ins and outs of vehicle wrapping · 2019-10-29 · vehicle wrapping also inside: • window film...

Inside: What to Expect from the 2010 SEMA Show

Architectural - Auto - Decorative - Paint Protection - Security

Volume 14 - Issue 6 - November-December 2010

A PUBLICATION OF KEY COMMUNICATIONS INC.

Ins and Outs of Vehicle Wrapping

Also Inside:• Window Film Goes Green• Industry News and More

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magazine visit

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Contents© 2010 WINDOW FILM Magazine. All rights reserved. No repro-duction of any type without expressed written permission.

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28

WINDOW FILM Magazine (USPS 020-895) ©2010 by Key Communications Inc. P.O. Box 569, Garrisonville, VA 22463-0569, 540/720-5584, fax: 540/720-5687, E-mail: [email protected], www.windowfilmmag.com. Copyright 2010, allrights reserved. No reproduction without the express written consent of publisher. WINDOW FILM is published six timesannually (Bi-monthly) by Key Communications at P.O. Box 569, Garrisonville, VA 22463-0569. Periodicals postagepaid at Stafford, VA 22554 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to KeyCommunications P.O. Box 569, Garrisonville, VA 22463-0569. Phone 540/720-5584, Fax. 540/720-5687.Subscriptions are free to all qualified recipients at U.S. addresses. Addresses outside the U.S. add $65 per year.Members of the International Window Film Association receive one subscription as part of their membership dues.

Volume 14, Issue 6 • November/December 2010

A Publication for the Entire Film Industry

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

On the CoverVehicle wrapping couldbe an ideal add-on forwindow film installers.Turn to page 20 to learnmore.

Key Communications Inc.385 Garrisonville Rd, #116

Stafford, VA 22554540/720-5584; 540/720-5687 (fax)

www.windowfilmmag.com

Publisher DEBRA [email protected]

Editor ELLEN [email protected]

Managing ERIN HARRISEditor [email protected]

Assistant KATIE HODGEEditor [email protected]

Contributing MEGAN HEADLEYEditors [email protected]

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Art Directors CHRIS [email protected] [email protected]

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fax: 540/[email protected]

A PUBLICATION FORTHE ENTIRE FILM INDUSTRY

4 WINDOW FILM

Ask the Expert—Expert Advice ........................................................................ 6

Open 24/7—Expert Web Advice ........................................................................ 10

Newsworthy—Industry News ............................................................................ 12

Noteworthy—New Products and Services ...................................................... 16

Suppliers’ Guide—Directory of Industry Suppliers ........................................ 34

Advertisers Index ............................................................................................ 35

Film Stars™—Installer Profiles ........................................................................ 36

20 • Wrap it Up!Professionals in the vehicle wrapping industryshare advice with automotive tinters on joiningthe industry.

24 • SEMA Stays StrongA glimpse into just some of what exhibitors atthe 2010 SEMA Show plan to feature.

28 • One Little WordThe green movement has taken hold of thebuilding and construction industry, and windowfilm is ideally positioned to meet and exceed thegrowing demand for environmentally soundhomes and buildings.

24

20

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6 WINDOW FILM www.windowfilmmag.com

BY DONNA WELLS

Hello and welcome back to“Ask the Expert.” I hope youhave been enjoying my arti-

cles as much as I have enjoyed writ-ing them. I appreciate those of youwho have taken the time to send inquestions and I hope my perspec-tive on business and the windowfilm industry has enlightened you.

Today’s question is from some-one who is relatively new to theindustry:

“How do you find your niche inthe window film industry?”

Excellent question. Ourindustry has many nichesto choose from and decid-ing which path to followcan be confusing andcumbersome. Though Icannot decide for youwhich path is the correctone, let me help steer youthrough some of thecurves within our industry.

KNOW YOUR BUSINESSFirst you have to decide whether

you want to work with automotiveprofessionals or with homeowners,contractors and architects. Theanswer to this question is whereyour niche begins.

Most people enter through theautomotive venue. Let’s face it, for afew hundred dollars you can ownyour very own automotive windowfilm company. Assuming automotiveis the way you choose to go, nowyou have to decide how you canmake a living as an automotive win-

dow film company. Understandingyour market is the key factor in anyniche. You will want to join organiza-tions that highlight small businessesand the automotive industry in par-ticular. Your local Better BusinessBureau, Tops in Professional SalesLeads Groups, the InternationalWindow Film Association and theSpecialty Equipment MarketAssociation (SEMA) are excellentchoices. As you become involvedwith groups such as these you willbe able to meet other individuals

who share your same interests,allowing you to exchange businessphilosophies, marketing strategiesand gain insight into your niche.

OTHER OPTIONSLet’s say you want to go the other

way and enter the window filmindustry through the residential/commercial (i.e., flat glass) niche ofthe market. This will require a littlemore experience, education andfinesse. For example, in some statesthis niche of the market requiresyou to obtain a contractor’s license,bonding and commercial insurance.Once all of the legal paperwork is inplace, you need to decide whichniche of the flat glass market youwould like to specialize in. Whetherit is residential or commercial, thesemarkets do have some overlap. Youwill again need to get involved with

various groups of individuals whoshare your same interests, such asthe American Institute of Architects,the American Society of InteriorDesign, as well as local constructiongroups. All of these groups haveregional and national conventionsas well as local monthly functions.

DON’T NICHE YOURSELFKeep in mind that you don’t want

to niche yourself into a pigeon hole.You want to have some flexibility inorder to accommodate what the

public market is lookingfor during various times ofthe year. No matter howmuch marketing you aredoing, if your niche is toonarrow your phone maynot ring and your doormay not swing open.

One last note regardingSEMA. I have been attend-

ing the SEMA Show for more than 20years and have not been involved inautomotive window film sales foryears. The reason I go (and recom-mend you go as well), is it gives methe opportunity to connect with oth-ers from a multitude of industries,which allows me to grow my busi-ness. Most window film manufac-tures attend SEMA and attending willgive you a chance to speak to middleand upper management who youmight not otherwise get a chance tomeet. (Turn to page 24 for a previewof just some of what you can expect tofind at this year’s SEMA show.) WF

Donna Wells has worked in the windowfilm industry since the 1980s and iscurrently sole proprietor of ImageImagination in Huntington Beach, Calif. Ms.Wells’ opinions are solely her own and notnecessarily those of this magazine.

Carving a Niche

Got a Question for Donna?Please e-mail it to us at

[email protected]. Individual namesand company names will be withheldupon request.

“Keep in mind that you don’t wantto niche yourself into a pigeon hole.You want to have some flexibility in

order to accommodate what thepublic market is looking for during

various times of the year.”


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If you are looking for a business that never ceases to amaze people, V-KOOL® window film is the answer.

Originally developed for U.S. aerospace and military use when it was applied on the U.S. Air Force Stealth Bomber, and adapted for commercial use, V-KOOL window film is the world's first spectrally selective window coating that provides a virtually transparent barrier that helps protect against the sun’s heat and radiation for automotive and architectural application.

Now in more than 28 countries, V-KOOL window film is recognized globally as a leader in providing advanced climate control and fuel-efficient solutions through thin film technology for automotive glass. Retrofitted with V-KOOL technology, a car is typically expected to derive at least 3% fuel efficiency; reduce 132 kg of carbon dioxide per car per annum; and improve passengers’ time to comfort by 25% faster compared to tinted glass windows. To date, 20 million car owners worldwide are enjoying the benefits of up to 94% heat rejection and reducing 2.4 million tons of CO2 emission with V-KOOL window film.

The V-KOOL window film retail network is supported by a proven business format in business planning, strategy formulation, film distribution, model outlet set-up, inventory planning, marketing and operations support.

