AutoMag II vs GerberMag II

Applications

AutoMag II — Vehicle Strength:

• - Removable vehicle graphics and car door signs
• - Fleet advertising magnets
• - Truck and van door graphics

GerberMag II — Promotional Grade:

• - Refrigerator magnets and business card magnets
• - Movable warehouse rack labels
• - Point-of-purchase signage on metal displays
• - Ad specialty and promotional items
• - Reusable magnetic spray mask stencils

Both:

• - Magnetic decals on any metal surface
• - Decorated with vinyl letters and cut shapes

Gerber magnetic films will not stick to non-metallic vehicle bodies or components.

Printing Notes

Custom formulated for Gerber EDGE thermal transfer. Compatible foils: GCS (Spot), GCP Process Pro™ CMYK, GCM (Medal), GCT (Transparent).

Important magnetic material precautions:

• - Clean with distilled water and lint-free cloth before printing — magnetic nature attracts super-fine metal particles
• - Print only on the semi-gloss white side
• - Keep run lengths to 6 feet or less — extreme weight can cause bail arms to lift and compromise registration
• - Do not leave machines unattended when running magnetic films
• - Cover EDGE® faceplates and plotter surfaces with non-magnetic material (foam, plastic) to prevent magnetic interference
• - Use a tension roll holder to feed material through output devices
• - Operating temp: 50°F to 95°F; recommended 68°F–78°F for accuracy

Cutting

• - Cut on any 15" Gerber plotter or Gerber ODYSSEY™
• - Set plotters to 50% speed
• - Use a 45° or 60° SuperSharp blade
• - Simple shapes: swivel blade acceptable
• - Complex shapes: swivel blade may struggle — the thickness and stiffness of magnetic film makes precise depth difficult

Optimal cutting technique:

• - Start test cut with as little knife weight as possible
• - Gradually increase until the vinyl layer is completely cut and the magnetic layer is lightly scored
• - Punch out cut shapes — they should release with little difficulty
• - Too much weight or too fast a speed will cause the film to bind in the plotter

Vehicle Application & Maintenance

Substrate preparation:

• - Both vehicle surface and the brown magnetic back of the sign must be clean, dry, and waxed before application

Application technique:

• - Let one edge contact the vehicle first, then let the magnetic force position the rest
• - If out of position, peel off and repeat
• - Ensure no trapped air underneath
• - Minimum sign temperature: 50°F for winter conformability

Ongoing maintenance (important):

• - Remove weekly and wipe both vehicle surface and sign back dry — prevents moisture damage to vehicle finish
• - Remove after rain or snowfall; wipe dry before reapplying
• - Remove before pressure washing — de-icing chemicals can damage the sign face
• - Wood grain and metallic finishes: check weekly for 90 days; apply heavy wax coat on both surfaces
• - If discoloration or hazing is detected, discontinue use immediately

Storage & Resources

Storage:

• - 1-year shelf life from purchase
• - Store vertically with original end plugs and packaging
• - Keep below 75°F (23°C) and 75% RH, away from sunlight
• - Printed signs: store flat or wound on minimum 3" core, print side out
• - No heavy objects on sign face when stored flat; no face-to-face without slip sheet
• - Keep at least 1 foot away from discs and software — magnetic films will erase them

AutoMag & GerberMag Spec Sheet