Surface protection is an essential part of the manufacturing process. During storage, material handling, transport and sales, the surface of manufactured products and objects can easily be damaged, which is not only annoying but can also cause considerable financial damage. However, by using surface protection film, we can prevent these mechanical damages.

What is surface protector film?

Surface protector film, as the name suggests, plays a key role in protecting surfaces. It is a transparent, flexible and easy-to-apply material whose primary purpose is to protect surfaces from minor scratches, impacts, abrasion and dirt. It is highly resistant to UV radiation, which also helps to preserve the original colour and condition of surfaces.

Surface protector film is a versatile product that provides excellent service in a wide range of applications. Thanks to its wide range of applications, it is not only used in industrial environments but also in everyday life.

In the home, for example, we can protect furniture, floors and various tools from becoming worn or damaged prematurely. Surface protection film is also often used to protect the bodywork of vehicles. As well as protecting the car from minor stone chips and scratches, its coating can also be a good choice for its appearance. It can be used to protect plastic, wood and metal window frames, for display protection, in the packaging of artefacts, and to protect stainless steel tanks and plastic pressed sheeting.

Why is it beneficial to use surface protection film?

Surface protector film is an excellent way to protect a variety of surfaces, such as vehicle paintwork or displays. Its basic properties include scratch and impact resistance, effectively protecting surfaces from minor damage during everyday use. This allows you to prolong the life of your surfaces and maintain a flawless aesthetic appearance. These properties make surface protection film an ideal choice for vehicle maintenance, display protection and other sensitive surfaces.

Surface protector film can be a very cost-effective solution in the long term. Foiling helps to avoid surface damage that may later require major repairs. Those who regularly apply surface protection film can experience a reduction in maintenance costs as the film effectively protects surfaces, reducing repair and painting costs. This can provide long-term monetary benefits while preserving valuable or sensitive surfaces.

Practical, and easy to apply and remove. Here's how to use surface protection films in general.

Steps for applying surface protector film

There are a few key steps in the surface protection film application process, which we will discuss below. It should be noted that, of course, there may be variations and specific procedures depending on the purpose, but typically the following path is followed by the film until it is applied to the surface.

Basic preparation steps

Clean the surface thoroughly before applying the film. This includes removing dust and dirt to ensure that the film adheres perfectly and provides maximum protection. Make sure the surface is dry and free of grease.

Correct use of the film

Precise application of the film is essential for effective protection. Use a special fluid to help align and secure the film to the surface. Make sure that no bubbles or folds remain and smooth out the film.

Care tips to extend the life of your film

Regular maintenance is necessary to ensure the long life of the film. Clean the foil surface with a mild detergent and avoid harsh abrasion or strong chemicals. This will prolong the protective effectiveness and aesthetic appeal of the film.

Surface protection films at Flanker

The films are available in a variety of material qualities and packaging. Here are a few of Flanker's range!

3M™ 8591 Paint Protection Film

This is a clear adhesive film that protects your vehicle's surface from damage, corrosion and wear. It has a thickness of 12 millimetres and is characterised by its ability to withstand extreme weather conditions without staining, shrinking, etc.

3M™ Scotchgard™ SGH6 Paint Protection Film

Used in vehicle protection, this film is a highly durable, long-lasting solution. This is helped by the fact that the Pro Series is shelved with a self-healing formula, meaning that even the smallest damage can self-dissolve from the surface.

Ventureshield™ Paint Protection Film 7510CC/CS

This type of paint protection film is a cost-effective solution for protecting your vehicle's surface from external damage such as stone chipping.

Find more surface protection films in Flanker's online store! Click and have a look!

Vinyl tape is a widely used tool that is a must in many industries. Whether for protection or colour coding, vinyl tape is the best choice due to its excellent adhesion. What do you need to know about vinyl tape? What are its benefits and what are its applications? These questions are answered in this article.

What is vinyl tape and what are its advantages?

Vinyl tape is made from PVC, a plastic material, and the adhesive is typically rubber. Thanks to the material, it has a lot of advantages. Let's look at the most important ones!

Water resistance

Vinyl tape is waterproof, making it an ideal choice for outdoor places where the surface is exposed to moisture or rain. With vinyl tape, there is absolutely no fear of water damage.

Adhesive strength

Vinyl tape has very good adhesive strength, which allows strong and durable bonding to a wide variety of surfaces. The excellent adhesive strength is responsible for making the tapes durable and long-lasting.

Flawless removal

In some cases, the adhesive tape must leave no trace after removal. The vinyl tape meets this requirement thanks to its improved adhesive system.

Flexibility

Vinyl tape is a flexible material that adapts easily to different shapes and surfaces. Thanks to its malleability, it can be used for a wide range of applications, such as paint masking or even airtight sealing.