Join the V-KOOL window film technological revolution now as an authorized dealer! We invite you to an Open House seminar in Las Vegas, Nevada during SEMA week at the following date and venue:

V-KOOL WINDOW FILM OPEN HOUSE SEMINARThursday, November 4th, 2010

Encore at Wynn Las Vegas3121 Las Vegas Blvd. South | Las Vegas, NV 89109

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Limited seats available. RSVP required at [email protected] or call 1-888-833-3169

Join Our Fast Growing Global Network of 600 Retail Points … And Still Growing

V-KOOL International Pte Ltd12 Jalan Kilang Barat #06-02 Globamatrix Building Singapore 159354 Tel: (65) 6276 0555 Fax: (65) 6276 8316www.v-kool.com Email: [email protected]© 2010 Solutia Inc., St. Louis, Missouri, USA. All rights reserved. V-KOOL and V-KOOL Logo are trademarks of V-KOOL International Pte. Ltd.

EXCLUSIVE SEMINAR

SEMA 2010


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BY MANNY HONDROULIS

So far we have discussed howPowerPoint and Excel canhave an impact on our window

film businesses. Now we turn ourattention to Access, another com-ponent of the Microsoft OfficeSuite. Access is database software.An overly simplified explanation ofa database is that it stores informa-tion that a user inputs where it canbe retrieved at will in various ways.Imagine storing all of yourprospects and customers into adatabase and being able to analyzethat data to learn how and whyyour prospects became customers.With that information you candetermine which marketing strate-gies worked, what percentage ofyour leads were commercial versusresidential and, for example, whatpercentage of prospects inquiredabout window film for energy sav-ings versus security benefits. Inaddition, you can also modify yourmarketing strategy accordingly.

DATABASE COMPONENTSThink of a spreadsheet and how

it is made of rows and columns(see related article about MicrosoftExcel on page 10 in the September-October issue). Well, the same canbe true for a database. Each row ofa database is a record and eachcolumn of a database representsdifferent aspects of a record.

Let’s walk through the compo-nents of a simplified database thattracks your prospects.

Imagine that a prospect is arecord. Each row of data (think interms of the spreadsheet) repre-sents a prospect and each columnrepresents different aspects of thatprospect. The type of informationyou would store in this database

would be detailed contact informa-tion (name, address, company,title, telephone number, e-mail),demographic (gender, marital sta-tus), reasons for buying (safety,sun control, glare, fading, lowerutility bills) and so on and so forth.

FILLING IN THE DETAILSSo, how do you enter the data

described above in a database?You can simply input the data inthe rows and columns of the data-base or you can use a form to do it.A form is created in Access andallows you to input data into thedatabase in a user-friendly way. Inthe non-digital world, a form issomething that you hand out tocollect information or fill out togive information. It may consist offill in the blanks, check boxes, mul-tiple choice questions and so on.Imagine a form of a database as thesame thing. You’re presented witha form on your screen and theinformation you input into theform is then uploaded into thedatabase. In this case, eachprospect would require a differentform. Your form might ask for thefollowing information:• Prospect’s name;• Prospect’s address;• Prospect’s contact information

(telephone, e-mail, fax, etc);• How did the prospect learn about

you? (Yellow Pages, post card,Internet search, trade show, etc.);

• Why did the prospect contactyou? (smash-and-grab, wind-storm, furniture fade, glare,reduce utility bills, control win-ter heat loss, etc.);

• Application type (residential,commercial, government,automotive);

• Glass type (single pane, doublepane, clear, tinted, annealed,laminated, tempered, etc.); and

• Film type.

RETRIEVING DATANow that all of the information is

in the database, how do youretrieve it? You retrieve the infor-mation by creating queries. Aquery enables you to tell Accesswhat data you want to retrieve andwhy. For example, let’s say there isa string of burglaries in some near-by housing developments. Youmay want to market to yourprospects who have previouslyexpressed an interest in windowfilm for residential applications.Rather than scrolling through thecontents of your entire database,you simply set up a query thatretrieves a list of prospects thathave been tagged as residentialcustomers interested in windowfilm for smash-and-grab crimes. Atthat point you can send a mailer ormake some friendly calls to thoseprospects advertising the safetyand security benefits of your win-dow film against unwanted entry.

Hopefully you can see how hav-ing detailed information that canbe retrieved in numerous ways canhelp you market your business.The hardest part about using adatabase is creating it. The mostmundane part is entering the data.But once you get over that, the restis smooth sailing to a more effec-tive marketing strategy. WF

Manny Hondroulis is marketing managerfor Energy Performance Distribution inBaltimore. Mr. Hondroulis’ opinions aresolely his own and not necessarily thoseof this magazine.

Managing Prospects with Databases



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President Obama signed theSmall Business Jobs and CreditAct into law in late September.

The bill is designed to help smallbusiness owners access privatecapital to finance expansions andhire new workers, and wouldreward small business investors—in a long-term attempt to helpsmall businesses compete withlarge corporations.

Industry groups, such as theInternational Window FilmAssociation, feel that the lawcould be beneficial for small com-panies, but have concerns.

“While this should provide fundsto the long list of companies waitingfor loans (two to three year backlogdue to lack of funds) thru the Small

Business Administration, it remainsto be seen just how much credit,and under what terms, will be madeavailable to very small companieswith ten or fewer employees. Justas the TARP package and AARPstimulus did not result in increasedlending to small businesses andindividuals except for default mort-gage reworks, this may or may nothave any impact on funding avail-ability to small businesses like win-dow film dealers and distributors.It may take as long as four to sixmonths before there is any clarityto these questions.”

The Small Business LendingFund Act will establish a $30 billionfund to boost lending to small busi-nesses looking to expand their

operations by providing additionalcapital to community banks,according to information from Rep.Barney Frank (D – Mass.).

CONSUMER NEWSFla. Attorney General IssuesWindow Film Warning

The Florida Attorney General,Bill McCollum, has issued a warn-ing to Florida residents—about

President Signs Small BusinessJobs and Credit Act into Law

THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS


The Riverside Co. in Cleveland,which purchased SunTek Holding Co.(Commonwealth Laminating andCoating Inc. [CLC]) in 2006, has soldits interest in the company. JenniferPhillips Shorr, CLC vice president ofsales and marketing, told WINDOW FILM

magazine that the company has nowpartnered with two new investors,Transportation Resource Partners,which is associated with the PenskeAutomotive Group, and FenwayPartners.

“These two firms will replaceRiverside and put CLC in a financialposition to double in size over thenext three to five years,” says Shorr.“CLC/SunTek’s current managementteam, including Steve Phillips, ourpresident/chief executive officer, willall remain in place. This is a veryexciting time for all employees andwe will continue to focus on provid-ing the trade with innovative and

competitive products, as well asexceptional customer service.”

“Riverside played a crucial role in aremarkable expansion at CLC thatallowed us to take market share andprepare for the future in the midst ofone of the worst economic downturnsin modern history,” says Steve Phillips.“Riverside’s capital, support andappetite for growth allowed us toexpand our production capacity whileincreasing our number of distributioncenters and broadening our manufac-turing capabilities. Riverside has beenan exceptional partner.”

Shorr adds, “The RiversideCompany has been the principleinvestor in CLC/SunTek for the pastfour and half years. They have done aterrific job supporting our stronggrowth and expansion in both NorthAmerica and other parts of the world.”

Stephen Dyke, Riverside partner,adds,“CLC was a great company when

we invested in it in 2006, and we’releaving it in an even better positiontoday. Our efforts to increase revenuesby investing in growth at CLC havepaid off.Today, CLC offers more prod-ucts to more markets while still retain-ing its hard-earned reputation forexceptional quality and value. Thecompany is very well positioned tocontinue its strong growth trajectoryfor years to come.”

