PrismJET 230 Ultra Wrap vinyl. Our newest addition to the PrismJET digital media line is PrismJET 230 Ultra. 230 Ultra is an ultra calendered high performance vinyl designed to replace cast vinyl on fleet graphics and vehicle wraps on flat surfaces, simple curves and simple curves with rivets and corrugations.
If you’re wrapping a Chevy HHR, VW New Beetle, or some other curvaceous car, we still recommend 2mil cast vinyl. But for those installations where you don’t need cast but still want something with good conformability and the ease of an air egress liner for fast, bubble-free installation, you now have a more economical option.
How much more economical? PrismJET 230 Ultra can be yours for only 55¢ per square foot. That’s 45% less than the leading cast wrap vinyls from ORACAL, Avery, and 3M. Like these other products, PrismJET 230 Ultra has an air egress liner for quick and easy installation of large graphics. We know it’s not a cast vinyl, so how does it compare with other high performance calendered vinyls? It’s a little more conformable than ORAJET 355IRA, but costs 15% less. So if you’re looking for a more economical way to sell and install wraps on slab-sided vehicles like box trailers, pickup trucks, Scion XBs and Kia Souls, this is your best value. Simply put, choosing PrismJET 230 Ultra will add to your bottom line. And these days, everyone in business should be paying close attention to the bottom line.
How do you apply it? Like most modern wrap films there is a right way to apply 230 Ultra. Application over rivets and corrugations requires a little heat and a little finesse.
Rivets: For a paint-like finish over rivets, poke multiple holes around the rivet head to release the air, then using heat and a rivet brush work the film down. Heat the film to about 160 – 200° F. Finally apply high heat to release any tension stresses and to ensure a quick high strength bond.
Channels and corrugations: For channels, wherever possible lay the media through the channel rather than bridging and stretching the media. Any vinyl film (cast or calendered) can exhibit shrinking or tenting when overstretched or overheated. To bridge a gap properly, apply the film to the flat areas first. Use heat to soften the film, somewhere around 160° to 200°F. Immediately stretch the film into the groove, starting at the middle of the groove and working out to both sides. Using a cotton glove or soft cloth instead of a squeegee provides optimum pressure control and reduces the risk of scratching the film.
Post-Heating is recommended: After the film has been applied, you should “post-heat” the film at a higher temperature to eliminate the stretching stresses created during application. The desired temperature range is between 220° and 250°F. Move the heat source slowly. At this stage, you are heating both the vinyl and the body of the vehicle, so it takes more heat to achieve the final temperature requirement. Using a no-touch heat gauge is strongly recommended to ensure this important step is done correctly. Whether you use 230 Ultra or a premium cast vinyl like Avery Easy RS, post-heating can make the difference between a successful, profitable installation and an embarrassing and costly film failure. Click here for a thorough installation guide that includes tips on tools and temperature, a vehicle pre-inspection checklist, and more details on handling challenging surfaces. Happy Wrapping!
