Shields Up!
Coating and laminating protect the packaging underneath and the product inside in a variety of ways.
October 2008 by Chris Mc Loone
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Just how much do consumers realize how their food packaging protects them? Or what do they think really goes into that nice glossy cover for their favorite magazine? The answers are probably not much and they probably don’t give the cover a second thought. Nor do they realize why their paper cups are so impervious to the liquids inside them. No, consumers take all this for granted, not realizing that one major factor contributing to these effects is how the substrates are coated or laminated.
What’s shakin’?
In terms of equipment, there aren’t new demands being made of the coating and laminating market. Where the emphasis seems to be currently is on the development of various technologies. “Not much has changed in equipment demands relating to coating and laminating,” says Harry Challender, vice president of business development, -Davis-Standard. “The equipment demands are balanced between high-output lines for commodity type products and flexible lines that allow for rapid changeover for short-run specialty applications.”
Rick Ruenzel, director of business development, Midwest, West Coast, and Canada, Comexi, comments that the market will see the continued evolution of solventless adhesive technology and the refinement of the solventless process. “The use of UV/EB coatings will also increase within certain segments of the market, he says.
Current developments in this market are revolving, much like almost everything right now, around the environment. “We are working closely with suppliers and customers to develop equipment that can efficiently process new bioresins which have had a surge in interest in the last year and a half,” says Challender.
Joe Heinemann, president of Rayven, Inc. says that new developments in eco-friendly adhesives, substrates, and release liners will continue to come onto the market, but cautions that “at this point, they are not cost-competitive with traditional products. But over time this should change.”
Reducing the carbon footprint involved with coating and laminating will increase the amount of research into viable alternatives to more traditional, energy-intensive technologies according to Ruenzel. “This means that solventless technology will continue to expand at the expense of solvent-based and even water-based applications.” He adds that solventless is a zero percent VOC process and that solventless laminators are very energy-efficient because no drying system is required. “While it is premature to assess the future of EB or UV adhesive laminating,” he says, “it would be reasonable to assume that some applications within a narrow process range could emerge.” All that being said, Ruenzel claims that many applications that require solvent- or water-based adhesives and coatings will remain for many years to come. “It will be incumbent upon the machine manufacturers to develop more efficient drying systems that will reduce energy costs,” he asserts.
What’s shakin’?
In terms of equipment, there aren’t new demands being made of the coating and laminating market. Where the emphasis seems to be currently is on the development of various technologies. “Not much has changed in equipment demands relating to coating and laminating,” says Harry Challender, vice president of business development, -Davis-Standard. “The equipment demands are balanced between high-output lines for commodity type products and flexible lines that allow for rapid changeover for short-run specialty applications.”
Rick Ruenzel, director of business development, Midwest, West Coast, and Canada, Comexi, comments that the market will see the continued evolution of solventless adhesive technology and the refinement of the solventless process. “The use of UV/EB coatings will also increase within certain segments of the market, he says.
Current developments in this market are revolving, much like almost everything right now, around the environment. “We are working closely with suppliers and customers to develop equipment that can efficiently process new bioresins which have had a surge in interest in the last year and a half,” says Challender.
Joe Heinemann, president of Rayven, Inc. says that new developments in eco-friendly adhesives, substrates, and release liners will continue to come onto the market, but cautions that “at this point, they are not cost-competitive with traditional products. But over time this should change.”
Reducing the carbon footprint involved with coating and laminating will increase the amount of research into viable alternatives to more traditional, energy-intensive technologies according to Ruenzel. “This means that solventless technology will continue to expand at the expense of solvent-based and even water-based applications.” He adds that solventless is a zero percent VOC process and that solventless laminators are very energy-efficient because no drying system is required. “While it is premature to assess the future of EB or UV adhesive laminating,” he says, “it would be reasonable to assume that some applications within a narrow process range could emerge.” All that being said, Ruenzel claims that many applications that require solvent- or water-based adhesives and coatings will remain for many years to come. “It will be incumbent upon the machine manufacturers to develop more efficient drying systems that will reduce energy costs,” he asserts.
Companies Mentioned:
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Package Printing, Second Edition