Check out this video Absolute Perfection posted of a vehicle wrapping job on a Zombie Escape vehicle. Just in time for Halloween!

Vehicle wrap

Vehicle wrapping specialist, Creative FX, has ‘chromed’ a 1994 Rover Metro Tahiti for Channel 5 TV programme, Fifth Gear.

The Metro, which was originally blue, was wrapped in chrome and carbon vinyl on Thursday 22nd September as a part of a feature for the channel 5 automotive series. Presenter Jonny Smith says, “Vinyl wrapping has become a real trend in the automotive world and we wanted to find out more about how it’s done and see what a difference it can make to the look of a car… even an old banger like this one.”

It took the vehicle wrapping specialists less than a day to transform the car, but Jonny admits it’s not as easy as Creative FX make it look. “It’s convinced me is that this is not a DIY job; not on your nelly. It’s very easy to get it wrong and there’s a very fine line between good and crap, especially with chrome.

“What comes across is the attention to detail. I’ve seen some vinyl wrapping before but never a full wrap. I’m blown away by the professionalism. These guys are used to wrapping the top marques but even though this car is a bit of a laugh, it didn’t stop their dedication to the job and they’ve made it absolutely as good as it can be. The first thing people will do, with type of work is look closely at the detail and they will be impressed.”

Sean Davis, Director at Creative FX, says, “It’d be a great car to have – it might not be to everyone’s taste, but it’ll certainly make you stand out from the crowd!”

“I’m really interested to know what the next big thing will be,” says Jonny. “We’ve had matt black, carbon fibre and chrome; what’s next? I’d like to have a wood effect wrap; people would really notice that,” he concludes.

The programme will be aired on Friday 28th October at 7.30pm on Channel 5.

Creative FX is a Bromley-based signage and display company specialising in vehicle liveries and automotive services, as well as shop signs and digital wallpaper.

We specialise in the design, production and installation of vehicle wraps for both the commercial and retail sectors. Any design can be used, from simple text and logo to a fully photographic vehicle wrap.

As well as wrapping individual vehicles, the Creative FX team has also carried out projects for major car manufacturers, and has completed numerous special commission projects for events and charities, such as: Arsenal FC (Teenage Cancer Trust); Mazda (618 vehicles wrapped in Belgium); Skoda (Fastest 2 litre production car ever); and two chrome Audi R8s auctioned at Elton John’s White Tie and Tiara Ball for £620,000.

Creative FX also provides stone chip protection and window tinting services, and is an authorised supplier of vehicle badging for a number of leading car manufacturers including Volkswagen Group, Audi UK, Nissan GB, Toyota GB, Subaru UK, Kia Motors, Hyundai UK and Renault UK.

Bringing exciting textures to a broad range of high-profile wide-format and screen print graphic applications, MACtac Graphic Products introduces its new line of six premium textured laminate films PERMACOLOR PermaFlex DecoLam. The new overlaminate series adds depth and eye-catching effects, making ordinary graphics extraordinary.

Ideal for indoor and outdoor use on colored vinyl, graphics or other compatible flat or slightly curved substrates, PERMACOLOR PermaFlex DecoLam is designed for decorative finishes for high-profile applications such as furnishings, point-of-purchase (POP) displays, decals and signage, as well as wall graphics for the interior design, hotel décor and architectural graphics markets.

“Printers and installers looking to add a unique effect to high-end graphics now have a solution with our new PERMACOLOR PermaFlex DecoLam overlaminate series,” said Mary Ann Kucera, marketing manager, MACtac Graphic Products. “Consistent image quality and durability are easily achieved with this new laminate series specially designed for upscale applications. This premium laminate series is popular with our European customers and we are seeing excitement from our North American customers who have tried samples.”

High-performance vinyl PERMACOLOR PermaFlex DecoLam ranges in thickness from 4.0- to 4.7-mil with an outdoor durability of up to five years. It features a high-tack permanent adhesive with an 85# White Clay Coated Kraft (CCK) liner.

The overlaminate series is available in a variety of finishes including fine and coarse wood grain, brushed metal, carbon clear, flock and leather, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. With the use of an application tape, PERMACOLOR PermaFlex DecoLam can also be used in cut vinyl applications.

The full line of MACtac Graphic Products: IMAGin, PERMACOLOR, MACmark and REBEL provides a pressure-sensitive solution for every signage need. Whatever technology—wide-format digital printing, mounting and laminating, CAS or screen printing MACtac has you covered.

Walsall College, in conjunction with Roland DG’s Academy and Metamark, recently showcased their vehicle wrapping skills expertise to a global audience, when the UK hosted the world’s greatest skills competition, WorldSkills London 2011.

The WorldSkills London 2011 Competition took place over four days, from 5 – 8 October.  It is one of the biggest events ever to be held at ExCeL London, and saw over 1,000 of the most skilled young people from all corners of the globe battling it out in 46 different skills, competing to be crowned the best of the best in their chosen skill. Showcase colleges and training providers were present to inspire the audience and help them to look at the endless possibilities for their future jobs and careers.  So popular and high profile is the event that David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Vince Cable all took time to come along and visit.

