Job jackets are generally manufactured with vinyl (otherwise known as PVC or polyvinyl chloride), but are less commonly available in clear polypropylene. Polypropylene has several superior characteristics making it a better choice for job jackets than vinyl, depending on your application's requirements. Vinyl tends to be less expensive and is perfectly suitable for many situations. “Polypro” job jackets tend to be more pliable and dimple resistant, while the vinyl jackets are a little heavier and more rigid.
There are several applications where it makes the most sense to use polypro, and they are for applications using photos, negatives, digital output, anti-ferrotyping, or medical applications where some patients might be allergic to PVC. PVC free job jackets are generally manufactured with sheets of polypropylene stitched together with either black fabric trim or one of several other color trim choices.
Recently, Martha Stewart has popularized the use of polypro job jackets for interior decoration. By hanging the job jackets on a wall, using jackets trimmed in complimentary colors, you can display your favorite magazines, photographs or other keepsakes in style. One month you can display your favorite magazine covers, and replace them next month with your latest vacation pictures and keepsakes.
If your application for job jackets will be in a manufacturing setting where the chief problems challenging the useful life of your job jackets are dirt, dust, grease and general grime, then heat sealed or welded vinyl job jackets are your best option. They are generally less expensive and can be discarded and replaced as soon as they start to get dirty. Welded vinyl job jackets and shop ticket holders are available in the most color options for shop floor organization and creating a good visual workplace in lean manufacturing environments.
On the other hand, if your concerns are that your workers will be too rough on your job jackets and shop ticket holders and they will wear out prematurely, then you should try sewn polypropylene or sewn vinyl job jackets. Each of the three jacket types (welded vinyl, sewn polypro, and sewn vinyl) are durable, but some workers really abuse these products by using them as gloves and pot holders for hot parts, writing on them with permanent markers, or placing large solid parts in them and over stressing the seams. Sewn products tend to hold up better in these situations, but cost more to replace when they are eventually retired.