metamark md5 equivalent

[Chris Windebank]

am led to believe that MD5 is the Arlon face film. Willy Smith are doing a deal on this at the moment, might be worth a look

[Derek Heron]

thanks chris
ordered will post how it compares

Derek

[David Hammond]

I am interested in this Derek.

I have changed suppliers for banner. Paper, and plotter vinyl from metamark. Simply new suppliers offer similar products for less, and I can collect so no delivery costs.

What laminate are you using with the MD-5 as that’s equally expensive.

I don’t know how MacTac compares to Metamark?

[David Rowland]

hey? if ur comparing Arlon 4500G? to MD5, then I would say they are NOT the same.

[Chris Windebank]

cant remember which but the FACE film is the same just the adhesive is different, will look at tomorrow

[Jason Davies]

Hi Derek is that for the 1220mm roll?

Jason

[David Rowland]

i know md5 is really good vinyl for printing…. put arlon in the latex only to get pooling problems and coelense(spellng).. so thats why i said it. have used md5 before as well as is considered one of the best materials for printing

[Derek Heron]

hi jason thats the 1370mm

i have ordered vinyl from william smith so will let you know the spec and if its any good .
metamark is good and i have said so before but the price hasn’t crept up its jumped

derek

[Jason Davies]

Thanks Derek, have you spoken to your rep? Their normally very helpful especially when you are considering moving your orders to another company.

[Derek Heron]

hi jason
i did speak to my rep
and price is set in stone
another sign maker locally gets a better price but think he buys a lot more.

derek

[David Hammond]

I’ve always paid more than £150 for a 50m roll of 1600mm. However, I don’t get through that much.

I don’t dispute that MD-5 is a great vinyl. Its the only digital vinyl I stock and the matching laminate. But like some of their other products I am sure there’s others that are comparable to MD-5 for considerably less.

[Gary Birch]

quote Dave Rowland:

hey? if ur comparing Arlon 4500G? to MD5, then I would say they are NOT the same.

I agree with Dave here. We tried the Arlon about 18months ago and had nothing but trouble.

We use MD5 and have no issues at all. That has to be worth a few quid a roll.

Jason is right too. Andy our rep will do all he can to keep you using Metamark products.

[Chris Windebank]

Gary, Dave did not say he had any trouble and if you have had do you mind explaining what it was so we can all learn why not to but Arlon?

Whilst I prefer MD5 too Derek is looking for an alternative and could do with advise if you had problems

[Jamie Wood]

Derek – how much over £150 is it? We are finding that a lot of vinyl is increasing in
price, in particular 3M 40 series, which is going up 19% (!!!). If it’s not much more
than £150, then I still think that it is a good price, as most of the polymerics are around £170.

We have just tried a roll of Arlon 4500 on our JV33, and found it fine, although not the brightest white film we have used, which may be an issue with some customers.

[Gary Birch]

quote Chris Windebank:

Gary, Dave did not say he had any trouble and if you have had do you mind explaining what it was so we can all learn why not to but Arlon?

Whilst I prefer MD5 too Derek is looking for an alternative and could do with advise if you had problems

Chris
It was about 18months ago and I’m doing this from memory but from what I remember we found that the colours weren’t as vibrant as with MD5, there was also random contamination right through the roll (even hand prints). The backing paper on the laminate was also thicker and stiffer which as we use the Ezytaper to laminate made it much harder.

For the money we have yet to find a vinyl to compete with the MD5. Having said that we pay less than £150 a roll too.

[Chris Wool]

i am a big fan of IJ40 but will have to jump ship soon so following whats said

[Ian Johnston]

quote Chris Wool:

i am a big fan of IJ40 but will have to jump ship soon so following whats said

have to admit, i am a big fan of MD5 been using it for years and never changed untill i got persuaded to try the 3m IJ40 and found it was real nice to print to with a lot better ink limits,
I haven’t tried it on deep recesses yet, which was a major plus for MD5

[David Rowland]

quote Jamie Wood:

although not the brightest white film we have used, which may be an issue with some customers.

Yes actually i found that… considered making a profile for it as William Smith sadly have not done it (tut tut) and the ones on the website are for the other Arlons. I had the sales manager of Arlon in the office a while ago, he was explaining to us where it is made and America it is.

