Plate stories

NUTZ, SNAGD and NODRMA: how Onform Signs turned its fleet into a talking point

By the Great Plates team · Updated 14 October 2026

At Onform Signs, every company vehicle is clean, signwritten and wearing a personalised plate. Some of the plates sell the business. Some are a joke. All of them get people talking.

Detail matters

From the day Onform started, its vehicles have carried a plate that suits the person driving or says what the company does. The plates have come from everywhere: new combinations bought years ago, more recent ones from KiwiPlates, plates bought from private sellers online, and now Great Plates.

"It's been a really fun way to show the guys that we are different and we have attention to detail."

Plates with a punchline

Plates that say what we do

Several vehicles carry the company name, spelt a few different ways. One goes further: IONFRM is on the electric car. Others carry the key roles in the business, such as PRINTR, WRAP and VINYL, and some have custom plate surrounds to finish them off.

Nicknames, and cleaner vans

The plates have become the vehicles' nicknames. They start conversations with customers and suppliers, and they're a bit of a laugh. There's a practical upside too: when every vehicle is easy to tell apart, the team keeps them cleaner.

"It's a great marketing tool and a talking point with our clients. It really sets us apart, that detail matters."

Onform's tips for a fleet

• Match the plate to the operator or to the job the vehicle does.
• Have fun with it. A plate people laugh at is a plate they remember.
• Pair it with signwriting, so people know who to call.
• Finish it with a plate surround for a bit more depth.
• Keep the vehicle clean. The plate draws the eye.

Thinking about doing the same? Our guide to personalised plates for business covers what the research says, and plates for sale is a good place to start.

Onform Signs is owned by Great Plates' founder. Quotes are from Onform's founder. Visit Onform Signs.