Kindergartners may know masking tape as a fun arts and crafts tool. But manufacturers in the transportation markets — automotive, aerospace, and marine — understand the true value of this vital material for painting, coating, or sealing surfaces. Industrial masking applications not only require the right type of masking tape but also proper application of the material to prevent damage or contamination to surfaces. At Saunders, we offer a number of customizable solutions to make the masking process easier and more efficient. Here’s how we help manufacturers accelerate masking projects, limit waste and boost operational efficiency.

Aerospace masking tape kits

Masking projects in the aerospace manufacturing industry typically involve masking components in tape and then baking them in massive ovens to cure the applied coating or paint. For large parts of the fuselage, this often means masking each individual window by hand. Specialized masking tape must be used to withstand both high temperatures and harsh chemicals. World-leading materials supplier 3M offers a complete line of masking tapes to meet a variety of needs, including aerospace applications. As a 3M Preferred Converter, we regularly convert these tapes to make it easier for OEM and airline employees to apply. But we don’t stop there.

To take efficiency one step further, Saunders is proud to offer custom aerospace masking kits. All manufacturers have to do is send us the window or component dimensions, and we will die-cut aerospace masking tape to those exact specifications. Then, we send manufacturers a fully custom, ready-to-apply kit with individual pieces of masking tape that can be applied to the window in one easy step. This saves time and wastes material because workers don’t have to cut material on-site or manually tape each window to ensure proper coverage.

Our kits can turn a full-day, two-person job into a 1.5-hour project that can be completed by a single employee, even one who lacks masking experience. Altogether, our kits help aerospace manufacturers improve speed and efficiency while also providing greater operational flexibility.

Automotive masking solutions

For automotive applications, masking looks a little bit different. Instead of painting, coating or sealing parts after the vehicle is mostly assembled, the process happens in stages for individual pieces. This means OEMs and manufacturers often need to mask small parts, sometimes in tight spaces or with complex geometries.

Saunders assists in this process by providing pre-cut masking tapes that make it faster and easier to cover and protect target surfaces. Our slitting and die-cutting services are particularly valuable for pinstriping or applying custom decals because we can cut tape extremely thin, or into complex shapes. This speeds up the application in the field and provides greater consistency in the masking process. Our solutions help minimize waste material and ensure hard edges along the paint line with no bleed-through.

Masking made easy

At the most basic level, masking is a simple and straightforward process. Simply cover the target surface with the appropriate type of masking tape and then proceed with the coating or painting process. But manufacturers know it’s rarely that easy. The traditional masking process requires skill and experience, and it takes time and human capital. By first converting tape to a more usable format, Saunders can help transportation manufacturers speed up this process and boost operational efficiency. Ultimately, our converting services add value to masking applications to help our partners achieve their strategic business goals.

Looking for a better way to complete your automotive, aerospace, or marine masking project? Contact us today and we’ll review your requirements to see how we can bring exceptional value to your business.