preparation, which includes the color separation and/or the panel layout, depending on the printing process.

The costs for print preparation are clearly stated in the quote or order confirmation and are only incurred once, which saves you money on repeat orders. We archive your file and the print films for ten years so that repeat orders can be placed during this period without any additional costs.

After your design approval, we start production immediately. We allow 15 to 25 working days for the first order, depending on which tools are required.

You will find the exact date in your order confirmation. Your repeat orders will then reach you more quickly: usually within 8 to 15 days.

RATHGEBER ships your delivery ex works by DHL as standard. We use a forwarding agent for larger shipments. Changes are of course possible on request.

Your personal contact will be happy to help you at any time. You will find the name and contact details (telephone, e-mail) at the top of the letterhead or in the e-mail signature.

We do not offer a fixed express service, as our customers' wishes are often very individual. Nevertheless, we have already made the impossible possible on several occasions. Which delivery times are feasible depends on the type of product and the current capacity utilization of our production.

For optimal print quality, we recommend:

• Digital printing: 300 dpi for color and grayscale images, 600 dpi for line art.

• Line weights:

  • Positive lines: at least 0.15 mm

  • Negative lines: at least 0.20 mm

• Font sizes: at least 5 pt

• Images from the internet are usually unsuitable (only 72 dpi).

Sustainability, and environmental and climate protection in particular, have been firmly embedded in our corporate strategy for more than 25 years. We take responsibility for the environment, our employees, and society, combining climate‑friendly processes with sustainable products and transparent verification that provides our customers with confidence and clear insight into our actions. Our goal is to conserve resources as effectively as possible, consistently reduce emissions, and keep the environmental impact of our business activities to a minimum. We are, for example, certified in accordance with ISO 14001:2015, have been a participant in the UN Global Compact since 2011, and have been awarded a Silver rating by EcoVadis..

Find out more about our climate protection measures here

RATHGEBER is working to continuously reduce its product carbon footprint (PCF). Through targeted measures such as:

• Energy savings in production
• Improvements in the quality of processes and products
• Use of environmentally friendly materials
• More precise calculation of PCFs

the emission per item is reduced. When using secondary data, we add a "safety margin" for CO₂e emissions, as this data usually has higher values than primary data. Through a more precise database and increased use of primary data, we expect a continuous reduction in the CO₂e footprint of our articles.

We calculate the CCF by taking into account all emission sources across all scopes. This includes upstream indirect Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions, as well as direct Scope 1 emissions and downstream Scope 3 emissions. The calculation is carried out in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

We calculate the CO₂ emissions of our products in accordance with the international standard of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. 

We offer more sustainable alternatives under the Green Label product line, such as our polyester films (R-PET) with a recycled content of up to 70%.

A direct comparison of the durability of our products is difficult, as the Green Label products are based on different base materials and therefore behave differently. It is therefore not possible to generally determine whether the more sustainable materials have a shorter or longer service life.

RATHGEBER is actively involved in social issues and offers employees numerous options such as job bikes and active breaks. It also supports fundraising campaigns, such as at Christmas time. RATHGEBER promotes sport and culture by sponsoring TSV Haching, for example, and by supporting educational institutions.

CHROMOTION® stands for high-quality plastic emblems and lettering. They are extremely durable, individually customizable, and available in various design lines – from classic to premium.

FINOCHROM® offers ultra-flat, filigree metal lettering and logos made of nickel or stainless steel – perfect for designs that demand maximum precision and a sophisticated look.