In sign and graphics, when you think about self-adhesive films, you often think about a coloured or white PVC film, with a liner and an adhesive, usually bubble-free, that you stick to stuff.  Cars, trucks, walls, ACM, or glass.   You turn that boring old substrate into something amazing.  A communication, a brand, a statement, a direction, and even an emotion.  Self adhesive products are getting smarter, though.  Here’s 6 that you may not even know about yet…

 

1. Antimicrobial Film

Hexis came out with a cast clear antimicrobial laminate that inhibits the growth of a wide range of microbes including E. coli, staphylococcus, listeria, slamonella and MRSA by 99.9% offering surface protection for places like hospitals, dental clinics, daycares and food prep areas.  Because it’s conformable it can be wrapped to any surface, such as door handles or counter tops, and controls the spread of those microbes  without the need for aggressive cleaners.  The film contains silver ions encapsulated in a glass matrix that are uniformly distributed over the film.  During cleaning operations, as well as in the presence of humidity, the silver ions are released from the top layer of the film, destroying any bacteria. 

 

2. Dichroic Glass

Dichroic Glass is a multi layer optical film technology that allows you to create colour shifting glass that changes depending on the angle and lighting conditions, with the reflected colours different from the colours in transmission.  Used mostly for interior glass, 3M Dichroic Glass is of excellent consistency in finish, and recently HEXIS launched their more cost-effective version, called Miami, that has a kind of holographic look.  Either way, the effect is mind-blowing and very much on-trend.

 

3. Tesa ACXplus  High Performance Bond Tape

Tesa ACXplus is a double-sided bond tape that is able to absorb stresses up to three times the tape’s thickness.  In other words, a 1mm tape can compensate for an expansion up to 3mm. So, when you are bonding glass to aluminium, for example, and a temperature differential between these two components of 60°C is experienced, the aluminium will expand 1.5mm more than the glass thereby putting stress on the bond. Tesa ACXplus is designed to facilitate the recovery and durability of the bonded substrates and mitigate the thermal load.


4. 3M Daylight Redirecting Film

This film, applied to the top inside of an outside window, brings light deeper into the building enhancing natural light and reducing energy costs.  It uses one of 3M’s core technologies called microreplication.  Essentially, there are millions of microscopic pyramids across the film that reflect light and bounce it further into the building, extending the daylight zone.  

 

 5. 3M Thinsulate Climate Control Film

This film, applied to residential and commercial windows, improves the insulation value of a typical single-pane window close to that of a double-pane window, and that of a double-pane close to that of a triple-pane. Application of this film is much less expensive than installing double-glazing.  It enhances sustainability and comfort, helps provide fade protection and remains virtually invisible, with a neutral appearance that will not impact on aesthetics (but you can now get a tinted version, too).  

 

 6. TT Sensor Plus

This is not a film as such, it’s really a label about the size of a credit card, but it’s worth a mention as it’s the future of the ‘internet of things’ and I get excited about how this kind of technology might impact the print industry in ways we haven’t even thought about yet.  I don’t like to say the ‘A’ word much, but on this occasion, Avery really do have an innovative product in TT Sensor Plus. It is essentially a low-cost data logger label that is adhered to any carton and can tell the temperature of that carton right throughout its supply chain journey, providing real-time data back to your smartphone.  Handy if you deal in fish.

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Arlette Farland is a Director at Computaleta Group and has a post-graduate degree in Journalism.  She has a strong interest in the future of the industry and is passionate about strategic direction, customer experience and marketing.

Connect with her here.