Coating & Laminating
service support for the global printing, packaging and decorating industries. The KDX Laminating Film Business Group focuses on creating a complete manufacturing process including substrate manufacture, substrate coating, laminating film production plus the manufacture of high-speed laminating machines. This ethos ensures a complete understanding of the manufacturing process right through to how the final customer uses the product. As part of this strategy, KDX works together with its customers, on a global scale, to innovate solutions for better consumer experiences. All laminating film production takes place in China and consists of three BOPP production
Thermal lamination for global industries A
s one of the leading businesses within the thermal lamination film industry, KDX has invested heavily to provide material and
lines, 10 thermal film production lines and two coating lines. KDX’s product range includes standard laminating films and a comprehensive range of speciality thermal films, such as Gloss, Matte, Silky Matte, Anti-Scuff, Frosted, Glitter, Bushed Metalised, Textile and Metallic Sheen finishes, plus a range of BOPP wet films. KDX thermal lamination films bond directly to the substrate without additional glue, therefore eliminating unpleasant odours and the presence of harmful volatile organic chemicals. In addition, KDX has developed considerable
expertise in the manufacture of 3D lenticular films. These films give a high optical and strong 3D effect with a smooth and fine surface. Unlike many current lenticular films, KDX films are produced by a UV cold curing process rather than a traditional extrusion process. This results in a better optical performance with clearer and brighter images combined with reduced distortion and better scratch resistance. KDX offers its own in-house image conversion from 2D
to 3D to save customers design time and the expense of purchasing bespoke 3D software. Michel Diruy, general
Coating substrate processing dilemma
being put on and through the machine, and the product’s end purpose. Conformability and dimensional stability are
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important. The need for clarity, gloss, chemical resistance and moisture resistance can also influence substrate selection. Substrate selection and quality will dictate the final product’s success. Coating practitioners and other converters, those tasked with making a concept a reality, need to obtain information on the substrate and product end use. The converter needs to ascertain whether the product surface is curved or flat, its thickness, if it will suffer periods of repeated flexing or deformation and if it will be subject to extreme temperature changes. Substrates can have the same degree of
thickness but possess different levels of stiffness. The latter can be an important variable affecting coating deposition, web transport, drying and roll formation at wind up. Thicker substrates will not be as flexible as thinner substrates and will require higher tension levels and more processing power.
12 November 2017
hether or not a coating process is judged a success depends on process fundamentals such as the substrate
Processing thinner
substrates and coatings is more challenging. On wind up, thinner rolls can deform and wrinkle easier than their thicker counterpart. Thin substrates must have uniform coat weight control. Substrates may have an open or porous surface or have a non-porous structure. If coating onto a porous structure, the substrate cells are first filled with the coating fluid, which then spreads out and over the substrate surface. To obtain coating uniformity, a doctoring method of coating such as knife-over- roll is used. On the other hand, if the substrate has a closed or sealed surface, the coating flow will remain on the surface. Poor coating flow conditions can manifest itself
in a variety of ways. For instance, excessive coating thickness can produce a dimpled coated surface. Although the fluid tries to find its own level and distribute itself over a defined area, there is just too much mass or volume for this to happen. Coating requirements have become more
demanding. Downtime, product returns and high levels of waste are an anathema to contract coaters, converters, product developers and consumable manufacturers. Quality control, research and development, and other test systems have an important role to play in ensuring both product and commercial viability. Devices such as the Rotary Koater enable users to conduct trials prior to bringing a product to market. The Rotary Koater, from RK Print, is a pilot
coating, printing, laminating system that is often used for small-scale production, often of specialised label and tape products. The Rotary Koater also allows for hot air, infrared drying and UV curing. Wet and dry laminating is also available.
www.rkprint.com
www.convertermag.co.uk
manager, KDX Europe Bv, says, “KDX is very excited about our new thin gauge BOPP laminating films for high volume production printers, plus our exciting ranges of specialist film finishes such as Silky Matte, Anti-scuff Matte, Allstick Digital, Superbond, Metallic, Brushed, Glitter, Frosted and Textile thermal films. All these products are designed to help printers and print finishers to expand their product options with clients, and ultimately maximise profits by offering something a little different. KDX is now supplying UK customers directly on a next day service. “Our 3D lenticular films are for offset UV and
wide format UV printers. These films offer a great way to raise brand awareness and create maximum impact with customers. These films are widely used in high definition 3D images for advertising, packaging, greeting cards, promotional POS photo images and business cards, as well as in other print sectors.” KDX’s European business, KDX Europe BV, supplies all KDX products including BOPP thermal and wet laminating films directly to customers in the UK and Europe, with quick lead times and a wide range of films and sizes available from stock. This range of products is backed up by local sales support and application guidance to help customers maximise profit opportunities from print.
www.en.k3dx.com
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