As vehicle wraps become a very attractive and cost effective way to promote and market businesses, it is now even more important that those closely involved with vehicle preparations and branding are aware and understand what processes are required for a professional, hard wearing vehicle wrap that will live up to the vinyl manufacturers warranties.

Wrapping vehicles is a very technical aspect to sign making and should only be completed by specialised experts within the sign making industry. You will find many of these experts listed in the ‘Find a Sign Maker’ Directory on the New Zealand Sign and Display Association website homepage.

If you are considering purchasing a new fleet of vehicles, here are a few tips to consider if you want branding on your vehicle’s to be top quality and last the distance.

We all like shiny, polished vehicles, however wax is bad for wrapping vehicles and must be removed. It is best to give the vehicle a basic, quick wash with NO wax or polish before you book it in for its vehicle wrap. Most sign makers can provide this service at an additional cost.

Similarly, if a vehicle is not new, but has recently been re-painted, it will need time for the paint to cure - at least 30 days. No sign makers should wrap a vehicle within this time period as the vinyl will most likely start to peel away from the body within days. Honesty plays an integral part here, as the sign makers rely on the knowledge they are given, so not only is it the sign makers reputation on the line, your businesses professional reputation is also, if the vehicle wrap fails.If your fleet requires new graphics, such as vinyl lettering, no sign maker should wrap over old graphics, they must be removed. This is a lengthy process, but it must be done to ensure again a professional finish. Again, this will be an extra cost.

So, basically to achieve a professional wrap that will stand the test of time, attention to detail with preparation is key, it will save everyone time, money and most importantly professional reputations. 90% of wrap failures are due to lack of preparation with cleaning being the main part of the process not carried out thoroughly enough.

For all the sign makers out there - it is in your best interest to align yourself or business with your national reputable governing body. The New Zealand Sign and Display Association endorses core values of quality, integrity and service which are practiced amongst it’s active members that proudly display the “sign” of quality within their businesses and vehicles, giving their customers the guarantee that they can trust their knowledge, skills and experience as sign makers.