By Melissa Donovan
Short-term, indoor wallcoverings are found in home décor, retail point of purchase (POP), and event spaces—used for advertising, brand awareness, and much more. The June issue of Digital Output includes a feature article that focuses on materials and adhesion technologies designed for short-term installations.
Here, we’ve included information from vendors about products that fit under the definition of short term. For our purposes, short term refers to a maximum placement of one year, with an average of around three to six months, all the way to a time frame as short as one day—or even less.
Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions
Avery Dennison MPI 2600 Series is a tough, scuff resistant, and flexible white premium calendared vinyl film designed for short-term wall graphic applications. This film series offers several finish and adhesive options, including MPI 2610 (Permanent Acrylic PSA) and MPI 2611 (Removable Acrylic PSA) with a smooth luster finish. MPI 2630 (Permanent Acrylic PSA) and MPI 2631 (Removable Acrylic PSA) are textured films that offer a unique canvas, crushed stone, or stucco look to ordinary wall graphics. The MPI 2630 crushed stone and stucco films are also approved for use as short-term, indoor floor graphics.
Avery Dennison MPI 2105 Easy Apply and Easy Apply RS are flexible, high-gloss calendered vinyl films. MPI 2105 Series films offer exceptional value for applications requiring film durability combined with a long-term removable gray acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA). The MPI2105 Series offers the benefits of reduced wrinkling and air entrapment, beneficial for many applications including large indoor wall murals and POP.
Brand Management Group
Brand Management Group distributes HP Large Format Media, which has a line of non-PVC polyester adhesive fabric, including HP Removable Adhesive Fabric, 3-in Core, designed for indoor and outdoor applications. This adhesive-back fabric is easy to install, reposition, and remove with no residue.
HP offers a portfolio of printable wallcovering products, including short-term ones. In addition to the popular and versatile HP Recycled Removable Adhesive Fabric, HP has recently introduced recyclable versions—new HP Recycled Removable Adhesive Fabric, 3-in Core for Aqueous printers, and HP Recycled* Removable Adhesive Fabric, 3-in Core (Latex/solvent). Both are made with recycled water bottles and coating materials and are REACH compliant. The products consist of PET fabric and coatings. HP Recycled Removable Adhesive Fabric, 3-in Core (latex/solvent) contains 62 percent, and HP Recycled Removable Adhesive Fabric contains 72 percent by weight of recycled content. Base material fabric is made from 100 percent recycled resin.
Continental Grafix USA, Inc.
Continental Grafix USA, Inc.’s Walk&Wall is backed with solvent acrylic adhesive and performs very well on a variety of wall situations while remaining repositionable and removable. NatureWalk is a PVC-free wall and floor graphic material ideal for short-, medium-, and long-term indoor environments. The woven polyester face material is extremely dimensionally stable with a slight texture for a beautiful finish while the gray, removable, repositionable adhesive adds opacity for brilliant graphics over even dark walls.
DreamScape
DreamScape’s Wall+Floor Wraps are phthalate-free clean vinyl with a thick, three-ply construction that helps hide minor wall imperfections and features an easy-to-reposition microsphere adhesive for quick and easy install and removal. This product line also comes in four different textures.
Drytac
Drytac has a range of products suitable for wallcovering applications, including Polar Choice and Polar Premium, but its most popular products for short-term wallcoverings are SpotOn, ReTac, and Polar PET 170. With SpotOn, the key to simple of application is a dot pattern adhesive that enables easy bubble-free application on a variety of smooth interior surfaces, including walls, windows, and glass.
The ReTac range of products have several fire ratings, making them ideal for use on most indoor surfaces in public areas that require compliance with strict fire regulations, such as retail stores, airports, hotels, and hospitals. ReTac is coated with ReTac ultra-removable adhesive technology.
Polar PET 170 is coated on one side with a clear PSA, which enables installers to apply, reposition, and remove graphics easily. This dimensionally stable film is tested to endure extreme temperatures and is compatible with standard wall and flooring surfaces including ceramic tiles, sealed wood, concrete, waxed vinyl, and short pile carpets. It also contains up to 40 percent industrial recycled content.
