Hi Andrew: At CBG our production greenhouse staff use Taggit labeling system from Economy Labels to print on plastic labels. I know that some of the labels are still readable after 14 years in the Chicago climate. Our permanent accession tags are embossed aluminum. Manufacturer of the embosser is DataCard/IdentiSYS and we purchase the aluminum blanks from Damon Company. The embosser is pricey, about $12,000. Damon Company has reduced their line of colored tags to about 6 colors. We custom print and sell tags to VIP's in the Chicago area for $1/tag. For display labels we use Nameplate and Panel Technology to create photo-engraved 2" x4" black labels with white letter text. They can make different sizes and we use the smaller 1" x 2.25" for rock garden plants and the larger 3" x 5" labels for plants in the enabling garden where the larger text is provided for visitors with sight problems. Let me know if you would like contact info for any of these vendors. Boyce Tankersley Director of Living Plant Documentation Chicago Botanic Garden 1000 Lake Cook Road Glencoe, IL 60022 email: btankers@chicagobotanic.org >