The announcement notes thatunder Riverside’s stewardship, CLCmade capital investments that signifi-cantly boosted the company’s produc-tion capacity and invested in a newdyed film line that improved productquality and strengthened its competi-tive position. The company expandedits international presence duringRiverside’s ownership period andexpanded its product line, including flatglass applications in residential andcommercial buildings.

COMPANY NEWSRiverside Sells Commonwealth; CLC/SunTek Partners with Two New Owners


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NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2010 WINDOW FILM 13

window film protection. In arelease from his office, McCollumstated that consumers need to beaware that window film has notbeen approved by the FloridaBuilding Code for hurricane protec-tion of a residential structure.

The Attorney General’s officeclaims Florida window film compa-nies were reportedly saying thathomeowners could receive aninsurance discount by installingwindow film. Since window film hasnot met the regulations forapproval, insurance companiesmay not offer such discounts.

New Questions AreRaised by SocialMedia and Websites

The window film industry hasexperienced new cases of mis-information on the World WideWeb in the recent months.

In July, WINDOW FILM magazinepublished a story about dubious“information” published on theInternet that was purportedly writ-ten by a “home professional.”

The page says, “Thinking aboutwindow film as a way to buff upyour windows’ efficiency? If yourwindows are already low emissivity(low-E), then don’t waste yourtime, window film won’t makemuch of a difference … Andremember this: films are hard toremove, and because they can heatup the glass they may damage yourdual-pane windows.”

However, the website doesn’tnote that this is an “Ask the Pro”section. To the consumer’s eye itjust looks like factual information.

The information is sourced as“courtesy of the U.S. GreenBuilding Council.” After contacting

the U.S. Green Building Council(USGBC) we received a statementabout the origin of the article.

“The information came fromUSGBC’s GreenHomeGuide.com’s‘Ask a Pro’ section. The Ask a Prosection is really just a blog wherehome professionals post answers toquestions that come in. Theresponses are not the opinion ofUSGBC and do not reflect any posi-tion of USGBC. As far as USGBC’sposition on window film, we don’thave an official one but I can tell youthat window film is a valid strategyto achieve various LEED credits andpoints,” says the statement.

In addition to this, a question onthe Internet on Angie’s List wasbrought to WINDOW FILM magazine’sattention. The question, asked byindependent consultant RogerLinville (who is listed on Linked In asbeing employed by glass manufac-turer PPG until 2009 and is now anindependent consultant) asked,“Our front windows face southwest.We have no shade trees in the frontyard, so we are expecting the front

rooms to get hot this summer. Wealso have condensation between thepanes. We plan to replace the glass,but I am getting conflicting advice.Should I get low-E glass and rely onit to block the infrared heat waves,or get clear glass and have aninfrared-reflective film applied?Which will give me the best results?”

The answer to Linville’s ques-tions came from Todd Overpeck atGlass Doctor who recommendedlow-E glass and not film. Within theresponse to the question it states,“Overpeck says adding tinted filmto a clear glass window is a lower-cost alternative, because it blocksthe sun, but does not stop the heat.Since the film doesn’t stop the heatfrom escaping, you don’t get theenergy savings and your home iscolder in winter,” he says. “Anotheradvantage to low-E glass is that it’sclearer than the reflective film.”

It was surprising that after work-ing for PPG for over 28 years as themarketing communications man-ager Linville didn’t know theanswer. WF

PEOPLE NEWSSolutia Names New President and General Manager of Performance Films Division

Solutia Inc. has named Mike Donnelly as president andgeneral manager of its Performance Films division. Donnellymost recently served as the president and general managerof Solutia’s Technical Specialties division and replaces RayKollar who had only been in this role with Solutia since May2009. While company officials confirmed that Kollar is nolonger with the company, they declined to provide furtherdetails surrounding the personnel change.

Donnelly joined Solutia as part of the Flexsys leadershipteam in connection with Solutia’s 2007 acquisition of Flexsys,where he had been an integral part of the business’ growth and performancesince its inception. He brings nearly 40 years of manufacturing, business andleadership expertise to Performance Films and will continue to be based atSolutia’s global headquarters in St. Louis.

Mike Donnelly


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NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

DigiGlass Window FilmObtains Class “O” Fire Rating

British Isles-based DigiGlass’Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)printed window film has earned aclass “O” fire rating. The companysays such a rating recognizes theproduct as one that can be legallyinstalled onto all public surfacesand is the first “O” rating in theUnited Kingdom.

The process to obtain the ratingbegan when DigiGlass was askedabout installing printed windowfilm on passenger trains. The cus-tomer wanted there to be certifica-tion that would ensure that theinstallation would comply with allsafety regulations.

In order to do so the companyset out to reach the class “O” rat-

ing, which would verify to thepublic that the safety, securityand branding potential of theseprinted window films would beuseful in situations where firesafety is important to the publicand the customer, such as the pas-senger trains.❙❙➤ www.digiglass.com

HanitaTek Updatesi-Phone Application

Updates have been released toHanitaTek Window Films’ InfoZonemobile app for the iPhone andiPod Touch. The updates aredesigned to make it possible forinstallers tochoose metricunits of meas-urement and des-ignate which rollwidths the filmusage estimatorwill consider.

The companysays the updatesto the app werea result of rec-ommendationsand requestsfrom installerswho have downloaded and usethe app.❙❙➤ www.hanitatek.com WF

International Window Film Conference andTint-Off™

WINDOW FILM

magazine is bringingback the Tint-Off!Join us September 15-16, 2011 in

Memphis, Tennessee to see the bestautomotive tinters compete for the

title of “World’s Best Tinter.” Stay tuned to

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Roland’s Newest Print JobRoland DGA Corp., based in Irvine, Calif., has released its latest inkjet printer/cut-

ter. The 54-inch VersaUV LEC-540 UV-LED wide-format machine is the third modelin the company’s VersaUV series. The company says it is faster than previous modelsand can print configurations of CMYK, white and clear; CMYK, white and white; andCMYK, clear and clear. The machine has the capability to contour cut almost any sub-strate up to 1 mm thick and can be used to create large-format window graphicsas well as many other products.

This new printer/cutter also fea-tures larger lamps than those used inprevious Roland models. These lampscan automatically reposition, allowingfor high image quality and high-speed per-formance, according to the company. ❙❙➤ www.rolanddga.com


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Please contact us to speak to a knowledgable ASWF representative or to schedule a factory tour.

Factory Direct 800-835-9676

California 888-511-5800

Colorado 800-476-2250

Florida 877-711-ASWF

International 702-853-4800

www.aswf.com

A division of Erickson International LLC.

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Part One of a Two-Part Series

The economy has hit smallbusinesses hard and entre-preneurs are looking for

additional ways to boost their busi-ness. Adding a new service to whata business already offers can helpincrease revenue and bring in newcustomers. Tint shop owners mustbe careful and research add-onsbefore making any decision to pickup product lines. Car wrapping isone add-on option that has beenincreasing in popularity amongthose in the window film industry.

Dave Dorsey, the owner ofAurora Graphics in Wichita, Kan.,has worked with wraps since 1980and has learned a lot about how tobe successful. His company pro-duces and publishes graphics forcar wraps and Dorsey has seenhow the industry has reacted in thelast 30 years to the needs anddesires of the public.

“[Vehicle wrapping’s] got a lot ofgrowth potential ahead of it.People have always liked to per-sonalize their vehicles—it doesn’tmatter if it’s window tint or customwheels and tires. People havealways done it and they will again,”says Dorsey.

