Stockfilms blog

We offer a strong assortment of automotive American Standard Window Film

13 October 2017

The American Standard Window Film brand is one of the most renowned in the window film industry, as is demonstrated in part by a selection of its products that we have available here at Stockfilms. From its new factory located in Las Vegas, Nevada, American Standard Window Film – a division of Erickson International, LLC – continues to produce high-quality window films catering to the needs of users not only in its native US, but also right here in the UK.

On browsing our range of automotive window films from the American Standard Window Film brand here at Stockfilms, you will immediately notice that there are three series of films available – Retro, Impulse and Excel.

What does each of these window film series do?

As you may have guessed from the name, the Retro series is a collection of automotive window films that celebrates the nostalgic style of the past, albeit also with advancements for today. It is a non-reflective film with a classic appearance, but which also incorporates sophisticated technology to ensure an excellent level of colour stability and clarity.

Retro is also a superb choice of automotive window film on account of its ultraviolet rejection of 99%, as well as its comprehensive manufacturer’s warranty and variety of available roll widths, the latter helping to minimise waste.

With Retro also being a highly installer-friendly film, offering excellent heat-shrinking, sitting down well on the dot matrix and incorporating a very good scratch-resistant coating, it should be no surprise that this is the bestselling American Standard Window Film automotive film in the UK.

Another highly regarded series of automotive films from American Standard Window Film is Excel, which is a non-reflecting black colour stable dyed film that offers a high level of durability to both professionals and consumers.

Finally, we can also offer Impulse, which is for customers who want a metallised rather than non-metallised film. It is a colour-stable charcoal film complete with a reflective metallised layer, making it a great choice when both comfort and an attractive appearance are priorities for you from your choice of automotive film.

Discover our all-encompassing American Standard Window Film range today

Whatever you could conceivably require from automotive window film, there is likely to be an option from American Standard Window Film that represents the perfect match to those needs.

Why not browse our current online selection of films from this renowned brand on our website today, before getting in touch with us on 020 8441 0449 to request a competitive quote?

Invest in our light-block films for true 24-hour privacy at your premises

2 October 2017

If you desire a type of architectural window film that will provide absolute privacy at your organisation’s premises – preventing people from seeing through your windows to the contents inside – it is our light-block films that represent the ideal solution.

The main advantage of these films is that they provide genuine 24-hour privacy – they are not translucent (semi-transparent), so it is not possible for anyone to see through them at any time of the day or night. You may therefore apply them to glass partitions where there is a need to conceal clutter or shelves that are close to the glass.

What are your options from our selection of light blockout films?

The solutions from which you can choose when you are purchasing light-block films at Stockfilms include 3mil Blackout, which is totally opaque and blocks out all daylight or artificial light through the window or lightbox, and 3mil Whiteout, which blocks all vision through the glass but still allows a small amount (10%) of natural light through the glass. Both of these films are manufactured by Opalux.

There are two more trade light blockout films that we stock from Opalux, namely the Blackout Removable and Whiteout Removable films.

The former is a removable privacy film that blocks out all daylight or artificial light through the window or lightbox and is completely opaque, making it a good choice for temporary installations where all vision needs to be controlled – for example, during building works.

However, if you require your trade privacy film to still be removable and to block all vision through the glass, but to still let in a small percentage of natural light, it is Opalux’s Trade Whiteout Removable film that is most likely to interest you.

3M is another renowned manufacturer of light-block films

The other brand that is represented in our current selection of light blockout films here at Stockfilms is 3M. It produces the Black Light Blockout film that is a white blockout film with a white backing, as well as the White Light Blockout film, which has the same specifications, except that it has a black backing.

Both of these 3M films are used to control light flow in internally illuminated signs. They both have very good external durability, and are suitable for first or second surfaces of clear acrylic or glass to create special sign effects.

Remember that the light management films available to purchase from Stockfilms also include such options as light reduction and light diffuser films. This means that we have all of the window films your firm needs to control the light that enters its premises in the most suitable manner in each and every application.

Combined safety films provide the protection your building’s occupants need

26 September 2017

Given the various risks that glass windows can present at your organisation’s premises, it is understandable that you may wish to invest in combined safety films that provide a level of protection against several dangers at the same time.

This is a line of products that we can provide here at Stockfilms, in the form of the highly respected Opalux brand’s multi-laminate combined solar, safety and security films that have found widespread use among Government and commercial organisations.

Our combined safety films are especially frequently chosen by customers that value high-performance safety in their choice of window film, along with the typical benefits of a solar control film.

