Method and device for producting number plates for motor vehicle identification

The method involves supplying a sheet metal strip (14) and supplying a printed foil (12) which has undersized repeating graphic elements (20). The distance of the elements is detected and then the foil is laminated on the metal strip. The foil is stretched before or during laminating so that the spacing between the specific elements corresponds to the predetermined ideal spacing plus or minus a tolerance. The actual distance after laminating is detected in a second scanning device and the deviation from the ideal distance is determined and used for controlling the stretching. A third scanning device prior to separation controls the advance so that the tolerances can be compensated during separation. The sheet metal strip and foil are supplied continuously but the foil is supplied more slowly. After separation the corners of the plate are rounded.