Converting Quarterly - 2016 Quarter 4 by petersonpublications

UPDATED! Annual Converting Quarterly Buyers Guide • Page 77

Designing application-versatile coater/laminators & end products

2016 Quarter 4 How to troubleshoot visible defects in web coating...... 24 Lamination system application and design considerations................................................. 29 BOPP laminate structures for “over-the-mountain” VFFS-pouch applications............... 35 Dimensional stability of substrate films: an essential requirement for the deposition of functional layers?.... 42

ANNUAL

BUYERS GUIDE PAGE 77

Surface modification of PET and oxide-coated PET for adhesion improvement................. 48 Laminating with quality assurance via in-line coating weight measurement system................. 55 Using a different range of flexible substrates – fibers, fabrics, nonwovens or foams ............................... 60 Novel approaches to high-barrier WVTR measurement and data evaluation...................... 66 ISCST Insights: High-technology coating: putting coating science into perspective......................... 72

AIMCAL Official Publication of the Association of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators

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2016 Quarter 4 Vol. 6, No. 4

COATING & LAMINATING REPORT

29 Lamination system application and design considerations

Troubleshooting visible defects in the web-coating process

Laminating system application and design considerations

BOPP laminate structures for “over-the-mountain” VFFS-pouch applications

This paper provides six key guidelines of sequential, troubleshooting objectives from detecting and verifying defects, identifying their potential causes, and documenting the results of a modified process. By Dr. Edward D. Cohen, president, Edward D. Cohen Consulting While there are several different ways to laminate multiple, flexible webs together – Wet Bond, Dry Bond and Fusion, the choice of the proper system is typically dependent on the products being combined. By Bob Pasquale, president, New Era Converting Machinery

Research results are presented into new packaging-film designs that can provide significantly improved hermetic-seal properties at various elevations above sea level to help retain product freshness and quality, as well as more robust seals. By Ken Chang, senior dir.-Film R&D; and John Rhoat, chemical eng. intern, Toray Plastics (America), Inc.

Dimensional stability of substrate films: an essential requirement for the deposition of functional layers?

This study shows how to avoid the damage of barrier layers during various processes either by adapting process parameters or by improving the dimensional stability of the films by lamination. By Oliver Miesbauer and Klaus Noller, Fraunhofer-Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging (IVV), Germany

48 35 BOPP laminate structures for “over-the-mountain” VFFS-pouch applications

Surface modification of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and oxide-coated PET for adhesion improvement

Research demonstrates that a low-pressure plasma treatment with graphite target and a nitrogen-oxygen gas mixture can increase the adhesion of an acrylic-based varnish on ZTO. By Juliane Fichtner, et al, Fraunhofer-Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology (FEP), Germany

Laminating with quality assurance via a new in-line coating weight measurement system

Lamination defects are the most difficult and expensive issues to correct in converting flexible packaging materials. A new in-line coatweight measurement unit can assist converters in making real-time adjustments instantly during laminating. By Wilmer Saavedra, consultant, Flexible Packaging Solutions Corp.

60 48 Surface modification of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and oxide-coated PET for adhesion improvement

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

FEATURES Using a different range of flexible substrates – fibers, fabrics, nonwovens or foams

Wearable flexible electronics or smart materials that incorporate either some circuitry or device are hot areas of today’s research and development. This paper looks at some of the problems and possible solutions for coating these less-oftenused substrates. By Dr. Charles Bishop, principal, C.A.Bishop Consulting, Ltd.

Novel approaches to high-barrier WVTR measurement and data evaluation

A methodology for accelerated, simulation-assisted measurement of water vapor transmission rates is presented. By Dr. Matthias Reinelt, et al, FraunhoferInstitute for Process Engineering and Packaging (IVV), Germany

ISCST Insights: High technology coating: putting coating science into perspective

Advanced scientific tools can bring practical value to the web coating industry. This paper provides perspective into how various approaches – scientific and technological – compare and complement each other. By Dr. Ted Lightfoot, principal investigator, DuPont

55 Laminating with quality assurance via in-line coating weight measurement system

BUYERS GUIDE The Annual Converting Quarterly Buyers Guide

More than 300 suppliers of converting machinery, accessories, components, raw materials, consumables and converter services are listed in our annual guide. AIMCAL Premium Member companies, as well as many advertisers in this issue, are listed in boldface type with their logos.

COLUMNS ADHESION APPS: Online Calculators & Modellers Why is “real” adhesion “unknowable?” By Dr. Steven Abbott

SUBSTRATE SECRETS: Film & Substrate Manufacturing What is the ultimate substrate secret? By Dr. Eldridge M. Mount

VACUUM VERBIAGE: Vacuum Processing & Deposition How are lasers used in substrate surface modification or coating? By Dr. Charles Bishop

COATING CONCEPTS: Practical Web Coating & Drying What is coating thickness profile and why is it important? By Dr. Edward D. Cohen

CUT POINTS: Practical Slitting/Rewinding Advice What negative effects can poor knife re-sharpening have? By David Rumson

ECONOMIC FRONT: Business Trends and Forecasts The business expansion is slow, but not in danger of ending soon By Dr. Robert C. Fry

128 WEB WISE: Practical Web-Handling Advice

60 Using a different range of flexible substrates – fibers, fabrics, nonwovens or foams

72 High technology coating: putting coating science into perspective

What are some of the problems with profile variations? By Dr. David R. Roisum

DEPARTMENTS

EDITOR’S COMMENT..................................4 AIMCAL NEWS.............................................6 BREAKTHROUGHS......................................8 MARKET MONITOR....................................10 BEST OF THE BLOGS...............................11

PATENT PROFILES....................... 119 TECHNOLOGY WATCH................. 120 MARKETPLACE.............................. 124 INDUSTRY CALENDAR.................. 127 AD INDEX....................................... 127

ON THE COVER: Printed webs move past a Baumer Inspection GmbH ColourBrain® system (Konstanz, Germany) used in laminating and lacquering production lines. (Photo by Mark A. Spaulding)

2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

EDITOR’S COMMENT

Web coating, laminating… and ducks… at their best

PUBLISHER Jeff Peterson jeff@petersonpublications.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mark A. Spaulding 262-697-0525, mark@aimcal.org

he nearly 400 web-processing professionals who attended last month’s AIMCAL Web Coating & Handling Conference USA / SPE FlexPackCon at The Peabody in Memphis, TN, will likely tell you, “It’s a must-participate annual event that you miss at your company’s technical and business peril.”

MANAGING EDITOR Dianna Brodine dianna@petersonpublications.com

The 100+ presentations on everything from solution, extrusion and vacuum web coating to web-handling and flexible-packaging materials and trends were offered over the course of three days, along with a half-dozen, half-day technical short courses. About 75 industry suppliers took part in the two-day Tabletop Exhibition. And, so that the program wasn’t all work and no play, a Golf Scramble and a tour of Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland, rounded out the networking activities.

NATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Janet Dunnichay janet@petersonpublications.com

AIMCAL’s annual WCHC USA and biennial WCHC Europe programs have become staples of the web-processing industry’s technical education offerings. This issue’s focus on solution web coating and laminating features five papers based on presentations at this summer’s event in Dresden, Germany. And, don’t miss our 2017 Q1 issue, which will highlight the annual John Matteucci Awardwinning papers from this fall’s recent program. AIMCAL and Converting Quarterly are certainly getting our ducks in a row for a busy 2017, with the two dedicated trade shows – ICE Europe in Munich, Germany, and ICE USA in Orlando, FL – set to keep us, leading suppliers and top-notch converters busy. The staff is already at work reviewing evaluation forms to make next year’s WCHC even better. Mark your calendars for October 14-19, 2017 in Naples, FL. In a kind of practice, check out this shot from The Peabody, home of the famous lobby fountain-lounging Mallard ducks, who parade twice a day to and from their “Palace” on the hotel roof. You’ll see me posing with Jimmy (the official Peabody Memphis Duckmaster), with my new duckhead cane (a gift from the folks at Peterson Publications). n

ART DIRECTOR Becky Arensdorf becky@petersonpublications.com

COPY EDITOR Kelly Adams kelly@petersonpublications.com CIRCULATION MANAGER Brenda Schell brenda@petersonpublications.com Published by:

Peterson Publications, Inc. 2150 SW Westport Dr., Suite 101 Topeka, KS 66614 785-271-5801 www.petersonpublications.com Official Publication of:

Association of International Metallizers, Coaters & Laminators 201 Springs St. Fort Mill, SC 29715 803-948-9470, fax: 803-948-9471 www.aimcal.org Converting Quarterly is published quarterly. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any manner without written consent from the publisher.

Mark A. Spaulding Associate Publisher & Editor-in-Chief 262-697-0525 mark@aimcal.org

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

Begin or renew your subscription at www.convertingquarterly.com

AIMCAL NEWS PRESIDENT’S Message Dear AIMCAL Members:

s fall began, all our ducks were in a row, no pun intended, for the 2016 AIMCAL Web Coating & Handling Conference USA / SPE FlexPackCon, held Oct. 9-12 at The Peabody in Memphis, TN. I want to thank our friends at the Society of Plastic Engineers whose contributions and cooperation were key to the continued, great success of this joint event. Our strategic alliance continues to grow stronger. On September 9, we launched AIMCAL TV where members may post technical or marketing-oriented videos. Accessed via the Members Only area of the Website, AIMCAL TV will present live “Sage on Stage” panels featuring leading consultants answering member questions in real-time. Guest speakers, market overviews and university research poster sessions are a click away. With three programs under our belt and the upcoming schedule on the Website, I encourage all of you to participate in an interactive discussion with a technical expert. If you have programming ideas, please let us know. We are proud of our participation in another September event, the 18th ISCST Symposium. It received very positive feedback. There are many opportunities for learning. We continue to improve the Website by making it easier to access information and adding resources. We are thankful for contributing members and technical experts, the soul of our organization, who share their knowledge with us.

continue to bring value to our members. Speaking of next year, I have already communicated that we are changing the agenda for the Management Meeting. We will conduct official business and recognize certain members at an Awards Presentation at the 2017 ICE USA show, April 25-27 in Orlando, FL. It is our hope that by combining the meeting with a trade show, member attendance will increase participation and provide an opportunity to showcase AIMCAL to potential new members. Key to our success is to encourage members to be active in our community. To that end, we are always interested in receiving your input about how to improve the AIMCAL experience. For many of us, the fourth quarter is budget preparation time when decisions are made to allocate funds to make our respective companies more successful. I hope that AIMCAL and renewing your membership are at the top of the list and that you will consider taking advantage of the additional benefits of a premium membership. Converting Quarterly is entering its seventh year of publication. The fact that you are reading this message tells me that you value the magazine. Kudos to Associate Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Mark Spaulding and those who contribute to a quality product, which keeps improving. Our circulation continues to grow, and the marketing opportunities the magazine offers are expanding, both in print and digital versions. Last but not least, I want to thank you for your continued support and participation in AIMCAL. Remember to spread the word: Join, Participate and Succeed. Wishing you continued success, Danis J. Roy President of AIMCAL