We have a range of options to suit your needs

When your main priority from a combined safety film is to keep your staff safe as they move around your premises’ glass windows, you may be interested in our 100-micron safety films.These include Silver 20, which provides the benefits of heat and glare control, as well as visual privacy, incorporated into a safety film that will protect your building’s users if they fall against the glass and cause damage.

Our 100-micron Silver 35 option, meanwhile, also provides good glare and heat control, screening potentially harmful UV rays, but allows in a more abundant level of light than Silver 20, while still providing a degree of privacy and physical protection for your building’s occupants.

Or, when you feel that your organisation requires greater privacy from its combined safety films than the products above can provide, you may take an interest in our 150-micron Matt White frosted film, which has a suitably frosted effect.

Finally, we can also give you the benefit of dual-ply 200-micron Silver 20 film, which is designed to protect against both bomb blasts and intruders who may attempt to break the glass to gain entrance. It also screens out 99% of UV radiation to help to minimise the fading and deterioration of your building’s soft furnishings.

Call Stockfilms today for a quote

Having been in the window film industry since 1976, Stockfilms has an exceptional reputation for the wholesale distribution of architectural window films, including combined safety films.

Request your quote from our team today to benefit from the most suitable and highest-quality combined safety film for your organisation’s requirements, together with prompt and professional service and outstanding technical support.

How patterned and decorative films can support your company’s promotional efforts

20 September 2017

Are you always looking for fresh and interesting ways to spread the word about your business? Indeed, effective promotion isn’t just about gaining customers – it’s also about cultivating loyalty among those that already benefit from your company’s services.

Both of these objectives can be achieved with greater ease when you invest in patterned and decorative films for your firm's windows.

Make a more colourful impression

Your company might already be utilising a wide range of marketing methods. These may include emailing promotional material, sending out flyers and paying to cover advertising boards. However, have you seriously considered the promotional merits of patterned and decorative films?

After all, if you already use marketing materials to heighten your target audience’s awareness of your corporate branding, it surely makes sense to also introduce such branding to the windows of your premises. It’s perfectly possible with the coloured tinted films that we can supply from the trusted manufacturer, Opalux.

These films are known as Opalux Art Colours, which are available in colours including amber, blue, green, orange, pink, purple, red and yellow. In addition, they enable you to preserve a certain level of clarity through the glass so that other, more typical uses of your premises' windows do not have to be compromised.

Put your firm's logo in even more places

Using your company’s building as a marketing tool is crucial because if you don't advertise that your business is there, how can you expect many people to even know it is there?

Fortunately, we can also supply patterned films that you can use to add other visual elements of your company's brand identity to your building's windows. These elements can include your logo, thereby making it easier for people to quickly identify your firm.

We can meet even highly specialised requirements

You are free to browse our website at your leisure to discover the true breadth of our options when it comes to patterned and decorative films.

You might have specific requirements for the width of the films that you purchase, or you may be especially anxious to balance promotional objectives with a desire for workplace privacy.

Rest assured that we can consider all of these factors when offering a quote; call us on 020 8441 0449 for a more in-depth discussion of your needs.

How different types of window film can be helpful in the home

14 September 2017

In the typical home, there are various potential problems - including excessive heat or glare, lax privacy and fading furniture - that can be prevented, solved or diminished with the use of window films. These films could even bring financial savings to a household in the long term.

They can reduce oppressive heat

There are various possible drawbacks of an excessively hot home during the summer months. For example, a refrigerator can become compromised in efficiency, while flowers on windowsills can wither and die. However, a solar control film installed on the inside of a home’s windows may assist in rectifying the problem of overabundant heat.

They can make TV and computer screens easier to see

Imagine settling down on the sofa to watch your favourite TV show or taking a chair in your home office to begin work on your computer, only to find the screen is obscured by glare.

This can happen when too much light enters the home. However, homeowners don't necessarily have to say goodbye to that pleasant view outside. Instead, they could invest in a reflective window film. This move can save their displays from a washed-out look, as the window film will use solar control to reduce the amount of screen glare.

They can enhance privacy

If a person lives in a neighbourhood where there are many other houses - or buildings of other types, such as business premises - very close to their own, there could be adverse privacy implications.

It's not necessary for homeowners to simply settle for that feeling of living in a goldfish bowl. That’s because they could benefit from frosted window films that provide complete privacy throughout the day and night.

Our stock of these films includes an Opalux frosted variety that, although translucent, can provide privacy each way while still letting a decent amount of natural light through the window.

These are just a few of the many ways in which our architectural window films here at Stockfilms can enhance the lives of homeowners – so why not contact our team now for a competitive quote?

