Magnetic van banners UK signage is used to run onto the bodywork of a vehicle, without damaging the paintwork, providing a cost-effective advertising solution that can be taken off when required.
This article will make some sense of how important magnetic banners are, in which they best fit, and any constraints to take into account before ordering magnetic banners from a studio like OKTshirt.
What Are Magnetic Van Banners
Magnetic van Banner is a van banner made of magnetic flexible and printable material. The banners lift up easily and are therefore used by companies that require short-term, removable and mobile advertising instead of the vinyl wrap which they need to be able to remove at any time.
The Problem With Permanent Vehicle Signage
Permanent vinyl wraps and decals are removed professionally and might leave sticky glue and/or paint damage on the body of a vehicle. This presents an issue for companies that lease cars or vehicles or use vehicles for seasonal campaigns or vehicles that are used for business or personal functions. A permanent decal can also not be transferred from one vehicle to the next, so a business will have to print more signs each time a vehicle changes.
Benefits of Magnetic Van Banners
There are several reasons why magnetic van banners have overcome the permanence issue:
- They are able to detach and reattach without harming the painting.
- They move from one vehicle to another, within a fleet operated by a business.
- They permit the use of the vehicle without altering the brand of the vehicle.
- They are not as expensive as it would be to perform the entire vinyl wrap.
- Generally they can be installed without professional fitting.
These features make magnetic banners a good alternative to businesses who want to test vehicle advertising before deciding to get a large-scale permanent wrap, and to businesses that use their employees’ personal vehicles for occasional business trips.
Limitations of Magnetic Signs
There are also restrictions on magnetic van banners that a person who is looking to purchase must take into account:
- They only stick to steel body panels, not aluminium, fibreglass or plastic bumpers.
- When not set up properly, they can break loose or move forward at motorway speeds.
- When using it in the same spot over an extended period of time, it may lead to a slight tint in the paint underneath the magnet, especially if your vehicle is dark in colour.
- They’re not as durable in extreme weather conditions as a bonded vinyl wrap.
- This means that they need regular cleaning and removal to ensure that they don’t accumulate dirt between the magnet and the panel.
When a customer places an order for a vehicle with magnetic banners, they need to make sure that the right kind of panel material is included in the order since magnetic banners do not hold on to non-metal surfaces.
Where Magnetic Banners Work Best on a Vehicle
Opt for magnetic banners for flat steel panel surfaces, like rear panels and van doors. Curved or ribbed areas of the panel decrease the amount of panel surface in contact with the magnet, which decreases its attraction. The most prevalent locations are still on door panels as it’s a large and flat area at eye-level for pedestrians and other motorists to view.
Installation and Removal Process
To install a magnetic van banner, take the following steps:
- Wipe off dirt and grease on the vehicle panel.
- Attach the banner to a level area of steel panel.
- Squeeze the banner so that air pockets don’t get trapped under the magnet.
- Ensure edges are tight to the surface of the panel.
The removal process is just the opposite, whereby the banner is pulled up from one side, then the panel and the underside of the magnet are cleaned before they are later placed back.
Material and Weather Resistance
A sunfast magnetic van banners finish is often the UV laminated print finish as this is the most popular choice for preventing fading of printed imprints from solar exposure. If the magnet isn’t removed and dried periodically, extended exposure to heavy rain can cause moisture to build up under the banner, but a well fitting magnetic banner will be unaffected by rain or road conditions.
Magnetic Banners Compared With Vinyl Decals
When deciding on a magnetic van banner or a vinyl decal, the requirements of your business determine the flexibility and the permanency. The vinyl style can stick directly to the vehicle surface, lasts longer when constantly exposed outdoors and will preserve the paint without any damage as it is then removed by carefully peeling it back, which is typically done by a professional vinyl art installer.
Magnetic banners come off instantly by hand which is ideal for mobile businesses like a rotating vehicle, rented or leased vans or businesses that wish to drive unbranded during night hours. For businesses that have a set-up vehicle they want to dedicate to long-term, fixed advertising, vinyl signage is the best option.
Sizing a Magnetic Banner for a Van Door
The size of the magnetic banner should be designed to fit inside the “flat” portion of a van door panel and allow for a border away from body lines, handles, and panel edges that would otherwise interfere with the magnet’s ability to make contact with the metal.
Plus-size banners that hang off the flat panel space are more likely to fly up in the edges while driving. OKTshirt usually assesses the flat panel area before creating a banner letter-sized to the door panel of specifically one model of van and not any flat panel inside a fixed size to every model.
FAQs
Do magnetic van banners damage vehicle paintwork?
Magnetic van banners do not damage paintwork under normal use, though leaving them in one position for extended periods can cause a faint shade difference on some paint colours.
Will a magnetic banner stay on at motorway speeds?
A correctly positioned magnetic banner on a flat steel panel generally stays secure at motorway speeds, though positioning on curved or edge panels increases the risk of lifting.
Is it possible to use magnetic banners on aluminium vans?
No—magnetic banners do not stick on aluminium, fibreglass and plastic vehicle surfaces.
How long are magnetic van banners good for?
The typical lifespan for magnetic van banners is 1 to 2 years depending on weather exposure and frequency of removal and cleaning.
Will the same magnet sign be allowed to go from one van to another?
The magnetic banner can be transferred between replacement vehicles as long as the replacement vehicle is a steel panel with a comparable size.
Storing Magnetic Banners When Not in Use
Do not fold magnetic banners since a sharp crease can compromise the magnetic sheet and render the banner permanently bent – which may cause the banner to be out of flush with a vehicle panel.
With the banner’s magnet side resting against a flat magnetic surface, or a protective sheet between the magnet and the metal, dust or debris won’t be attracted to it and cause scratches to the car’s paint when it is reattached.
Conclusion
For fleets, leased vehicles, and businesses being innovative with vehicle advertising, magnetic van banners and UK signage are the reusable and removable alternative to vehicle wraps.
By correctly securing the vehicle’s panel material and adhering to proper installation and removal procedures, as guided by a studio like OKTshirt, the vehicle maintains panel security and ensures that no damage is done to its paintwork.