Weighing OptionsThe first step to considering the

addition of a new service is todecide if it will provide favorablemargins for a company. The answervaries depending on how much acompany can invest in wrapping.Two of the biggest factors in deter-mining a company’s success will be

accessibility to art/design and pos-session of equipment.

While the installation of the wrapis very important to the finishedlook, the artwork of the design is keyto giving the vehicle a new look ormarketing that business to otherdrivers. Dorsey, whose company isresponsible for thousands ofdesigns, stresses the importance ofartwork in the car wrapping process.

“When people are out there buy-ing partials or full wraps, it doesn’tmatter if it’s commercial or person-al, what they are really buying isthe look because it looks cool,”stresses Dorsey. “In other words,what they are buying is the art-work. The vinyl is a means to trans-fer that artwork to their vehicle.Obviously leading with the very

best art that you can is going to bea big benefit. Other people will seethe car or truck and someone isgoing to ask him where he got itdone. If you are doing it right itwill just snowball fromthere.”

Artwork becomesthe face ofa vehiclewrap com-pany and thedesign canalso help mar-ket companieswho are looking fornew ways to advertisetheir services.

Troy Downey, president of APEWraps in Coronado, Calif., adds, “Inthe beginning I recommend that

“…I tell our students all the time that we’renot splitting an atom here. It’s not like weare doing something really in-depth. At the

end of the day it is a sticker on a car.”—Matt Richart,

co-owner,Digital EFX

Wrap it Up!Professionals Share Advice on Vehicle Wrapsby Katie Hodge

Digital EFX, in Louisville, Ky., designed, printed and installed this wrap withartwork files provided by Aurora Graphics.


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This Ford E350 van was wrapped byDigital EFX using a design from

Todd McFarlane Productionsthat was printed on a

Roland Soljet Pro III printer.

y o uwork with compa-nies that already

have prefabbed artso that you are not

re-inventing the wheeland spending all that time

when you might not get theclient.”

To purchase professionallydesigned artwork a company wouldbe looking at an investment in thearea of $250 for a partial wrap andaround $450 for a full wrap, accord-ing to Matt Richart, co-owner ofDigital EFX in Louisville, Ky. Thepricing varies depending on loca-tion and company.

Over time, as it becomes moreaffordable, many companies chooseto bring as much of their businessin-house as they can. However,there is value in keeping yourdesign and installation separate.For some that means purchasingdesigns from professionals and for

o t h e r sthat means having

someone on staff who only designs.“The best thing I could recom-

mend is to keep an installer and adesigner separate. You can haveone guy for installs who is veryknowledgeable on installs and haveone very good design guy,” saysGreg Berlatsky, owner of CuttingEdge Graphics in Marion, Ill.

Once a plan is established to pro-vide excellent designs, companiesneed to begin focusing on how theyare going to manufacture theirproduct. This is whereprinters/cutters become vitallyimportant to making a profit.

“If someone really wanted to besuccessful in vehicle wrapping theywould definitely need to keep every-thing under one roof and reallyinvest into the equipment and theprinters and the facility,” Richartstates. “With that said sometimesyou can’t afford all that equipmentat first. Sometimes you don’t knowenough about the industry to invest

in that equipment. We’ve hadtimes when we have trainedpeople at our facility and wewill offer our design and printservices at a wholesale rate.There are other companies thatwill do this as well. A company

can say, ‘I like vehicle wrappingand I just got trained, but let me goout and try and sell some of this fora year. I’ll let someone help medesign and let someone help meprint so I can generate enough clien-tele and business and I can hone inon my skills to the point where I canafford a printer, software and com-puters to do this.’”

Downey agrees.“There is no reason why you

can’t get someone to convert foryou initially so you can get yourfeet wet,” says Downey.

For a new vehicle wrap opera-tion the cost of manufacturingwraps depends on location andamount of business, just as thecost of artwork will vary.According to Richart, the averagewrap involves 250-300 square feetof material. A company purchasingprinted material would find pricesaround $8-12 per square foot andthe installation cost would fallbetween $2.50-5 per square foot.Investing in equipment, whichwould include a printer, laminator,

The partial wrap was designed andinstalled by Xtreme Grafx in Albany,

Ore., and traveled to the SEMAshow for display. It was printed onOracal reflective film.


continued on page 22


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With artwork provided by AuroraGraphics, Tony Prior of the RolandAcademy in the United Kingdominstalled film on this smart car.


computers, and soft-ware, could cost acompany anywherebetween $55-75,000. However,when printingwraps in housethe cost of materi-al drops to $2-2.25per square foot, signif-icantly less than the $8-12 to purchase printedmaterial.

Waiting too long to purchaseequipment could be dangerous forcompanies. In order to turn a largeenough profit they will eventuallyhave to invest in software, comput-ers, and a printer and Richart rec-ommends setting a deadline.

“At the end of the day, they aregoing to need to set some goalsabout purchasing a printer by acertain time,” encourages Richart.

“You’ve got to be able to manu-facture your own product to makeany money,” Dorsey agrees. “If youscrew something up you can re-print just that little piece withouthaving to replace the whole side orbuy a whole other kit from some-one else.”

Finding Your NicheFinding and promoting the ways

that a company stands out canbring in new business and makethe company memorable. Havingmultiple services and skill sets isone way for a company to find itsniche.

Richart acknowledges that theskills a tinter has are very similarto the characteristics needed in agood vehicle wrapper.

“If I had to hire someone, and Ihad a guy who had been in the signindustry, not the wrap business,but the sign industry for three orfour years and I had a person out ofdesign school and I had a windowtinter who had been tinting for

s e v e nor eight years,

I would hire that win-dow tinter nine times

out of ten,” says Richart.“We have found that window tintershave the patience for it. Secondly,they understand the detail of vehi-cle wrapping because window tint-ing is not just slapping window filmon. The third thing would be thatthey are all about quality. They arespending just as much time gettingthese windows detailed, cleanedand scraped before they even applya piece of film. Most people don’thave that knack or that niche andwindow tinters do because theydeal with it on a day-to-day basis.”

Downey agrees that there iscross-over potential.

“[Tinters] already have anunderstanding of materials and theins and outs of the installationaspect,” says Downey. “Some of theexperience that they have withwindow films will carry over to thewrapping of a vehicle. The only dif-ference is that we are working witha lot of concave and compoundsurfaces that they don’t necessari-ly see everyday or have ever had tolay material on, like a fender or abumper. Those are the [challengingaspects to vehicle wrapping] thatgive you that uneasy feeling andthat cold sweat in the middle of thenight.”

Having the advantage of priorexperience with film, window tinterswill need to grow their skills in orderto take on the vehicle wrappingindustry. Not only is it possible and

feasible to bring vehiclewraps in as an addedvalue, there are alsolots of tools to helpnew wrappers develop

into seasoned andskilled professionals.

Information MeccaTinters who are ready to learn to

wrap have many learning opportu-nities available to them. Training isavailable in different formats,including trade show educationalopportunities.

“Let’s assume a guy doesn’tknow anything about this business.He’s a window tint guy and hewants to do it. My suggestionwould be to go to a trade show,”says Dorsey. “Here is what a guywill be exposed to at a show. Everyprinter manufacturer is going to bethere. All of the ink companies,including the aftermarket ink com-panies, will be there. All of the vinylcompanies will be there. There willbe demonstrations going on allover the place.”

At these shows tinters wouldhave the opportunity to have con-versations and ask questions, all inone building. The chance to talkwith experts and long-time mem-bers of the wrap industry canprove valuable for a newcomer.

