This article is to explain more about the different thicknesses we produce and for what application they are good for.

THICKNESS REFERENCE:
0.15mm = 6 mil , semi rigid
0.2mm = 8 mil, this thickness and above are rigid
0.25mm= 10 mil
0.3mm= 12 mil
0.4mm= 16 mil
0.45mm=18 mil
0.5mm= 20 mil
0.7mm=28mil

MEMBRANE PRESSING / VACUUM PRESSING: For Solids and Woodgrains,  Dackor's 12 mil is most common as it can be membrane pressed by all however some company's even have the expertise to profile wrap as well. When you press, it uses heat and suction to form over the mdf components. This means that the material is pressed into the substrate. By going thicker you are able to hide more imperfections. In addition, by going thicker, deeper embosses can be incorporated for more realistic surfaces. Quality producers know that Dackor has a plethora of thicker materials as well and we do this to enable our customers to have higher quality parts and also to create more realistic woodgrain textures.

PROFILE WRAPPING: When profile wrapping, companies do not experience suction of the material into the mdf so thinner products can be used. The most common sizes are 6 mil and 8 mil. When we produce 6mil we do so with a semi rigid vinyl. This reduces cost but also enables the product to wrap well. Some companies love semi rigid due to its ease of wrapping however semi rigids often are not as strong or durable to scratches and wear. For that reason we offer rigid 8 mil product to enable the material to be thin enough to wrap yet more durable to scratch and more rigid to process. 

SEMI RIGID VERSUS RIGID: The best way to describe the difference is that semi rigid feels more like a thin shower curtain that is more flimsy in your hand. This is caused by adding more plasticizers to enable the product to stretch. This also lowers the cost of the product. Rigid, however, uses a very low amount of plasticizers and enables the product to be more rigid. The product still goes on a roll however its really more like a thinner version of membrane press laminate.

FLAT LAMINATION: Companies can flat laminate 12 mil and thicker vinyls however this is typically done with a PUR line or 2 part epoxy. For most flat lamination lines you would utilize a 6 mil or 8 mil. This is personal preference. It should be noted the strengths and weaknesses are that the 6 mil applies more quick and cost less however being thinner it may show more imperfections in the substrate whereas the 8 mil is more rigid. Please note that the heat utilized in processing will be different as well based upon the formulation of rigid versus semi rigid as well as the thickness. If the product is more thick it may take more heat to absorb into the material.  

MITER FOLDING: When folding the vinyl becomes a hinge. This means that you are routering a v groove in the back of the part and only kissing the vinyl. When you fold the part you get a crisp edge. One advantage of a rigid vinyl is that when you fold it thermosets better and is less likely to pucker on the edge. So there are some strengths to miter folding a rigid over a semi rigid. 

CONCLUSION: Please note that there are so many variables in lamination. There is time, heat, duration, pressure, glue used, board, humidity , user and more. This means that like all professional laminations you really need to test produce product to be sure of the thickness and formulation to be sure more ease of processing.

A couple years ago we told you about how Dackor manufactures a product called Peelstix.
 
Peelstix is a flexible laminate that can be trimmed with knives and can be fabricated in a shop or on site with no dust or smells. By having the adhesive already on the product it can also save time. White is a very popular color and these are just a few of what we offer that are doing very well: Solid Frosty White 12, Smooth Satin White, Solid Designer White, Solid Bright White, Saffron Mahogany, Leather Brown, Summer Breeze, Egg Shell Black Claw, Ravenwood, Solid Cashmere Black, Wilsonart Fusion Maple and  Carbon Fibers. 

Well Peelstix has really taken off and is a favorite of Multifamily Housing, Refacers, Universities, Hospitals and More.

So, what has been getting refaced you might ask?
Multifamily Housing has really embraced Peelstix to update Kitchen Cabinets and Cabinet Doors along with the face frames to give the new apartment resident that updated look. Moreover, the bathroom vanities have gotten facelifts too! 

Our Accent Planks and Natura Stone are a favorite of Multifamily Housing as well. Account Planks, also a peel and stick product ideal for wall decoration. These planks decorate Accent Walls for an upscale look. Our Hand Painted Frosty White maintains a traditional woodgrain look with a beautiful Matte White Finish.
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The Rome Marble White, which could compete with the Greek marbles needs to be physically seen and not just from a computer monitor. Not to mention it is one of our Rhino Hz extra durable grades available.

Natura Stone, the natural stack stone veneer is also a peel and stick.
Yes, it’s real stone cut to a 1/16" to 1/8" thickness variance to give a stacked stone look. It comes in 4 beautiful colors of Copper, Sapphire, Emerald and Sesame. With minimal prep it will sophisticate any space by adding dimension and texture. This stone is great for accent walls, backsplashes, or any interior vertical application.


Colors above also know as other industry names you may have heard are:
Ebony Ash, Light Maple, Black Haircell, Antique Whitewash, Russian Maple, Soprano, Sugarloaf Maple, Matte Black, Matte Malachite, Matte White, Oxidized Pewter, Platino Granite Sand, Platino Granite Tanin, Pompeii Marble Espresso, Pompeii Marble Gray, Rift Oak Brown, Rift Oak Gray, Carbon Fibers Silver, Fibers Concrete, Cashmere, Fusion Maple, Imperial Smoke, Rift Oak Natural, Slate Gray, Smokehouse Oak, Stratus White, Tin Ceiling and Venus Silver.