Guide
A liquid laminate can only perform as well as the condition it is in when it reaches the print. Frost, dust and poor mixing spoil more coating than people expect. This guide covers how to receive, store and prepare liquid laminates, and how to handle freshly coated work so the finish survives until it is installed.
Landor ships from its UK and French distribution centres, usually reaching customers across Europe within two to three working days. When coatings arrive, check containers for damage and leaks, and move them indoors promptly, particularly in winter.
Water-based laminates such as ClearShield can be shipped in cold weather, but they must not freeze. If a delivery arrives in adverse weather, Landor advises storing it in ambient conditions and, ideally, letting both the liquid and the substrates acclimatise before use. If you suspect a container has frozen, contact Landor before using it.
Choose a storage area that stays frost-free all year and is not exposed to strong heat. Beyond that, general good practice applies:
Shelf life varies by product. Check the label or product data sheet, and ask Landor if you are unsure whether older stock is still usable. Safety data sheets, which Landor supplies on request, are another place to check storage requirements.
Buying the right quantity reduces the time coating sits part-used. ClearShield is available in 1 litre, 5 litre and 20 litre containers. For small or occasional jobs, the Landor starter kit includes 100ml of the liquid laminate of your choice with a roller tray and a high-density foam roller or foam brush, which is useful for testing media before committing to a larger pack. ClearJet aerosols contain 463ml per can.
How you open and mix a container matters as much as how you store it:
On Landor’s roll-to-roll coaters, an automatic supply and return system with filters keeps machine coating clean and recirculates it with very little waste.
The most vulnerable point is between coating and installation. Dry to the touch is not the same as cured, and freshly coated surfaces mark easily.
For more on cure times and conditions, see drying and curing liquid laminates.
Once fully cured, pack coated work so the image face cannot rub against cardboard, bubble wrap or another print in transit. Use clean packing materials and avoid putting coated faces against each other. For export or multi-site work, consider the whole journey, from storage rack and courier to the installation team. Good packing protects the time and coating you have already invested.
Water-based laminates must not freeze. Store them in frost-free conditions and contact Landor before using any container you think has frozen.
No. Stir it well instead. Shaking introduces bubbles. Satin and matt grades need particularly thorough stirring to mix the matting agents.
It depends on the product. Check the label or data sheet, or ask Landor.
Only once the coating has reached full cure, not simply when it feels dry. Stacking too early can cause blocking and marking.
Call +44 1252 624411 or email info@liquid-lamination.co.uk for advice, samples and pricing.
