Unisub Coaster Backs - Getting Worse

[UK Printed Mugs]

Anyone else finding the hardboard backing of unisub coasters has suddenly got really bad in terms of coming off when you peel heat tape away and the amount of dust covering the coasters when removed from the box?

I presume they have started to use a cheaper backing but would like to hear from others before we complain.

Our process of sublimating coasters hasn't changed in years yet the quality is so bad that we are having clients complain.

[viccar]

thought it was just me, im having a problem when peeling the tape away as well, using same tape and everything else i have always used.
Got a new batch beginning of December, seemed fine before that.

[UK Printed Mugs]

Good. At least us not going mad. There is certainly a visual difference between pre-December and recent coasters from Unisub. The older ones seem more compact and uniform (the backs) whereas all the new ones have lines running across/down them. Whether a coating was not applied or they are applying the unisub coating to inferior hardboard (probably) then it is causing us a major problem. Once Xpres opens then we will contact them and get them to investigate.

[Andysam26467]

I've found the same. So much dust. It looks like the finishing on them is poor quality. Some of them look like they have been cut out with a pair of scissors.
And I'm also getting the backing coming off when removing the tape.
I've been printing them for years but never had this problem before. It's the last few weeks stock that's changed.
I too buy from Xpres and will be speaking to them when they return.


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[galerion]

I had the same problem with unisub coasters from xpres bought in December, had to do them carefully without tape.

[Mugshots]

I had the same with them. Luckily the baize backing covered any slight damage.

[bubbleimages]

We've decided that we will not be producing the Unisub placemats in 2017 for that very reason, spending more time de-dusting before pressing, and on full colour the dust we miss just leaves white spots. So, we're ditching them. Shame because they're great product, apart from that. We're doing OK with the coasters as not as much dust, but we are still on a huge batch we ordered in November, so might be new stock that is difficult.

[viccar]

I found the only way to do them, was to wrap them, so the tape was on the paper not the coaster, but this uses double the paper compared to the normal way

[Andysam26467]

I've found that after you have dusted the placemat, hold it above the paper a foot or so and drop it flat on the paper. If you manage to drop it exactly flat it disperses most of the remaining dust.
Sounds mad I know but it does work. You know when you hit it exactly flat because it hardly makes a noise.

Give it a try.


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[UK Printed Mugs]

Sorry Andysam26467, we personally wouldn't recommend dropping any substrates especially the coasters as we find these do chip on the edges.

We just had delivered some of these sublimation cleaning cloths for removing dust off substrates. Yet to try them but they are meant for exactly this type of dust issue:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272501085731? ... EBIDX%3AIT