More in-depth trainings are alsoavailable to those who are new tovehicle wrapping. For example,various companies across thecountry offer training, led by theirbest vehicle wrappers, over a peri-od of days. One such training pro-gram is the brain-child of Richartand, company co-owner, DallasFowler. At Digital EFX they say theyhave successfully trained hun-dreds of wrappers on techniqueand skill.

“We would train anybody in theUnited States no matter what,”says Richart. “If we had a window

Wrap it Up!continued from page 21


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tinter in Sacramento, Calif., whowanted to pay to learn how to getinto the wrap business we wouldbe more than happy to train thatperson.”

Berlatsky says he walked awayfrom his training with tons ofinformation.

“I don’t know that I would havetried [wrapping] without training,”says Berlatsky. “In three days Ilearned what it would take me ayear to learn otherwise. I got out alot of the mistakes that I wouldhave made.”

While Berlatsky participated ina comprehensive, three-day train-ing there are other options avail-able. The length of training is real-ly up to the students and howmuch time they feel they need andcan afford.

“People ask all the time how longit will take for them to get trained.Whether you are building a car,building a house or applying win-dow film it’s not how long it takes,but how many you do,” Richartsays. “There is a decent scale of alearning curve, but I tell our stu-dents all the time that we’re notsplitting an atom here. It’s not likewe are doing something really in-depth. At the end of the day it is asticker on a car.”

In addition, many manufacturersalso provide training using theirproducts or equipment. ArthurMeeker, managing member ofXtreme Grafx in Albany, Ore., hasattended trainings from manufac-turers and says he took a lot ofinformation home.

“I would recommend going to atraining. Everybody has them now.If your local warehouse or wherev-er you buy your vinyl offers a one-day class you should definitelytake it. That will teach you thebasic fundamentals of how to[wrap] and then you will be able togo back to your shop to practice

the best way to do it.”Wrappers at these workshops

can pick up tricks and differenttechniques to working with vehiclewraps. Taking the skills learned intraining and applying them is thekey to improving performance.

Practice PerfectsArmed with an introduction to

wrapping and perhaps anadvanced class or two, the realchallenge for new wrappers beginsin the shop. Taking the knowledgegained at trainings and applying itis a key component to a new wrap-per’s skills development.

“Education is going to be every-thing. It will initially give youenough confidence to go practice,”says Downey. “Whether that’s prac-ticing on the old refrigerator in thegarage or wrapping the trash canor the file cabinet at the shop, all ofthose things help because youdon’t have someone watching overyou and you can make mistakeafter mistake until you start to feelsome level of, ‘oh, I don’t want torepeat that problem again.’”

Wrapping, like tinting, is a tradethat requires constant learning andcorrection even after years ofinstalling. Berlatsky comments, “Idon’t think the learning curve everreally goes away. I think every timeyou touch the materials you learnsomething.”

In addition to constant practice,wrappers have to have a keenunderstanding of what a finished

project will look like.“The key is to have in your DNA

some level and some exposure tothe seeking of perfection,” saysDowney. “If you don’t know what

‘finish’ is then youneed to go get

some edu-

cation somewhere at what ‘finish’looks like. There are so manypeople that don’t know what ‘fin-ish’ is. They have never been tocompletion.”

All Wrapped UpWith a combination of education,

tools and careful planning the vehi-cle wrap industry can prove prof-itable for a window tinter. There isunquestionable value in learningthe trade.

Many companies have foundwrapping their company vehiclesto be an effective tool in marketingand selling a business.

“Hands down, there is no othermeans of advertising that willoutdo a vehicle wrap. You pay for itone time and it will work for you24/7,” adds Meeker.

By incorporating vehicle wrapsinto their businesses, window tin-ters also open up the opportunityto expand their customer base forwindow tinting as well. The cross-over opportunity is vast and thepay-off could be huge, if doneright. WWF

Katie Hodge is an assistant editor forWINDOW FILM magazine.

Aurora Graphics provided the design for this wrap installed by Alvin Barkelooof Wizard Decal in Sunbury, Ohio.


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SEMA Stays Strong

Despite a struggling economy, exhibitors andattendees won’t give up the chance to see it allat the Specialty Equipment Market Association’s(SEMA) annual trade show. Companies from all

over the world will gather in LasVegas to display the best theyhave to offer. SEMA, which takes place November 2-5 in LasVegas, has divided the more 1,500 exhibitors into 12 sectionsto make the show more visitor-friendly.

SEMA also ensures that there are plenty of educationalopportunities available to those in attendance. On theschedule this year are seminars on topics ranging from“New Car Buyers’ Aftermarket Intentions” to “BorrowingMoney In Today’s Credit Jungle” to “Stand Out From theCrowd: DefiningYour Company’sValue Proposition.” And for

those in attendance who learn better hands-on, SEMA alsohas an enormous volume of demonstrations taking place onthe show floor.

Entertainment and special guests will grace the stages andentertain attendees during the show. James Gregory, oncedescribed as “America’s Funniest Man,” will keep the crowdlaughing at the SEMA Industry Awards Banquet. Other specialguests include legendary off-road racer Rod Hall, Stacey Davidfrom SPEED’s show “Gearz,” MTV host Funkmaster Flex, the“Queen of Cars” Genevieve Chappell and many more.

Even with all the events going on, the highlight of theshow continues to be the exhibitors. Over the next twopages check out what some of the window film companiesplan to showcase during the week.

Exhibitors and Attendees Continue to Flock tothe Automotive Specialty Products Eventby Katie Hodge

Enjoy the ViewBooth #12317- WINTECH

Buena Park, Calif.- based WINTECH will showcase afew of its film products including NANO technology-based, environmentally friendly, energy-saving films.These films are designed to protect the consumer fromthe sun’s harmful UV rays and feature spectrally selec-tive coatings.

In addition, WINTECH will also feature its LovelyView Design art films. The company says this line, alsoreferred to as LOVIEW, allows consumers to combineindividuality with function.❙❙➤ www.wintechfilm.com


Film DebutBooth #12225- Sun-Gard

Solamatrix, based in St. Petersburg, Fla., will featurenew additions to its Sun-Gard window film includingthe new charcoal automotive window film series. This1.5 premium-grade film is available in high-perfor-mance or non-reflective films.

Sun-Gard will also show its new paint protectionproduct, DefenZall paint protection film, which has aseven-year manufacturer’s warranty. Both productswill be available for hands-on demonstrations.❙❙➤ www.solamatrix.com



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http://www.solamatrix.com





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Happy AnniversaryBooth #12325- American Standard Window Film

American Standard Window Film (ASWF), a divi-sion of Erickson International and based in LasVegas, will celebrate its one-year anniversary at theSEMA show this year. ASWF will be showcasingits five lines of automotive films. The lines also fea-ture point of purchase marketing materials andretail displays.❙❙➤ www.aswf.com

Interactive ActivityBooth #11959- Nexfil USA

Nexfil USA will provide booth visitors with a first-hand look at its line of films. The company will havedemo cars on site for attendees to see actual installa-tion of its films. Nexfil USA will also make its Nano IRfilms interactive by allowing attendees to performheat-rejection testing, which will allow them to see theresults first hand.❙❙➤ www.nexfilusa.com WWF

Katie Hodge is an assistant editor for WINDOW FILM magazine.


Taking CareBooth #11811-Solutia

Solutia will roll intoLas Vegas with plentyto show. The St.Louis-based companywill display its variousfilm lines includingLLumar, Hüper Optik,FormulaOne HighPerformance AutoTint and V-Kool. Inaddition to the filmlines, paint protectionfilm and high-perfor-mance film installationdemonstrations, Solutia willalso feature its new line of car care kits for con-sumers. The Window Film Care Kit and a PaintProtection Care Kit will both be available and canprovide businesses an add-on option for customers,according to the company. ❙❙➤ www.llumar.com

SEMA Stays Strongcontinued from page 24

Visit www.semashow.com for more informationincluding hotel reservations, show registration and for acomplete list of exhibitors.