Flexcon
Flexcon’s Flexmark WP and Walldeco 6730 feature a high-tack removable acrylic adhesive. The adhesive bonds well to wall surfaces and allows for initial repositionability of the graphics while removing easily from sound painted wall surfaces. Walldeco 6780 features a 6-mil vinyl with a microsphere repositionable removable adhesive.
General Formulations
General Formulations has a full line of wall materials, from WallMark, RoughMark, and ChalkMark vinyl solutions to its GraphiTex fabric, and a range of different finishes, constructions, and sizes within those brands.
The solutions approach combines the technologies of the building blocks of film, adhesive, and liner to create the best products for specific applications. A highlight within the wall product line is the HTR, or High-Tack Removable adhesive that extends beyond traditional smooth walls and semi-gloss paints to allow for use with more challenging substrates and surfaces.
Jessup Manufacturing Company
Jessup’s short-term wallcoverings stand out from the competition due to their advanced adhesion technology, versatility, durability, and ease of installation and removal. By leveraging innovative adhesive formulations and user-friendly features, it provides customers with reliable solutions that meet the demands of temporary graphics applications in various indoor environments.
Mactac
Mactac offers a range of short-term wallcoverings known for ease of installation, clean removal, and vibrant colors. The wallcoverings are designed for various applications, such as trade shows, retail displays, events, hospitality, and home décor.
One standout feature is proprietary adhesion technology, which is designed to provide a good initial tack while still allowing for clean removal without damaging the surface. This technology ensures that the wallcovering stays in place throughout its intended duration and is easily repositioned during installation.
WallNoodle offers an ultra-removable and repositionable adhesive, which is ideal for creating wall posters, decals, and stickers. Roodle is for full floor-to-ceiling wall murals with an aggressive removable adhesive that is easy to install and cleanly removable. And M-Dot features a dot-patterned removable adhesive for easy peel-and-stick applications with no application tools or installation experience needed.
Monadnock Paper Mills
Monadnock’s Envi Wallgraphics are tailored to those who prioritize sustainability without compromising on quality. Available with ten and 100 percent post-consumer waste (PCW) options, these wallcoverings provide brands with the flexibility to choose the level of environmental commitment that aligns with their project goals. The use of water-activated adhesive, coupled with compliance with Class A fire safety standards, enhances their appeal. The diversity in PCW content allows for an upfront environmental benefit, offering a conscious choice for projects where eco-friendly materials are a significant consideration.
Neenah, a Mativ Brand
Neenah Digiscape Stick-R products are unique in that they are a cellulose-base with latex saturation. The natural attributes of this base make for an optimal print surface that prints with color intensity and accuracy while still allowing the subtle paper surface to carry through the ink, making a very finished looking and feeling product. In addition to its printability, the breathability and dimensional stability make installation quick and easy, reducing frustration and waste during install.
Photo Tex Group Inc.
Photo Tex uses a patented adhesive that does not change or alter its characteristics overtime or temperature. Curing the adhesive to a polyester fabric also allows for flexibility to adjust on the wall as many times as needed.
PrestoTex
PrestoTex self-adhesive wall media is available a variety of thicknesses and finishes. A customer favorite is its U.S.-made, 10-mil option, which features a new bright finish, crisper print lines, greater color vibrancy, cleaner contour cuts, and a new lower price per square foot. The polyester fabric is printable with solvent, eco-solvent, latex, and UV inks.
XCEL
XCEL offers microsphere, removable, and permanent adhesive. All differ significantly depending on the application, interest of the end user, and preference of the installer. It offers a series of wallcoverings that include PVC/PVC-free options as well as permanent, removable or microsphere adhesives. The company specializes in building custom size rolls or sheets for the end user based on what is most beneficial to support their equipment.
In Conclusion
A number of wallcovering solutions are available, whether backed with PSA technology, microsphere adhesive, or a proprietary solution that excel in short-term situations.
Jun2024, Digital Output
