How To Minimise Product Damage With Protective Film?

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the steel industry has been one of the hardest hit industries, resulting in unprecedented demand and never-ending price increases. As this demand continues to soar, protecting metal workpieces is essential to minimise costs and limit damage during manufacture and delivery.

It is here that protective film can be an effective tool to manage steel supply by reducing material waste and helping companies avoid costly losses that affect their output.

Providing protection

Products that arrive at the end user with scratches or dents can lead to high returns and repair costs on behalf of the company. Worse still, damage can generate environmentally harmful material waste. On the face of it, the last thing a customer wants is for goods to arrive with dents or scratches. NB the temporary protective film ensures items remain damage free throughout the manufacturing, shipping and delivery process.

 Protection Films for Stainless Steel Sheets 

Service centres that deal with the manufacture, handling and transport of metal can benefit enormously from the protective film. When service centres produce sheet metal, they need it to arrive at their customers' plants undamaged.

Another industry that is well suited to the use of protective film is transport. As the interiors and exteriors of cars, planes, trains, buses and caravans are often made of steel and other metals, protection throughout the process is even more important to prevent rust and corrosion. Then there are products such as mirrors and stainless steel appliances, which also benefit from protective films.

The manufacturing process

During the manufacturing process, laser cutting without a protective film creates a high risk of burn marks or worn edges. Think of companies that manufacture refrigerators or design cabinets and worktops - protective film can help prevent damage during the cutting and forming process.

The protective film allows manufacturers to skip a step and laser cut immediately, saving time and money and creating a more stable supply chain. In addition, ensuring accurate metal cutting means that high volume orders will reach customers on time and without the need for repairs.

The more refined the process, the less likely the product will be damaged when it reaches the end user, meaning the company can keep its customers happy.

Protective Films

Protective film applications

When these materials arrive at the manufacturer or fabricator who uses them to make new products, the manufacturer wants to limit damage and returns as much as possible. The alternative is to frustrate and delay the customer, causing expensive replacements and re-shipping to the company.

Protective films were designed from the start for protection - as a defence mechanism during the cutting process when the product is sent to manufacturing for the product application and finally when the product is delivered.

They also strive to maintain the performance and appearance of the plastic surface during production, assembly and finishing processes. A benefit is that they are solvent-based, which means they are designed to protect metal, plastic, glass and carpet surfaces. With an increasing number of appliance manufacturers producing fingerprint-resistant finishes and many industries selling products with special coatings, protective films can be used specifically to safeguard these items.

Coated and uncoated metals with customisable colour options are also protected, as are painted metals using topcoat systems. In addition to windows and coated glass, carpet surfaces, which may be found in living rooms or on staircases, are suitable for protective film applications as well. It is important to note that metal and carpet surfaces are susceptible to damage during assembly, transport and application, so the use of protective films is one way to ensure that these products are not harmed.

Smart Protective Film Solutions

NB manufactures smart solutions for many protective film formulations. For more information, please visit https://www.nbprotectivefilm.com.