Beyond the Pages Booth #12115- WINDOW FILM Magazine

WINDOW FILM magazine will beon-site with all of the latest newsand industry updates directlyfrom the show floor. Stop by andintroduce yourself to the staff,pick up a copy of the magazineand keep an eye out for theFILM’d crew as they roam theshow floor to shoot video for anupcoming episode. ❙❙➤ www.windowfilmmag.com

Super SolarBooth #11925- SunTek/CommonwealthLaminating & Coating

This year at SEMASunTek/CommonwealthLaminating & Coatingwill offer a close-uplook at its newestautomotive windowfilm. The company willshowcase its CarbonXPTMfilm, which is available in seven dif-ferent VLTs (5, 18, 35, 45, 55, 70 and 80 percent) andhas a lifetime warranty, which includes peeling, crack-ing, adhesive failure, and fading. The company says thefilm has the same characteristics as its Carbon line, buthas 10-15 percent better solar performance. ❙❙➤ www.suntekfilms.com


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In just a few short years a simple,little word evolved into one ofthe most significant adjectives of

our time—and took on a completelynew meaning. Green—the color ofthe Emerald City, spring grass andKermit the Frog—is no longer just acolor in a box of Crayola Crayons.It’s now used to describe energy-effi-cient, sustainable and envi-ronmentally friendly prac-tices of everything from peo-ple and products to business-es and homes.

And just as quickly, thewindow film industry hasfound itself right in themidst of the green buildingmovement. While the comfort fea-tures that window film can providehave been well-known for sometime, lately those in the industryhave been stepping outside thoselines to push a number of otherlesser known features and benefitsthat make window film green.

Performance FirstFor many, the first green benefit

of window film that comes to mindis its energy efficiency.

“Window film can usually provide5 to 15 percent energy savings for abuilding and typical payback isthree years or fewer,” says SteveDeBusk, global energy solutions

manager with Solutia’s PerformanceFilms segment.

“The moment it is installed win-dow film saves energy,” agreesKathryn Giblin, vice president glob-al marketing for Bekaert SpecialtyFilms LLC. “From a green buildingstandpoint window film provides a

significant reduction in energydemand, which provides substan-tial energy savings in the longterm.”

Jim Black, general manager ofHanitaTek window films inBrookfield, Wis., agrees that a hugegreen benefit of window film is itsability to reduce energy consump-

tion in buildings.“I remember years ago all the

energy concerns [in places suchas California] so even ten, 15years ago there was a need toreduce energy usage and win-dow film was recognized as away to do so, but it was mainlyin pockets, such as California,

Florida and Texas,” says Black. “Butover the past five to seven yearswe’ve seen window film become rec-ognized more globally as a productthat adds to the green movement.”

While window film may havebeen used for its energy-savingqualities for some time, it’s only

The Greening of the Window Film Industry;Garnering Environmental Responsibility

by Ellen Rogers

O n eL i t t l e

Word

“As an industry, we all need tobe participants in this and

actively involved and not justwaiting for change to happen.”

—Jim Black, HanitaTek


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been in recent years that its recog-nition has grown.

“In the last four or five yearswe’ve seen an increase in aware-ness that window film can be agreen product,” says DeBusk.“Window film has always offeredenergy-saving features, but theoverall awareness around climatechange … has brought on an uptickin requests for information.”

Giblin points out that many inthe industry have also been work-ing hard to ensure window film’srecognition as a legitimate, energy-saving product.

“Almost 200 films are now certi-fied by the National FenestrationRating Council (NFRC) for energyperformance. So window film nowmeets the same criteria for verifyingits energy efficiency as doors, win-dows and skylights,” says Giblin.“Also, the ongoing work by theInternational Window FilmAssociation (IWFA) Manufacturer’sCommittee to get window filmincluded in the tax credits … to havewindow film called out by name inthe potential Home Star program …this is gaining awareness.”

Black adds, “The IWFA is moreactive than ever before lobbying inD.C. to make sure window film isincluded in energy-saving legisla-tions. Likewise, manufacturers aremore committed than ever before.”

He continues, “For the most part,window film manufacturers havealso changed the language they usein their marketing materials. Theyare talking more about green, carbonfootprint, energy savings and it’s allbecoming more geared toward thegreen movement. Manufacturers arereaching out toward the decisionmakers and end-users.”

Speaking of the NFRC, DeBuskagrees that the certification/ratingprogram for window film hashelped generate awareness.

“The [rated] products are listedon the NFRC website, so architects,specifiers and others are seeingfilm products, in addition to glass,

doors, windows, etc. when they areon that site. It gives them aware-ness and comfort with how theproducts will perform and it givesthe film industry a whole new levelof credibility,” he says.

Beyond Energy SavingsBut there is more to window film

than just reduced heating and cool-ing costs. Window film offers anumber of benefits for environmen-tal savings and improvements.

“Our company as a whole hasdone a lot to save energy and beenvironmentally friendly,” saysDeBusk. He explained that, asof 2008, Solutia’s PerformanceFilms segment had reduced itsenergy usage by 40 percent persquare foot of output when com-pared to energy use per squarefoot of output ten years before.

Bekaert has also measured thecarbon footprint of its Solar Gardfilm and found it to be negative (Seerelated article in the July-August 2010issue of WINDOW FILM, page 36).

“In very simple terms, when youinstall window film on existing glaz-

ing the environmental cost of man-ufacturing an entirely new windowis completely avoided,” says Giblin.“If you take a window and decide toreplace it, not only do you take intoaccount the disposal of the existingwindow and frame, but many newwindows are made of vinyl, manyhave at least two panes of glasswith at least one, if not two or more,that are treated with coatings andthese steps to manufacturer a win-dow are a huge energy and environ-mental cost that are avoided if youuse window film.”

Jami Wong, product market man-ager, Architectural Film for SolarGard, explains that in doing the life-cycle analysis of their productsthey looked at what the carbonfootprint would be of 1 squaremeter of Solar Gard window film.

“We found the carbon footprint of1 square meter of Solar Gard is lessthan 1 kilogram,” says Wong. “Thecarbon footprint of a wood framewindow, the type with the lowestcarbon cost, is around 250 kilograms


Window film can be used in both residential and commercial structuresfor energy performance. This home features Solar Gard window film.

The eBay headquarters in San Jose,Calif., feature HanitaTek’s Silver 20window film.


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per square meter. So there is a sub-stantial difference between the ener-gy that goes into making glazing asopposed to window film.”

Manufacturers agree, that bychoosing to install window filmrather than replace windows con-sumers are making an environmen-tally friendly decision.

“By installing window film cus-tomers are keeping their windows,rather than replacing them, whichkeeps glass and frames out of thelandfills,” says DeBusk.

Black agrees.“With window film you don’t

have to manufacturer new glass,window frames, etc. and that’s def-initely part of [manufacturers’]messages moving forward. As [con-sumers and building owners] godeeper into what they can do fortheir homes/buildings the mes-sages from manufacturers will con-tinue in that direction,” says Black.

“When you talk about replacingwindows versus installing film, thepayback comparison is compellingas it’s typically 15-20 years ormore for one window replacementcompared to normally less thanthree years with window film,”says DeBusk.

Giblin points out several othergreen features.

