How often have you gotten the impression that your customer thinks you simply hit “Control + P” and out comes your decal? There is much more to it than meets the eye. There are hundreds of different adhesives on the market, each one intended for a particular surface. Do you know the surface the decal will be applied to? Is it polyester, polyethylene, vinyl, polypropylene or enamel paint? Don’t even get me started on powder coated paint. One powder coat is the not the same as the next.
How will the decal be used? Indoor? Outdoor? Both? If it will be used outdoors will it have direct, continuous sun exposure? Will it be used outdoors but then be stored inside? Will the decal be used in Pittsburgh or Phoenix? Will the decal be exposed to abrasion? High temperatures? Cold temperatures? Is the surface smooth or textured? Head spinning yet?
All of these variables can add up to a lot of confusion. However, not asking these questions can potentially lead to a failure in the field. Along with this it directly affects price. An “over-spec’d” decal will cost more in the long run. There is no need for a screen printed, second surface polycarbonate decal that will be used inside an enclosure that will never see the light of day. A flexographically printed label will eventually fade if it is exposed to long term sun exposure.
Before ordering your next decal, ask yourself some of the above questions. Better yet, look for a supplier that will ask and find out the answers saving you time, frustration and, in the end, cost savings. Like most everything else there’s more to it than meets the eye.