The staff, under Craig Sheppard’s leadership, is already planning for 2017 and, with the Board, is fully engaged to AIMCAL debuts AIMCAL TV AIMCAL TV, a new member benefit, debuted on Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, with a sample of some of the programs planned for 2017. AIMCAL TV will present original programming focused on web coating, vacuum web coating, web handling and slitting throughout the year. The shows feature industry consultants and other professionals. For the inaugural show, Dr. David R. Roisum, principal of Finishing Technologies, Inc. (Neenah, WI), discussed web curl. The second show featured Prof. Steven Abbott of Steven Abbott TCNF, Ltd. (Ipswich, UK). Each show concludes with

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

a live question-and-answer session that allows viewers to make comments or ask questions in real-time. All shows are recorded for future viewing. “The goal of AIMCAL TV is to provide a benefit to our members and community by providing useful information about the technologies we represent,” says Craig Sheppard, executive director of AIMCAL. “Eventually, we expect to add market research and economic programming. We hope AIMCAL TV will become a part of everyone’s Friday.” This new resource is accessible via the Members section of the AIMCAL Website, www.aimcal.org. Members may watch AIMCAL TV live or access recorded presentations on-demand

24/7. A video describing AIMCAL TV is available at www. youtube.com/watch?v=RGD4ncFy1xg&feature=youtu.be.

include extrusion, lamination, conversion, coatings and chemical mix processes. (704-564-4497) Deposition Technology Innovations (Jeffersonville, IN): Specializes in reactive and nonreactive sputtering of various alloys and dielectrics onto roll-to-roll substrates and is developing proprietary solar-control products. Other applications include reflector, photovoltaic, medical, aerospace and industrial. Up to six materials can be sputtered simultaneously. Two-sided sputtering is an option. (812-282-0488)

AIMCAL to organize Pavilion, offer extensive technical conference program at ICE USA 2017 A few booths remain in the AIMCAL Pavilion at ICE USA, April 25-27, 2017, at the Orange County Convention Ctr. in Orlando, FL. Co-located with the inaugural edition of InPrint USA, The Industrial Print Show, ICE USA is expecting to draw several thousand converting professionals. AIMCAL, a VIP sponsor of ICE USA, is organizing the show’s technical conference. It will consist of four tracks devoted to web coating, material handling, adhesives and laminating & printing. Economist and Converting Quarterly columnist Dr. Robert Fry will present the official opening keynote address and discuss the global and US economy and outlook for future growth. AIMCAL also will organize a Pavilion at ICE Europe, March 2123, 2017, at the Munich Trade Fair Centre in Germany.

Great Lakes Alignment Survey Services, LLC (Greenville, WI): Provides alignment and 3D metrology services under its trade name, GLASS. Services are provided throughout the United States, as well as internationally, using optical alignment and laser tracker technologies. (920-574-2608) Plymouth Rubber Europa, SA (Canton, MA): Manufactures tapes for electrical, mining, telecommunication and industrial applications from its headquarters in Spain. (800-458-0336) Sumilon Polyester, Ltd. (Surat, India): Manufactures biaxiallyoriented polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET) and metallized BOPET film. Other products include specialty-coated PET, holographic PET, hot-stamping foil, window-metallized PET, aluminum-oxide-coated PET and zinc-sulfide-coated metallized PET. (+91-26-1679-7979) Tacmina USA Corp. (Schaumburg, IL): The US subsidiary of the manufacturer of Smoothflow diaphragm pumps offers process consulting and training and pump sales, repair and maintenance services. Smoothflow pumps provide a pulse-free transfer of hard-to-handle fluids such as abrasive slurries, shearsensitive liquids and solvent-based and aggressive chemicals. Accurate and easy to clean and maintain, Smoothflow pumps are used in slot-die coating and production of chemicals, foods and pharmaceuticals. (312-810-8128)

More info: www.aimcal.org Membership adds a lucky seven Seven organizations joined AIMCAL during the third quarter of 2016. The newcomers include several firms headquartered outside the United States. Each newcomer is described below. The full roster of members and their capabilities may be found in the AIMCAL Sourcebook. It can be accessed electronically at www.aimcal.org by clicking a link on the Membership tab. A print version also is available.

XDS Holdings, Inc. (Neenah, WI): Custom designs, engineers and manufactures drying/heating/curing systems for web processes. With installations in more than 35 countries, products include irAir® drying system (infrared with impinged air), convection dryers, ultra-high velocity dryers, ultraviolet (UV) and UV LED curing systems and flotation dryers. (920-722-8123, ext. 222) n

Organizations that join AIMCAL during the remainder of 2016 pay for one year but receive membership benefits from the moment they sign up until the end of 2017. Celgard / Asahi Kasei (Concord, NC): World leader in lithiumion battery separators for electric car, energy storage systems, consumer electronics and specialty applications. Capabilities 2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

BREAKTHROUGHS

IMDA Award Winners Announced T

he In-Mold Decorating Association (IMDA) is a trade association representing molders, printers, material suppliers, equipment suppliers and others committed to the development and growth of in-mold labeling and decorating products, technologies and markets. Its mission is to raise the level of awareness and acceptance of in-mold decorated durable products and in-mold labeled packaging by OEMs, brand owners and marketers. IMDA represents and supports all of its member companies across the entire in-mold labeling and decorating supply chain.

On an annual basis, the IMDA solicits product entries showcasing the best of in-mold labeling and decorating. The winners of the 2016 IMDA Awards are featured in Converting Quarterly and other industry publications, as well as featured at www. imdassociation.com and displayed at PACK EXPO International in Chicago, IL. The 2017 awards competition will begin in February 2017.

Best Injection Molded (IML) Package Gold Award: Easy Open & Hold IML Container Submitted By: Polipa North America, LLC Brand Owner: Premier Tech Home & Garden Molder: Polipa North America, LLC Label Supplier: Cakirlar

Best Blow Molded Package Gold Award: Laban Baladi Yogurt Submitted By: Verstraete In-Mold Labels Brand Owner: Taanayel Les Fermes Molder: Taanayel Les Fermes Label Supplier: Verstraete In-Mold Labels

This tailor-made IML package had initially been developed to replace classic cardboard packaging by improving the durability and presence of the products and brands. Because of its wide space in the front and back, it shows a great deal of visual image and improves customer perception. The package is a very convenient size and shape for easy grip and use with the flip-up tamper-evident feature on the lid.

The Lebanese dairy giant and market leader, Taanayel Les Fermes, known for its natural, authentic and traditional dairy products, chose IML for blow molding from Verstraete IML for its Laban Baladi product range. The company chose the IML technique blow molding because it can produce hollow plastic packaging and decorate it with IML in one step. That makes it the perfect technique for dairy product packaging.

Best Label Design Gold Award: Sparkle Canister Submitted By: Dynaplast Brand Owner: Tupperware Indonesia Molder: Dynaplast Label Supplier: Korsini Italy Tupperware’s Sparkle Canister has an amazing 3D effect with a special glittering and sparkling look for a glamorous and modern impression. The Sparkle Canister, with its KorsiniSAF three-layer in-mold label, passed 125 dishwasher cycles at 85° C. This great product design also comes with great functionality. The canister is liquid-tight and also can keep snacks and crackers fresh without losing crispness. Sparkle Canister is a new product to celebrate Indonesia Tupperware’s 25th anniversary in 2016.

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

Moreover, IML packaging is strong and hygienic. The IML labels from Verstraete IML are moisture-resistant and can withstand temperature fluctuations. Laban Baladi yogurt is sold in 500 g, 1 kg and 2 kg packaging, all of which have an IML label from Verstraete IML. Taanayel Les Fermes opted for an authentic and “natural” look, since the packaging has the shape of a fresh milk bucket. The design emphasizes the authenticity and purity of the Taanayel Les Fermes DNA and image. Best Product Family Gold Award: Unilever® Margarine Submitted By: Verstraete In-Mold Labels Brand Owner: Unilever America Molders: PSPM Inc., Berry Plastics and RPC Bramlage Wiko USA Label Supplier: Verstraete In-Mold Labels The Unilever margarine tubs and lids are a great combination of an upgraded packaging with the best of industry standards for

production technology. This project consists of seven sizes: 7.5, 9, 15, 22.5, 30, 45 and 80oz. Thanks to the photographic quality of the Verstraete IML label and the seven different sizes, all four brands have a unique market position. These Unilever margarine tubs and lids made an impressive changeover on two levels. First, the shape of the products changed from round to rectangular. Second, Unilever decided to switch its decoration technique from direct printing to in-mold labeling. Additionally, the wall thickness has been reduced to production limits while maintaining demanding technical specifications, such as drop test and product stability. The margarine tubs now are fully decorated with Verstraete IML labels, which attract the consumer and make the tubs a commercial success story. Best Part Design Gold Award: Baby Wipes Package Submitted By: Inland Molder: Berry Plastics Label Supplier: Inland The Scented Baby Wipes IML part is integrated into a flexible package by offering an easy-to-use, onehanded, pop-up dispenser – adding convenience for the consumer. This IML part has both a graphically superior design and a custom diecut shape for functionality. The Scented Baby Wipes part is one of the smallest commercially available cut-and-stack IML application products on the market today. Best Product Family Silver Award: SelecTE Submitted By: Berry Plastics Molder: Berry Plastics Label Supplier: Verstraete In-Mold Labels Berry Plastics’ SelecTE™ product family is a series of premium non-round, tamper-evident containers with three- and fivesided IML options. This product family provides the solution for consumers to see the quality of their food through clear windows while the brand still has large graphic real estate inside and outside the container. The total package is

fully recyclable since the container, lid and label are all made of polypropylene. The IML also can be clear or printed with metallic ink to help increase the brand’s shelf impact. Best Prototype Part Gold Award: IME Washing Machine Control Panel Submitted By: Jabil Brand Owner: Jabil Molder: Jabil Label Supplier: Duratech Industries Jabil’s novel inmold electronics (IME) washer control panel incorporates an in-mold label (IML) made possible with capacitive touch electronics printed on a flexible film. The Jabil washer control panel is unique and innovative because it replaces a traditional printed circuit board (PCB), eliminating the need for post-molding decoration and hardware for illumination. As a result, production is simpler, less costly and faster. Best of all, the decorative and fully functional panel can be easily modified to appeal to changing consumer tastes, language preferences and more. It can even be quickly modified for use on a wide array of products, including stoves, refrigerators and other appliances. Best Injection Molded Durable (IMD) Part Gold Award: Laundry User Interface Submitted By: Eimo Technology Brand Owner: Electrolux Molder: Eimo Technology Label Supplier: Nissha Printing This beautiful user interface (UI) is an award-winning example of IMD film from Nissha Printing Co. and IMD molding at Eimo Technologies (a subsidiary of Nissha USA) in Southwest Michigan. The OEM design group wanted to add a very challenging design to the surface of the UI: the Electrolux logo gradation fade from the outer edge toward the part’s center. It’s very faint, but was a “must have” for this user interface. Nissha and Eimo were able to achieve Electrolux’s requirements. n

