Standard Calendared Vinyl:
Standard "Intermediate"-grade calendared vinyl is made by running a hot semi-solid vinyl
thru a series of "calendaring" rollers. These rollers flatten the vinyl down to a final thickness of 3mil.
Because it is stretched into shape, the vinyl has some degree of memory and a slight tendency
to shrink or pull back toward its original form when it gets hot.
Thanks to its high-yield bulk production method, calendared vinyl is less expensive than cast vinyl.
And because it is stiffer/thicker than cast vinyl, it is also easier to handle and install.
Our standard calendared vinyl has an outdoor durability of up to 5 years.
Premium 3M™ Cast Vinyl:
Premium-grade cast vinyl is made from a liquid mixture that is "cast" (or poured) onto a moving casting sheet.
Once cast, it is then processed through a series of ovens to harden.
This manufacturing process creates a very thin - 2mil - vinyl that makes it more conformable than calendared vinyl.
As a result, it can be applied over substrates with rivets, corrugations and complex curves.
Because the vinyl has not had any stress applied to it during the manufacturing process, it also does not have any shrinkage.
The manufacturing process and raw materials that are used in making premium 3M™ cast vinyl render it more durable. As a result, it will last a few years longer than standard vinyl.
Premium Reflective Vinyl:
Premium-quality, high-performance, engineering-grade, retro-reflective 5mil cast vinyl meets or exceeds Federal Specifications L-S 300C (Reflectivity 1) and ASTM-D-4956-99.
CAUTION: Do not "wet-apply" reflective vinyl.
Printing Technical Information:
We use "Thermal Resin" technology with spot colors for all of our printing. This method of printing uses solid color ribbons that melt and embed the colors into the vinyl.
This is the highest quality method of sign printing available, and it will last up to five years or more. It creates a far superior product than vinyl lettering created on an InkJet-style "Solvent" printer!
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