High-Quality Reflective Tapes
Our reflective tapes are cut from the master rolls of the reflective materials that we offer. Since we only sell reflective sheeting from renown manufacturers 3M™ and Orafol®, you can be sure to receive a piece of high-quality reflective film.
Which Reflective Tape is the Best?
The reflective tapes from 3M™ and Orafol® are true allrounders but there are some differences that might make one material more suitable for an application that the other one. Therefore, it is worth to know which properties the reflective material should have. The following factors have to be taken into consideration:
Surface:
Generally speaking, the materials our reflective tapes are made of are ideally used on smooth and rigid metal surfaces. However, differences in flexibility allow some tapes to be applied onto uneven or even round surfaces. Depending on the adhesive, the tapes might be also applied to painted or plastic surfaces.
Reflectivity:
There are three different reflectivity classes: RA1, RA2, RA3. The number indicates the retroreflective performance – 1 being the lowest and 3 being the highest. The highest reflectivity is, generally speaking, only achieved with a microprismatic structure (type C), making reflective material RA3/C the most powerful reflectivity class when it comes to distance. However, the strongest reflectivity might not always be necessary or optimal for your application. You should also bear in mind that glass bead films (type A and B) reflect at shorter distances but at wider angles.
If you want to learn more about reflective films, read our blog post on Types and Classes of Reflective Films.
Colour:
Commonly used colours for reflective tapes are white, red and yellow. Some 3M™ and Orafol® Series offer a wide range of colours including green, blue or black as well as fluorescent colours. Lighter colours reflect brighter than darker colours, white being the brightest and black being the darkest. While all colours reflect their own colour, black reflective tape reflects white.
Typical Uses of Reflective Tapes
Reflective tapes are used for applications in various fields and areas including e.g.:
• uneven surfaces, low clearances, boundaries, pathways, emergency exit plans on company premises
• equipment and machines
• vehicles*, trailers, boats
• handrails, fences, barriers in parking lots
• poles, bollards, concrete barriers
• bikes, helmets, walking aids, outdoor gear
*Please note that vehicles of category M1 must not be marked with reflective materials! (ECE 48)
Application, Care and Removal of Reflective Tapes
Before application, the substrate should be cleaned thoroughly from dust and dirt. We recommend the use of surface cleaners for optimum results. Cut the tape to the size needed. Our reflective tapes can be hand-cut or processed with any other cutting device. Then, remove the carrier film or paper on the back of the tape and position the tape on the substrate. Use a squeegee and apply some pressure from the centre to the edge for optimal bonding and to remove trapped air.
The reflective tapes can be cleaned by only using soapy water and a cloth. Rinse with fresh water afterwards. Do not use any abrasive agents.
Self-adhesive tapes for permanent application are difficult to remove, often leaving unwanted residues. Adhesive residues can be removed from the substrate by using adhesive remover. For temporary applications, a removable tape is recommended. Usually, they are easier to remove with the application of heat.