2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

MARKET MONITOR

Barrier coatings for plastic packaging to reach $1.76 billion in 2021 Market is being driven by economic, social, demographic and lifestyle changes. Edited by Editor-in-Chief Mark Spaulding

he global market value of barrier coatings for plastic packaging is projected to hit $1.37 billion this year and is forecasted to grow at an annual rate of 5.2% to reach $1.76 billion in 2021, says a new study by UK market researcher Smithers Pira. The report, “The Future of Functional Additives and Barrier Coatings for Plastic Packaging to 2021,” describes how the demand for functional additives and barrier coatings is being driven by economic, social, demographic and lifestyle changes; brand owners’ increasing focus on source reduction and sustainable packaging; consumer demand for convenience food; and the growing presence of large retail chains. “Demand for packaging materials that provide even greater protection to their contents is growing, especially for food, beverage and pharmaceutical products,” explains Dan Rogers, head of publishing at Smithers Pira. “As plastics have become more and more common, concerns have arisen about their ability to allow the exchange of gases and water vapor that can compromise the quality and safety of packaged products. “A variety of functional additives and barrier-coating technologies have been commercialized that preserve, protect and promote; optimize product shelf life; reduce the need for preservatives; provide transparency and gloss; and serve as a printing substrate.” Healthy, convenience foods pushing demand Social trends influencing market growth include growing consumer demand for food and drink products that are perceived to be healthier, growing demand for convenience food as a result of an increasingly urban society and busier consumer lifestyles, and an increase in eating away from home for time-pressured consumers. Busier lifestyles lead to an increased demand for convenience products such as microwavable packaging, singleserve packs, carry-away packs, resealable packaging, easy-toopen packs and longer shelf life. Demographic influences include higher population growth in developing countries, an aging population in advanced economies and longer life expectancy leading to growing demand for healthcare and personal-care products. An increase in the proportion of the population of working age (25-64 years) in developing nations also drives demand for packaged products.

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

$2.0

$1.5

Global Market for Barrier Coatings for Plastic Packaging Rising 5.2% a Year (billions of US dollars)

$1.37

$1.44

$1.51

$1.58

$1.68

$1.76

$1.0

$0.5

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Source: Smithers Pira

A rise in the number of single-person households is boosting demand for smaller pack sizes and single-portion food packaging. Functional additives and barrier coatings are used across a wide range of food, beverage and non-food packaging markets. Food is by far the largest end-use sector for functional additives and barrier coatings in plastic packaging, accounting for a projected share of just over 60% of market value in 2016. Non-food is the second-largest market accounting for just less than 20% of market value, followed by beverages with an 18.5% value share. Pet food represents only 1.5% of total market value. The report is based on a combination of in-depth primary and secondary research. Primary research was founded on interviews with industry experts from across the supply chain, including leading functional additive and barrier-coating suppliers, converters, brand owners and retailers. Secondary research was based on extensive desk research and literature reviews of market and company reports, packaging trends, market information, and Smithers Pira conference papers. n More info: www.smitherspira.com

BEST OF BLOGS www.convertingquarterly.com/blogs.html WEB HANDLING & CONVERTING The economic optimum time to repair/replace Dr. David R. Roisum How do you determine the optimum repair time? Simple: it is the minima of the sum of the costs of repair and the costs of not repairing as a function of time in service. We know all about the costs of repair, so that need not be elaborated. How do you get the costs of not repairing? Again, simple: note the area under the sawtooth cost of waste, delay and/or customer complaint as a function of time in service. In other words, defect frequency gets larger and larger as the process roller is run longer and longer.

When the roller is changed out, the defect level drops. It may not go to zero because the new roller is not perfect, and there are other contributing factors, but that is beside the point.

VACUUM WEB COATING Anti-counterfeiting – protection for the rich? Dr. Charles Bishop This comment was triggered by an article I saw about anticounterfeiting labels being applied to wine bottles. These labels have to be read using a smartphone with a specific app. No doubt this technology will expand with time and the cost of implementing the technology also will decline such that it can become available to lower-cost items. However, this still requires the buyer to own a smartphone.

of this was selling counterfeit seed to farmers. As it became apparent only weeks or months later that the seeds were either not viable or the wrong type, it enabled the counterfeiters to move on, making it difficult to catch them.

Counterfeiters vary widely, but they have in common the wish not to be caught. This means that they target products that are easy to counterfeit, have a good ROI and are easy to pass off, often to unknowledgeable or uninterested customers. An example SUBSTRATE SECRETS Heat-sealing skin optimization Dr. Eldridge M. Mount In this post, I will focus on what it takes to be a good heat-sealing surface resin in a coextruded film and how the polymerization technology can be used to produce polymers with the most desirable combination of minimum seal initiation temperature (SIT) and hot tack in the heat-sealing surface. For OPP films, there has been a great deal of sealant resin development. It was discovered that if simple copolymers were used as skins, such as ethylene propylene (EPcopolymer) or butene propylene (PBcopolymer) copolymers, we find that – in general – the EPcopolymers give inherently good hot tack, but lower MST values are difficult to obtain as the higher ethylene content copolymers were difficult to manufacture. In comparison, the BPcopolymers give low MST values but have little hot tack. This I believe is due to the inherent differences in crystallization of the two different copolymers. It is well known that polyethylene is highly crystalline and has a very rapid crystallization. In comparison, polybutylene has a very complicated two-stage crystallization. These differences appear to carry over into the copolymers, though I must admit that I have never experimentally verified this myself.

If you replace a roller too early, you cost your company money. If you replace a roller too late (the far more likely situation), you also cost your company money. Go to the very minor trouble of putting numbers on things instead of guessing when to repair/ replace. This minor study may pay for itself on the very first repair cycle. It almost certainly will in the long run.

The Third World farmers were less informed than those in towns, who were less informed than those in the developed world about anti-counterfeiting technology, making it difficult to protect them from counterfeiting. The difficult goal is converting an anti-counterfeiting device that is easily recognized by the “man-in-the-street”, but difficult to replicate by the counterfeiters. Until this is achieved, the anticounterfeiting devices will continue to protect the rich and the poor will continue to be those most often cheated. As more terpolymers were being commercially produced, it was possible to begin to see optimum combinations of comonomer, which were useful in improving the sealing performance of coextruded OPP films. After a good bit of experimentation, the following summarizes the overall results. The butene concentration in the terpolymer increases at constant ethylene composition that the MST decreases. Increasing the ethylene concentration at fixed butene composition gives improved hot tack. This is plotted with increasing butene concentration and is found to decrease with increasing butene concentration. It is easy to understand that for any given film application there will likely be an optimum copolymer or terpolymer composition. For vertical applications, depending on the package size and product characteristics, the hot tack could be increased by increasing the ethylene comonomer content at a fixed butene content. Likewise for a horizontal application, a simple PBcopolymer might be adequate with a very low MST, or perhaps with a low ethylene content, to prevent end-seal opening as product is inserted into the forming package. n

2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

ADHESION APPS Online Calculators & Modelers

Q: Why is “real” adhesion “unknowable”? A: This new series of AbbottApps is all about adhesion. The aim is to present some of the essentials of adhesion in a “live” manner that everyone can explore via the apps that are freely available on the Practical Adhesion Website; run on all platforms, PCs, Macs, tablets and phones; and are safe to use via corporate networks.

Most people want to know what their “real” adhesion is. The answer is simple – in most cases, the real adhesion is unknowable. This surprises many people who think if they know, for example, their surface energy, then they are well on the way to knowing what their real adhesion will be. Two apps can readily show why the system is usually more important than just the interface.

FIGURE 1. The app at www.stevenabbott.co.uk/practical-adhesion/weakstrong.php shows the same bond tested in peel, lap and butt fails with a force of 1,500 or 15,700 mN.

The first is a simple system where we actually can calculate the forces needed to rip the joint apart (see Figure 1). The bond is the same – two pieces of rubber held together by nothing more than surface energy. Yet, the app shows the force to break the bonds varies by a factor of 15,700 and depends on things like the thickness and/ or modulus of the rubber. How many of us consider optimizing for modulus rather than “adhesion”? The second is the simple lap shear joint (see Figure 2). It is “obvious” the joint will fail in shear (along the direction of the pull) and that the bigger the overlap of the joint (and the more adhesive it contains), the stronger it will be. Both intuitions are false. These joints generally fail in peel and, beyond a minimum value, the failure has zero dependence on the overlap length. One experiment showed that 66%

FIGURE 2. The app at www.stevenabbott.co.uk/practical-adhesion/g-rlap.php shows the forces inside the overlap are near zero and that peel stresses are larger than shear stresses at the ends of the bond.

