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Rob Lambie reviews Arlon SLX Cast Vehicle Wrap +FLITE Technology +VIDEO
Rob Lambie reviews SLX™ Cast Wrap + FLITE Technology®
Note: Subtitles are on by default due to this video being put out across Europe. Subtitles can easily be turned off by clicking the CC icon on the lower right of the youtube video player
After hearing so much about arlon SLX, we as a company decided to give it a go. So far, the feedback from our in-house installers and sub-contractors throughout the UK has been excellent. So I decided to give it a go myself and wrap this van here today.
My names Rob Lambie and I have been installing vehicle graphics, and vehicle wraps for the past 29 years. In that time, my company has designed, manufactured and installed around 30,000 vehicles ranging from a small smart car, up to an articulated lorry.
Around seven years ago, we switched to Arlon 6000XRP and have been using it ever since on our full vehicle wraps, partial wraps and vehicle graphics.
Like the XRP the colour output was excellent. The general handling was really good, and due to the low initial tack, the new flight technology helps speed up the application no end for one person. It allows them to manage an entire side of a van on their own using only magnets, it allows them to lift and lay the film, and it allows them to lift and lay the film, slide it round about, do whatever they want with it until they are comfortable with the position that it is in. Then it allows them to move forward and apply it.My personal opinion is that the speed of application is a crucial money-saving aspect for any vehicle wrapper. The fact that this is a quality cast film gives you extra peace of mind that after the job is complete, there is going to be no come-backs.
My Overall thoughts on Arlon SLX are:
* Excellent Print Quality
* Speed of Application
* Excellent conformability
* Handles very well and the reposition ability is great.
* It has low to zero static charge, And it gives you peace of mind that it will not fail in a recessed area.
* It doesn’t stretch easily unless it is required to do so.
* A more important aspect for the wrapper is that when it comes to the end of the vinyl’s life, it removes clean, quick and easily.
To purchase our products find a distributor near you: CLICK HERE
Find out more about SLX™ Cast Wrap on our website: CLICK HEREFor further information:
Arlon Graphics, LLC
Gevers Deynootweg 93, 4th Floor
2586BK Den Haag, Netherlands
Phone: +31 (0) 70 354 4311
Chamber of Commerce no.(K.v.K.): 52724239
http://www.arlon.com.
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6 Replies
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Going to order a bundle of this Rob, if only to give it a fair crack of the whip. The colour on your wrap is outstanding, what printer did you use to produce it? I may be looking to upgrade some of my vintage kit
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Hi Kev
The printer used was an HP 360 Latex. ( A newer versions of it is available )
Years back, when we first switched to Latex printers, it was on an HP 26500 and the types of vinyl we used at the time, none gave a rich vibrant red.
This became a major headache for me because one of our large customers had this colour requirement in their fleet of part-wrap vans we were about to rebrand.
So I started trialling different types of wrap vinyl, and the Arlon 6000XRP just hit the colour first time! And as you can see from the Arlon SLX in the video, the colours come out excellent.Something you sometimes get when wrapping using solid colours is a "colour shift" when stretched.
The depth of stretch and your method of stretch plays a big part in a shift happening, but if you look close in the video when I stretch into the number plate area of the van.
There is zero colour shift. By that, I mean lightening or bleaching of the colour due to the stretch. It is a vibrant orange, and there is no change in colour in this deep recess.
My method of stretching the vinyl into the number plate section is a bit different to the norm for such a deep recess. But the material is very pliable and formed first time nicely.The SLX appears to have what I can only describe as a dry matt adhesive which significantly reduces the first touch bond you would expect to get from most other types of vinyl, particularly ones that have been printed.
Usually, I actually prefer a bit of tack as I lay it and snap-it back up working with it as It gives me a little reassurance it is going to stay where I put it. But the SLX is different and can easily be positioned even with a large section like a bonnet or roof when working alone. Again in the video, watch when I apply the bonnet. You will see I stick an area down, go to the opposite side and use it as an anchor point for me to pull against to remove the slack before applying. Many wrap films would not have required me to stick a section, they would have just stuck on contact, and I would have been lifting and laying multiple times to get it right, which can be time-consuming or create kinks and lines in the vinyl as a result.Like "any" wrapping film on the market, there are best practice procedures that must be followed to get the best performance from the vinyl during your installation, as well as to uphold product warranties.
What I would advise when using Arlon SLX is to be sure to fit the vinyl at adequate room temperature.
The reason I say this is…
Any wrapper should know room temperate, and the surface temperature of the vehicle plays a big part in a successful wrap.
i.e.
(1) A warm or hot surface and the vinyl will create a strong instant tack as well as make the vinyl stretchy and unmanageable.
(2) A cool or cold surface and the not on the vinyl, but the adhesive stiffens up, and the initial tack is significantly reduced, as well as making the film brittle.Now the Arlon SLX FLITE adhesive is a pretty new adhesive system that has a low initial tack which allows surface slide-ability even in a relatively warm room. However, If the room is cold and the vehicles metal surface is cold. That low initial tack that we benefit from is going to drop much further and could make your installation difficult in recessed areas where an instant strong bond is important. So please keep this in mind, so you experience the vinyl install in the way intended and achieve the required bond.
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Thanks Rob, I’ve had printed samples of SLX kicking about for some time now which the fitters have blatantly ignored. After watching your video, I spoke with my supplier yesterday & the price I’ve been offered would make it rude not to give it a go. I am a little concerned that this material could make the job accessible to anybody though, even the reflective samples seem pretty bulletproof
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Great stuff, and they do a short term wrap material with the same technology.
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Used it for the first time two weeks ago after being surprised on the price also.
It was easy to work with. Next morning it felt like it was bolted onto the vehicle to. Wouldn’t mind going on one if there course though being 100 % self taught.
I don’t think joe blogs could pick this up and wrap a mates car with no training or practice and it would be looking great in months to come. But certainly more difficult to make a mistake with it.
Did the door handle and being honest I struggle with little details like that but had it done in 20 minutes.if it was metamark MDX I don’t think I could of managed it. Not first go anyway.
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Looks good. Great material my. It’s live it
