Saturday, 21 Nov 2015 15:29 GMT

The Right Adhesive Technology

Often an overlooked part of an overall sign project, Brendan Perring asks: “How much of a difference can the right adhesive technology in the right place make to a company’s overall output quality?”

Bespoke solutions

INDASOL has been providing technical tapes and adhesives to the sign industry for ten years. I have been involved with tapes and adhesives for over 20 years and although Paul does not like to admit it, he has been working in this industry for over 30 years. We both previously worked for larger tapes and adhesive companies and formed INDASOL in 2005 based on our desire to provide the right solution for each application in the sign industry as opposed to trying to make an off the shelf product fit.

Our previous experience supplying other high tech markets such as aerospace and automotive has ensured we apply the same disciplines and understand the demands and needs of the sign professional and have an in-depth knowledge of the ever-evolving materials used, time demands, and high quality finish required.

Over the last ten years we have developed products to improve the final finish of signage. For example, our UHB technology has evolved to meet the demands of the new substrates used without compromising quality or increasing cost. UHB replaces mechanical fixings such as screws, rivets, and welding and can even pass through powder coat. This means signs can now be fabricated quicker, easier, and have no visible front face fixings.

Selecting the right product for each application is imperative and that is why we offer a free of charge technical service”


Selecting the right product for each application is imperative and that is why we offer a free of charge technical service which comprises of in-house bond testing, on-site technical visits or simply a telephone conversation to discuss the application in more detail. There is always the temptation to use what are perceived ‘cheaper alternatives’, however these invariably result in product failure, costly reworks or on-site repairs. This is why the INDASOL range of sign-making tapes and adhesives has been carefully formulated to meet the ever-evolving mat-erials used in the signage industry to ensure a high quality finish every time.

Land of opportunity


James Carpenter, managing director, Doro Tape



Adhesives used for the manufacture of self-adhesive films have advanced leaps and bounds since I joined Doro Tape more than 20 years ago. This has led to a much greater choice in how self-adhesive films can be used, which for the sign-maker has been both liberating and confusing at the same time.

Originally sign-makers used just plain coloured self-adhesive vinyl films for applying graphics to vehicles or to boards for building facia signs. To a certain degree the advances in adhesives have gone hand-in-hand with the advent of the large-format printer. Now available is an amazing range of printable films for a wide variety of uses and this has been assisted by the rapid advance in adhesive technology. We at Doro Tape now supply high tack films that stick direct to carpets, floors, and walls, whether inside or out. There are also ultra-low tack films that can be applied to interior walls without fear of causing damage. Applying graphics to glass now could not be easier with the availability of crystal clear self-adhesive printable films.

Now available is an amazing range of printable films for a wide variety of uses and this has been assisted by the rapid advance in adhesive technology”


These advances allow sign-makers and graphic designers the opportunity to offer their clients a much greater variety of marketing and promotional opportunities. In turn this has opened up new markets for the sign industry into retail, hospitality, leisure, and even the home market.

However, the shear choice of self-adhesive films available can lead to much confusion. It is therefore imperative that sign-makers and graphic designers go to the exhibitions, read the trade press, and, most importantly, talk to their suppliers. We at Doro Tape, for instance, are there to help and advise on the best self-adhesive film for the project in hand and we take a great pride in solving these problems for our customers.

Material evolution


Spencer Kelly, sales director, Innova Solutions



Since our formation as a company some 15 years ago, we have been constantly challenged by our sign industry partners to develop a range of adhesive and adhesive tape solutions that reliably and consistently satisfy the demanding criteria of both the aesthetics of the finished sign, whilst at the same time delivering production efficiencies to allow for smarter production output. During this time we have seen a plethora of new materials entering the market aimed at making signage lighter, thinner, more eco-friendly, aesthetically pleasing, but ultimately, more cost-effective. In truth the best adhesive and adhesive tape solutions are never seen, as they should reliably bond the substrates whilst blending seamlessly into the finished product.

Often overlooked within a project, the right adhesive solution can yield massive benefits in terms of production, resulting in your signage arriving with your customer in pristine condition, and remaining so for the life of the sign. Working in conjunction with both materials suppliers and the leading sign industry companies, Innova Solutions have consistently delivered a range of cutting edge bonding solutions that are trusted by the sign industry, ticking all the above criteria boxes, whilst generating increased revenue for their sign industry partners.

In truth the best adhesive and adhesive tape solutions are never seen, as they should reliably bond the substrates whilst blending seamlessly into the finished product”


Whether it be an adhesive or tape solution, we are able to offer products to bond metals either pre or post powder coat process, tapes to bond low surface energy plastics and powder coat overspray, adhesives to bond locators, and fasteners to ACM materials without witness or read through marks on the front face of the sign, transparent tapes for glass bonding and products for bonding to substrates prior to laser cutting, to name but a few. All of these products have been developed in conjunction with the sign industry to increase production efficiencies, whilst at the same time produce a securely bonded, aesthetically pleasing finished product.

During the coming years, products and technologies will continue to evolve. We will continue to position ourselves to be a part of this evolution.

Quality before price


Simon Dearing, managing director, Eurobond Adhesives



In sign-making, ‘a high quality sign’ is the net result of a whole team of highly experienced people from the designer who initially came up with the concept, to the decision makers that specified the raw materials, the suppliers of components and raw materials, and the craftsmen that produced the sign. Compromise on any one of these components and it will have a negative impact on the quality of the sign.

Adhesives suppliers can contribute significantly to the overall design and production of a sign. Often delivering cost savings in both labour and materials. For example, Euro-bond’s team of technical sales managers will advise on the best joint design for the given application. They will recommend an adhesive product that has the performance criteria for that specific application with a built in safety margin.

Buying cheap products is really a false economy. Using an inferior product just to save a few pounds in the short-term could actually end up costing you a whole lot more and damage your reputation too.

Using an inferior product just to save a few pounds in the short term could actually end up costing you a whole lot more”


A low price often means low quality. So what does low quality mean in an adhesive? Well it means that the chemicals used to manufacture the formulation are different inferior alternatives. The blending process may not be as rigorous, the packaging may be inferior. All these things that to you may not seem important will have an impact on the adhesives integrity. These are lower adhesive strength, poor cohesive strength, longer cure times, poor shelf life, poor resistance to weathering or thermal cycling, and potentially a damaging reaction to the substrate it is supposed to be bonding.

The worst nightmare for any sign-maker is to have a sign failure. Having to return to a customer to fix a problem has a cost. Can you afford that cost to your bottom line and to your reputation? Consulting with a good adhesive supplier will save you money in the right areas without impacting on quality.

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