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

Optimization of the “real” “adhesion would have been an expensive waste of time.” of the adhesive in a joint could be removed with no effect on the strength. Such considerations aren’t trivial. If parts of an aluminum aircraft are tested using lap joints, the measured bond strength is satisfyingly high. Do the same test with a composite material (which we know is stronger than aluminum in shear) and the bond strength is very low, because composites fail easily under peel forces. Here’s a true story to apply these lessons to the converting world. I was sent some samples of a packaging material where a tear test caused delamination at an interface that should have been strong. Going over all the experiments and simply tearing the samples myself, it became clear that the best solution was to use HDPE in one layer, rather than LDPE. Amazingly, this layer was nowhere near the bond that failed. But, what was happening was that the weak

LDPE allowed the whole sample to buckle, transmitting very strong peel forces to the crucial bond area. There was little buckling with HDPE, and the tear was clean, with no delamination. By thinking about the system, rather than the adhesive interface, a complex problem could be solved simply. Optimization of the “real” adhesion would have been an expensive waste of time. The reader interested in more detail can explore the whole of adhesion science via AbbottApps at www.stevenabbott. co.uk/PracticalAdhesion. Prof. Abbott’s book, “Adhesion Science: Principles and Practice,” published by DesTech, allows a deeper exploration of the ideas, but with links straight to the Practical Adhesion apps to bring the ideas to life. n

Steven Abbott, Ph.D. Consulting Technical Editor +44-7831-125215 steven@stevenabbott.co.uk www.stevenabbott.co.uk

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SUBSTRATE SECRETS Film & Substrate Manufacturing

Q: What is the ultimate substrate secret? A: As I wrote last time, “When we look at a film, all we generally “see” is a clear, flexible piece of film that is to be used in a particular application that we are making from it. But, what is really there that makes it special for the application?”

Substrates have many secrets – the layer structure, the chemical additives to make specific performance attributes, etc. But, what makes all of this possible? The deepest secret (often so secret that the film producers don’t know the answer) is the chemical composition and the molecular structure of the actual polymer resin being used. This is especially true for polyolefin (HDPE, LLDPE or PP) films. It may be less true for polyester (OPET) and perhaps Nylon (OPA) films as in general many, but not all, of the film producers also manufacture the specific resins they use for film making. Product of experimentation The actual polymers selected by film producers often are the product of experimentation found by sorting through the available polymers to find the polymer grade that functions best in a particular application. Then, because the actual molecular and crystalline structure is expensive and somewhat difficult to discern, it is not performed, and the film producers are somewhat at the mercy of the resin suppliers not to change the details of the polymerization. Figure 1 shows a generalized structure for a semi-crystalline polymer. The polymer crystallizes to fill space at several levels starting with the chain-folded lamellar, which are separated by amorphous, uncrystallized polymer chains, and these structures grow to fill space in larger, impinging spherulitic structures. It is the relative amount of crystals and amorphous polymer and the spherulitic structures that control the overall ease of orientation and the final film properties. The actual polymers are the product of specific catalyst and monomer combinations that are controlled by the resin manufacturers. When discussing polyethylene production, the discussion is all about the catalyst system used (chromium, Ziegler Natta composition, metallocene systems) and the resin density produced. These are detailed descriptions and seem meaningless to casual observers but are the bread and butter of resin producers. This is due to the fact that polyethylene molecular structures are somewhat difficult to characterize on a molecular level (number and length of side chains), since the polyethylene chains are very

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

FIGURE 1. Schematic diagram of a semi-crystalline polymer showing light passing through and being scattered at the spherulite boundaries and the transitions through the chain-folded lamella and amorphous phases. The spherulites are comprised of chain-folded crystals (lines) embedded in amorphous polymer. The relative amounts and the details of the chain-folded lamella are determined by the polymer polymerization and quenching conditions. simple in structure with no true side chains in HDPE. For instance, the better HDPE blowmolding resins for milkbottle production are characterized by the number of methyl side groups per 1,000 ethylene units. For polypropylene, the molecular structure can be deduced from Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra to identify specific lengths of the polymer chain and can highlight irregularities in the polymerized structure, i.e., lengths of head-to-head or tail-to-tail additions, but more importantly head-to-tail combinations of the monomer. For producing isotactic polypropylene, it is this head-to-tail “defect structure” that controls the ease of orientation of the film. This defect structure can be difficult to control and require specific catalyst and polymerization conditions to produce. In general, the defects lower the true isotacticity of the PP homopolymer and make the structure easier to stretch. Deducing the right information Polymerization defects, or comonomer addition, produce polymer chains less crystallizable and give lower melting points. Densities are general approaches to modify homopolymer resins, such as polyethylene and

polypropylene. Some information can be deduced by selective fractionation and recrystallization experiments. A simpler way to produce polymers with desirable “defects” is to copolymerize; so, in polypropylene, you can add various amounts of comonomer, such as ethylene and/or butylene, to disrupt the molecular structure. These defects change crystallization behavior and level and are seen primarily in the melting point and density of the polymer. This also is the source of many LLDPE polymers, which are ethylene-based copolymers produced with butene, hexene or octene comonomer to control the number and length of the side chains, thus having a dramatic impact on the polymer density and melting point. All of these polymers have to be made with coordination catalysts (such as Ziegler Natta-type structures) as it is impossible to make them by simple, free-radical polymerization, as is used in LDPE production. Breakthrough in 1955 The primary characteristic of LDPE is random, long-chain branches produced at high temperatures and pressures to start a free-radical polymerization, which is the source of the low melting point and density of LDPE. PP, LLDPE and

HDPE – and most modern polyolefin polymers – cannot be made by free-radical polymerization and had to wait until 1955 for the invention of coordination polymerization catalyst systems. PET and Nylon resins are made by condensation polymerization and have been known for many years. Mostly PET film producers use homopolymer polyethylene terephthalate and an amorphous PET used as a sealant or process surface if they coextrude. I believe there is great potential for PET-film development by coextrusion, but currently there is a lack of “good” coextrusion resins. This also is partially true for BPA films, but coextrusion with EVOH and perhaps a polyolefin sealant is possible and in very limited production. Most oriented nylon/EVOHcontaining films are used in meat packaging. n

Eldridge M. Mount, Ph.D. Consulting Technical Editor 585-223-3996 emmount@earthlink.net www.emmount-technologies.com

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VACUUM VERBIAGE Vacuum Processing & Deposition

Q: How are lasers used in substrate

surface modification or coating?

Slowly but surely, lasers are becoming more widely used either for modifying substrates before coating or as part of the coating process itself.

Lasers can be tuned to provide energy at a particular wavelength and either continuously or in short pulses. The laser wavelength can be chosen to match the polymer substrate characteristics. The longer-wavelength lasers tend to be used for processes where the polymer needs to be melted, such as welding polymers or some cutting processes. At the other end of the spectrum, the short-wavelength lasers are used where the material needs to be kept cool. Shortwavelength lasers will break individual bonds and so can be used for cutting or ablation of materials. Laser cutting to make angled cones Laser cutting has been used to create perforations in polymers for packaging foods, such as breads and cakes. If the fluence (light energy per unit area) is reduced, the surface of the polymer web may be modified. This can include localized melting (or amorphizing) of the surface – or, if some ablation occurs, surface artifacts, such as dimples, ribs or cones. If the angle at which the laser meets the surface is changed, these artifact shapes can be modified, such as producing angled cones. The size and spacing of the cones can be modified by changing the fluence and number of pulses with the surface texture being explained by the equivalent of diffraction of interference effects. The fact that lasers can ablate materials means lasers also can be used as a source of material in a coating process. If a laser is pulsed and directed at a target material, then if the energy is above a threshold value, a volume of material will be vaporized. The volume of material evaporating from the target will pass through the laser beam and will be ionized. The speed with which this occurs creates a jet of vapor, and if a substrate is suitably positioned, the flux will hit the substrate and deposit a coating. If the pulse laser is scanned across the target, it is possible to uniformly erode the target and uniformly coat a web of material. If the laser pulse is very short (on the order of a pico-second or femto-second in duration), there will be little heating of the target. This is now available as a roll-to-roll (R2R) process for narrow webs on the order of 300-mm-wide as shown schematically in Figure 1.

Within the electronics industry, lasers often are used after coating to modify the coated material. This can include sharpening deposited tracks that have graded edges from the masking process. In multilayer coating processes, such as for photovoltaics, it is common for the different layers to each www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

FIGURE 1. Schematic of roll-to-roll pulsed laser deposition be cut using laser-scribing before the next layer is applied to enable circuits to be made. Where flexible glass is used as a substrate, laser-scribing is one of the options for cutting the flexible glass. An important application not being used I cannot resist complaining about a non-use of lasers in the industry. Over 10 years ago, I was using lasers to write the value of the banknote into the polymer threads that were used as security devices. I did this in two different ways: One was to pierce the threads completely, and the other was to ablate the polymer down only to a specific depth. The piercing of the polymer required having a clean cut to the edges. Others were using laser cutting of polymer films to manufacture 25-micron-square flakes for decorative glitter. At the time, I tried to interest a few companies in evaluating laser slitting of polymer rolls. My argument was that although lasers could be expensive, they never needed to be sharpened, and so the running cost would be lower and the quality of the slitting would remain constant. Also, changing the setup to change the slit-roll width would be quicker, only requiring a change to the optical path and not the removal of multiple slitting blades and changing the spacer blocks and replacing the blades. Charles Bishop, Ph.D. Consulting Technical Editor +44-1509-502076 cabuk8@btinternet.com

I find it disappointing that 20 years on the industry still is using slitting wheels/blades, and lasers still are not an option. It is possible to buy laser cutting systems for labeling where the laser cuts the labels rather than tooling to perform kisscutting. This saves time in getting the tooling manufactured, as well as the cost of tooling. Only a small fraction of converters use this technology, but that number is increasing as digital processes allow more frequent changes and the trend moves toward shorter print runs. We are not far away from it being feasible to use laser-slit substrates, followed by laser pretreatment to improve adhesion, by amorphizing the polymer surface, followed by pulsedlaser deposition of a coating that might later be either laser-patterned or laser-cut to size. n

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COATING CONCEPTS Practical Web Coating & Drying Advice

Q: What is coating thickness profile,

and why is it important?

