Transportation

AFTC^® Transportation

AFTC SilverTapes are widely used in several areas of transportation. Trains, trams, busses, airplanes, mobile homes, caravans, subway carts, trailers are many of the applications that fall under the umbrella of “transportation”. Because of the diversity of materials and applications within the transportation market, AFTC offers our full range of industrial tapes.

Wheel trims

Wheel trims are protective, decorative trims around the wheels of a vehicle. Depending on the OEM paintsystem, you have a choice between all SilverTapes (Direct Foam-, General Purpose-, Low Surface Energy (Soft Foam)-, and Primerless-series. Wheeltrims are strongly curved. The radius potentially wrinkles the liner of the tapes, resulting in potential failures. THis can very well be prevented by using different adhesive systems, different thicknesses or different liners. We customize our products exactly to our customers' needs and wishes and can alter anything from liner release to thickness of tapes. For more information regarding the application and/or paintsystems, please contact your AFTC Representative.

Body side mouldings

Body side mouldings provide protection for your doors and side body of your vehicle. Side mouldings generally consists out of PP/EPDM or TPE materials. Depending on the OEM Paintsystem you have the choice between all SilverTapes.

PDC holders

PDC holders is the sensor holder of the park distance control. Depending on the OEM paintsystem, you have a choice between all automotive SilverTapes (Direct Foam-, General Purpose-, Low Surface Energy (Soft Foam)-, and Primerless-series. In most cases these PDC holders are bonded using die-cuts. For optimal die-cutting capabilities, we offer all our automotive SilverTapes with an optional siliconized paper liner. For more information, please contact your AFTC Representative.

Roof panels

Roofpanels camouflage the welded joint between the roof of the car and it's body. Due to sometimes uneven welds, we advise the use of a 1,5mm minimal tape thickness. Depending on the OEM paintsystem, you have a choice between all automotive SilverTapes (Direct Foam-, General Purpose-, Low Surface Energy (Soft Foam)-, and Primerless-series. For more information regarding the application and/or paintsystems, please contact your AFTC Representative.

Weatherseal

The weatherseal is the rubber material that forms a seal around your vehicle's, windows, trunk lid, windshield, and other areas, such as the roof rails. Generally consisting of PP/EPDM or TPE materials, the AFTC Heat Activated SilverTapes are the tapes of choice. Depending on the the OEM paintsystem you have the choice between three different adhesive systems (74-, 76- and 80-series) and three different thicknesses (0,4 - 0,8 - 1,2mm). For more information regarding the application and/or paintsystems, please contact your AFTC Representative.

Emblems/ Lettering

The emblems/ letterings are the signature of the manufacturers. They add a specific value to your Truck/ caravan/ camper/ bus or coach. They are mostly made of ABS plastics which makes our SilverTape Direct Foam and general purpose- series the preffered option (Other SilverTape series remain as excellent options as well). For more information regarding the application and/or paintsystems, please contact your AFTC Representative.

Lighting units

In most cases lighting units are bonded using die-cuts to ensure a water tight seal. For optimal die-cutting capabilities, we offer all our automotive SilverTapes with an optional siliconized paper liner. Depending on the OEM paintsystem, you have a choice between all automotive SilverTapes (Direct Foam-, General Purpose-, Low Surface Energy (Soft Foam)-, and Primerless-series. For more information regarding the application and/or paintsystems, please contact your AFTC Representative.

Door seal

Door seals are responsible for keeping warmth in and keeping the rain, dust and dirt out when the door is shut. These door seals generally consisting of PP/EPDM or TPE materials, the AFTC Heat Activated SilverTapes are the tapes of choice. Depending on the the OEM paintsystem you have the choice between three different adhesive systems (74-, 76- and 80-series) and three different thicknesses (0,4 - 0,8 - 1,2mm). For more information regarding the application and/or paintsystems, please contact your AFTC Representative.

Visual trims

Visual trims like chrome trims mostly suffer limited stress, therefore enabling the use of thinner tapes for bonding. In most cases these trims are bonded using the 0,8mm variation of our SilverTapes. Which one, depends on the OEM paintsystem. For more information regarding the application and/or paintsystems, please contact your AFTC Representative.

AFTC^® Transportation

One of AFTC’s most successful markets is trailers industry. AFTC SilverTapes are used to mount and bond the roof, wall, floor panels, corner profiles, lighting and reflective plating on exterior of trailers. After seeing the results of the AFTC products many customers decided to make the switch from rivets and screws to the AFTC SilverTape. Making the switch to AFTC has significantly improved the speed of their production process and has lowered their overall production costs. Other advantages include reduced the sound and vibration of the trailer by 40-50%. In addition, AFTC SilverTape weighs significantly less that mechanical fasteners, less weight means less fuel burn which saves money.

RV’s and mobile homes, in many cases, have the same pre-fab interior or exterior parts. These part such as full shower or bathroom units, in the past were mainly riveted or glued into the interior. Due to the friction of these vehicles, the rivets would loosen, resulting in the annoying sound of rattling and vibration. Using liquid glues required long drying times where AFTC ‘s bond is instant. In addition, exterior trims, lighting and windows for buses is where liquid adhesives have always had a prominent role. Because of the uneven surfaces, welds and high torque this is still the preferred bonding method. However, the quest for improvement of productivity and cost reduction has opened the door for AFTC SilverTape. Working in conjunction with engineering teams of several leading bus manufacturers, AFTC has found some very interesting applications. The hatches for the luggage compartment is a perfect example of how the AFTC SilverTape is now used to bond the aluminium sheet to the steel frame of the hatch. Besides the obvious holding power and increase in production speed, this bring another advantage; the AFTC SilverTape forms a barrier between the two metal preventing bi-metal corrosion.

Other SilverTape applications in the manufacturing of buses are logo, emblem attachment, exterior trim, floor & roof panels and lighting.