“Think about employees inside abuilding. You can put a film on theirwindows and allow lots of naturallight and at the same time keepthem safe from ultraviolet (UV)rays, protect them from glare andheat and enable them to be moreproductive,” she says.

She also points to the benefitsfilm can afford to total buildingperformance.

“As soon as you apply windowfilm you can dramatically reducethe amount of heat coming in andtherefore you reduce the load onthe HVAC. With a reduced load youmay not need as big an HVAC unit

so other building elements mayalso be able to be reduced, such asthe piping or ducting for the HVAC,”she explains. “When you look atwindow film as a component of anentire building it actually has morebenefits beyond just energy savings

through heat rejection. On totalbuilding performance it can enablea retrofit situation to reduce someof the size and impact of otherareas of the building, reducing theoverall carbon footprint of thebuilding,” she says.

LEEDing the WayWindow film, like many other

building materials, can also help aproject earn credits toward the U.S.Green Building Council’s Leadershipin Environmental Design (LEED) pro-gram. DeBusk says 41 points areneeded to receive a LEED rating andwindow film can help earn up tonine. He says while the biggestimprovement window film can pro-vide is improved comfort, “LEED isnot just about energy savings. Thereare ways to allow in daylight sobuilding occupants can connect withtheir environments,” he says. “Thereis also a category for Innovations inOperations and Upgrades. Here itqualifies based on the film blocking99 percent of UV rays. This pro-vides protection for furniture andfabrics and people. Safety films alsoqualify here as they are helping toprotect the occupants. With LEEDit’s about anything that willimprove the work environment andwell being of the occupants.”

Industry EffortValue is also there for dealers and

distributors who are knowledgeableabout these products. Looking atthe residential side, Giblin notes onestudy conducted by the HartmanGroup Inc. in April 2009 showed that

85 percent of consumers are makingpurchase decisions based onsocial/environmental factors.

“So just having the environmentalmessage is going to resonate with[dealers/distributors],” she says.

As far as commercial, she saysmany corporations are makingenvironmental sustainability a cor-nerstone of their messaging.

“And they want vendors to sup-port that request,” she adds.

Black agrees.“We’re seeing that the public is

becoming more concerned andaware about doing the right thing …doing what they can to make theplanet better,” he says. “It’s not justabout the payback and savingmoney; it’s also about making theearth a better place. As an industry,we all need to be participants in thisand actively involved and not justwaiting for change to happen.” Andto help dealers and distributorsmove into the green realm, Blacksays many manufacturers providethem with continual education.

Giblin adds, “It comes back tothe fact that dealers need to beaware that as an industry we mustcontinue to push this message andwe do so responsibly and accurate-

“It’s important that as an industry we areall knowledgeable, and that we lead the

way, educate and not create confusion; wemust be consistent with this message as it’s

building credibility for window film.”— Kathryn Giblin, Bekaert Specialty Films

OneL i t t l e Word

continued from page 29



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OneL i t t l e Word

continued from page 30

ly. It’s important that as an indus-try we are all knowledgeable, andthat we lead the way, educate andnot create confusion; we must beconsistent with this message as it’sbuilding credibility for window film.”

Pushing ForwardMany manufacturers agree that

continuing to educate everyonefrom the dealers and distributorsto homeowners and builders is ahuge hurdle to overcome.

“Our biggest issue as an industryis education and awareness. Thereare not enough people who knowabout window film and there are alot of misconceptions,” says Giblin.“There are utility companies whohave rebate programs for the use ofwindow film as an energy-savingsproduct but they still refer to it in theliterature as a ‘reflective film’ andthese misconceptions are tough.”

She also says that, as more andmore buildings undergo green retro-fits, there is an increasing concernabout the use of artificial lighting.

“They don’t want to use lightingas much so there is a need forclearer window film. The industrycan meet that criterion, but manydon’t realize it,” she says. “Theindustry has to keep educatingeveryone that window film technol-ogy should be top of mind for ener-gy saving and for green building.”

“The biggest issue is that mostpeople still don’t know that filmreally exists,” says DeBusk. “Theysee a tall glass building and thinkthat it’s just glass, but often it hasfilm on it.” He says while there hasbeen some increased awareness,which has helped, “we still have aways to go, so there are definitelyopportunities for growth.”

Black also points out that as anindustry, window film is still rela-tively small compared to others.

“Competitive technology (i.e.glass) companies are typically so

much larger than window film com-panies and their industries are larg-er so those products are often whatare really at the forefront of peo-ple’s minds,” he says. “Our industry[must continue] to spread aware-ness and educate the consumer-at-large about the benefits of film.”

Giblin stresses that it will takethe efforts of the entire industry.

Dealers Too“Dealers, too, need to be

involved in these conversations.Some are, but many are still notsure about how to deliver the ener-gy message and they need to real-ize how important this is. If theybecome more aware in pushingthis along with the manufacturersand the IWFA, we will reach morepeople,” she says. “The IWFAManufacturer’s Committee is put-ting more money than ever intoeducation, lobbying, governmentaffairs, but we need all the thou-

sands of dealers and installers [tobecome involved].

For all aspects of the buildingindustry, from commercial to resi-dential, green building is here tostay. For suppliers this means thatsimply offering a green product asan “Oh, by the way, we’re alsogreen and here’s how,” add-on,isn’t an option. Offering energy-saving, environmentally friendly,earth-saving features is fastbecoming an expected must.

And these recognition effortsextend far beyond just the industry.

“For window film to be listed inproposed legislation in both thehouse and the senate is a majorachievement, even if it doesn’t gothrough,” says Giblin. “We musttreat it with care and continue tospread this message as an industry,accurately and correctly.” WF

Ellen Rogers is the editor of WINDOW FILM

magazine.

LLumar® solar control window film from Solutia was used on Temple Collegein Temple, Texas, to help reduce energy expenses.


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STOP Paying High Prices For Film

Contact Us 310.516.8986 Fax: 310.538.1137

Automotive

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Residential

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Security

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DISTRIBUTORSArchitectural Film

Bekaert Specialty Films LLC4540 Viewridge Ave.San Diego, CA 92123877/273-4364; fax: 858/571-3605www.bekaertfilms.com

SAGR Products Int'l1785 Biglerville RoadGettysburg, PA 17325800/223-4385; fax: 717/[email protected]

Solar Control Films Inc.1499 N Post Oak Rd; 214Houston, TX 77055877/989-3456; fax: 713/681-3040info@solarcontrolfilmsinc.comwww.SolarControlFilmsInc.com

Sun-Gard Window Films2630 Fairfield Avenue S.St. Petersburg, FL 33712888/887-2022www.sun-gard.com

Automotive Film

Huper Optik International Pte Ltd12, Jalan Kilang Barat, #04-03Singapore 159354(65) 6276-4555; fax: (65) 6276-9917www.huperoptik.com

SAGR Products Int'l1785 Biglerville RoadGettysburg, PA 17325800/223-4385; fax: 717/[email protected]

Solar Control Films Inc.877/989-3456info@solarcontrolfilmsinc.comwww.SolarControlFilmsInc.com

Starco Distributing1441 N. Cayamaca St.El Cajon, CA 92020619/937-0367; 888/359-3456fax: 619/937-0369


Residential Film

Johnson Window Films Inc.20655 Annalee Ave.Carson, CA 90746310/631-6672; 800/448-8468fax: 310/[email protected]

Midwest Solar Control Films1220 N Price Rd; #BSt. Louis, MO 63132866/973-3456www.midwestsolarcontrol.com

Security Film

HanitaTEK Window Films800/[email protected]


FILM INSTALLATION SERVICESU.S. Film CrewP.O. Box 17235Pittsburgh, PA 15235877/946-3693; fax: 412/[email protected]