The Coating Thickness Profile (CTP) describes the coating layer(s’) thickness uniformity in specific locations in the coated substrate and is used to calculate overall thickness uniformity in a coated roll. Two profiles are needed to accurately assess roll uniformity: the transverse direction (Td) profile, which describes the thickness variations across the substrate; and the machine direction (Md) profile, which describes the thickness variation down the substrate roll length. Because final productperformance properties are a function of coating thickness, CTP must be uniform over the entire coated individual substrate roll and from roll to roll, so that the product performance as seen by customers is reproducible and functions as intended. Several factors can lead to a non-uniform CTP in production coating: • Coater hardware variability • Damaged coater components • Incorrect coating method setup • Substrate thickness variations • Change in coater variables during production Therefore, CTP for all production-coated rolls should be measured and included in the quality control system to ensure product performance is always within standards. A problem with coating thickness non-uniformity cannot be corrected in a production run if there are not accurate measurements available to help correct problems. CTP measurement CTPs are obtained by measuring the thickness in the Td for several areas within the roll as it is being coated. These data then are used to generate the Md profiles by plotting the thickness at the same locations in the machine direction. This is best done with online coating thickness systems because the systems can rapidly obtain real-time multiple measurements as the roll is being coated, which will improve the precision of the measurement and perform the statistical analysis that is needed. Also, data are stored for future retrieval [1, 2]. If online coating measurement is not available, then samples should be taken from coated rolls and Td CTPs measured in the laboratory [3-5]. Coating thickness data analysis There is no standard method for characterizing the

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

thickness uniformity in a coated roll. Therefore, when values are quoted, the basis for the calculation must be known. Also, a single CTP will give different results than a large dataset. Coated-roll uniformity can be obtained from the CTP profile data using the following procedure: • Calculate average and sigma for each profile, • Uniformity A is 3 sigma/average expressed as percent. • Uniformity B is (high thickness-low thickness)/average expressed as percent. • Calculate roll uniformity by calculating average and sigma for each CTP profile. Uniformity B is the preferred function because it accounts for the high and low points in the profile and is representative of variation that the customer may encounter. Uniformity A can give similar results for two profiles with very different profiles. Visual analysis of the shape is important because it is possible to have rolls with the same statistically average weight and have significant differences in the profiles that will adversely affect product performance. Also, given the location of a peak or valley, it is possible to take corrective action. Several different profile shapes can be obtained in normal production runs. Figures 1-4 show typical profiles generated and displayed by an on-line measurement system. In each figure, the top plot shows the Td profile, and the bottom plot shows the Md profile. Characteristics of the profiles are: • Figure 1: Good Td and Md • Figure 2: Bad Td and Good Md • Figure 3: Td too thick and wide variations, Md cyclical • Figure 4: Td thin and wide variations, Md cyclical CTP importance In addition to the influence of CTP on performance properties, there are other properties affected by CTP. It is very important when wide substrate is coated. The coated width on the substrate can vary from 3 ft to more than 9 ft wide. However, most products typically are used in narrower widths. With a non-uniform CTP, the thickness will vary between slits, and as a result, the properties that are a function of the thickness will vary. When narrow slits from varying locations in a web with a non-uniform CTP are

FIGURES 1-4. Top left: 1) Good Td and Md; bottom left: 2) Bad Td, Good Md; top right: 3) Td too thick and wide variations, Md cyclical; bottom right: 4) Td thin and wide variations, Md cyclical (Images courtesy of Mahlo America) supplied to the customer, there will be significant variability depending on the slit location being used. If the CTP has a wide variability in coating thickness, then the product performance will depend on the specific slit used and will lead to increased variability in customer use [6]. Evaluation of the CTP can lead to an effective slit pattern that will reduce variability and can ensure customers receive a consistent product. Delivering varying slit locations to a customer can lead to poor reproducibility. A profile that is not a straight line and has peaks and valleys (see Figure 2) also will lead to coating quality defects. The drying load at a peak is much higher than the valley, will not dry at standard operating conditions and will be wet when wound into the finished roll. These wet spots will stick to the substrate with which it is in contact and tear when it is to unwound to convert it into useable sizes. These wet areas can be removed and scrapped, which will increase costs. Another approach is to slow the coater to dry the peak or increase the drying rate so the roll is dry when wound. The reduced line speed will decrease productivity and increase manufacturing costs. Also, the reduced line speed or drying rate will overdry the valleys and can affect product performance. n

References 1. E.D. Cohen, “What Are the In-Line Characterization Systems Available for the Web Coating Process?” Converting Quarterly 2016 Q3, p. 22. 2. V. Komaragiri, Real-Time Simultaneous Measurement of Multiple Film Layers. AIMCAL Web Coating & Laminating Conference USA 2016. 3. ASTM B568-98(2014) Standard Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thickness by X-Ray Spectrometry. 4. ASTM B567-98(2014) Standard Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thickness by the Beta Backscatter Method. 5. ASTM D6132-13 Standard Test Method for Non-destructive Measurement of Dry Film Thickness of Applied Organic Coatings using an Ultrasonic Coating Thickness Gauge. 6. R.D. Braatz, M.L. Tyler, M. Morari, R. Pranckh and Luigi Sartor, Identification and Cross-Directional Control of Coating Processes. AIChE Journal, September 1992, Vol. 38, No. 9.

Edward D. Cohen, Ph.D. Consulting Technical Editor 480-836-9452 cohened146@aol.com 2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

CUT POINTS Practical Slitting/Rewinding Advice

Q: What negative effects can

poor knife re-sharpening have?

The reality is that a new top/ male shear knife’s ultra-sharp circumference edge starts to lose its sharpness as soon as it makes contact with a rotating, bottom/female knife’s sharp edge. The rate of topknife sharpness loss depends on knife material composition, the amount of kinetic friction developed by the contact force between the top and bottom knives, the amount of Cut Point creating shear angle, if the top knife is misaligned to the web path, and the rotating speed of the knives. Dull knives lead to unacceptable web slit-edge quality problems, such as rough roll faces, excessive slitting dust, increased adhesive migration and other web or roll defects. Unacceptable slit quality leads to knife re-sharpening. Some slitting operations outsource dull knife re-sharpening; some have their own re-sharpening capability. Most resharpening service companies do an acceptable job. Knives are mounted and rotated accurately. High-speed grinding wheels and coolant are controlled to return proper knife-edge sharpness (see Figure 1). When re-sharpening isn’t so sharp But, sometimes slitting knives return with improperly re-sharpened edges. Two such “improperlys” include creating excessive grinding-tool to knife-edge heat and misdirecting the grinding tool across and off the knife diameter instead of following the knife-circumference rotating direction. Two common knife metals (52100 and D2) are heat-treated to increase metal hardness and extend useful knife life. Heat treating is a complicated process requiring close control of varying temperature and quenching levels for

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

RE-SHARPENING KNIVES

Images Courtesy of AIMCAL member companies Dienes USA and Maxcess International

FIGURE 1. Examples of re-sharpening knives

KNIFE RE-SHARPENING Re-Sharpen Purpose Remove fatigued metal

Restore original geometry and finish

Re-Sharpened Quality is Extremely Important Excessive heat can soften knife cutting edges Rough surface frays slit edges Misdirected grinding tool: creates edge burrs, potential tip breaks

FIGURE 2. Aspects of knife re-sharpening

USEFUL IDEAS

Cotton Swabs & Balls

Check For Knife Burr Snags The Visual

The Feel SNAGGED

SLICED

Burrs Cause Knife Edge Chipping Check Knife Re-Sharpening Check New Knives

SNAGGED

SLICED

FIGURE 3. Cotton ball test for knife sharpness different metals; annealing temperature to soften topknife hardness to be slightly below bottom-knife hardness; tempering heat to reduce brittleness; and normalization to more evenly distribute desired metal properties. Excessive grinding wheel heat can soften and negatively affect a re-sharpened knife’s life. Unfortunately, this “improperly” is not easily identified when knives return to the slitting department, unless there’s an obvious burn mark on the knife edge. A “Slitting Log Book” to record knife replacement dates and run times will provide knife longevity comparison data. Re-sharpening defects and inspection Sometimes, the re-sharpening grinding tool is misdirected across and off the knife diameter instead of following the knife circumference. This action creates small, roughedged burrs. These burrs usually are not strong enough to support the knife side-load contact force, so they tend to break away to contaminate the web and potentially leave a divot on the cutting edge. This defect can be easily seen just by following the grinding-tool marks on the knife (see Figure 2).

Be sure to have your safety “gloves on during this inspection; it’s easiest if the knife is holdermounted.

”

Sharpness inspection of returning top and bottom knives is important, and it can be done easily with a cotton ball or cotton-tipped stick. The cotton can quickly find any re-sharpening burrs left on the circumference (see Figure 3). Not only will you see it, but you can feel it. Be sure to have your safety gloves on during this inspection; it’s easiest if the knife is holder-mounted. As stated, most knife re-sharpening companies follow tight guidelines relative to providing highquality re-sharpening. And, those that provide slitter management programs and/or scheduled pickup and delivery offer that little extra to support your slitting process. n

Dave Rumson

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ECONOMIC FRONT Business Trends & Forecasts

The expansion is slow, but not in danger of ending soon A

series of bad data reports for August and a 394-point decline in the Dow-Jones Industrial Average on September 9 could have prompted you to ask if the US economy is entering a recession. A look at several indicators with a history of reliably signaling recessions in the past suggests that is highly unlikely and that the next recession probably won’t begin for several years. The bad data reports probably reflect difficulties in seasonally adjusting data for the prime vacation months of July and August. Stock prices fell because rising bond yields reduce the present value of future earnings, not because they are a threat to growth.

Worries about a downturn in the economy started with the release of the Institute for Supply Management’s August manufacturing PMI (purchasing managers’ index) on September 1. The PMI fell below 50, albeit just to 49.4, indicating a contraction in the manufacturing sector for the first time since February. Its production and new orders component indices also fell into the 49-50 range. The weakness in manufacturing was confirmed later in the month when the Federal Reserve reported that industrial production in US manufacturing fell 0.4% in August, reversing July’s increase. The ISM’s non-manufacturing PMI also was much weaker than expected in August, indicating that growth in the services sector, while still positive, slowed significantly. Later the same day, automakers reported that motor vehicle sales declined in August to a weaker-than-expected 16.98 million seasonally adjusted annual rate. Payroll employment grew by 151,000. While this is more than enough to absorb growth in the working-age population, analysts have yet to adjust to this demographic reality and considered this a disappointing report. Retail sales fell 0.3% and were down 0.1%, even if auto dealers and gas stations are excluded.