During the event, Metamark MD-7 was being used to wrap a Honda ACCORD car, using the skills of students trained within the Roland DG Academy at Walsall College who are on the level 2 and 3 sign making apprenticeship programme with the college.

The Roland DG Academy offers a wide range of hands-on, practical training courses and workshops for the sign and graphic arts industries, with the courses on offer ranging from vehicle wrap, to software training such as PhotoShop and SignLab, plus hands-on vinyl application skills workshops.

Gillian Montanaro, Head of Marketing for Roland DG, stated: “The Roland DG Academy is our hidden gem.  Roland DG is known for manufacturing high quality wide format printers, but also offers this fantastic training facility for sign-makers, graphics producers and beyond, with a range of high quality and affordable courses tailored specifically for those working in wide format digital print.”

Andrew Evans, Commercial Academy Manager at Walsall College said: “To be part of an event which recognises skills at the very highest level is truly aspirational and our students rose to the occasion to put on a truly spectacular show.  We are thrilled that our students had the opportunity to showcase their talents at WorldSkills London 2011. It’s fantastic for them to be part of such prestigious event and gain recognition for all their hard work”.

3M is the exclusive sponsor for live Sunday night broadcasts of the NASCAR Sprint Cup racing on Premier Sports, including the Talladega 500 race, screened on Sunday 23 October in Free-view.

Diversified technology company 3M has announced a sponsorship arrangement which promotes 3M Commercial Graphics vehicle wrapping solutions during Premier Sports’ UK coverage of the NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) Sprint Cup Series. As a result of the 3M sponsorship, the crucial Sprint Cup race will be screened free-view on Sunday 23 October, and every pre-race show will also be free.

Premier Sports is the only UK channel showing complete races from start to finish live from the US. 3M advertising throughout the programme covers its vehicle wrapping solutions detailed on the wrapyourcurves.co.uk website, together with its car care products available through 3Mcarcare.co.uk.

The Sprint Cup series is screened on Sunday nights and the sponsorship agreement lasts until 20 November. Richard Webb from Premier Sports commented, “We are very excited to have entered into partnership with 3M in the UK, who are one of the main sponsors of NASCAR in America. Making the crucial Sprint Cup race at Talladega free-view to every Sky platform home is a way of celebrating this relationship and bringing the wonderful spectacle of NASCAR to as many people as possible.”

“Motorsports fans should note that every pre-race show this season is also brought to you in Free-view by 3M to allow viewers to soak up the atmosphere before going encrypted during the race,” added Webb. NASCAR is one of the most viewed professional sports in terms of television ratings in the United States and NASCAR races are broadcast in more than 150 countries worldwide. Big events such as the Talladega Sprint Cup race typically draw UK audiences numbered in hundreds of thousands. 3M auto-industry customers and trade partners have a natural affinity with these events.

TV advertising will especially support those involved in vehicle graphics, body refinishing and repair. 3M’s involvement extends further than just sponsorship: most NASCAR Sprint Cup cars use Controltac Graphic Film Series 180 from 3M. This is favoured for its light weight, reliable performance, expert finish and speed to apply; core characteristics mirrored by the NASCAR racing team and its award winning pit crew known as the Pitbulls. In the UK, the recently-revamped wrapyourcurves.co.uk website provides a key industry source for vehicle wrapping to support commercial and consumer branding needs.

The professional vehicle wrapping site has been built to ensure 3M can be found quickly and easily and includes clear, precise search tools for finding car and van wrapping support services at a local as well as national level. It also offers upgraded web-marketing tools for members, opportunities for wrappers to showcase their work to customers and an improved user experience inviting customer enquiries.

Developed for manufacturers and automotive professionals, 3M’s car care products offer the latest innovations for cleaning and protecting vehicle paintwork, interiors, wheels and tyres, and restoring scratched surfaces. As well as trade sales, the products are also available to consumers online at 3Mcarcare.co.uk.

MACtac Graphic Products will showcase innovative installation techniques and products to help graphics installers conquer their application challenges at the Professional Decal Application Alliance (PDAA) Graphics Application Zone during the 2011 SGIA Expo in New Orleans, La., from Oct. 19-21.

The PDAA Graphics Application Zone has been a major highlight of the SGIA Expo and serves as an educational hub for installers to gain insights on the latest installation techniques and expertise from industry professionals. The event, now in its fifth year, is designed to educate and demonstrate new graphic applications to end users, installers and sign shop owners.

“MACtac is invested in installer education and our participation in and sponsorship of the PDAA Graphics Application Zone further demonstrates our commitment to sharing our expertise and knowledge with graphics installers,” said Jason Yard, marketing specialist, MACtac Graphic Products. “We are excited for another opportunity at the show to bring the latest industry products, innovations and techniques to installers and to help them create new revenue streams for their businesses.”

The PDAA Application Zone was created in 2007 as the PDAA Wrap Quest and has since grown to place more emphasis on education. The event has also expanded to cater to the inexperienced installer and end user to give them added confidence in their offerings. 

The cost to attend the Expo is $315 for SGIA members and $395 for non-members who register by Sept. 3. Attendees registering after Sept. 3 will pay $360 for members and $465 for non-members, including a $35 exposition entry fee.