![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Home | Site Map | Buyer's Guide Search |
![]() |
Event Calendar | ![]() |
Article Archive | ![]() |
Message Boards | ![]() |
Classifieds | ![]() |
Product Showcases | ![]() |
News | ![]() |
Advertise | ![]() |
Search | ![]() |
Join Now | ![]() |
![]() |
![]()
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() Why Vehicle Installations Fail
By Rob Ivers, President, Rob Ivers, Inc.
Vinyl graphics can be used to enhance or produce all types of advertisements, signs, billboards, banners and vehicles.
![]()
When everything goes well, these graphics can be durable, effective and attractive. However, there is a lot of room for error between start and finish - most jobs aren't perfect. For example, if a finished graphic has excessive bubbles or wrinkles, the job is headed for failure. If vinyl begins lifting, peeling or falling off the surface, failure has officially arrived. For the purpose of this article, I define "vinyl failure" as the customer rejecting the graphic because of legitimate quality concerns or any time the vinyl does not adhere as it should. If you understand the root causes of vinyl failures, you can prevent them and do successful graphic installations. This article will identify issues, examine causes and recommend solutions.
Training
Adhesion
Most vehicles have complex curves that change shape in more than one direction simultaneously. It is impossible to conform a flat graphic to a complex curve without stretching it. Even the best vinyl films that are designed for tougher shapes found on Sprinter vans and HHRs are incapable of wrapping a bowling ball in one piece with no seams, cuts or wrinkles. Vinyl has limits, and graphic professionals should only sell and produce for shapes that have a high probability of success. This also gives the installer a chance at success. The golden rule for complex curves is to stretch the vinyl the absolute minimum required for the shape. If the shape is "doable" and the right film is chosen, produced properly, cleaned well, stretched minimally and post-heated, success will follow.
Post-heating Many failures are installer-related, though numerous things can go wrong. Regardless of how good an installer is, many things are out of his control and beyond his ability to "make it work."
![]()
Why do they have such a variety of different films? The reason is that there isn't one vinyl that works for every situation. Keep an open mind and stay informed regarding new products or changes to existing ones. No one expects you to know it all, but take advantage of the excellent resources available to help you find and choose the correct film for your job (e.g., sales reps, distributors, online resources, help lines and product selection guides). For example, ABC Company sold a project that utilized digital prints to a large company. The graphics were to be applied to a large ceiling in a high traffic area. They bought a large quantity of Brand X vinyl, designed, printed and installed it only to have it fall off, literally, in a matter of days. ABC Company never contacted Brand X to ask them which product would work. They just ordered a bunch of film from a local distributor and did the job. The customer was more than a little upset. The first thing ABC Company did was contact Brand X and find out they had used the wrong product; it was neither recommended nor warranted for that purpose. Brand X was forced to help make things right to protect their image. The right film and a qualified installer do not guarantee success. The composition, condition and preparation of the substrate are equally critical. This next example illustrates my point. A company on the west coast contacted me to install some barricade graphics at an outdoor mall. Since I was unavailable, I referred them to an associate who is Master Certified. The job seemed straightforward: Install large vinyl murals on a painted wood barricade. When the job was delayed, I became available and my associate asked if I wanted to help. We showed up at 6:00 am on location with the graphics in hand. The walls were semi-gloss or gloss-painted wood, which is recommended over flat. The wood, however, was rough and textured, not smooth at all. We tried to tape the first panel into place, but the tape would not stick. We knew we were in deep trouble. Because of the time difference, we had to wait until we could reach the customer, so we packed up and left. I still don't know if the problem was the rough surface or the anti-graffiti ingredients in the paint - possibly both. When these problems arise, it is usually more than one issue.
Lessons learned I have learned that cast vinyl (generally) works better outdoors. It is not made for installation without either a vinyl laminate or premask. Liquid laminates are more difficult to install, remove and are less durable than a vinyl laminate. Liquid laminated graphics must have premask and are not recommended by PDAA for use on vehicle wraps with complex curves. Vinyl does not stick to rubber, caulk and windows treated with Rain-X.
Diffusion is the process whereby liquid and gas particles intermingle and move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. In our industry, the process is commonly referred to as curing. If allowed to cure completely, all solvents diffuse and yield a quality printed graphic that is ready for lamination and installation. Incomplete curing retains solvents within the adhesive and vinyl. This problem is more common than you might think. Solvent retention is extremely detrimental to both the vinyl and adhesive. Solvents constitute 80-90 percent of a solvent ink's composition. When you compound that by the number of inks used to create a digital print - a minimum of four (CMYK) and possibly six or eight - you have a beautiful print produced with a little ink and lots of solvent.
The Cure
The solvent particles migrate from the higher concentration (in the vinyl and adhesive) to the lower concentrated air in the gaps. The blowing fan keeps the air in the gap at a constantly lower concentration, and the solvents diffuse until they are gone. It takes about 12-24 hours to cure the graphics sufficiently which allows you to be profitable and meet reasonable client deadlines.
Here are a few things graphic producers would like installers to know:
And finally, here are a few things everyone should know. We owe some gratitude to SGIA staff and PDAA for all they do for our industry. They are a positive influence and provide opportunities for education, networking and innovation. May all your graphics turn out perfectly! Rob Ivers is the owner of Rob Ivers, Inc (www.robivers.com). Since 1978, he has been a leader in vinyl graphics training, innovation and technique. His instruction takes on many different forms including seminars, hands-on training and articles. In addition to training others how to install vinyl, he continues to install vehicle graphics for his own clients. rob@robivers.com This article appeared in the SGIA Journal, 4th Quarter 2010 Issue and is reprinted with permission. Copyright 2010 Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (www.sgia.org). All Rights Reserved.
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||
© Copyright 1999-2021, All Rights Reserved. |