Protection Films
Novis Apex
Black & White Laser Protection Film for Stainless Steel
Novis Apex is a black and white polyethylene protection film for stainless steel that stays on the sheet through laser cutting. The opaque black-and-white surface controls reflection off polished stainless, letting the laser track reliably while the film protects the finish through cutting, forming, handling and transport.
ImageRoll of black and white Novis Apex laser protection film beside a stainless steel sheet
Overview
Cuts clean, peels clean.
Laser cutting polished stainless is a reflection problem before it is a cutting problem. A bright mill finish scatters beam energy and confuses optical tracking. The black-and-white surface of Apex gives the head a matt, non-reflective plane to work against.
The film then has to survive everything after the cut. It goes through the press brake, the deburring station, the rack and the container, and it has to come off cleanly at the end — after weeks of heat, pressure and handling have worked on the adhesive.
Residue is the failure that costs money. An adhesive that has aged onto a brushed finish requires solvent cleaning that can damage the surface the film was there to protect. Apex is specified around clean removal after realistic service life, not just initial peel.
Laser-cut through the film
Stays on the sheet during cutting. The matt black-and-white surface controls reflection off polished stainless so the cutting head tracks reliably.
Clean removal after service
Specified around residue behaviour after heat and time, not just first-day peel strength.
Survives forming and handling
Holds through press brake forming, deburring, racking and container transport without edge lift or tearing.
Consistent peel
Controlled adhesion so removal is predictable across the sheet rather than fighting the operator in patches.
In detail
ImageLaser cutting head moving across a stainless steel sheet covered in black protection film
ImageBlack and white protection film being peeled from a freshly cut stainless steel part
ImageStack of film-protected stainless steel sheets in a fabrication workshop
Specifications
Technical data
Values marked On request are confirmed against the specific grade and consignment. Batch test data is supplied with every delivery.
Construction
- Film typeBlack and white surface.
- Co-extruded polyethylene
- Thickness
- 70 – 120µm
- Adhesive
- On request
- Roll width
- On request
- Roll length
- On request
Performance
- Peel adhesionTest method to be stated — ASTM D3330 or FINAT FTM-1.
- On request
- Tensile strength
- On request
- Elongation at break
- On request
- Laser compatibility
- On request
- Service lifeIndoor storage, from application.
- On request
Application
- Suitable substrates
- Stainless steel — mill, brushed and polished finishes
- Application temperature
- On request
- Removal
- On request
- Shelf life
- On request
Applications
Where it is used
- Laser cutting of stainless steel sheet
- Press brake forming and bending
- Kitchen equipment and commercial catering fabrication
- Architectural stainless cladding and fixtures
- Elevator panels and interior metalwork
- Export packing and long-haul transport protection
Used in
Questions
Novis Apex FAQs
Why is laser protection film black and white rather than clear?
Polished stainless reflects beam energy and interferes with optical height and edge tracking. An opaque matt surface gives the cutting head a consistent, non-reflective plane to reference. The two-tone construction also makes it obvious at a glance which sheets are still protected.
Will the film leave adhesive residue on a brushed finish?
Not within its stated service life. Residue happens when film is left on well beyond that window, or exposed to heat that ages the adhesive onto the surface. Brushed finishes are the least forgiving, because residue lodges in the grain and needs solvent cleaning to remove.
Can the film stay on during press brake forming?
Yes. Apex is specified to hold through forming without tearing at the bend radius or lifting along the formed edge, which is where a film with insufficient elongation typically fails.
Is the film suitable for outdoor exposure?
Apex is specified for indoor fabrication and transport. For panels exposed to sunlight during construction, use Novis Luma, which is UV-stabilised for outdoor service.
Technical reading
Before you specify
Also in Surface Protection Films
Specify Novis Apex for your line
Send the application and the specification. We will come back with the grade, thickness and packing that fits — and a sample where it helps you decide.