Inflatable arches

Under this name we group various types of inflatables, from traditional circular arcs to the showy and imposing gates of sporting events. Yes, but why an inflatable arch? For three main reasons: speed of installation, small footprint when deflated and exceptional visibility .

What is an inflatable arch ?

First, it is an inflatable, which is a pressostatic structure, more or less heavy, inflated by a powerful electric blower. The blower draws air from the outside and pushes it inside the inflatable, ensuring an internal air pressure adequate to maintain the shape of the inflatable. It is therefore a not rigid structure that can be inflated and remain swollen only thanks to the constant internal air pressure ensured by the blower. The circular arc shape or rectangular portal shape is chosen by the customer, these are the typical shapes that are adopted in exhibitions, contests, sports events and manifestations, where it is necessary to "catch" the eye of the public in an effective and versatile way, or simply to set up in no time a point of arrival or departure of a bicycle race or running.

Does an inflatable arch fly ?

No, an inflatable arch absolutely can not fly, since it is inflated with cold air. The inflatable is substantially a closed bag of fabric, kept inflated by the internal pressure provided by the electric blower with cold air, which can not develop any aerostatic upwards thrust and is not able to lift the structure.

How do they stay straight up ?

Another question often asked is how an arch shaped inflatable can remain upright. The answer is simple: initially the arch is inflated while it is lying on one side, subsequently, with the help of two or more operators, the arch is put in vertical position and then is anchored at multiple points in a radial manner. In this operation several tensioners are used, which are strips of high tensile strength that are fixed firmly to the ground or other stable structures.

But the electric blower is on continuously ?

Yes, the blower must always remain on, because it ensures a constant air pressure inside the inflatable, essential to overcome the weight of the tissue that tends to squeeze down, and to let the inflatable assume the required shape. This means that if one cuts off the current supply to the motor blower, the inflatable deflates, more or less quickly depending on the type.

The electric blower is external or internal to the inflatable ?

The placement of the blower can be internal to the inflatable (by us called "drowned blower") or in an appropriate box with external cladding and sound insulation. TecnoFly 2008 Srl prefers the internal solution because it is less cumbersome, more elegant, practical, and already soundproofed. As shown in the figure, only the suction mouth comes out of the inflatable, so this system is very practical, since it allows to not occupy other space on the outside of the inflatable. Other producers instead adopt the external type, using special blowers enclosed in boxes of plastic material which, in addition to protecting the engine, ensures the correct soundproofing. In the case of the engine "drowned" the noise of the motor is dissipated inside the inflatable without the use of other systems.

How much power does a blower motor absorb ?

The absorbed power is different depending on the motor used, which must be selected according to the type and size of the inflatable. The predominant factor is the internal pressure, which must be adapted to the weight of the inflatable, and therefore is different depending on the size and the fabric of the inflatable. We can say that for an arch of medium size, 6 - 8 meters wide, the power consumption is between 200 and 350 Watts. These values are indicative, since the engine during the phase of inflation has a different speed respect to when the inflatable is swollen and only needs to be maintained inflated. Particular attention should be paid to those cases wherein the inflatable arch is installed in an area with a high intensity of wind. Excessive wind force deforms the arch, pressing the surface, and tends to skew it. The strength of the inflatable in these special cases is put to the test, since the pressure exerted by the wind on the outer surface is considerably greater than the internal pressure that the blower can maintain. In these circumstances, especially for very large arches, 15 - 18 meters wide, it is necessary to employ a very powerful motor, with pressure and flow rate higher than the standard used for normal installations, and these engines can reach power of 1200 Watts. A portal of this size can reach the internal pressure required to assume the desired shape in vertical only with a power of this kind, as the weight of the inflatable in this case is substantial, then it is essential a greater internal pressure to maintain the shape of the structure even in conditions of strong wind.

Can an inflatable arch swell and burst ?

No, an inflatable arch is designed to work with certain internal pressures. The blower motor is chosen in a way adapted to the size and fabric of the inflatable, and the whole product is effective and safe.

Can they also be used indoors ?

For indoor use we have inflatables made of flame retardant fabric, such as nylon cl.1, available in various colors. TecnoFly 2008 Srl sells only safe inflatables, in compliance with the regulations.

What certifications are available ?

The certificates that are always provided with the inflatable are the CE Conformity, and the certification of the blower motor 100% Italian. Moreover TecnoFly 2008 Srl ensures a 100% Italian, from design and cutting of fabrics, sewing and assembly of the blower motor.

How can the inflatable arch be customized ?

The customization of an inflatable arch can be done with different methods, depending on the budget that the client wishes to invest in the inflatable. These are the three possible solutions:

1. digital printing on the surface of inflatable
2. banner used interchangeably with ties or Velcro
3. sewn application of pre-spaced laser engraved monochrome fabric

Certainly the digital printing of an inflatable is more expensive than the other solutions, but it makes not only the inflatable more attractive, but also a closed solution, since the inflatable comes already printed and can not be changed from an advertising perspective. The most versatile solution, and also the most used, is to use the free areas of the inflatable for the application of interchangeable advertising banners. These areas can be the equator and the base. For example a balloon-shaped inflatable with interchangeable banner allows to use the same balloon to advertise different events by simply replacing the banner. The banner envelops the entire equator and is not a simple rectangular banner as would be expected. Sometimes it is cheaper to sew directly on the inflatable laser plotter-cut graphics, the result is very nice, professional and visually striking. In this case a monochromatic tissue is first suitably laser-cut, then glued on the inflatable with strong double-side adhesive, and then sewn with tris-tris machine.

Is it difficult to transport an inflatable balloon ?

Certainly the ease of transport depends on the size of the inflatable, the greater the size, the greater the weight. However TecnoFly 2008 Srl has studied the special bags which, unlike the common transport pockets, first "wrap" the inflatable, deflated and folded, then squeeze it with suitable tensioners that significantly reduce the total volume of the bag. This is a fundamental point that not all suppliers of inflatables want to face, ignoring the container of the inflatable. Instead, it is important to use a special bag as ours, both for the transport for the storage of the inflatable.

How can I order an inflatable arch ?

Ordering your inflatable is simple. Send us an e-mail to info@tecnofly2008.com describing in as much detail as possible the shape, for example taking a cue from our photo gallery. Or send us a drawing, also done by hand, with a description of the details of your interest, our technical staff will advise you the right type of inflatable you most enjoy. We are happy to tailor make the inflatable.

Graphic requirements

The cold air inflatables are made usually with bright colors, which tend to attract attention and boost the visibility of the inflatable. An inflatable often is constructed with fabrics already with a base color, as rolls of fabric are produced according to the requests. However we can print directly onto the fabric with digital obtaining each type of gradient, for a perfect and faithful reproduction of the object you want to "enlarge". During the design we prefer vector graphics file format as they can be resized without losing quality. The most widely used programs for file processing in vector format are Adobe Illustrator, Freehand, Corel Draw, and vector file formats can be ai, eps, pdf, cdr with all fonts converted to curves. Raster files are only used for digital printing, but must be of a format you can print, as too low resolution does not produce good results. Typical programs used for rasterization files are Photoshop and Paintshop Pro, which generate files of type jpg, tif, psd.