As businesses look to increase their competitive advantage and provide more value to their customers many may not realize the advantage that water transfer imaging can provide.
Some examples are:
If you are using a substrate in your product because of a special need and that substrate is not an esthetically appealing substrate, you can change the look of that substrate to reflect another high end substrate that is appealing but not practicable for your application.
Water transfer imaging can be used in place of decals and vinyl wraps and is often more cost effective and durable. It can help eliminate costly warranty problems.
More cost effective substrates can be used and given the look of a higher end substrate through the water transfer imaging process. This can help reduce the overall cost of a product without sacrificing the quality of that product.
Matching the look of different substrates to provide a visually appealing look to a product that is otherwise unachievable without the use of water transfer imaging.
When competing with several other manufacturers of the same products you can use the water transfer imaging process to give your product the customized look that will help it stand apart from your competitors and draw the attention of consumers to your products.
As you can see the applications to use water transfer imaging to further your success in your market area are numerous and only limited by your imagination in its application.
Until next time,
Imagine it.....Dip it!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Taking a Closer Look
Having a background in Industrial Engineering and having worked in several different manufacturing industries both as a designer and provider of products to an end user of products worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, I have seen first-hand how important a finishing process can be to the success of a product.
Imagine for a moment that you have developed a system that works for an industrial application. The production value of the equipment is stellar, and the customer is willing to invest a large sum of money in your product to incorporate your system into theirs.
Now imagine that piece of equipment arrives on site, the new owner comes by to see his latest addition and the finish on the equipment is bland and unappealing. Or worse yet, it has scratches, runs, and chips in its finish. Imagine how your customer feels at that moment. It would be like buying a high end automobile and having it arrive looking like someone painted it with a spray bomb.
Perhaps you have experienced this from a buyer's or a supplier's perspective. The problem is companies go to great lengths to ensure their products do what they are supposed to do as far as fit, form, and function. However, less thought is given to how the product will look in the field or the first visual impression it will make.
Even worse is when the finishing is defined as the area used to cut the cost of manufacturing by providing products coated with the most cost effective and least visually appealing finish that can be found, thinking that it does not really matter.
Consider this, the products we produce are a reflection of our brand and in some cases are our brand. They are out there in the world leaving impressions about our company to anyone and everyone who encounters them. This can be a good or a not so good impression. We are a society that is busy and involved and we have developed a keen sense of making a first impression based on a visual inspection. This visual impression can have a huge impact on our attitudes towards products and companies.
So if the products you present to the world do not visually make the impression that you are trying to portray about your product or company then you are doing yourself a disservice.
Products are show pieces for the companies that produced them for as long as they exist. They are truly one of our best or worst marketing tools. Is it not in our best interest to make them look as good as possible?
I can remember being on tours of facilities and people would comment on a piece of equipment because the piece stood out and was visually appealing enough for someone to ask the question about it. At that point a conversation usually ensued about the equipment and its value to the operation. Ask any marketer about the value of having someone else saying something good about your product.
So why then do a lot of companies opt for the least expensive and least visually appealing finishes they can get? Well, in most cases it has to do with the fact that companies are not aware of the value of the finish. They have not considered the impression that a good quality or unique finish can provide them in their market place or the positive feeling it can inspire in our customers. Other times it is a costing decision, in that when trying to keep our cost competitive we choose to reduce the quality of the finish thinking that it really does not affect how our product will perform.
So when reviewing your product offering to your market consider the effect that your finish has upon how your product and your company are viewed in the eyes of your customer. Give some thought to the finish process you are using and look at it from all perspectives including added perception of value for your customer to the marketing appeal of a great looking product to perspective customers.
Until next time,
Imagine it......Dip it!
Imagine for a moment that you have developed a system that works for an industrial application. The production value of the equipment is stellar, and the customer is willing to invest a large sum of money in your product to incorporate your system into theirs.
Now imagine that piece of equipment arrives on site, the new owner comes by to see his latest addition and the finish on the equipment is bland and unappealing. Or worse yet, it has scratches, runs, and chips in its finish. Imagine how your customer feels at that moment. It would be like buying a high end automobile and having it arrive looking like someone painted it with a spray bomb.
Perhaps you have experienced this from a buyer's or a supplier's perspective. The problem is companies go to great lengths to ensure their products do what they are supposed to do as far as fit, form, and function. However, less thought is given to how the product will look in the field or the first visual impression it will make.
Even worse is when the finishing is defined as the area used to cut the cost of manufacturing by providing products coated with the most cost effective and least visually appealing finish that can be found, thinking that it does not really matter.
Consider this, the products we produce are a reflection of our brand and in some cases are our brand. They are out there in the world leaving impressions about our company to anyone and everyone who encounters them. This can be a good or a not so good impression. We are a society that is busy and involved and we have developed a keen sense of making a first impression based on a visual inspection. This visual impression can have a huge impact on our attitudes towards products and companies.
So if the products you present to the world do not visually make the impression that you are trying to portray about your product or company then you are doing yourself a disservice.
Products are show pieces for the companies that produced them for as long as they exist. They are truly one of our best or worst marketing tools. Is it not in our best interest to make them look as good as possible?
I can remember being on tours of facilities and people would comment on a piece of equipment because the piece stood out and was visually appealing enough for someone to ask the question about it. At that point a conversation usually ensued about the equipment and its value to the operation. Ask any marketer about the value of having someone else saying something good about your product.
So why then do a lot of companies opt for the least expensive and least visually appealing finishes they can get? Well, in most cases it has to do with the fact that companies are not aware of the value of the finish. They have not considered the impression that a good quality or unique finish can provide them in their market place or the positive feeling it can inspire in our customers. Other times it is a costing decision, in that when trying to keep our cost competitive we choose to reduce the quality of the finish thinking that it really does not affect how our product will perform.