Don't choose any other supplier of UV digital printable film

14 August 2017

Many businesses have areas of glass on their premises that they would like to visually enhance with a bespoke design, often incorporating the branding of the company. It is for such a purpose that our UV digital printable film exists.

This optically clear film can be printed onto by the majority of wide format UV cured inkjet printers, making it very easy and convenient for your organisation to use.

What are the advantages of choosing our UV printable digital film?

Even if you only opt for our thinner 50 micron UV printable film, you will still benefit from a high-quality, distortion-free solution that helps to ensure your images stand out clearly on glass surfaces.

We offer UV printable digital film in both 50 micron and 100 micron variants, with even the former offering such advantages as a high level of optical clarity, ease of installation and the screening of harmful UV rays. This film is also PVC-free, so is even an environmentally friendly choice.

So if your organisation simply needs a UV printable film that provides a clear, non-tinted appearance on glass, is quick and straightforward to apply and can help to reduce fading to your interior furnishings over time, the 50 micron variant will more than suffice.

However, when you choose the 100 micron version, you can also look forward to an enhanced scratch resistant coating that is suitable for most non-abrasive window cleaning methods.

The other factors that should guide your choice

The above isn't the only difference between the 50 micron and 100 micron versions of our UV digital printable film.

They also vary in terms of the width options that can be specified for them - 1250mm (49.2"), 1550mm (61") or 1828mm (72") in the case of the former, and 914mm (36”), 1219mm (48”) or 1524mm (60") in the case of the latter.

Then, there's simply the matter of why you should specifically purchase such UV digital printable film from Stockfilms. We are no less than one of the UK's leading stockists and distributors of architectural window films, including the entire range of Opalux products, while we are also known for our honesty, reliability and outstanding service.

It all means that when you're looking for the complete solution as far as UV digital printable film is concerned, Stockfilms is the only supplier that you ever need to choose, time and time again.

What benefits could our manifestation dots bring to your workplace?

7 August 2017

Even if you have never before encountered the term 'manifestation dots', you will have encountered this window solution itself. It resembles a series of dots or squares across a window, which helps to ensure that the users of your workplace are aware of the presence of glass and do not therefore walk into it, potentially suffering injury as a result.

Here at Stockfilms, we are leading providers of glass manifestation film products that enable you to upgrade your firms' glazing to help comply with health and safety recommendations that large uninterrupted glazed areas be marked to make them easier to spot.

Manifestation film isn't just about safety

If your workplace is home to such large glazed areas, you should be aware of the Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992, Regulations 14, which states that "every window or other transparent or translucent surface in a wall or partition... door or gate shall, where necessary for reasons of health or safety... be appropriately marked or incorporate features so as, in either case, to make it apparent".

However, safety is not the only reason to invest in manifestation marking, particularly when it takes the form of miniature logos in acid-etched film that also help to discreetly reinforce your organisation's visual branding to both employees and visitors.

Indeed, manifestation markings can take various forms, including dots, squares, stripes and bespoke designs repeated at appropriated intervals and heights.

Make us your choice for high-quality manifestation dots

For customers that do not require a bespoke solution, here at Stockfilms, we are proud to offer Opalux Glass Manifestations film from stock, in the form of 50mm dots or squares.

These films are already pre-cut, weeded and masked, meaning that all you need to do is install them. We provide our manifestation dots and squares in a small, compact box with a re-sealable lid, which enables you to preserve the condition of any unused dots or squares in the event that you need them in the future.

The provision of our manifestation film on-the-roll not only makes it easy to carry around, but also gives you the luxury of not having to use it all in one go if you may need it for other jobs.

There really couldn't be a more user-friendly product for those in need of all of the benefits of window manifestation - and it's available now from Stockfilms. Simply get in touch with our professional team now to learn more about pricing.

Our anti-fog window films can help to tackle condensation

26 July 2017

Window condensation is one of those things that we all have to deal with from time to time. We may wake up on a morning before work and find our car windshield misted up, forcing us to turn on the demisters... or you may have to wipe your bathroom mirror to even see yourself when brushing your teeth.

Nor is condensation just a problem in the domestic space. If you have responsibility for a swimming pool or sauna, for instance, you may have similar issues with glass enclosures becoming misted up, or if you run a retail store or supermarket, the condensation on your shop window or refrigerated display cabinets can be less than convenient.

Say goodbye to misted-up glazing

What is the answer to such problems with condensation? Anti-fog window films like those we provide here at Stockfilms could certainly be useful.

