By Olivia Cahoon
Part 2 of 2
Print providers rely on lamination to add value to printed materials either for durability or special enhancements. Film laminates provide slip and scratch resistance, UV protection, anti-graffiti properties, and outdoor durability.
Laminate Solutions
From 3M Commercial Solutions, released in March 2018, 3M Gloss Wrap Overlaminate 8418G is a 1.2-mil gloss overlaminate is paired with 3M print wrap films. It’s available in roll widths from 54 to 60 inches wide and is intended for vehicle and boat wraps.
SEAL Print Shield Floor Guard from ACCO Brands is available in widths up to 54 inches with a 5-mil thickness. Designed for floor graphics, trade show graphics, and point of purchase (POP) displays, it features an ultra-aggressive adhesive for media with adhesion difficulties like polyester-based white films. It offers a durable, rich-textured finish ideal for creating slip- and scruff-resistant floor graphics. SEAL Print Shield Floor Guard is available for $0.57 per square foot.
Advanced Greig Laminators, Inc. offers Cover-Rite V4.75 T, released in October 2014. It is available in widths from 38 to 54 inches with a 3.75-mil thickness. Cover-Rite V4.75 T is used for floor graphics, trade show graphics, wall graphics, and directional signage. It offers clarity, resistance to marking, slip resistance, compatibility, and dimensional stability. Cover-Rite V4.75 T is available for $0.28 per square foot.
Agfa Graphics offers the Sentinel ProGuard UV Calendared Laminate, re-released in June 2016. It is available in roll widths from 38 to 61 inches with a 3.2-mil thickness. It features UV inhibitors and four year durability. The laminate is intended for flat signage and outdoor signage and is available for $0.22 per square foot with lower options for volume orders.
Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions’ DOL 6460 Clear Polyurethane Gloss was released in 2016. It is a 1.5-mil high gloss urethane film available up to 60 inches or custom sizing. It’s used for backlit signs, fleet and vehicle wraps, marine/watercraft, outdoor signage and textured walls, POP, trade show graphics, and wall murals. Designed as a protective overlaminate film for screen and digitally printed graphics, it offers value for applications requiring high gloss, abrasion resistance, conformability, and color durability. The gloss film features a synthetic liner that creates a super smooth high-gloss finish for an overall paint-like finish on printed graphics.
Catalina Graphic Films’ LM4CL is a double-polished optical clear laminate that uses a film liner and crystal clear permanent adhesive. Released in January 2018, it’s available in roll widths of 54 and 60 inches with a 4-mil thickness. LM4CL is used for floor graphics and high clarity applications.
D&K Group offers Expression pressure-sensitive gloss PET, released in January 2018. It is a one-mil gloss PET film with a solvent acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive that includes UV inhibitors. Expression is available up to 61 inches wide and is used for labels and display graphics. Pricing is based on roll or square footage.
Drytac offers Emerytex pressure-sensitive and heat-set thermal film varieties. The Emerytex product family was released in 1991 with its most recent launch of the 10- and 15-mil Emerytex. It’s available in roll widths up to 51 inches and is recommended for floor graphics, trade show graphics, and other signage that requires a non-glare, scruff-resistant finish. Emerytex is designed for laminating mouse pads, counter graphics, and mounted prints for display in high-traffic areas. It features a FDA certification for incidental food contact and a slip-resistance certification.
FLEXcon’s FLEXmark OV1450 was released in February 2018 for use as a laminate with base film FLEXmark Floor Art 4730. The system features a removable adhesive ideal for overlapping large graphic panels. FLEXmark OV1450 is 14.5 mils thick and available up to 54 inches wide. It protects floor graphics in high foot traffic areas, is certified for slip resistance, and approved by OUTFRONT Media for station domination floor graphics.
Released in 2014, GPA, Specialty Substrate Solutions offers the Concept Series 102, a 3-mil matte clear PVC laminate. It is a general purpose matte laminate for non-glare window, wall, and display graphics that is available in roll widths from 31 to 61 inches.
LuxeFilms UltraMatte laminate film was released in February 2018 in custom sizes up to 55 inches with a 1.2-mil thickness. It features a low matte quality with gloss points from 1.5 to two. UltraMatte is made with an electron beam technology that strongly resists scuffing and scratching. Common applications include premium folding cartons, especially in luxury segments, cosmetics, spirits, and electronics. Prices varies depending on industry and application.
Mactac Distributor Products offers the PERMACOLOR ColorGard LUV 8000 Series recently upgraded in October 2017. Available up to 60 inches, it features a 3.4-mil thickness and five to seven years of outdoor durability. LUV 8000 is designed to protect, adhere to, and fully wet out all inkjet ink system prints including solvent, eco-solvent, latex, and UV inks. It’s designed for interior and outdoor signage, museum graphics, POP, roll-to-roll graphics, trade show displays, and wall graphics.
Released in 2017, Nobelus’ Platinum gloss tear-resistant laminate film is available in stock and custom sizes up to 55 inches. With a 2-mil thickness, it is intended for regulated markets including cannabis, vaping accessories, tobacco, and pharmaceutical. The Karess version adds tactical feel on high-end packaging along with tear resistance properties. Pricing depends on volume and width.
Ritrama Inc. offers 4-GL3C-10181 RI-JET 75 GLOSS CLEAR UV AP970 PERMANENT WK78, available in roll widths from 54 to 60 inches with a 3-mil thickness. It is a protective overlaminate designed to inhibit UV light absorption and features a three year durability. Pricing is based on roll size or square footage.
Released over 20 years ago, USI, Inc.’s Opti Clear is a one-inch core, gloss roll film available in roll widths up to 27 inches. It is a premium low-melt EVA film with a 3-mil thickness to protect and finish posters, signs, maps, and displays. Opti Clear roll film is available for $41 per roll for over eight rolls.
Preserving Print
Applications exposed to human contact or harsh environments typically require lamination. Currently, there is a wide selection of laminate films designed exclusively for digitally printed applications like floor graphics, packaging, POP displays, and trade show signage.
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Jun2018, Digital Output
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