Quality Menu Covers
What's the Secret?
One of the most popular menu covers is a clear vinyl cover with binding stitched around the edge and metal corners, known as the Café Cover. There are two basic ingredients that go into making quality menu covers; the manufacturing processes or construction of the menu cover and the materials used. Knowledge and experience tell a manufacturer which materials and processes will produce the best and most durable covers. This article will discuss the various materials and processes used in manufacturing, as well as their advantages and disadvantages to explain what makes a quality restaurant menu Café Cover.
The quality and durability of the Café Cover will be reflected in the price as the materials used will play an important role. The clear vinyl must be flexible enough not to crack and the formulation must be such that it will not yellow or lift laser or ink jet printing. Also important is the gauge of the vinyl, in other words the thickness, which will add to the quality and life of the menu cover. Clear vinyl may also be used in other styles of restaurant menu covers, such as leatherette or faux leather covers, in the form of clear pockets for leatherette covers.
Another important issue often overlooked is the quality of the thread used in any type of sewn menu cover. Inexpensive and most imported menu covers use cotton thread, which in time disintegrates. This disintegration is increased by cleaning chemicals and moisture and is one of the main causes of the thread to unravel. Top quality nylon thread, which costs a few cents more per cover, will last for many years. Some companies will tout double stitching of their Café Covers however, more is not always better. Double stitching puts more holes in the vinyl compromising its’ integrity. Greater durability can be achieved by using quality materials sewn with lock stitching and care taken while applying good quality metal corners.
Café Cover binding materials can be nylon, a strong and durable material which is the reason it is used for outdoor equipment and parachutes, or a vinyl coated fabric called supported vinyl. Supported vinyl is strengthened by the fibers of the fabric backing to resist splitting and cracking. Again, the formulation of the vinyl or plastic should contain enough plasticizer to make it soft and flexible enough not split or crack from the bending and folding of menu covers. Both are equally durable materials for menu covers.
In conclusion; strong, durable, quality materials along with the right manufacturing processes will create the best and most durable Café Covers. As with most anything the old saying applies, “You get what you pay for.” Quality covers will cost a bit more, however, they are more durable and will out last inexpensive covers made with lesser quality materials thus making quality menu covers a better and more cost effective investment.
MenusPlus offers a wide variety of Restaurant Menu Cover Styles as well as options including custom manufacturing and design at no additional charge. Our customer service representatives are dedicated to customer satisfaction and have years of experience understanding and addressing the needs and concerns of the hospitality industry. |
Cleaning and Care of Menu Covers
Everyone would like their menu covers to always look like new and have them last forever. However, all menu covers will over time show wear and eventually have to be replaced. A quality made menu cover will last a long time, out lasting a lesser quality cover. The proper care and cleaning of your menu covers will help extend the life of the cover as well as to keep it looking good.
Many menu covers have the restaurant name or logo foil stamped and sometimes this foil will appear to wear off over time. Since this logo is usually debossed, where the material is compressed and lower, it is not subjected to rubbing and should not wear. So the illusion of wear is not the result of excess wear, but the result of cleaning with harsh cleaning chemicals actually degrading the foil. The foil is coated with heat sensitive glue and applied with pressure and approximately 250 F of heat. The heat sensitive glue is water proof, but not chemical proof. Cleaning chemicals can attack the glue under the foil, causing the glue and foil to come off making your covers look old and worn before their time.
Cover materials are manufactured with a protective coating. Cleaning with harsh chemicals will over time attach this coating making the covers look dull and increase the aging process.
Cleaning your menu covers should be done with plain warm water and, if you must, a few drops of mild detergent mixed with water. After cleaning the covers, be sure to dry them with a soft cloth removing any residue. Cleaning your covers in this way will add years to the look and life of your menu covers.
Quality is a great factor in the wear of restaurant menu covers. Of course the better the quality of the materials used in manufacturing the better the quality of the cover and the longer it will last and stay looking new. Some "manufacturers" actually purchase the covers they sell, in bulk from other countries made with lesser quality materials. These cheaper covers are sewn with cotton thread rather than nylon thread and are particularly subject deterioration, not only from cleaning chemicals but just plain warm water.
One of the most popular covers frequently imported are Café covers, clear menu covers with colored binding sewn around the edge, which can be bought at wide range of prices depending on the quality. The clear vinyl used in lesser quality covers will deteriorate over time and crack and turn yellow. The use of harsh cleaning chemicals will speed up the deterioration process. A good quality restaurant menu cover sewn with nylon thread and quality vinyl will out last one made with inferior materials. It is also less subject to deterioration from cleaning but, still should only be cleaned using warm water and if necessary, a few drops of mild detergent.
Storage of restaurant menu covers is another issue. Storing your menu covers on their side will cause more wear and damage by banging and rubbing of the edges. The best way to store restaurant menu covers is flat preventing excessive wear. If you are not storing your menu covers flat, you should consider it.
Following these cleaning and storage tips will extend the life of your menu covers and keep them looking good. A good quality menu cover will far out last a cover made with lesser quality materials. |