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

The rule of averages To a large extent, weakness in August was the mirror image of strength in July. The ISM manufacturing production index fell from 55.4 to 49.6. The non-manufacturing production index, the ISM index that best correlates with real Gross Domestic Product, fell from a very strong 59.3 to 51.8. Vehicle sales fell from a 17.79 million annual rate, the strongest of the year, to a 16.98 million rate. Payroll employment grew 275,000 in July, but “only” 151,000 in August. All these data are seasonally adjusted, i.e.: adjusted to remove the impact of regular seasonal fluctuations so that you can compare any one month to any other. But if, say, auto companies cancel or move their normal summer shutdowns and schools move their opening and closing dates, seasonal adjustments based on past history might yield a misleading result. July data suggested the economy was stronger than it was; August data suggested it was weaker than it was. Averaging data for the two months might give you a more accurate picture of the economy. All US recessions since World War II have been preceded by significant increases in interest rates (see line graph at left). Data on the federal funds rate – the overnight interest rate that the Fed targets – are available back to July 1954. Since then, there has never been a recession that was not preceded by an increase in the funds rate of at least 2.49 percentage points from its most recent cyclical trough. (Since 1960, there hasn’t been a recession without at least a 2.82 percentage point increase.) The funds rate fell as low as 0.07% in 2013 and 2014. History suggests that a recession is highly unlikely until the Fed pushes the funds rate to at least 2.5% and doesn’t become likely until the funds rate rises above 3%. Fed officials have repeatedly announced that they plan to raise rates very gradually in the current tightening cycle. That means it will likely take a long time for the federal funds rate to increase enough to trigger or signal a recession. The “inverted yield curve” The spread between long-term and short-term interest rates also has been a reliable indicator of coming recessions. Since 1969, there has never been a recession that was not preceded by an “inverted yield curve,” where the federal funds rate rose above the yield on 10-year Treasury notes. Only once, in 1966 and 1967, has there been an inverted yield curve that wasn’t followed within 20 months by a recession. (There was a significant slowdown in the economy in 1967 that would have been a recession if not for the government spending associated with the Vietnam war.) As I write this, the yield on 10-year Treasury notes is around 1.70%. The federal funds rate has been hovering around 0.40%.

That leaves the spread at 1.3 percentage points, about a quarter-point wider than its historical average of 1.06 percentage points. This suggests that if Treasury yields don’t respond to short-term rate hikes, it would take more than five quarter-point hikes in the federal funds rate to invert the yield curve and signal a recession. Of course, if the economy is truly weak, a hike in short-term rates could cause Treasury yields to decline, warning the Fed against further rate hikes. But, if short-term rate hikes raise expectations of future interest rates, Treasury yields could rise, leaving the Fed further away from inverting the yield curve. The impact of oil prices All recessions since 1973 also have been preceded by at least a tripling in the price of crude oil from its most recent cyclical low. (The double-dip 1980 and 1981-82 recessions were preceded by the same tripling in oil prices.) The monthly average price of Brent Blend crude oil fell to a cyclical low of $30.70/barrel in January. If the price of oil rises above $90, I’ll probably issue a recession forecast, especially if the Fed reacts to the higher inflation associated with rising oil prices by hiking interest rates. However, Brent is currently around $46/barrel, a level that is low enough to support consumer spending, but high enough to have halted the decline in US drilling activity. Perhaps the world has changed, and the US economy could fall into a recession without a big increase in interest rates or oil prices. If that happens, the bursting of an asset bubble would be the most likely culprit. However, I’m not going to bet against 70 years of history. Thus, I’m not forecasting a recession. In fact, given my lower-forlonger forecast for oil prices and the lack of capacity pressures that could spark a rise in inflation that would force the Fed to raise rates faster than I expect, I think the current economic expansion has several more years to run. Slow and steady In the past, recessions have begun about six years after the Conference Board’s index of leading economic indicators rose above its

pre-recession peak. That still hasn’t happened in this expansion. Slow expansions tend to be long expansions. If your industry is awash in excess capacity and you aren’t the low-cost producer, it probably doesn’t make sense to invest heavily in new plant and equipment. Also, with the trend rate of growth as slow as it is, it’s hard to imagine capacity utilization rising quickly. But, if you’re holding back on investing because you’re afraid of a recession (or because you’re calculating your project economics using an excessively high discount rate that is not based on current market rates), please reconsider. Business investment has been a glaring weakness during this economic expansion. We need more of it, not less. n Copyright © 2016 Robert Fry Economics LLC. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission. Robert Fry writes monthly on the global economy, with emphasis on US manufacturing. Subscribers receive every issue as soon as it is published. Contact RobertFryEconomics@gmail.com. Robert C. Fry, Jr., Ph.D. Chief Economist, Robert Fry Economics LLC 302-743-8553 RobertFryEconomics@gmail.com, www.linkedin.com/in/robertcfryjr

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COATING & LAMINATING

Troubleshooting visible defects in the web-coating process By Edward D. Cohen, Ph.D., president, Edward D. Cohen Consulting Inc. Introduction he goal of the web-coating process is to consistently produce a defect-free product. However, there are a wide variety of visible defects that can be generated during the coating and drying process. Defect-containing areas must be scrapped, which will increase the cost of manufacturing and may result in insufficient volume to meet customer demands. Obviously, if defect-containing product is sent to the customer, it will have an adverse effect on product performance. Table 1 shows some of the typical visible defects.

When defects are encountered in the coating process, the cause of these defects must be determined rapidly and the process changed to prevent recurrence. This can pose some challenges because the web-coating process is complex and contains many process and product variables that can result in a variety of defect types. Also, the same defect may have several potential causes. A strictly empirical approach will be time-consuming and expensive, and it may not accurately determine the true mechanism of the defect cause. The best approach to eliminating these defects is to use a systematic troubleshooting procedure, such as the guidelines described in the following sections. This will help ensure a rapid, cost-effective result is obtained. The guidelines can be quickly implemented to reduce defects while the coating campaign is in progress.

These guidelines consist of the following sequential objectives: • Detect and verify defect • Develop defect information • Identify potential causes • Confirm cause(s) • Modify process to eliminate defect • Document results 1. Detect and verify defect This guideline detects defects during the coating process and verifies that they must be eliminated. It is unacceptable to find defects in the final converting process because a large volume of defective product may have been produced if the problem was not detected during coating. In addition, it will hinder determining the defect’s cause if there is a large time interval between creation and observation. An initial step is to give the defect a distinctive name that can be used to search for information. There is no standard naming convention for coating defects. As result, idiomatic names are used for defects, and each web-coating industry may have its own idiomatic names. Table 1 shows the many names that may be given to the same streak defect. The name also can be changed based on subsequent analytical data.

TABLE 1. Visible defects Continuous defects

Bands Chatter marks Mottle Waves

Bead breaks Comb lines Ribbing Rib pattern

Discrete defects Air entrainment Benard cells Bubbles with tails Coating voids Crinkling Fleets Orange peel

Cascade Dryer bands Streaks Rivulets

Chatter Herringbone Snake air

Agglomerates Bands Blisters Blotchiness Craters Cavities Convection cells Chicken tracks Dirts Fat edges Galaxies Gels Seashore Thin spots

Bar marks Bubbles Cell pattern Cockle Fisheyes Pinholes Volcanoes

Multiple names for continuous machine-direction lines Ribbing Phonographing Railroad tracks

Barring Ridges Rib pattern

Comb lines Rake lines Striations

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Corduroy Rivulets Wire-wound rod streaks

On-line surface inspection systems [1,2] are the best method to detect defects. These systems continually measure, characterize and display the location of visible defects after the coating applicator. They can analyze and store roll data for all coated rolls. Wide stock roll samples should be taken on a regular basis to verify on-line results. If on-line surface inspection is not available, a visual examination is required to evaluate coating quality. Start, middle and end samples containing the defect should be obtained for visual analysis. It’s good practice to save coated-roll samples, so if defects are detected in the future, they can be traced back to their location on the web. Depending on the product’s final use, a completely defect-free coating may not be required or economically justified. A window film must be defect-free; however, an adhesive

TABLE 2. Defect specifications Defect

Size

Level

Chatter

Continuous

All visible levels

Ribbing

Location Acceptable Unacceptable

Bubbles 1-50 micron 2 / 1,000 sq ft 7 / 1,000 sq ft 1-10 micron

Repellent 1-50 micron

2 / 1,000 sq ft 7 / 1,000 sq ft

Streaks Light 1/16 in. 2 /1,000 sq ft 8 / 1,000 sq ft Heavy 1/4 in.

Heavy-edge 1/16 by 1/16 in. 1/16 14+

TABLE 3. Defect questions Current information

• What are physical and chemical characteristics of both the defect and defect-free coating? • Where is the defect located on substrate, and what is its frequency? • What is the overall coating quality of the product? • How many visible defects are seen? • What were process variables before & during defect formation? • When was the problem first observed? • What is the yield loss due to the defect? • Is the area cleaner or dirtier than usual? • Is the temperature and humidity in the coater any different than usual? • Were there any raw-material batch changes? • Is the defect seen more or less frequently on a particular shift? • Is there anything different in the coater or storage area? • Are the standards the same now as previously? • Is a different person interpreting the standards? • If a chatter defect, what is the chatter frequency

Historical information • • • • •

Has the defect been seen previously? Is there any published information on it? If seen previously, how was it eliminated? Is the area cleaner or dirtier than usual? Is the temperature and humidity in the coater any different than usual? • Is the defect seen on all products and coating lines? • Have there been any recent mechanical changes in the coater?

X X X

tape can tolerate some level of defects. Therefore, defect standards should be available to determine if the observed problem is unacceptable and must be eliminated (see Table 2). These standards are used to classify the defect level as acceptable or not acceptable. If a defect level is acceptable, no further action is required. If the defect level is unacceptable, then the next steps in the guidelines are implemented.

2. Develop defect information X This guideline obtains the process and product information needed to completely define the defect characteristics and process variables. Because the overall coating process has more than 1,000 variables, obtaining information on all of them would be expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, the best approach is to prepare a list of specific questions about the defect formation. This will result in obtaining only relevant information. X

The following are some typical questions: • What are the physical and chemical characteristics of both the defect and a defect-free area on coating? • Where is the defect located on the substrate, and what is its frequency? • What were process variables before and during defect formation? • Were there any raw material batch changes? • Has the defect been seen previously in the coater? • If seen previously, how was it eliminated? • Is there any published information on the defect? Table 3 is a more extensive list of questions. The question list for a specific problem should be customized for the current defect. To answer the questions that have been prepared, there are several sources of information, including the following: • Characterization of chemical and physical properties of defect • Current process data before and during defect creation • Historical information in coater databases • Production and technical personnel • Open literature available on public Internet and in libraries continued on page 26 u 2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

COATING & LAMINATING t continued from page 25

There are several microscopic and instrumental analysis techniques available to characterize defects [3,4]. The following are the standard analytical techniques that can be used: • Scanning Electron Microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX will give high-resolution images and determine elements with atomic numbers >5). • Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA) determines the chemical composition of the defect surface. It complements SEM/EDX because it can measure organic compounds. • Digital Microscopy combines a traditional microscope with a camera that transfers images to a computer, where software calculates the defect. This image also can be transmitted to technical personnel to obtain their information. • Thermal analysis measures Tg, Tm and Td of raw materials, coating and solvents. • Smartphones and tablets can record on-line events and defect images and rapidly forward them to other personnel for their input. A useful analytical technique is to prepare a defect map that plots the exact location of all observed defects in both the machine (Md) and the transverse direction (Td). The map can be created in on-line surface-inspection systems. Another method is to obtain a long, full-width roll sample and then visually mark the defect type. The map can provide insight into observed defects and provide information on defect causes and suggested cures. If analytical instruments are not available on-site, there are analytical services that run the desired tests. Portable analytical instruments are available to rapidly characterize defects as they are observed. They can give rapid, accurate analysis and reduce characterization time so defects can be eliminated quickly. These portable instruments include digital microscopes, X-ray fluorescence spectrometers, Raman spectrometers and IR thermometers. Previous process information can be obtained from internal sources. A modern coating-line control will store all process variables data or transfer them to an external database that can be searched. In addition, log sheets in which process data is handrecorded and stored often are available. Coating defects are created in all coating lines, and even though product function is different, the defect causes are the same. Therefore, defect information from another product can provide useful information on current defects. For example, orange peel and ribbing are universal defects. Table 4 lists sources of defect information.

