Techsil provide die-cut tape solution for London Taxis

Case Study: Techsil provide die-cut tape solution for The London Taxi Company The London Taxi Company is the global premier manufacturer of purpose-built London Taxis - the 'Black Cab'. They wanted a new gasket solution to prevent the ingress of water underneath the iconic, roof-mounted Taxi hire sign. The solution also had to improve productivity, by offering faster fitting of the sign on the production line at the Company's Coventry based manufacturing facility. They approached midlands based industrial tapes and adhesives supplier Techsil. Working with Techsil's Business Development Manager, Steve Morrow, several options were evaluated. A semi closed cell EPDM foam tape called SF031 looked like the best solution. This double sided foam tape consists of an EPDM foam carrier with semi-closed cells and an acrylic adhesive. SF031 has a good resistance against UV light, water, wind, humidity, high and low temperatures, chemicals, such as acids and alkalis, and has very good sound damping properties. It has a flexible carrier that provides an excellent seal, even if the surface expands or contracts due to temperature changes, and possesses a low compression load that would not deform the roof when the sign is fitted. Tests were done using several thicknesses; SF031 needs to be compressed by 50% - 80% before a seal is achieved. This had to be tested over the whole sign base area due to the design and shape of the roof. 20mm performed the best, passing all wet testing. Once this was established, the next part of the project was to determine the best way to fit the gasket. Techsil offered 2 solutions for this, either a standard roll slit to a precise width or a die-cut piece that covered the entire base of the sign. The die-cut option was found to be the best as it could be pre-assembled onto the base of the sign off-line and then quickly mounted by peeling off the second liner. Bolts are then inserted from inside through die cut holes in the gasket to secure. Techsil's die-cut tape solution provided a robust seal which protects the interior against water ingress. The new gasket has reduced costs and increased productivity. About The London Taxi Company The London Taxi Company is the leading global manufacturer and retailer of fully-accessible purpose-built London Taxis and is universally recognised for providing the UK with the 'Black Cab', the icon of the world's best taxi system. The London Taxi Company produces approx 1,800 vehicles per annum. The London Taxi Company employs more than 180 people across its Coventry manufacturing facility and 3 wholly owned retail sites, with more than 40 Approved Service Dealers supporting the network across the UK. The instantly recognisable Black Cab can be seen operating in large numbers on the streets of London, other cities and towns in Britain, and in more than 60 countries of the world. The London Taxi Company prides itself on the robust design of its hand-built vehicles, which are renowned for their longevity and ability to cover hundreds of thousands of miles during a lifetime of use. www.london-taxis.co.uk