Whoever works in the field of large format digital printing knows that lamination is the best way to protect prints and surfaces. However, to what extent is the potential of the thin films that ensure greater durability and resistance to jobs known?
Lamination continues to assert itself as the best solution and the products are multiplying with a varied offer for applications on different types of substrates, such as vinyl and paper. The benefits it offers continue to win over the market with proven capabilities and new solutions to problems that decal often anticipates through its research and quality control work.
This work includes ongoing tests and, to answer questions about the importance of lamination in protecting prints, one was carried out between 2018 and 2020 with six samples produced on the Mimaki JV300-160, CJV30-100 solvent printers and the Mimaki UJV55-320 UVLED printer, with and without UV LED lamination.
After two years of direct exposure to sunlight and erosion on a plate placed outside and facing south, the results confirmed that the deterioration and peeling of the laminated applications was exponentially reduced when compared to the non-laminated applications. Another important finding was that chemical corrosion from pollution had a greater impact than UV wear.
The durability of the work is a factor that can make all the difference and is directly related to the resistance of the materials to the weather conditions found outdoors, but not only that. Lamination is also essential for indoor applications, for example in shopping malls and other public spaces with a high influx of people.
Aesthetics are not neglected in this process and, as well as protecting, lamination can contribute to enhancing colors, increasing brightness and other effects that enhance prints. Evolution has led to the emergence of new ranges with other differentiating features, which have proven to be intelligent responses to the needs and requirements of each context.
At decal, we produce various solutions to protect water-based, solvent-based, latex and UV prints with adhesive products that overcome the challenges of the market. A range of proposals including the environmentally friendly PVC Free range, produced without plasticizers, the resistance of the Floor Graphics range, suitable for floor applications, or the safety of the Microbial Free range, which reduces bacteria by 99.99%.