TABLE 4. Defect information sources Books

Cohen, E.D., Gutoff E.B., Coating and Drying Defects: Troubleshooting Operating Problems, second edition, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 2006. Smith, R.D, et al, Roll and Web Defect Terminology, second edition, TAPPI Press, Norcross, GA, 2007. Smith, R.D. The Ultimate Roll and Web Defect Troubleshooting Guide with Glossary, TAPPI Press, 2013.

Journals

Converting Quarterly, www.convertingquarterly.com Paper Film & Foil Converter, www.pffc-online.com

Other sources

ASTM International Fitz’s Atlas of Coating Defects McCrone Atlas of Microscopic Particles

Technical societies

Assn. of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators, www.aimcal.org International Society Coating Science & Technology, www.iscst.org Technical Assn. of the Pulp and Paper Industry Institute of Paper Science & Technology The Society of Rheology National Coil Coaters Assn.

3. Identify potential causes This guideline to identify potential defect causes analyzes the information obtained in the previous guideline. The basis for this analysis is that a process change is the predominant cause for manufacturing defects because the majority of the coatings have been defect-free or there is a defect-free area and a defective area. Therefore, the specific objective is to analyze information obtained in the previous guideline to determine process changes and differences between defective and problem-free film. For example, if the defect is a contamination spot, the analysis should identify the contaminant and the source located. A ribbing defect is caused by operating outside the coating window. Several techniques can be used to analyze the information for changes, including the following: • Use a spreadsheet to record answers to questions. • Statistical analysis of process data correlates variables with when defects were being generated. • Analyze previous and external information to gain insight. The final step is to assemble a team with varying expertise to determine potential causes. A brainstorming technique, such as the Kepner-Tregoe Method [5], is very useful. There can be two or more potential causes. 4. Confirm the cause(s) This guideline confirms that the defect cause specified in the

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COATING & LAMINATING t continued from page 26

previous section is valid and determines process conditions to eliminate the defect. The experiments should be designed to create the defect and demonstrate defect-free process conditions. This can be done via laboratory or pilot plant-level coaters. Coating-solution variables, viscosity, surface tension and solventlevel raw materials can be varied and suspected contaminants added to determine effects on defects. The effect of coating methods variables (gap, roll speed line, etc.) can be determined. Statistically designed experiments can be used to improve results’ accuracy. Computer simulations also help. These experiments should result in verifying defect causes and defining the process upgrades that must be taken to eliminate them and prevent them from recurring. 5. Modify process to eliminate defect The process upgrades should be implemented to prevent further defect recurrence. Some of the typical upgrades are improved raw-material purity, coating head and roll maintenance, cleaning procedures, increased filtration, optimization of formula and coating window, installation of on-line characterization systems and replacement of obsolete hardware modules. 6. Document results When the cause of the defect has been determined and then

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useful analytical technique is “toAprepare a defect map that plots the exact location of all observed defects in both the machine and transverse directions.

”

eliminated, a final report should be prepared and stored for future reference. The report should summarize defect description, all of the defect analysis and historical data, experimental results, defects cause(s), actions taken to eliminate defects and recommendations for future technical efforts. This report will help ensure that if the defect occurs again the past information can be used to eliminate current problems. The report should be circulated to all coating personnel and stored so it can be easily retrieved for future use. It also can be used to train operating personnel and help product formulators and process engineering personnel. A report with 80% of the information issued rapidly is much better than a report with 95% of the information that never gets used. Standard operating procedures also must be updated. n References 1. Cohen, E.D. Are On-Line Defect Detection Systems Effective in Improving Cost and Quality? Converting Quarterly, 2013 Q1, page 20. 2. Hissman, O. On-line Inspections of Polymers, Films and Coatings/ Laminates, http://www.tappi.org/content/events/10place/papers/ hissmann.pdf 2 3. Kobe, B. Surface Analytical Techniques for Analysis of Coatings, AIMCAL Web & Coating Handling Conference USA 2016 4. Cohen, E.D. Web Coating Defects: Effective Characterization of Coating Process leads to Excellent Overall Performance. Converting Quarterly, 2013 Q3, page 54 5. www.toolshero.com/problem-solving/kepner-tregoe-method

Edward D. Cohen, Ph.D., president of Edward D. Cohen Consulting, Inc. (Fountain Hills, AZ), has expertise in the coating and drying of thin films, coating-process development and scaleup, film-defect mechanisms and analytical-characterization techniques. With 45+ years of experience in coating research, Cohen is the author of several books. He is currently an AIMCAL technical consultant and writes the “Web Coating” Q&A technical column and Blog for this publication. Cohen can be reached at 480-836-9452, e-mail: cohened146@aol.com.

COATING & LAMINATING

Lamination system application and design considerations By Bob Pasquale, president, New Era Converting Machinery Editor’s Note: This paper is based on a presentation at the AIMCAL Web Coating & Handling Conference Europe, held in May-June 2016 in Dresden, Germany. More info: www.aimcal.org Introduction amination is the process of combining substrates to form a new multilayer structure. It is performed for many reasons using a wide variety of webs to form a multitude of products. These reasons can be divided into several categories, including the following: • Mechanical – layers combined to improve the mechanical properties of a web; examples of this are to increase the tensile strength, add a wear-resistant layer or add a protective layer. • Chemical – layers combined to improve the chemical properties of a web; examples of this are to reduce the product’s vapor, gas or moisture transmission rates. • Decorative – layers are combined to improve the appearance of a product; examples of this are adding a film to change the surface appearance of the web or adding a printed film to the web.

FIGURE 1. Wet bond laminator

The type of lamination system used to combine webs depends on several factors, such as the web materials being laminated, the adhesion method used to join the webs and the desired properties to be obtained by the product. In all cases, the webs are combined at a lamination nip normally made up of two rollers that either are pressing together under a controlled pressure or have a controlled gap between them. Typically, one of the rollers features a hard surface, such as chrome-plated steel, with the other roll featuring a resilient surface, such as rubber. Types of laminating systems The method by which webs are laminated together can be divided into three major categories, typically defined as wet bond, dry bond and fusion lamination. The physical properties and characteristics of the materials to be combined determine which method is used. Wet bond lamination: In wet bond lamination, a coating is applied to one or more of the webs, which then are combined while the coating is still in a liquid form. This type can take one of several different forms. If the adhesive includes a water or solvent carrier, a drying process usually is required to remove the water or solvent, with at least one web being permeable/porous for the carrier to pass through during drying. The adhesive typically is applied to the nonporous web so it stays on the surface. Once combined, the product passes through a dryer (see Figure 1) or about a heated drum (with the permeable web out) to remove the

FIGURE 2. Wet bond wax laminator moisture. However, in certain cases, particularly where light water-based adhesives are used in conjunction with an absorbent web, drying may not be required to remove the water. Another form of wet bond lamination uses a 100% solids-curable or crosslinking adhesive. Once the webs are combined, the curing/crosslinking is performed through the web(s). An additional form of wet bond lamination is one in which waxes, paraffins or similar thermoplastic adhesives are used. Here the coatings are heated to their liquid form and applied to the web(s). Once the webs are combined, the coating is cooled back to its solid state continued on page 30 u 2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

COATING & LAMINATING t continued from page 29

by passing the laminated product about a cooling roller(s) (see Figure 2), through a water bath or through a cooling chamber. Because the coating is 100% solids, neither web needs to be permeable.

FIGURE 3. Dry bond laminator

The lamination nip on a wet bond laminator typically operates at a low pressure and/or with a gap between the rolls. This is critical because the adhesive is still in a liquid form, with too much pressure resulting in the adhesive being squeezed into the porous web or out from between the webs, resulting in poor bonding. The lamination point should be as near to the coating application point as possible to prevent premature flashing of the solvent or water, as well as the absorption of the coating into the porous web. It is important that the product is dried, cured/crosslinked or cooled as soon as possible since the adhesive doesn’t develop its bond strength until this happens. Dry bond lamination: In dry bond lamination, an adhesive coating is applied to the web and solidified before lamination. This system also can take one of several forms.

FIGURE 4. Dry bond laminator with heatreactivated coating

The most common form is when a diluent (water- or solvent-based) adhesive is applied to one of the webs and then passed through a dryer to remove the water or solvent, leaving a layer of (solidified) adhesive. After drying, a second web is introduced at the laminating nip, where the adhesive bonds them together (see Figure 3). Because the diluent is removed before lamination, neither web needs to be porous. Another similar form of dry bond lamination uses a curable adhesive that passes through a curing system, such as an electron-beam or ultraviolet light unit to cure (solidify) the adhesive before lamination, again with the adhesive bonding the webs together.

FIGURE 5. Thermal bond laminator

A third form of dry bond lamination, often referred to as off-line laminating, combines substrates using a precoated adhesive web. In its simplest form, a pressure-sensitive adhesive bonds the surfaces at room temperature. The equipment required for this is relatively simple, including two unwinds, a lamination nip and a winder. Often, the coated web includes a cover ply, which is peeled and wound on a separate winder positioned before the lamination nip. This system also can be used with a heat-activated adhesive. Heating can occur either before the lamination nip using heated rolls or an infrared heater, or at the laminating nip with the coated web wrapping the heated steel laminating prior to the lamination point, or both (see Figure 4). Because the adhesive is solidified before combining the materials, the lamination nip on a dry bond laminator typically runs at moderate to high pressures and often is heated.

