Inflatable Manufacturing Build Information

Construction Facts

SUPERIOR MANUFACTURED INFLATABLES UP TO 5 YEAR WARRANTY

Vinyl Material

All of Superior Inflatables units are made with “RIP STOP” 18.5 oz (1500 x 1500 denier) vinyl. Although most inflatable manufacturers have moved to lighter 15 oz (1000 x 1000 denier) vinyls for their inflatable bounce houses, inflatable slides and moonwalks these days, we have chosen to stick with the traditional tried and true durability of the 18.5 oz vinyl, where the base fabric of the vinyl is the key to it tear resistance. Rip Stop tear resistance is very important when considering all the stress an inflatable will endure through daily usage for the majority of its lifespan. 3.5 oz. doesn’t sound like a lot, or that it would make a huge difference, but when comparing the two fabrics it is plain to see that our 1500 x 1500 denier (or thread count) high strength base fabric has a far greater ability to resist tears than the competitions 1000 x 1000 denier. What it boils down to is you (the customer) end up with a stronger, more durable and more rip resistant final product.

Baffle Material

At Superior Inflatables we use baffle material that is minimum 10 oz (1300 x 1300 denier) vinyl under most circumstances. This provides the maximum strength for the internal construction of every inflatable we manufacturer here at Superior Inflatables. Some of our competitors use 5 oz – 7 oz (800 x 800 denier) mesh baffle, or even worse, miscellaneous random vinyl and mesh scraps. Considering baffles are the skeleton of your inflatable helping it hold shape, the stronger the baffle = the tougher the inflatable seams will be, ensuring a long lasting inflatable.

All of Superior Inflatables are double and quadruple stitched which means it has up to 8 rows of stitching in the extremely high impact areas.  Double and quadruple stitching is common in this industry, but how tough is the thread used for those seams? Our seams are constructed with extra heavy weight, twisted, multi-filament, nylon thread. This can withstand a force of 35 lbs per inch before tearing (8 x 35, you do the math!). It equals unparalleled strength. The tread we use for the manufacturing of every inflatable is heavily lubed to prevent water from easily penetrating the tread which can cause deterioration over time.

Reinforcements

All inflatables have high stress point areas. These points may be entry areas, floor and uprights joints, or wherever structure panels meet. A superior quality inflatable will have strong reinforcements in these high stress point areas, that will ensure the unit stays together and lasts longer. Superior Inflatables years of experience has given us the knowledge to make all of our units tougher and more durable than our competitors. Largely because we don’t cut corners in order to compete with inferior inflatable manufacturers and distributors just to be the lowest priced. We still build every inflatable like we manufactured back in 2003 – A time when inflatables were built like built proof tanks.

On average we spend $35-$70 per commercial inflatable bounce house by reinforcing high impact seams with 1″ – 2″ seat belt style webbing strips sewn into the seam. Many of our competitors a decade ago also did it this way, it was standard manufacturing technique. Over the years many of our competitors have opted out of webbing strip reinforcement in order to provide the public with the cheapest priced inflatable they can. Now days some competitors do not use any reinforced stripping for their seams. Others your lucky if they use scrap pieces of vinyl strips. Superior Inflatables spares no expense to ensure you have the best built inflatables suitable to carry our warranty of up to 4 years..

Anchors

Anchor points are keys to keeping the unit stable in up to a 20 mph winds. A tether, or an anchoring system, is only as strong as its weakest link. Our anchors are constructed of heavy duty vinyl with 2″ heavy duty D Rings as the anchor points. Some of our competitors use polyethylene webbing for anchor points. This polyethylene webbing is prone to deterioration over a short period of time.

Inflation/Deflation

To keep the unit inflated it is critical that the inflation hose where the blower is connected have a perfect joint, so it won’t come detached from the blower when under normal use conditions. All of Superior Inflatables units also come with a second blower tube standard. As inflatables get older they tend to lose more air between the seams, compared to when they are new. Down the road you will find the need for this second inflation tube.

Preventing sudden unexpected deflation is very important when it comes to inflatable safety. In the case of a blower failure, the unit should remain inflated long enough to allow participants to exit safely from the inflatable. All of Superior Inflatables units have air flaps that prevent air from blowing out of the unit in the event of blower failure.

For normal deflation, a good quality inflatable should have deflation zippers that have a Velcro sealed flap cover. All Superior Inflatables units come standard with a minimum of 1 deflation zipper.

Indoor Inflatables Removable Covers

Removable covers are the best way to extend the life of your inflatables. After many years of use, high-volume traffic spots, like steps or sliding and climbing areas of an inflatable, are the first places that require replacement or repair. All of Superior Inflatables outdoor made units are made with removable and replaceable covers for these areas. All indoor use inflatables for family entertainment centers and  play centers receive additional reinforcement with removable covers . If you purchase an inflatable from an overseas  manufacturer, when it comes to replacing the covers, you could be in for a big surprise.  Many overseas manufactures do not sell replacement covers and if they do, it can easily become a large headache to actually get one.

Custom Inflatables

Ones ability to build customized inflatables is “THE” best way to separate a real American inflatable manufacture from the pretenders reselling mostly foreign made inflatables. Rest assured your dealing with the source anytime your able to customize your inflatables with your personal flare. A very simple way to preliminarily determine if a company is making their units or ordering them from overseas is to ask them if you can change color or customize an inflatable. If they say no, there is a good chance they are ordering from overseas.

Color Customization

At Superior Inflatables, we can customize the color of any of our inflatables for free. Lead time for a customized unit is generally five days longer than our standard lead time. This is subject to change depending on seasonal demand.

Shape Customization

At Superior Inflatables, we can customize the shape of any of our inflatables usually for free. Some modifications may be subject to additional cost. Lead time for customized shape unit is generally 10 – 14 days longer than our standard lead time. This is subject to change depending on seasonal demand.

Safety

Finger-Safe Inflatables

Some manufacturers use 1″ or 2″ netting for bounce house windows and netting for basketball hoops. Children playing inside inflatables can catch their fingers or their teeth on this netting, causing serious injury. At Superior Inflatables, we use 1/8” mesh for construction on all windows and basketball hoops. The mesh is still transparent enough to allow for easy supervision of children.

Safety Doors

Our self closing Velcro flap on the entrance of every bounce house and combo unit prevents children from possibly falling out of a bounce house, and gives easy access for supervision to enter the inflatable.

Safety Signs

Superior Inflatables, places more safety signs on every inflatable than any other manufacturer. Safety signs ensure that all riders are aware of the safety and operation rules. These signs protect you and your customers.

Lead Content

Lead has come under a great deal of scrutiny from the Federal Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) as a hazard in the home, and as a component in vinyl. Superior Inflatables uses only vinyl that is lead free (under 100 part per million). Our vinyl material is tested in a certified CPSC lab. Certificates of compliance are available for all of our customers and can be sent to you upon request.

With all of the recent news headlines regarding overseas products with high chemical contents, would you trust an overseas manufacturer to use vinyl material for your inflatable that does not contain lead?

Owner’s Manual

At Superior Inflatables  every order is shipped with a comprehensive Owner’s Manual.  The manual illustrates safety requirements, operational procedures, setup and tear down instructions, cleaning instructions and much more.