Adhesive Applications
Adhesive choice and the impact on installations
By Armando Mota, CEO, Digidelta W
hen it comes to adhesive products, small decisions can have big consequences. Choose the wrong one and you may fi nd yourself
dealing with lifting edges, trapped air, premature failure and an unhappy customer who won’t be quick to return.
That’s why adhesive selection shouldn’t be an afterthought. Before starting the project, it is crucial to understand the key factors of the environment in which you will be installing the application and how these will impact performance. Will the surface cause issues with certain adhesives? How could temperature or, if the piece is being installed outside, exposure to the elements, aff ect the project? The answers to these questions will often point you clearly towards the right solution. Two of the most sought-after adhesive types are bubble-free and dot-matrix. Both feature pressure-sensitive adhesive technology, designed to improve application performance and enhance the end-user experience. However, as is the case with almost all printed work, there is no one-size- fi ts-all solution, with both product types off ering distinct advantages depending on the project requirements.
Breaking down these technologies, bubble- free adhesives are designed to minimise air entrapment during installation, typically through micro-channel or air-release systems embedded within the adhesive layer. This allows trapped air to escape as graphics are applied, resulting in a smooth, professional fi nish with reduced risk of visible bubbles or silvering, common challenges in adhesive applications. As such, these products are particularly popular in large-format graphics, window fi lms, vehicle wraps and similar projects where surface appearance and ease of installation are critical.
Dot-matrix adhesives, by contrast, are applied in a patterned confi guration of discrete adhesive dots rather than a continuous coating. This construction
reduces the overall contact area, enabling easier positioning and repositioning during application while still delivering reliable adhesion once pressure is applied. The design can also improve conformability on lightly textured surfaces and facilitate cleaner removal in certain short-term applications. Given these qualities, dot-matrix products are commonly used for retail graphics, promotional campaigns and other installations where speed, fl exibility and removability are key. Digidelta off ers solutions across both of these application types. One of our latest innovations is the Decal Bubble-Free range, designed for ease of use across high-performance applications. Available globally since last summer, the product can be supplied in Polymeric Vinyl, Monomeric Vinyl, Glass Décor and PVC-Free Film formats, each off ering its own performance advantages. As for dot-matrix adhesives, Digidelta also recently introduced Decal Dot Matrix, a bubble-free 100-micron self-adhesive monomeric vinyl for use in short-term promotional graphics on fl at, smooth
and non-porous surfaces. Available in widths of up to 1.6m, it comes in both clear glossy and white matte options.
The Decal range is just one of several adhesive product lines developed by Digidelta. The company has also attracted attention with its BIOND range of bio-based printable fi lms, which has secured independent OK biobased certifi cation from TÜV Austria, confi rming high levels of renewable carbon content. This focus on innovation is further refl ected in the recent FESPA UK Waste Accreditation Champions Recognition Award 2025, recognising Digidelta’s ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility. The company’s latest product developments are being reinforced by signifi cant investment in its manufacturing capability. At its global headquarters in Torres Novas, Portugal, Digidelta is in the process of building a new 15,000 sq. m. production facility, which is scheduled for completion later this year.
Once fully operational, the site will incorporate four coating lines, 1,300 racks and fi ve specialist slitters, supporting output of up to 75 million square metres of media annually. This expansion signals a clear intention not only to broaden the product portfolio, but to underpin it with the scale and operational infrastructure required to support long-term growth and international demand. With regards to the media the company produces, the choice between bubble-free and dot-matrix adhesives isn’t about which is better – it’s about which technology is better suited to the task at hand.
Bubble-free systems tend to off er greater assurance in terms of long-term durability and high-end visual fi nish, making them ideal for premium, large-scale or permanent installations. Dot-matrix technologies, meanwhile, provide greater fl exibility, repositionability and ease of removal, lending themselves particularly well to short-term retail and promotional work. Understanding the strengths and limitations of these diff erent technologies is essential. By aligning adhesive selection with surface conditions, environmental exposure and campaign duration, print professionals can reduce risk, improve effi ciency and ensure that installations perform exactly as intended.
12
March 2026
www.convertermag.com
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