Our anti-fog window films are available in both 100-micron and 50-micron form, and incorporate a special anti-condensation layer that is designed to spread water across the surface of the glazing to which it is applied.

The result can be much-improved visibility for the benefit of both you and anyone else using the glass surface, helped further by the film’s clear and non-tinted nature.

Whichever of our anti-fog window films you choose, it can be applied to most types of glass. Installation is also quick, which makes it a viable alternative to the disruptive and expensive large-scale replacement of existing glazing. During the installation process itself, a protective liner on the face of the film also guards against it becoming scratched.

Experience our anti-fog window films for yourself

Our anti-fog window films can also screen Ultra-Violet (UV) rays to reduce fading to your home, office or other workplace’s interior furnishings. In addition, they are scratch resistant in the face of most non-abrasive window cleaning methods.

However, while our anti-fog window films have helped a wide range of customers to preserve visibility in their home, business or other property’s windows or mirrors, it is also important to note that many factors can cause condensation.

This is why we recommend that the user performs an in-situ trial with the product prior to purchasing. Simply call the Stockfilms team today, on 020 8441 0449, for a quote and to try out our anti-fog window films so that you can be sure of them being the right solution for you.

5 great reasons to purchase frosted window films

19 July 2017

Frosted window films have long been a popular investment for all manner of settings, on account of their winning combination of versatility, durability and aesthetic appeal.

What are some of the best reasons to buy them for your own premises?

1. They enable a more peaceful working environment

Window frosting helps to provide a sense of calm that may otherwise not be the case in an especially busy work setting, by blocking out the hubbub and distractions of the outside world.

2. They give your workers greater privacy

When you apply frosted window films to your workplace’s internal glass walls, windows and doors, your employees will benefit from the greater privacy that will enable them to feel more comfortable in getting on with their work.

However, your staff’s privacy can also be enhanced by frosted films fitted to your external windows if, for example, your building is close to another building from which it is possible to peer into your office.

3. They enhance your building’s appearance

Frosted window films can play a key role in ensuring that your workplace looks at its best from both the inside and outside, wooing potential and visiting clients as well as providing your employees with a pleasanter backdrop on which to work.

The right choice of window frosting film, well-fitted, will lend your building a much more sophisticated, elegant and timeless look than blinds or drapes can offer.

4.They make your office safer and more secure

The natural effect that frosted window films have of obscuring what can be seen inside your office will prevent any temptation for burglars.

5. They allow in natural light in a non-harmful way

It’s well-known just how important it is for humans to be exposed to natural light on a regular basis, but harsh ultraviolet (UV) rays can create a risk to health, as well as damage your workplace’s furnishings and fittings.

Our frosted window films here at Stockfilms give you greater lighting control, allowing natural light to flood into your premises while blocking UV rays.

Peruse the selection of acclaimed frosted window films available at Stockfilms right now, and we are sure that you will be amazed by their incredible assortment of potential applications. Then, call our team – on 020 8441 0449 – for a competitive quote.

Our automotive window films have wide-ranging benefits

6 July 2017

When you hear about a friend, family member or work colleague having their car’s windows tinted, you might wonder why that is the case. It’s easy for many people to presume that the only reason to have one’s car windows tinted would be the enhanced privacy that it provides, or even the distinctive aesthetic of windows treated in such a way.

However, there are actually many more reasons to purchase automotive window films like those that we offer here at Stockfilms. Here are a few of them.

The reduction of UV rays

Automotive window films are great for resisting the amount of damaging UV radiation that reaches you and your passengers, which – given the association with skin ageing and skin cancer – can surely only be a good thing. Remember that UV rays and solar heat can also cause your car’s interior upholstery and plastics to deteriorate faster.

Enhanced security

If would-be thieves can’t see into your car as easily, it’ll be harder for them to see anything in your vehicle that could be worth stealing – the likelihood is that they’ll simply move onto the next car. This is especially so given that a window film would also serve as an extra barrier to any crime by holding pieces of smashed glass in place, thereby making any prospective burglary more awkward.

We offer an incredible range of appealing window films

There’s no such thing as just one type of automotive window film, just like there’s no single reason why people wish to have one applied to their car.

This is why we offer such an extensive range of them, from the Retro non-reflective film that combines cutting-edge technological benefits with a classic look, right through to the Excel Series of colour-stable non-reflective dyed film with a layer of metallised film.

Why simply read about the benefits of automotive window films without exploring the exact ones that could be perfect for your vehicle? Discover the full range that we offer here at Stockfilms, and we’re confident that you will be amazed by their sophistication, value and suitability to your needs.