Eyelets & Grommets for Advertising Banners

The signage and wide-format print industry relies on eyelets and grommets to finish every banner, mesh, flag and tarpaulin that goes up outdoors. Choosing the right eyelet for advertising banners is not a detail: it determines whether the banner survives a winter of wind and rain or tears at the first gust. At Industria Acosta Pramon we have been manufacturing eyelets and grommets for advertising tarpaulins since 1947.

Sectors: PVC tarpaulins, mesh, textile banners and marquees

PVC advertising tarpaulins

Coated PVC is the standard substrate for façade banners, hoarding covers and outdoor advertising. It requires eyelets of 10–16 mm inner diameter, installed around the perimeter at 30–50 cm spacing. Brass or aluminium are the preferred materials.

Mesh banners

Mesh fabric (perforated PVC) cuts wind load and is the standard for large façade wraps and scaffolding covers. The eyelet still needs to hold firm, so the same 10–16 mm range applies — but always reinforced with a washer on the reverse to prevent pull-through.

Textile banners

Digitally printed polyester and canvas banners take lighter eyelets in 8–12 mm, usually brass or nickel-plated brass for an even finish.

Marquees and large-format pieces

For marquee skins and oversize banners, grommets from 20 mm upward are used with reinforcing washers to distribute the tension of the tie-down system.

Recommended pieces by application

See our full range of flat grommets and DIN 7332 grommets.

Materials and finishes for outdoor use

Outdoor advertising exposes the eyelet to UV, rain, salt (in coastal locations) and wind cycling. The right material for each case:

• Brass: the standard for outdoor advertising. Excellent corrosion resistance, clean crimping, wide size range.
• Aluminium: lighter than brass, ideal when weight matters (large banners, temporary event signage). Good corrosion resistance.
• Nickel-plated steel: economical for short-term indoor advertising. Not recommended for permanent outdoor installations.
• Stainless steel: for permanent installations in coastal or industrial-atmosphere locations where standard brass oxidises faster than expected.

For decorative or branded campaigns, the full RAL colour chart is available in our powder-coated finishes.

Sizing and perimeter spacing

The rule of thumb for banner perimeter eyelets is:

• Banners up to 2 m²: eyelets every 30 cm along the perimeter.
• Banners 2–10 m²: eyelets every 40–50 cm.
• Banners above 10 m²: eyelets every 50 cm plus additional eyelets in the corners and at mid-span on the long edges.

Corners always take a double-reinforced eyelet, since corner loads are the highest points of tension on the piece.

Setting machines for production runs

For a sign-maker producing multiple banners per day, a pneumatic press is the standard. Manual bench presses work for small volumes and custom work. For the largest grommets and heavy-gauge PVC, an electric or hydraulic press may be required. See our full range of setting machines.

FAQ — eyelets for advertising banners

What eyelet size should I use for a 3×1 m PVC banner?

For a banner of that size, 12 mm brass grommets every 40 cm along the perimeter, with corner reinforcement, is a reliable specification.

Do mesh banners need a different eyelet than solid PVC?

The eyelet itself is the same, but always install it with a reinforcement washer on the reverse. Mesh has much lower tear strength than solid PVC, so the washer is essential to prevent pull-through.

Is aluminium as durable as brass outdoors?

Aluminium resists corrosion well, but brass has the edge in long-term outdoor installations. For campaigns under 6 months, aluminium is perfectly adequate and lighter. For permanent signage, specify brass.

Can I install grommets in a textile banner with manual pliers?

For small eyelets (up to 10 mm) and small runs, yes. For larger grommets or for any production run beyond a handful of pieces, a bench press delivers a far more consistent result.

Step-by-step installation guide

1. Reinforce the edge. Hem or tape-reinforce the perimeter before setting any eyelet. Plain cut PVC will eventually tear around the grommet without a reinforced edge.
2. Mark the positions. Measure and mark each eyelet position with even spacing, starting from the corners.
3. Punch the hole. Use a hole punch of the exact inner diameter of the eyelet tube. An oversized hole leaves the eyelet loose.
4. Insert the eyelet on the printed face. The flange stays visible on the front.
5. Place the washer on the reverse. Always use a washer on outdoor banners — it distributes the wind load.
6. Crimp with the correct die. Each eyelet size has its own die. Using the wrong die results in a loose or deformed crimp.

Why buy direct from the manufacturer

As direct manufacturers we can guarantee consistent lot-to-lot dimensions, volume pricing, next-day delivery on stock references and technical support when a new application requires specific advice.

Free samples available on request. [email protected]

Size chart: eyelets for advertising banners

Setting machines for sign-making workshops

Manual hammer kit

The entry-level option for occasional or one-off banners. A hole punch, a concave die and a mallet on a firm base. Perfectly adequate for a handful of eyelets, less reliable than a press for repeat work — strikes have to land centred or the barrel folds unevenly.

Manual bench press

The standard for any sign-maker turning out banners regularly. Constant force, symmetrical crimp every time, interchangeable dies for every diameter in our range. Pays for itself within the first month of regular use compared to the hammer kit.

Pneumatic press

The right tool for production runs of more than a few dozen banners per day or for large-format pieces with grommets above 20 mm. Requires a 6–8 bar compressor. Output of 500–2,000 installations per hour with adjustable pressure for any substrate thickness.