Adhesion Testing

What Our Adhesion Testing Covers

Our adhesion testing support is built for flatbed and roll-to-roll UV printing work where the surface matters as much as the ink. We help you compare how the ink behaves on PVC, acrylic, polypropylene, PET, treated vinyl, foam board, corrugated board and coated substrates used in signage, display and packaging work.

The goal is simple, find the setting and surface combination that gives reliable bond, clean edges and good resistance to rubbing, scratching and handling. We look at curing levels, primer needs where relevant, print speed, pass count and whether the substrate needs cleaning or surface preparation before production.

• Substrate review for boards, plastics, films and coated sheets
• Ink and printer compatibility checks
• Adhesion comparison after curing and cooling
• Guidance for indoor and outdoor use, including coastal humidity conditions

How the Testing Process Works

You can send a sample sheet, a offcut from your board supplier, or a small quantity of the actual material you plan to print. We inspect the sample, identify likely adhesion risks and then advise on the test method best suited to your printer setup and production run. If needed, we guide you on cleaning, surface wipe-down, static control and how to avoid contamination from dust or release agents.

After printing and curing, we assess the result using practical checks such as tape pull, crosshatch style comparison where suitable, fingernail resistance, edge lift and rub testing. For roll media we also watch for cracking after winding and unwinding, which is important on longer runs and in changing warehouse temperatures.

• Sample intake and material identification
• Test print setup and curing guidance
• Adhesion check after full cure and cool-down
• Feedback on pass/fail results and next steps

Curing, Adhesion and Compatibility Notes

UV-curable ink needs enough energy to cure fully, but over-curing can also affect flexibility and bond on some materials. That is why compatibility checks matter. A surface that looks fine straight after print can still fail later if the cure is incomplete, the substrate is oily, or the film has poor surface energy. We help you balance lamp power, print speed and layer build so the result holds up in real use.

For outdoor signage, vehicle graphics and items handled often, we often suggest repeat testing when changing supplier batches, especially on plastics and coated media. In Durban and Gqeberha, moisture in the air can influence storage and handling so drying time and storage conditions should be watched closely. Always follow the safety data sheet and wear gloves when handling ink, cleaner or sample sheets.

Turnaround Times and Typical Response Windows

Turnaround depends on the sample type, the number of substrates being compared and whether colour trials are included. Simple review and guidance on a single substrate can often be handled quickly, while multi-surface comparisons take longer because each test needs proper curing and a fair check after cooling. Couriered samples from Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and other areas are checked once received in Epping, Cape Town.

For planning purposes, most customers use adhesion testing as part of a pre-production sign-off step before ordering larger volumes. That helps avoid reprints, wasted media and delays on site. If a job is time-sensitive, tell us the board size, film type and intended application so we can advise the best test sequence.

• Quick guidance for one material or one printer setting
• More detailed comparison for mixed substrates or repeat production
• Useful before a new signage or packaging run starts

Pricing Approach and What Affects the Cost for UV print rooms

We keep pricing based on the time needed, the number of samples involved and the level of technical support required. A basic adhesion review is different from a full comparison across several boards and films, and courier handling may also be part of the cost if you are sending samples from outside Cape Town. We do not add extras that you do not need.

What affects the price most is sample count, the complexity of the printer setup, whether colour trial support is needed and how much feedback you want on curing and surface prep. If your team needs training as part of the test, we can include operator guidance so the process is repeatable in house.

Curing and handling tips

Adhesion is not something you check once and forget. Re-test whenever you change substrate supplier, ink batch, printer settings, cleaning process or curing setup. A new season can also matter, especially for coastal customers where humidity changes and storage conditions shift through the year. For high volume shops, a monthly or quarterly review is often practical, while smaller operations may test whenever a new job type comes in.

We also recommend re-testing after a printer service, lamp replacement, firmware change or a move to new premises. Even small changes can alter cure and bond enough to affect the finish. Keep your sample notes, settings and substrate details together so repeat orders are easier to manage.

• Test again after changing media or ink batches
• Recheck following service work or curing changes
• Use written settings for repeat production jobs