YKK Moulded Plastic Zips VISLON® and METALUXE®

YKK moulded zips: what VISLON® is

VISLON® is the name under which YKK offers its moulded zips. Each tooth is moulded from plastic – for example polyacetal resin – directly onto the tape. This makes the chain lighter than a metal zip of the same size; it does not corrode and keeps working in moisture and cold. Because colour is added as a pigment during moulding, the teeth can be in almost any colour, including one different from the tape. Polkom offers original YKK moulded zips to manufacturers of apparel, equipment and bags in Bulgaria and the EU; we do not manufacture YKK zips.

VISLON® sizes and types

YKK moulded zip variants

YKK also offers VISLON® with increased resistance to sunlight (VISLON® UV), with flame-retardant tape, chemical-resistant versions and models with flat or shaped teeth. Waterproof solutions are covered in a separate category.

Teeth and tape colour

On a moulded zip, the tape colour is specified by number from the YKK colour card, and the teeth can be tone-on-tone or contrasting. A combination of different colours is a common design technique in sportswear and backpacks. METALUXE® and the metallic versions have their own palette with codes, and the mirror effect has a separate range of foils – gold, silver, copper, hologram and chrome.

Limitations worth knowing

• mirror-effect VISLON® has foil on one side only, is not reversible and, according to YKK, is not intended for luggage and footwear;
• METALUXE® is slightly lower in strength than the standard model and is not recommended for heavily stressed areas;
• zips must be closed before washing and drying;
• with new fabrics and treatments, YKK advises a preliminary test under real conditions.

Sliders and pullers for VISLON®

Moulded zips are combined with auto-lock, non-lock or reversible sliders, and on long jackets with two sliders for two-way opening. For outdoor products the puller is often textile or rubberised so it is easy to grip with gloves. For open-end models YKK also develops solutions for easier pin insertion – such as QuickFree™ with a widened lower slider body, and click-TRAK®, where the separating parts align and click in by themselves.

Care and washing

Close the zip before washing and drying – an open zip can get tangled with other garments and damage the teeth or the slider. Long, thin pullers are best washed in a mesh bag, and after drying the zip should not be moved until the product has cooled. If it runs stiffly, paraffin or wax on the teeth restores smooth running.

Why outdoor brands choose VISLON®

A technical jacket is worn with gloves, in wet and cold weather, and the zip is one of its most stressed parts. Plastic teeth do not corrode and are lighter than metal, and the slider can be combined with an easy-grip puller. The large sizes No. 8 and No. 10 are easy to grasp, and the visible chain can be part of the design.

YKK VISLON® or a standard moulded zip?

If the zip brand is not a requirement, Polkom also offers its own moulded plastic zips with large stock availability. When your buyers expect YKK, send us the size, type, length, tape and teeth colour, slider type and quantity. All lines are in the YKK zips section, and for samples write to us via Contacts.