Wrapping: The Evolution(s) - Part 2

By Paul Roba

The vehicle wrap industry has undergone many important evolutionary changes, where improvements have been made in various areas.

In my previous discussion, I covered evolution in product engineering and converting technologies. Those evolutions helped at the base level for the wrap industry to grow and thrive.

The progress areas include the following sections:

• Product engineering

• Converting technologies

• Training & Certification

• Application Process

• Tools

• Fellowship

This article focuses on the evolution seen in training, application processes, tools, and fellowship in the vehicle wrap industry. These focused areas help take the foundation of products and build the future of wrapping with the industriousness of innovators and champions in this trade.

Training & Certification

As we all know, training, practice, and certification are critical to success as a wrap installer or installation company.

• Training provides a sound foundation of skills to understand the limitations of wrap materials, and how to effectively work around difficult application areas.

• Practice, or as I like to call it… Practice, Practice, Practice, is key to honing your application skills from what you have learned and perfecting them for consistent high quality.

• Certification demonstrates proficiency, professionalism, and recognition as more than competent to install wrap graphics and color change films.

In the early years of the emerging wrap industry, training was sparse at best. Most installers felt that with a squeegee and heat gun or torch, they could install by brute force and the heat and stretch method. Not very effective for long-term performance. The training was desperately needed.

Initially, a few training programs evolved through 3M, PDAA (Professional Decal Application Alliance), and UASG (United Application Standards Group). These programs were many times limited to a few sessions throughout the year. As the need for more training was seen, Avery Dennison, Mutoh, and Roland joined in as valuable resources to obtain training on how to convert and apply materials.

Looking at today’s training programs, one sees that the wrap vinyl manufacturers all have some sort of program to train users on their products. Some of the training originators have expanded their program offerings significantly, adding sessions, certified trainers, and broader geographic coverage.

As well, there have been many new entrants into the burgeoning education segment for vehicle wrapping. These include destination training, where you go to the company’s location; travel training programs, where the trainers come to you: and online training, where you have unlimited access to training videos wherever you have an internet connection.

Training has evolved from a few dozen sessions offered through a limited group of providers, to close to 200 sessions offered by a diverse group of organizations and individuals. Additionally, training has blossomed to include other products and segments like paint protection films, window tints, architectural products, rigid signage, windows, floors, and other areas.

Training has given many installers a strong base to move their skills to a faster, more robust, more profitable business. It (training) also exposes them to other segments that can complement their business broaden their offerings, and increase earning potential.

Practice is the next step in the Training

& Certification process. To gain certification installers need to hone their craft. Repetition helps ensure the skills learned become second nature, and repeatable. Practice, practice, practice… on your own, with associates, on your car or truck, with scrap materials, and whenever possible.

Certification should be the goal for most installers and installation companies. Why? Because it provides recognition by manufacturers and industry associations that the installer has achieved strong proficiency in installation and bolsters the confidence a customer can have in the installer's work.

Like training, certification programs have burgeoned as the wrap industry matures. A few certification programs from 3M,

UASG, and PDAA has evolved into most media manufacturers developing a system, and many new third-party organizations providing their independent certifications.

The certification an installer looks to obtain should be from the supplier(s) of the products they use on a regular basis, or from a source the material supplier recognizes. By being certified in this manner, the installer can develop a stronger relationship with the manufacturer, improve the potential for support if an issue occurs, and provide the confidence to their customers that they do what they know, and know what they do!

Application Process

When wrap vinyls were first introduced, the application process was basic. Heat the material, PDAAand stretch to conform over the compound curves and multi-dimensional obstacles. Failures proliferated, and manufacturers were seen as “the bad guy” as they declined claims on material performance because of application techniques.

This brought about an evolution of the application process so installers could develop knowledge to improve the applications, reduce installation time, and provide customers with flawless end products. Of course, the application process works hand-in-hand with Training, as new techniques are shared and learned.

Evolution in installation came about with many new techniques and buzzwords. Initially, there were limited application techniques like those presented by Rob Ivers and his 2011 book “The Graphic Installers Handbook” and Jim Hingst’s book, “Vinyl Sign Techniques”. These were fleet and signage-oriented books and did not provide too much in the areas of commercial or color-change vehicle wraps.

