has anyone ever used Metamark 7 series for vehicle wraps?

[Stuart Taylor]

I would be dubious to whether a polymeric calandered film such as Metamark 7 Series (or any other polymeric calandered film for that matter) should be used where you need to heat and stretch. I know plenty of people do but we only recommend cast films where heat or stretching is required.

Main reason for this is down to manufacturing process and physical property differences between to two manufacturing methods.

Cast starts its manufacturing process as a liquid and therefore has little or no "memory" so when you heat and stretch the product around tight curves and into recesses once it has been post heated (as long as correct surface prep has taken place) it should not want to revert back to its original form.

Calandered products start as a solid and go through a series of rollers (calanders) during its manufacturing method until it becomes the correct thickness … a little like rolling pastry. The problem with this is that calandered products therefore have memory and have a tendancy to shrink back – this shrinking effect is exaggerated when the product has been stretched into recesses etc.

If you are simply applying to non recessed panels with simple curves you may get away with a calandered product but if having to use heat to stretch product my advice would be if any doubts then use a cast vinyl.

I’m sure others will be along that do use calandered film for wraps but certainly 3M would never guarantee any of their calandered products if heat stretching needs to be used

Stuart

[Steve Morgan]

If you are talking about Metamark MD7, it is, and I quote:

‘MD7 is suitable for vehicle wrapping or application onto corrugated or rivited surfaces, it has a highly conformable 53 micron cast film’

I’m not really sure if Stuart’s answer is just a plug for 3M or a mistake?

[Peter Normington]

Steve
MD7
is not the same as 7 series from metamark
7 series is, as Stuart pionts out a calendered vynil

Bit of confusing labeling really

Peter

[Stuart Taylor]

quote MARTIN MANLEY:

Anyone ever used Metamark 7 series for vehicle wraps? I’ve got some that’s the right colour for a client and would save me buying new stuff. Will it respond to heat and stretch a bit (it’s only a partial wrap, back doors & 2 side panels)?
Cheers
Martin (?)

Steve

Martin had stated Metamark 7 Series which is their self coloured polymeric caladered range and the fact that he had the right colour in stock makes me believe he is talking about the self coloured range – I agree that MD7 (confusing use of numbers in the codes I must say) is Metamarks Cast printing product and is approved by Metamark for wraps.

With regard to my answer being a plug for 3M is definitely not the reason I post here – My answer/advice was based on the use of any calandared vinyl and/or the advantages of using any Cast Vinyl. The only time I mentioned 3M was with regard to their policy to warranting calandered films for wrapping and using them as an example of how a manufacturer regards cast/calandered product.

Stuart

[Karl Williams]

From my experience over the past couple of weeks any vinyl that is refered to as calendered would be a big no. I’ve never used the MD7, but looking at the profiles in the Shiraz Rip it refers to the MD7 as a cast digital bus wrap. Call Metamark and get their advice and ask them to email a PDF of the the vinyls conformobility and correct application and follow them by the book. In the Shiraz it has a couple of MD7’s listed.
MD7-100 is the cast. MD7 105 clear gloss is not refered to as a cast so my advice is find out which MD7 you have. There may be more than a few. Don’t take a risk and go through the aggro that I did. 😉

[Stuart Taylor]

Peter beat me to it by a couple of minutes

[Warren Beard]

I had the rep from Metamark here the other day and she told me that series 7 (not MD7 which is a wrap vinyl) is the same as MD5 which lots of people have used as a wrap vinyl, not sure how long these wraps were left on for but going on what the rep told me it is suitable but I would say not for long term.

cheers

Warren

[Steve Morgan]

Ah apologies then to Stuart – I’ve used the MD7 but not aware of the 7 series material, bit daft giving similar type numbers to dissimilar materials, as you say.