So when reviewing your product offering to your market consider the effect that your finish has upon how your product and your company are viewed in the eyes of your customer. Give some thought to the finish process you are using and look at it from all perspectives including added perception of value for your customer to the marketing appeal of a great looking product to perspective customers.
Until next time,
Imagine it......Dip it!
Monday, February 22, 2010
A Question of Durability
People often ask how durable is the finish on a water transfer printed item?
Considering that most companies applying this process are using a polyurethane clear coat then the answer is very durable. Today’s polyurethanes are designed to be tougher then ever with added UV protectors so the finish will last years without fading.
Another advantage of using polyurethane coatings is the selections of finishes you can achieve. There are mat finishes for the hunting rifles to a super high gloss polished look for your auto trim parts.
The care of the finish is simple as well. Just wipe clean with a damp cloth or if it needs to be washed, use mild detergent and your items will look new again. If you get a scratch in the clear coat it can easily be buffed out.
At Cobra Imaging we do use other finishing processes in addition to the polyurethane. For example we apply a ceramic clear coat for applications that demand superior durability. Examples would be industrial applications.
We have a soft rubberized clear coat that we use on items that need some grip to them, examples are camera cases.
Professional decorators of water transfer printing always look to ensure that the highest quality finishes are applied that meet the application of the end user. This attention to the end use ensures that the item will stay beautiful for years to come.
Until next time,
Imagine it…..Dip it!
Considering that most companies applying this process are using a polyurethane clear coat then the answer is very durable. Today’s polyurethanes are designed to be tougher then ever with added UV protectors so the finish will last years without fading.
Another advantage of using polyurethane coatings is the selections of finishes you can achieve. There are mat finishes for the hunting rifles to a super high gloss polished look for your auto trim parts.
The care of the finish is simple as well. Just wipe clean with a damp cloth or if it needs to be washed, use mild detergent and your items will look new again. If you get a scratch in the clear coat it can easily be buffed out.
At Cobra Imaging we do use other finishing processes in addition to the polyurethane. For example we apply a ceramic clear coat for applications that demand superior durability. Examples would be industrial applications.
We have a soft rubberized clear coat that we use on items that need some grip to them, examples are camera cases.
Professional decorators of water transfer printing always look to ensure that the highest quality finishes are applied that meet the application of the end user. This attention to the end use ensures that the item will stay beautiful for years to come.
Until next time,
Imagine it…..Dip it!
Friday, February 12, 2010
So What Can be Dipped?
The possibilities for items that can be dipped are almost endless. The most common items being dipped are Automotive parts (like dash boards, interior trim, etc.), Camouflage on firearms and ATV's. However anything that can be momentarily submerged into water is possible, the only exception to this would be rubber because of its elasticity.
So let your imagination run wild, we have dipped wheels, engine covers, helmets, snowmobile parts, household items such as floor registers, electrical cover plates, cupboard doors, ceiling fan blades, it adheres to bone so animal skulls have been dipped, and then there is the industrial application for anyone who wants to add value to their product or just stand out from their competitors.
As you can see the process of water transfer printing is a system that can be applied to almost anything. It really only is limited to ones imagination. If you have any ideas of something that can be dipped let us know. We always love to hear ideas from people.
Until next time take care and remember.....
Imagine it.....Dip it!
So let your imagination run wild, we have dipped wheels, engine covers, helmets, snowmobile parts, household items such as floor registers, electrical cover plates, cupboard doors, ceiling fan blades, it adheres to bone so animal skulls have been dipped, and then there is the industrial application for anyone who wants to add value to their product or just stand out from their competitors.
As you can see the process of water transfer printing is a system that can be applied to almost anything. It really only is limited to ones imagination. If you have any ideas of something that can be dipped let us know. We always love to hear ideas from people.
Until next time take care and remember.....
Imagine it.....Dip it!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
So What is Water Transfer Imaging?
Water transfer imaging, also referred as "water transfer printing" and "cube coating", is the process of applying a decorative ink pattern to a solid three dimensional substrate. The types of substrates that this process can be applied to are metals, plastics, composites like fiberglass and carbon fiber, woods, and ceramics.
The object being decorated goes through several stages. First it is sanded and cleaned, it is then given a coat of primer formulated to the substrate. A base colour is applied and the object is dipped in the pattern of choice. After it is dry the final stage is clear coating the object.
The actual "dipping" process involves cutting the film to size and laying it on a tank of water. The film backing dissolves leaving a only the dehydrated ink pattern floating on the water surface. This ink is sprayed with a releasing agent which hydrates the ink to liquid. The object being dipped is then pushed through the ink into the water. The water pushes the ink into all of the areas of the object completely covering it in the ink pattern. The object is then removed from the water and given a final rinse before moving to a drying area.
Until next time,
Imagine it.....Dip it!
The object being decorated goes through several stages. First it is sanded and cleaned, it is then given a coat of primer formulated to the substrate. A base colour is applied and the object is dipped in the pattern of choice. After it is dry the final stage is clear coating the object.
The actual "dipping" process involves cutting the film to size and laying it on a tank of water. The film backing dissolves leaving a only the dehydrated ink pattern floating on the water surface. This ink is sprayed with a releasing agent which hydrates the ink to liquid. The object being dipped is then pushed through the ink into the water. The water pushes the ink into all of the areas of the object completely covering it in the ink pattern. The object is then removed from the water and given a final rinse before moving to a drying area.
Until next time,
Imagine it.....Dip it!
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