Wide range of colour availability

Some types of vinyl tapes are available in different colours. This makes them ideal for colour coding and colour identification for many industries. They can also be used for decorative purposes.

Wear and tear resistance

Thanks to the special production process, in particular the full cross-sectional colouring, the tapes are very resistant to abrasion and rubbing. This property makes them suitable for marking corridors and doors.

Chemical resistance

In certain industrial processes, chemical effects cannot be avoided. However, vinyl tape can be used in such environments as it is perfectly resistant to chemicals.

So, looking at all the benefits, vinyl tape is a strong, durable and reliable material.

In what areas is it used?

Given the above-mentioned advantages, it is no wonder that vinyl tape is widely used all over the globe. Let's take a look at some of the most popular applications!

Paint masking

The vinyl tape is ideal for fine-line paint masking. Its elongation properties and easy, trace-free removability allow it to be used as masking tape in the automotive industry, among many others.

Airtight seal

Due to the good formability of the tape and its very strong adhesion, it can even be used for airtight sealing. White and black tapes can even be used for sealing aircraft or for insect exclusion.

Colour coding and identification

As some vinyl tapes are available in a wide range of colours, they can be used to colour code or to identify the elements that belong together. This is particularly useful in heavy industry.

Plating

Electroplated adhesive tape is resistant to chemical attack. So much so that it is even suitable for masking galvanised surfaces.

Vinyl tapes from Flanker

Flanker offers a wide range of vinyl tapes. We will now show you some of them!

3M™ 764i is a general-purpose vinyl tape. It is a transparent colour, which has the advantage of not covering the taped surface. Most commonly used for colour coding, tying and security marking.

In our webshop, you can buy multi-colour tapes too. We have red, orange, black, blue, white, brown and green tapes, all of which are suitable for general use and colour coding.

3M™ 471 is a warning vinyl tape, which means it is best used for marking hazardous areas and corridors. A single-sided adhesive tape that resists weathering, scratches and even abrasion.

Vinyl tapes can be purchased in a variety of sizes. For example, there are 50mmx33mx0.13mm tapes and 100mmx33mx0.13mm tapes.

Flanker has been providing complex solutions to the industry for more than 20 years. Have a look at our web catalogue and if you have any questions about our products, please contact us at any of our contact numbers!

Packaging tape is not just a tool for sealing boxes. It has many roles and functions, depending on the type and type of adhesive you choose. In our blog post, we've collected everything you need to know about packaging tapes!

Packaging tapes play an essential role in the packaging process, from preserving products to guaranteeing the safety of transport to transferring information. As simple as its function may seem, packaging tape can have a significant impact on the customer experience and therefore on your business as a whole. The wrong choice of packaging tape can not only make the parcel delivery process more difficult but also more costly, while the right type can increase parcel security and improve the customer experience.

Here we look at the different types of packaging tape, their features, advantages and disadvantages!

Types of packaging tapes

Packaging tapes are used in many areas of life, both in everyday life and in industry. So let's take a look at the different types and their characteristics.

BOPP packaging tapes

These tapes are made from bioriented polypropylene or BOPP. Their characteristics include high tensile strength and good elasticity, which is why they are often used in logistics or general applications. They have the advantage of being extremely durable and resistant, not to mention economical. Their disadvantage is that they produce large amounts of plastic waste.

Paper packaging tapes

Paper packaging tapes, as their name suggests, are made of paper. Their main advantages are that they are recyclable and environmentally friendly. Their disadvantage is that they are less resistant to extreme temperatures and humidity.

PVC packaging tapes

PVC packaging tapes are made of polyvinyl chloride, a very strong raw material, which makes them ideal for heavier packages. As well as being hard-wearing, they stretch well and are resistant to chemicals and weathering. On the downside, they use a lot of energy to make and are difficult to recycle.

Fibre-reinforced packaging tapes

Fibre-reinforced packaging tapes are usually reinforced with fibres made of glass fibre or polyester, which makes them strong enough to withstand any packaging task. The fibre reinforcement makes them particularly resistant, but they have the disadvantage that they are typically more expensive than other types of packaging tape.

Now that we're familiar with the types of packaging tapes, let's move on to how adhesive tapes adhere to surfaces!

Adhesives for packaging tapes

It's not enough to know the material of the tape, you also need to know what adhesive it is made with, as this will affect its use. Let's look at the types of adhesives!

Acrylic

Acrylic adhesive-based packaging tapes are widely used for light and medium-weight packages. Acrylic-based products are characterised by their long-lasting adhesion, which ensures the durability of the packaging. An additional advantage is that acrylic is resistant to UV radiation and weathering, protecting packages during long-term storage and transport.

Nevertheless, acrylic adhesive does have its drawbacks. For example, it does not provide instant adhesion, so manual application can sometimes be difficult. Extreme cold weather can also cause problems, as adhesion may be weaker.

