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Stickers | A Matter Of Driving Experience
Edited by Andrea Albertazzi / Photo by Marco Capelli
On a casual summer Sunday, mainly if you’re planning a road trip to the mountains or on some scenic route, you will likely end up in finding a group of cars cruising all together. It is easy to see the smiles on their faces and then you immediately notice they all have one thing in common, a sticker on both sides stating they’re not there randomly, but part of a convoy. If you’re reading this you’ve probably noticed we love this kind of stuff and after finishing another lucky season of driving tours, we asked ourselves which gadgets were the most successful and despite the numerous news, it didn’t take long before we really realized that one of the absolute protagonists of an event is precisely the most overlooked thing: the event sticker.
But why is this so important? Without doubts because it is an authentic memory of the event itself, but also because it identifies its main features, such as the date and often the location in which it takes place or develops. It is by no means something that should be taken for granted, because it is what highlights what cars are actually part of something particular, especially when crossing towns or when, on the side of the road, curious people approach and immediately understand that you are a bunch of petrolheads who are having a blast. The added value to the driving experience is precisely the sense of belonging, that of sharing with other people and the awareness of being part of a day made special in a way that is directly proportional to the progressive number of participants. At Auto Class Magazine we rely on the expert hands of WrappingItaly, because we not only want the final result of the sticker to be excellent, but because we intend to offer the teams a product that does not damage the bodywork. We had a chat with Francesco Tajana, WrappingItaly’s Operating Officer (COO) and our long-time partner, to learn more about the subject. Here is what he told us:
What kind of film are these made of?
The numerical stickers for your events, and in general for all situations where a short-term laying is required, are printed on a polymeric film (which allows a minimum conformability) with a highly removable adhesive that guarantees no glue residues. As with almost all printed PVC, the printers suitable for this purpose are plotters, with eco-solvent, solvent and more rarely UV (ultraviolet) drying inks.
Time for an urban legend now. Numeric stickers of this type DO NOT damage the paint of the car. Tell us why people can relax on this topic.
As mentioned, all the specific materials that we use (absolutely from the best manufacturers and of undisputed quality) to produce adhesives are always removable, especially on these occasions where an ultra-removable support is used. This is why damages to the underlying paint are absolutely non-existent.
What is the ideal method for applying them without bubbles or creases?
Applying adhesives is a real profession, and WrappingItaly.it® is constant proof of this. It is certain that on some occasions this is not essential, but a certain manual skill is necessary and in any case very difficult to explain in two words. For these adhesives, we facilitate the applicator with thick material (better dexterity) and channeled adhesive for the escape of air, which allows to avoid bubbles.
And how should they be removed?
Simply by lifting an edge and pulling the sticker towards you.
Is it possible, after having removed it, to preserve it perfectly intact as a memory?
Unfortunately it is difficult. The material is soft and may not remain in its original form during removal, especially when the ambient temperature is elevated (PVC is more malleable than in cold seasons).
In your opinion, what do they add to the driving experience?
As in all occasions of aggregation, having something unique and specific makes the experience more involving. That’s the case for clothing and the same for accessories, such as the numerical sticker.
We are sure that the next time we will welcoming you to one of our driving tours, applying the stickers to your car will have an even more special flavor.
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