By Melissa Donovan
Depending on the application at hand, a deep dive into which pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) is right for the job may be needed. There are various types of adhesive technologies, primarily acrylic, with water and solvent as two other options. Also up-and-coming, UV-cured acrylic PSA.
Vendors tout their own proprietary configurations, which are used on their own media lines.
ACCO Brands – GBC/SEAL
GBC Arctic PSA films utilize acrylic-based adhesives to provide excellent clarity and UV resistance. The material is available in gloss, matte, luster, and textured finishes. Graphics are designed for both indoor and outdoor use, with long-term protection against fading and abrasion.
Depending on the product in the series, some of the Arctic films include micro-channeled liners for bubble-free application. Low-temperature PSA films are also available, which feature a flexible adhesive layer and enhance conformability.
Drytac
Drytac offers three different types of adhesive technologies that can be found throughout its wide format graphics product lines.
Polar Grip Adhesive is engineered for extreme temperature resistance, making it ideal for installation in cold weather conditions.
SpotOn Adhesive features a unique dot pattern coating that enables effortless, bubble-free application—even for non professionals.
ReTac Adhesive makes graphics permanently repositionable without losing adhesion—even years later. No residue is left over after removal.
General Formulations
One of the most unique adhesive offerings from General Formulations (GF) is its HTR (High-Tack Removable) adhesive. It delivers strong initial adhesion on both high- and low-surface-energy substrates, but it’s also engineered to remain removable over time. That means you get a secure bond that keeps graphics in place—on walls, windows, and more—while allowing for repositioning and clean removal.
This solvent-based adhesive works well both indoors and outdoors and is available across a range of semi-rigid and flexible films in the GF WallMark and RoughMark product lines.
Jessup Manufacturing Co.
Jessup stands out through its commitment to innovation and customization. Its proprietary adhesive technologies are engineered for demanding applications, including anti-slip, photoluminescent, and specialty graphics films. It offers custom formulations, including over 10,000 custom and branded solutions developed for unique customer requirements. It mixes, blends, pigments, and tailors adhesives in house for specific needs—adding UV inhibitors, cross linkers, and flame retardant additives.
State-of-the-art production lines enable precise control over adhesive properties, ensuring optimal performance for each application.
Many Jessup products are formulated for low volatile organic compound emissions and environmental safety, aligning with the latest industry standards and customer expectations. Solvent technology still reins supreme for many demanding applications.
Jessup adhesives are designed for superior durability, repositionability, and compatibility with a variety of substrates and printing technologies.
Mactac
The company’s Roodle product uses an aggressive removable adhesive that allows print to the edge, bonds well with most paints, and releases when it should.
Rebel High tack uses a versatile adhesive that sticks to most surfaces and could be considered a one product fits most applications.
Rebel Cold Temp has an adhesive that sticks to everything and can be installed below freezing because of the wet out characteristics.
Nekoosa
Nekoosa’s NextBond durable adhesive is a robust, cost effective, and eco-friendly alternative to traditional solvent-based adhesives for long-term print applications. Strong NextBond UV-cured adhesive bonds can last up to ten years and are resilient under tough environmental conditions such as humidity, UV radiation, sunlight, moisture, and chemicals.
NextBond High-Bond Opaque from Nekoosa leverages NextBond UV-cured adhesive technology to form a secure, long-lasting hold on a range of low-energy surface applications.
It provides superior durability and performance in extreme weather conditions—specifically temperatures as low as -10 degrees Fahrenheit—including high heat, extreme cold, high humidity, direct sunlight, rain, and snow.
What’s more, NextBond High-Bond Opaque is formulated with built-in UV inhibitors in the film to prevent fading or damage from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, providing up to five years of exceptional durability performance no matter the outdoor application.
Sep2025, Digital Output