The Metamarks, well we discussed that before and I think it was asia but cant be certain.

AGFA and many other companies consider MD5 to be the vinyl standard for profiling.

[Chris Windebank]

Thats interested Dave, I had Metamark in and they were the ones who said it was Arlon face film!
Tried Arlon direct but the rep had a bad habit of calling every other day and pestering me so stopped ordering and went back to MD5. Might give it another go if Willy Smith sell it. Never had a problem with MD5 but had contamination with other films so always hard to change. Price not an issue for me, prefer constant quality.

[Gary Birch]

quote Chris Windebank:

Price not an issue for me, prefer constant quality.

I have to agree Chris. We can put a roll of any Metamark media on with confidence. I have never been able to do that with lower costing polymerics.

[Chris Wool]

quote Ian Johnston:

I haven’t tried it on deep recesses yet, which was a major plus for MD5

for panel edges if you have to heat and stretch then no, fold in yes.

will md5 take a small stretch ok.

[Roy Roberts]

Just ordered from rep Karen, asked her if there was a price increase and she said no.
There is a bit of confusion regarding new catalogue out with prices but she has stated at point in time there are no price increases.

Regards

Roy

[Derek Heron]

hi roy is karen metamark rep if so can you pm me
karens number

derek

[Roy Roberts]

Hi Derek,
PM Sent.

Regards

Roy

[Derek Heron]

cheers roy

[Derek Heron]

quote Derek Heron:

cheers roy

😥
im’ e out of her area ooerr

its a conspiracy
Derek

[Roy Roberts]

Sorry Mate! 😕

[Russell Huffer]

With regards to MD5 being Arlon, MD5 is MD5 made by Metamark and loved by all for it’s ability to absorb lots of ink therefore giving high gloss finish. It is a very good vinyl.

The confusion on this thread I belive comes from MD7 this IS Arlon it is the Arlon 6000 cast with no air escape, simply rebranded and sold by metamark, if you read the matamark book you will see that MD5 and other vinyls made by Metamark are sold in 50M lengths however the MD7 shows it’s USA origen being sold in 45M lengths.

Kind regards

Russell.

[Chris Wool]

thought i would tag on to this.

so my stock of IJ40 is nearly out. time to change due to unreasonable price increase.

do i go for ARLON william smith doing good offer of return if not happy and price
OR
MD5 few quid dearer but cheaper than i was paying for IJ40

which way to jump

[David Hammond]

Not used Arlon, so I am biased towards MD-5.

Metamark provide the profiles for the media, which I have never had a problem with.

Speak with your sales rep, they might just be able to match or better Arlons price. 😉

[Jamie Wood]

I’m leaning towards the MD5. Out of interest, does anyone know the story behind the
big increase on IJ40? I’ve heard that some people are having bigger price jumps than
others. Perhaps Rob can let us know if this affects the UKSG price.

[Chris Wool]

well few rolls latter settled on the arlon not a problem so far. just the laminate is not quite as glossy as ij40 and a annoying backing paper which could do with some more release on it.

now 3M are trying to re invent ij40 as something new and cheap.

[Gill Harrison]

quote :

now 3M are trying to re invent ij40 as something new and cheap.

Hi Chris

The product 3M are introducing is a polymeric overlaminate . It’s still exactly the same ij40 digital base film range.

The ij40 now has a matched polymeric overlaminate, the clear gloss 8019 or matt 8020. You will notice these are not prefixed with ij (ink jet) therefore these 2 products are simply overlaminates not digital clears. These products are cheaper than the digital clears which is why we are able offer a better priced ij40 kit. 

[Andrew Blackett]

Paper graphics have some stonking deals on Aslan 7 year polymeric vinyl. Data sheet says its a silicone pe liner so sounds good on paper.

Have used a fair bit of Arlon 4500, prints nice and release is good but would second the earlier comments about contamination. Had a few rolls where the markings on the backing paper had stained the face of the vinyl with pink marks.

Andy

[David Rowland]

Yes Aslan/Papergraphics rep was in trying to get me to switch, offering me very cheap deals.

I have tested it on general signage, it isn’t bad material.