Solvent

Packaging tapes with solvent, also known as solvent-based adhesives, are a great choice when extreme adhesive strength is required. A major advantage is their fast and strong adhesion, which makes them easy to work with, both manually and mechanically. Another plus is their resistance to weathering and heat.

On the downside, solvents often have a strong odour, which can be unpleasant to use. Also, despite its high resistance to heat and extreme cold, solvent-based adhesives tend to discolour in light stronger than medium.

Hotmelt

Packaging tapes with hotmelt adhesive provide an instant and extremely strong adhesion, which can be useful for both manual and mechanical applications. Another advantage is that they are much less prone to discolouration than other types.

However, this adhesive method requires higher temperatures, which are not always easy to achieve in manual applications. In addition, although hotmelt provides very strong adhesive strength, it is less resistant to the cold effect.

Natural rubber

Packaging tapes made with natural rubber-based adhesives also provide strong, instant adhesion. A positive feature is that they are suitable for all surfaces, including cartons made from recycled materials. Natural rubber-based adhesive packaging tapes are resistant to moisture and heat and perform well in low-temperature environments.

The main drawback, however, is that the strength of the adhesive can diminish over the years, especially if storage conditions are not suitable. In addition, the odour associated with natural rubber-based adhesives can also be a nuisance.

Choosing the right type of packaging tape can make packaging easier, faster and less costly. It is therefore worth taking care when choosing one.

Flanker is a supplier of raw materials to industry players. Have a look around our webcatalogue!

A cleaning disc is a tool used to remove stubborn, tough dirt and harmful substances such as rust. In this article, we've put together what you need to know about it.

Advantages of a cleaning disc

A cleaning disc is very easy to obtain and easy to use. In the right hand, you can get an evenly smooth surface. Although it is powerful, it does not damage the material itself and leaves no marks on the surface.

Industrial cleaning discs are excellent choices for effective cleaning and versatile application. These discs offer several benefits that make the job easier and more efficient. Let's look at the benefits!

Efficient cleaning

Industrial cleaning discs are excellent for removing stubborn dirt. Thanks to their effective rotary motion, they clean surfaces quickly and efficiently, even in the hardest-to-reach areas.

Versatility

Cleaning discs come in a variety of sizes and materials, so they can be used for many different tasks. Whether on concrete, wood or metal surfaces, these discs are up to the challenge.

Durability

These types of discs are durable and resistant. This gives them a long lifespan, making them an excellent choice for the long term.

Cost-effectiveness

Thanks to the efficiency of the cleaning discs, the desired result can be achieved with less effort and in less time.

Types of cleaning discs

There are different types of cleaning discs. They come in a variety of sizes, and it does not matter what particle size you choose. The grain size of the disc should be chosen depending on the exact outcome you are ultimately aiming to achieve.

It is widely used in a variety of industries, including automotive and engineering. It can be used on metal, steel, wood, and glass, but also on other materials such as stone.

Flanker offers a wide range of cleaning discs. Here are some examples!

3M™ Silver cleaning discs

The Silver Cleaning Disc is characterised by its ability to work perfectly under heavy use, whether it's for edge breaking or removing welds, it does the job efficiently. It can be used on materials such as carbon steel and stainless steel. It provides fast and even material removal.

3M™ Cubitron™ II cleaning disc

The Cubitron cleaning disc utilises the power of ceramic discs, which provide you with an option that is fast, rigid and durable. It is particularly good for mild steel, stainless steel and aerospace alloys. The cutting speed of this type is outstanding.

The grains are designed to form a triangular shape. As they work, they cut the metal material rather than grind it, which also means that the grains sharpen themselves during use. As they are very fast to work with, there is no heat build-up and no fear of discolouration or chipping. Thanks to the recess in the centre, you can work at any angle, even removing welds from inside corners.

3M™ Cubitron™ II flexible cleaning disc

Flexible cleaning discs belong to a special group of cleaning discs. Their meshes are shaped to remove even the strongest contaminants as efficiently as possible. They can be used on a wide range of metallic materials at low temperatures. Thanks to its advantageous properties, a surface cleaned to the required quality can be achieved in a very short time.

3M™ High-Performance cleaning disc

High-performance designs are characterized by the fact that they contain ceramic particles. Ceramic particles are known to be very durable and long-lasting. They have the advantage of being highly efficient and can be used on any metallic material.

3M™ Green Corps flexible cleaning disc

Green Corps is a new addition to the flexible cleaning discs range. Thanks to its special material and design, it offers greater flexibility, resulting in a much smoother surface.

Flanker has been serving the industry for decades with high-quality materials. We strive to provide products that make work easier, faster and more efficient. Take a look at our web catalogue and contact us at any of our contact details!