Big Picture - June/July 2017 - 22

TOP CUSTOMER CONCERNS

BIG PICTURE

June/July 2017

PRODUCT UNIFORMITY: AVOID THE HIDDEN
COSTS OF INEXPENSIVE FOAM PVC SHEET

Manufacturer tolerances are a necessary part of the print substrate business. Some manufacturers have tighter tolerances than
others. Top quality manufacturers maintain an ISO 9001:2008
quality assurance certification throughout their company to help
ensure consistent production quality and supply. If you're buying
the cheapest product, it may be costing you elsewhere.
Inconsistent dimensional uniformity can have unforeseen
effects that can result in poor-quality output, lost production
time, and added material cost. Problems are compounded if your
project requires two-sided printing and problems don't appear
until the second surface is printed. Learn what to look for and
where problems typically occur:
INCONSISTENT THICKNESS: Printer operators should
always gauge the media thickness in every media batch received
in order to protect printheads from damage, and set the printing
height to the highest point of the media. If sheet thickness varies
widely across the sheet, image quality will suffer greatly. Inkjet
technology is very precise, and wide thickness variations on the
surface cause ink droplets to impact the surface at different
distances and velocities, resulting in dot density variations and
inconsistent coverage. Furthermore, if sheet thickness varies
from sheet to sheet, additional calibration will be required, or
print quality will suffer. The visual result may create out-of-focus
details, smeared areas of color, uneven ink spread, and more.
CONTAMINANTS AND/OR INCONSISTENT RAW
MATERIAL BLENDS: Problems with raw material blend or excessive use of "re-grind" (recycled material) can manifest in a variety
of ways, most notably sheet density and consistency. The sheets
might also have specs that show up after printing or cutting.

Manufacturing PVC is like baking a cake. It requires a
well-tested recipe, precise ingredient measurements and mixing,
and consistency - from compounding all the way through the
extrusion line. And like a great cake, quality PVC requires a
great "baker." Buying from quality manufacturers should help
avert problems.
INVISIBLE FINGERPRINTS AND SURFACE STAINS: If
your substrate arrives without a protective film on the surface,
there is a chance that the sheet has been handled by workers at
the factory or your distributor, which could result in fingerprints
or residue that are invisible until the sheet is printed. To avoid
waste, thoroughly clean the sheets prior to printing. Better yet,
avoid the problem altogether by using a sheet with protective
masking in place.
SURFACE SCRATCHES: Surface scratches can also be
difficult to see prior to printing, but easily noticed after. Most
scratching and abrasion can be avoided if the sheet has a protective polyethylene mask in place.
SURFACE OR INTERNAL VOIDS: Foam PVC is, well,
"foamed" during production. Problems can occur if the foaming
process is not carefully controlled and monitored. Voids can
develop on the surface, as well as within the sheet itself.
PANEL RIGIDITY: Sheet density can affect rigidity and
strength. Cheaper panels are less dense, which helps lower cost;
however, it could result in reduced structural strength and softer
surface, which typically leads to increased breakage or surface
scratching - not good for P-O-P signs and displays!
HOW TO AVOID THESE AND OTHER PROBLEMS
You can better ensure success by specifying a trusted brand with
ISO manufacturing certification and a reputation for consistent
quality. Just as important: Select a responsive manufacturer
who will stand behind their products. Palram maintains ISO
9001:2008 certification and has been manufacturing PVC
products since 1963.
Palram Americas is the trusted supplier to many of the
world's most advanced printer OEMs for their print demo rooms
and tradeshow demos. Palram's Palight Foam PVC is available
from a variety of responsive and service-oriented sign and display product distributors in North America and around the world.
palram.com

http://www.palram.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Big Picture - June/July 2017