Most sign cabinet frames use an external retainer. The retainer sits on the front of the cabinet and fastens around the perimeter.
Excellart Sign Products’ (ESP) IDS frame system uses internal retainers instead. The retainers are concealed inside the cabinet, holding the face material from behind rather than from the front. This gives the sign cabinet a clean appearance without visible external fasteners.
IDS frames are also stackable, which makes them useful when one cabinet needs to sit squarely on top of another. They also work well with piano hinges, so the sign face can hinge open.
What Makes the IDS Frame System Different
The main difference is where the face is retained. A standard sign cabinet frame uses an external retainer. IDS uses an internal retainer. That internal retainer creates a cleaner cabinet face because the fasteners are not visible from the front. It also gives shops a stackable frame profile and hinge compatibility when the project calls for a face that can open.
That makes IDS a good fit for cabinets where the front appearance matters, cabinets that need to stack, or sign faces that need to hinge open.
IDS 8 and IDS 12 Frame Sizes
ESP’s IDS system is available in two cabinet depths: IDS 8 for an 8-inch-deep sign cabinet and IDS 12 for a 12-inch-deep cabinet.
Both frame profiles work with multiple internal retainer options. The standard IDS Retainer provides a 1-inch face bleed, the IDS 1.5 Retainer provides a 1.5-inch bleed, and the IDS 2 Retainer provides a 2-inch bleed.
How the IDS Sign Cabinet Retainer Works
A double-face IDS kit includes eight retainer pieces—four for each face.
For each face, three retainer pieces are secured together while the fourth remains removable. This creates an access side through which the face material can slide into or out of the retainer channel.
- Secure three retainer pieces, typically with self-drilling screws.
- Leave the fourth retainer side removable.
- Slide the face material into the retainer channel.
- Reinstall the removable retainer.
- Refasten the screws.
- Fit the assembled retainers into the cabinet.
Once assembled, the retainers are concealed inside the cabinet. From the front, the sign maintains a clean appearance without visible perimeter fasteners.
When to Use an IDS Frame System
Use an IDS frame system when the project needs a cleaner sign cabinet face, no visible external fasteners, stacked cabinets, or a hinged sign face using a piano hinge.
It is available for 8-inch and 12-inch deep cabinets and works with multiple retainer styles, making it a practical option when the project calls for an internal retainer system.
Find the Right Sign Cabinet for Your Project
Use the Excellart Kit Finder to answer a few project questions and find the right kit configuration. For project-specific questions, or just to chat contact the Excellart team at (800) 627-9044 or hello@excellart.com.