On came UGIS from Justin Pate, an evolution from fleet & signage to wrap application tips. UGIS (Universal Graphics Installation System) took applications to a new level, some would say it was a revolution. New terms came about like:

• Making glass

• Triangles

• Cutting on the Empty/ Empty or Solid/Empty

• Tuck and cut

• Post heating

The industry continued evolving, and influencers like Rainer Lorz, Justin Pate, and Koji Yamaguchi came up with new techniques and concepts for application. There have been many global influencers from Germany, The Netherlands, The USA, Japan, Korea, Brazil, and many other countries contributing to the evolution of the application process. Some newer phrases, and techniques that have gained world recognition include:

• Feeding the mouth

• The palm technique

• Cold Pre-stretch

• Hot pre-stretch

• Zero stretch

• Wrap Matrix

• Pyramids

I won’t get into what each of these techniques are because they can be complicated to explain in words. Look for them online, and through training platforms to get a better understanding of how to learn and use these evolving techniques to improve vinyl application and performance.

Tools

Of course, much of the evolution of application processes could not be possible without the hand-to-hand (pun intended) evolution of application tools. Early on there were squeegees, felt squeegees, the Rolle ProTM, X-ACTO® knives, breakaway cutters, masking tape, Snitty, and heat guns or torches. Many tools from other industries like tweezers, dental picks, car ramps, and other products were also incorporated into the wrap world.

Through the years tools were developed and improved upon for better applications. Even the tools from other industries were modified to address the unique needs of the wrap industry. I probably can’t name all the tools but know that focus from companies many manufacturers have created better ways to wrap the edge, tuck the vinyl, cut the corner, slit the backer, smooth the vinyl, heat the vinyl, remove the obstacles, position the graphics and so much more. Some products you probably have heard of:

• Knifeless Tape, finish, design, perf, precision, bridge, & tri line

• Application gloves, seamless, different fabrics, fingertips only

• Magnets

• Material holders like Wrap U Ezee, frames, application bars

• Knives with special features and capabilities

• Squeegees, all different shapes, sizes, flexibility

• Buffers, for wet application, scratch resistance

• Removal tools for emblems, clips, molding and trim

• Heat guns, IR guns, integrated heat & IR guns

This is just a high-level listing of some of the products that have evolved over time and with great creativity to make installations better. In addition, many of these products addressed difficult application scenarios and made them easier to conquer.

Fellowship

All the previous evolutions that I have mentioned pale in comparison to the overarching evolutionary umbrella for graphic and color change wraps, the fellowship or camaraderie of the members of the industry. In the early years, there were really only two basic groups providing support for fellow installers, USAG and PDAA. Then a few webbased forums were developed but were not focused specifically on wraps.

Social media, blogs, industry leaders, and industry associations emerged to support, promote, improve, and provide platforms for knowledge exchange for the wrap industry. Many groups sprang up like Masters of Branding, Paint is Dead, Wrapper Mapper, The Wrap Society and many regional, national, and global groups on Facebook and other social media platforms.

But where else did evolution take place?

One tradeshow NBM created a wrap-focused event – WRAPScon. This show extension created laser-concentrated content to help installers/ applicators meet, share ideas, and learn new techniques. Adding to the brother/sisterhood, competitions were held, master panel discussions plus open Q&A sessions were open to the community, and knowledge flowed freely.

The Wrap Experience is another extension of a tradeshow (ISA Expo) which brings together a wide range of companies and products focused on the wrap segment of the sign, graphics and visual communications industry. This show provides forums and contests where individuals and teams compete for prizes and learn about the latest materials, tools and applications at the same time!

All of these Fellowship experiences demonstrate the evolution of an industry where individuals and companies can turn to each other for sharing of knowledge in a freeflowing manner. The members of the wrap family rise above and show that people come first! This camaraderie has shown itself over and over again as the wrapper family comes together and help each other in time of need.

I am proud to say that I have been part of the wrap world for almost 40 years. The people I have had the honor to work with, and learn from, are countless and remain close to my heart to this day!

Wrap on!

Paul Roba

Paul Roba is a graphics and wrap industry veteran of over 35 years. He was involved with the early design, roll out, and training programs of wrap films.