Q - Are your products fire resistant?
Although most of our products are manufactured with fire resistant material, you should check with your sales rep for an answer on a specific product
Q – Can you digitally print images or company logos on the covers?
In most cases yes for any custom products that we sell
Q - What does “MIL” and “OZ” mean?
A “mil” is a unit of length equal to 0.001 of an inch (0.0254 mm). Mil is used to measure the thickness of materials such as Vinyl covers. As a general rule, the thicker the mil / cover the better quality. An “oz” is the weight of the material per square yard. As a general rule, the more ounces equals a better quality of cover.
Q - How much heat can the covers endure?
Vinyl material including 13 and 18oz vinyl materials are rated for 140º F. If you have an application where 140 degrees of heat is present then the covers can and will eventually fail. A good example is an engine running with your foot all the way to the floor on the pedal. You are running it at its maximum ability and it will eventually fail. The same is true for using covers at their max temp rating. They will last, but there is no way to guarantee how long. The material becomes very soft and grommets can pull out or rips can occur. If you need high temperature rated covers then view our line of heat resistant industrial covers. Polyester is considered a heat resistant (dryer and iron safe), with a melting temperature of about 480º F (in comparison, nylon starts to yellow at 350º F and melts at about 415º F).
Q - Are the covers easy to clean?
All of the Vinyl covers are very easy to clean. They are a slick material that makes them ideal for washing down. Much like a shower cover, the slick surface does not easily allow debris to stick to it. To clean your industrial vinyl covers, you can use a cleaning product called “Simple Green”. This cleaning material will not harm the PVC vinyl that your covers are constructed from. Please know you should never use a solvent based cleaner. A solvent based cleaner can damage the vinyl material. You can use a mild non-abrasive detergent if you have excessive greasy or oily type of film on the covers. All other materials such as nylon, canvas, and polyester can be stained and will have special cleaning needs. Please ask your sales person. Also, it is a good idea to test a small piece of the cover with any cleaning agent first before starting the entire cleaning process.
Q - How do you repair an accidental rip or cut in the covers?
We don’t sell any patch kits directly but you can purchase the following product which works great for vinyl. (http://www.tear-aid.com/) Make sure you purchase type B which is made for Vinyl. If you have another type of material please consult your Alco representative.
Q- How much cold can the covers endure?
Different materials have different low temperature ratings. These are very important so please read carefully.
Clear Vinyl Covers – 20 Mil Clear – Ideal for temperatures going as low as 10° F or -12° C and above. If folded below these temperatures or blown around in the wind the vinyl will likely crack. If your environment is likely to have temperatures then choose another material.
Opaque Solid Vinyl Colors – 18 oz Coated – Ideal for temperatures going as low as 0° F or -17° C. If folded below these temperatures or blown around in the wind the vinyl will likely crack. If your environment is likely to have temperatures below this range then choose another material.
Opaque Solid Vinyl Colors 22 oz Coated – Ideal for temperatures going as low as -22° F or -30° C. If folded below these temperatures or blown around in the wind the vinyl will likely crack. If your environment is likely to have temperatures below this range then choose another material.
Installation in cold temperatures and windy conditions is not recommended. Ideally let the cover warm up to room temperature. If your cover must be installed in cold conditions, treat the cover with care. Try your best not to put too much stress on any one point and try your best to keep the cover from flapping or whipping in the wind.
Q - What chemicals are the covers resistant to?
Most of the covers which require chemical resistance are made of PVC/Vinyl. They are great for resistance to most chemicals. here is a list of tested chemicals