MANUFACTURERSArchitectural Film

3M Renewable Energy Division3M Center, Bldg. 235-2S-27St. Paul, MN 55144800/480-1704; fax: 651/636-0611www.3m.com/windowfilm

Bekaert Specialty Films LLC4540 Viewridge AvenueSan Diego, CA 92123877/273-4364; fax: 858/571-3605www.bekaertfilms.com

CPFilms Inc.P.O. Box 5068,Martinsville, VA 24115276/627-3000; 800/255-8627fax: 276/[email protected]

Hanita CoatingsKibbutz Hanita, 22885, Israel+972-4-985-9919fax: [email protected]

Solamatrix, Inc.2630 Fairfield Avenue S.St. Petersburg, FL 33712888/[email protected]

SunTek™/CommonwealthLaminating & Coating, Inc.P.O. Box 4668345 Beaver Creek DriveMartinsville, VA 24112276/632-4991; fax: 276/632-0173www.suntekfilms.com

Automotive Film


Erickson Intl./AmericanStandard Window Film3135 Marco St.Las Vegas, NV 89115800/835-9676; fax: 702/643-0509



Decorative Film


Artscape Inc.3487 N.W. Yeon Ave.Portland, OR 97219888/503-0354; fax: 503/[email protected]

A DIRECTORY OF INDUSTRY SUPPLIERS


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Madico Inc.64 Industrial Pkwy.Woburn, MA 01801781/935-7850; 800/225-1926fax: 781/935-6841www.madico.com

Film Shades

Midwest Marketing2000 E. War MemorialPeoria, IL 61614800/638-4332; fax: 309/[email protected]

Solar Screen Co. Inc.53-11 105th StreetCorona, NY 11368718/592-8222; fax: 718/271-0891

Security Film




SECURITY PRODUCTSAttachment Systems

FilmFastener LLC featuring BondKap™8206 Copeland Rd.Odessa, FL 33556813/926-8721; fax: 813/920-8662www.FilmFastener.com

TOOLS AND SUPPLIESGlasWeld Systems Inc.20578 Empire BoulevardBend, OR 97701541/388-1156; fax: 541/388-1157www.glasweld.com

Performance Tools Distributing7640 Commerce PlacePlain City, OH 43064866/448-6657 or 614/873-4800Fax: 614/[email protected]

Solar Gard Filmhandler Tools4540 Viewridge Ave.San Diego, CA 92123800/336-3971; 858/614-1445fax: 858/[email protected]

WEBSITES TO VISITSolamatrix, Inc.888/887-2015www.solamatrix.com

Training School

Windowtinting.com800/580-7953 WF

ADVERTISING INDEXPage Company Phone Fax Web Address

8-9 Aegis Films 800/438-8468 678/333-0892 www.aegisfilms.com

18-19 Bekaert Specialty Films LLC 877/345-9478 858/571-3605 www.solargard.com

14-15 Commonwealth Laminating & Coating Inc. 888/321-5111 276/632-0173 www.suntekfilms.com

17 Erickson International 800/835-9676 Not Available www.aswf.com

31 Geoshield 800/234-6133 225/578-3975 www.geoshieldusa.com

37 Global Window Films 866/664-5622 813/814-2080 www.globalwindowfilms.com

38 Hanita Tek Window Films 800/660-5559 262/754-3776 www.hanitatek.com

C2 Johnson Window Films 800/448-8468 310/631-6628 www.johnsonwindowfilms.com

33 Nexfil USA 310/516-8986 310/538-1137 www.nexfilusa.com

11 OLFA North America Division 847/233-8718 847/233-8907 www.olfa.com

1 Performance Tools 866/448-6657 614/873-4899 www.44tools.com

5 Solamatrix Inc. 888/887-2022 727/327-7132 www.solamatrix.com

7 Solutia Inc., Performance Films Division 800/255-8627 314/674-1950 www.llumar.com

27 U.S. Film Crew 877/946-3693 412/798-0900 www.usfilmcrew.com

2-3 WINTECH America Inc. 888/983-3356 562/215-4472 www.wintechusa.com

25 World Wide Sun Controls Inc. 866/664-5622 703/707-9605 www.worldwidesuncontrol.com


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Treating every jobas the most impor-tant job of your

career will get younoticed. Just ask AgustinDe Sousa.

De Sousa’s shop,Master Window Tinting inDoral, Fla., is known forits professional work and attentionto detail. Other local businesseshave taken notice. Richard Estradaof High Tech Electronics in nearbyHialeah, Fla., nominated De Sousasaying, “This gentleman is one ofthe most professional window tin-ters in all of the U.S. His attentionto detail is of the highest stan-dards. I have had the pleasure ofworking with him for many yearsand time after time customersrequest his services.”

De Sousa got his start in the win-dow film business 21 years ago inCaracas, Venezuela, while workingat a friend of his uncle’s car acces-sories and window tint shop whilehe was going to college.

De Sousa stayed in the industrybecause of his passion for cars. “Ilike to optimize the vehicles andmake them look better than ifthey were from the factory,” DeSousa says.

Some of De Sousa’s most difficultand unique jobs have involvedolder cars. “Some of the most chal-lenging projects have been classiccars from the 1950s and 1970s. OneI remember was a 1967 VW Beetleand the rear glass on a ‘73 DodgeDart sedan. Also a challenge was a100-foot yacht in Coco Plum, Fla. It

was tinted and decorated with apicture of the sea.”

De Sousa has many goals for hisbusiness and is eager to watch itgrow. One of the directions in whichhe would like to see growth is work-ing on more high-end vehicles.

“I’d like to provide service toexclusive high-end vehicles,” saysDe Sousa. “At the same time I’dlike to provide high-quality filmswith high heat rejection, protec-tion of paints and decorating andcustomizing the exterior of cars.I’m always ready to provide serv-ices to our community. Theydeserve the best.”

In addition, De Sousa is passion-ate about protecting and informinghis customers about health risksand the benefits of window film.

“I’d like to create programs toeducate people about skin cancerand how to prevent it,” he adds.

De Sousa’s company stands outbecause of its commitment to the

details of a well-done job and itssuperior customer service. Hisadvice for other companies is tomake sure that they finish each jobcompletely with attention to detail.

“We are so concerned about giv-ing customers what they reallyneed. It is all about how we finishthe job. We try to give them themaximum protection and educatethem on skin cancer. If you focuson doing a well-done job you willhave happy customers who referyou to others,” says De Sousa.

When De Sousa is not hard atwork tinting cars he is a family manat home.

“In my free time I love spendingtime with my wife and daughter, goingto church and going to car races andcar shows. I also like to take part inevents in the community.” WWF

Details Matter to This Florida Tinter

INSTALLER PROFILES

Do you know someone who is a star among window film tinters? Then wewant to hear from you with your nominations for “Film Stars.” E-mail EllenRogers at [email protected] your nominations.


Agustin De Sousa's attention to detailhas led to repeat customers andrequests for his work.


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Finally—A Tint Tool thatTrims Wasted Time

Your time and materials are valuable—maximize both with InfoZone™, Hanita Coatings’ new

iPhone App. InfoZone calculates how much film you need in each width for your entire job,

trimming time and increasing accuracy from the old paper and calculator method. You can

even email the results to your shop to get a start on the project. Plus the glass breakage

warranty info is right on your iPhone or iPod touch.

Trim your budget and your time spent. Get InfoZone. It’s Free.

Learn more at www.hanitatek.com/app.

And our film is pretty great too.

800.660.5559 www.hanitatek.com facebook.com/hanitatek


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ins and outs of vehicle wrapping · 2019-10-29 · vehicle wrapping also inside: • window film...

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