FIGURE 6. Effect of roller diameter on rubber-roll footprint

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When a dryer is used, the lamination nip is positioned in close proximity to the dryer’s exit to minimize exposure time of the adhesive and maintain the heat for those processes that require it at lamination. In most applications, it is important to cool the web after lamination as quickly as possible. continued on page 32 u

COATING & LAMINATING t continued from page 30

Thermal lamination: In thermal bond lamination (often referred to as fusion lamination), the webs are combined using heat and pressure without adhesives. For this process, it is important that the webs being combined have similar thermal properties. In this process, heat is applied before the lamination nip. Often, the laminator features a large heated roll, about which the primary web is heated prior to lamination. The secondary web also may be heated before lamination. Depending on the process, the webs may exit the lamination point and be cooled, or they may continue on the heated roll to additional nip points (see Figure 5) to enhance bonding or for the introduction of additional webs. In a thermal bond laminator, the lamination nip(s) run at moderate to high pressures to improve the conductive heat transfer and assist in the bonding of the webs. Precise control of web temperature is critical as not enough heat results in poor bonding and too much heat may distort or melt the web. The amount of heating (and specific temperatures required) is determined by the type of material, thickness and operating speed. It is important that the preheating is performed as close to the lamination point as possible and that cooling occurs as soon after lamination/exiting of the main heat roll as possible. Laminator design considerations The design of the laminating section is critical to the success of the process, with several factors needing to be addressed. Some of these factors are common for all laminating processes, and some are unique to each method. Roller design: As previously stated, the typical system uses one roller featuring a hard surface, such as chrome-plated steel, with the other featuring a resilient surface, such as rubber, allowing the rollers to generate the required force to combine the webs without damaging the surface of the rolls. The pressure between the rolls causes the rubber in the area of contact to compress and conform to the surface of the mating steel roll; this interface is commonly referred to as the “footprint.” The greater the pressure between the rolls, the greater the deflection/bow in the middle. As the deflection/bow of the rollers increases, this “footprint” becomes uneven, with narrower contact in the middle than on the edges. This uneven footprint results in the force between the rollers varying across the width, causing the bond to be uneven. Additionally, the difference in compression results in a difference in rubber-roll diameter at the contact point, which results in local surface-speed variations that can result in wrinkles and/or stresses in the product. As the roller’s diameter is increased, so is its stiffness, thereby reducing the deflection and bow and therefore the variation in footprint (see Figure 6). It is typical, particularly in dry bond and thermal lamination, for the steel, laminating roller to be heated to allow for heating of the web. This heating can be done using internal electric heating or, more common, by passing a heating fluid (steam, water or

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FIGURE 7. Nip gap-control hardware oil) through the roll. Control of the temperature profile across the roll is critical for proper lamination. Though this is fairly easy to address in electrically heated rolls, the internal design of the fluid-heated roller needs to address the proper design of the fluid path, volume and speed to maintain a uniform temperature. The diameter of the steel roller also is critical for sufficient web-to-roll contact distance/time to heat the web to the desired temperature before lamination. The accuracy of the rollers’ diameter (concentricity and TIR) also is a factor. The greater the variation in the diameter, the greater the local speed and pressure changes, both of which can affect the lamination. And, variations in the roller’s surface finish can result in marks or blemishes in the product. It is important that the rubber roller’s material and hardness be selected to match the particular application, taking into consideration the pressure and temperature requirements, as well as the chemicals/materials to which the rubber will be exposed. Regarding temperature, one must consider if the core of the rubber roll needs to be designed for the internal passage of fluid for either heating or cooling. As a final comment regarding the rolls, there are instances where two steel or two rubber rolls are used for the lamination nip. These applications involved special conditions beyond the scope of this paper. Nip pressure control: The pressure required for lamination varies based on specific product and application. Therefore, it becomes critical to be able to adjust and set the pressure of the laminating nip. A common approach is to mount one of the nip rollers on slides or pivot arms that allow it to be loaded against the other roll through a set of cylinders. The sizing of the cylinders (bore) is based on the forces required between the rolls for the lamination process. As part of this sizing process, one must consider the fluid medium used in the cylinders; compressed air and hydraulic fluid each offer certain advantages and disadvantages.

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FIGURE 8. Laminator nip with both rolls driven (guard removed for photo) Fluid regulating equipment is required to set the nip pressure. This setting can be performed manually at the regulating device or remotely (such as from an operator screen) through the use of an I/P convertor. Gap control: For certain applications, it is important to position the laminator rolls in close proximity to each other without contact. Examples of this are during wet bond laminating, where nipping the rolls together may result in the coating being forced into the porous web or out from between the web layers, or when laminating thick webs and coatings that may be damaged by over-compression. In these instances, an adjustable gap-control device is located between the nip rollers’ bearing housings (see Figure 7). Adjusting the gap can be done manually or automatically and can be performed locally or remotely from a location, such as an operator input screen. In the manual system, it is typical to have local readout devices that indicate the gap setting. In the automatic system, it is common to have electronic measuring devices sense the gap and provide position feedback for closed-loop control. Roller drive: Typically, one or both of the nip rolls are driven, and how to drive them and control the drive(s) requires various considerations. To ensure proper web handling, the control of the laminating nip drive can vary depending on the design of the laminating system. For a typical dry bond laminator, like that shown in Figure 3, the laminator steel-roller drive is tension-regulated. In other applications, the best drive configuration may be to have the laminating steel roller serve as the lead section at which the line speed is set, with the other driven sections being tensionregulated with respect to it. An example of this would be for the thermal bond laminator shown in Figure 5. Depending on the nature of the laminating process, it may be necessary to drive each laminating nip roller independently. continued on page 34 u

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COATING & LAMINATING t continued from page 33

An example of this is when laminating thick webs in the gap mode, particularly if one or more of the webs are extensible. In this application, driving one roll through the web material can result in adding stresses to the web(s), which may show as wrinkles or curl in the product. In cases such as this, each roll is independently driven, with the main roll being controlled as previously discussed and the other roll being driven either in a speed or torque mode. Because the nip roller’s position is adjustable, it becomes necessary to be able to drive the roll throughout its range of motion (see Figure 8). Alignment: The alignment of the laminating rolls to each other, as well as to the balance of the machine, is critical for proper lamination. Misalignment often results in stresses being introduced to either or both of the webs during lamination, which may show up as wrinkles, stretch lines or curl in the product. Improperly aligned nip rolls may produce non-uniform nip pressures across the rolls, leading to poor lamination. Web handling: The handling of the webs into and out of the laminating section is critical for proper lamination. Good tension control entering the lamination nip is of extreme importance. If either web is undertensioned, wrinkle lines and foldovers may occur in the web and show in the finished product. Too much tension can cause stretch lines in the web that may show up in the

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The angle at which the webs are introduced to each other at the laminating nip is critical to successful lamination. It is important that the webs do not contact each other before the lamination point, which would result in potential flaws in the laminated product (wrinkles and air entrapment). It also is vital that the two webs approach the lamination point with a large angle between them to prevent air from being entrained between them during lamination, which could result in flaws in the product. A final web-handling aspect is proper tension control of the web as it exits the lamination point, especially in processes such as wet bond lamination where the bond strength between the layers has not yet formed and can be damaged by improper tension, resulting in poor final product bond. Guarding: Guarding of the laminating section for operator safety also is a key consideration. Guards must be designed to restrict access to hazardous areas, such as in-running nip rollers, crush points (such as between bearing housings), heated surfaces and drive-transmission assemblies. These guards need to allow for the threading and maintaining of the equipment without compromising operator safety.

References Pasquale, John A. III, “Laminating.” Modern Plastics Encyclopedia. 1992 Satas, Donatas, Web Processing and Converting Technology and Equipment, New York, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., 1984 Weiss, Herbert L. Coating and Laminating Machines, Milwaukee, WI: Converting Technology Co., 1977

Brakes That Don’t Squeal

It is typical to include spreading rollers in the web paths into the laminating assembly to help eliminate wrinkles that may occur in lamination. These rolls can be in many forms, including bow rolls, rubber rolls with herringbone patterns and rubber cord-type spreader rolls, with the roller selection being based on factors such as web material, speed, tension and temperature.

Conclusion As we have shown, there are several different ways to laminate webs together, with the choice of the proper system typically dependent on the products being combined. Once the appropriate system has been selected, there are several critical design features of the laminator that need to be addressed to ensure successful product lamination. n

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product. Additionally, too much tension in one of the webs may result in web curl in the finished product.

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Bob Pasquale is one of the founders and principals of New Era Converting Machinery (Paterson, NJ), where he serves as president. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology and has worked in the webconverting industry since 1985. Pasquale is the holder of several patents in the industry. He can be reached at bob.pasquale@ neweraconverting.com, www.neweraconverting.com.

COATING & LAMINATING

BOPP laminate structures for “over-the-mountain” VFFS-pouch applications By Ken Chang, senior dir.-Film Research and Development; and John Rhoat, chemical eng. intern, Toray Plastics (America), Inc. Introduction n Part 1 of our technical paper series about hermetic seals (see CQ 2016 Q1, page 56; http://www.mydigitalpublication.com/ publication/?i=289447#), we examined the improvement of hermetic-seal qualities of selected BOPP-based laminations in VFFS-pouch applications and concluded there are film designs and sealant-resin choices that can significantly improve the seal integrity and hermeticity of pouches. For Part 2, we examined a selection of heat-sealable BOPP-based laminations in VFFS pouching for “over-the-mountain” (aka OTM) packaging applications that navigate high and changing altitude and atmospheric-pressure conditions. In high altitudes, the air pressure outside the package decreases, causing the package to inflate, which puts additional stress on the seals. These studies were conducted to address consumer product goods (CPG) manufacturers’ need for more effective packaging of snacks because of the challenges of evolving distribution methods and multi-channel distribution outlets, including OTM transport, warehouse clubs, e-commerce and global expansions, which now necessitate extended product shelf-life.

We hypothesized that over-the-mountain applications – those that are transported by overland and air routes in high and changing altitudes – may require flexible packaging with improved heatseal strengths and hermetic properties. For example, here in the United States, the Eisenhower Tunnel of I-70 passes through the Rocky Mountains and has a maximum elevation of 11,158 ft.

Worldwide, typical passenger aircraft cabins are pressurized to an equivalent effective altitude of 6,000 to 8,000 ft. In the case of both situations, many anecdotal accounts tell about products packaged at sea level that burst open when they were transported to higher elevations, owing to the expansion of air or gases within the package caused by the reduced atmospheric air pressure. For the CPG manufacturer or the consumer, a package that has burst or somewhat deflated raises concerns about product safety and integrity. The end user also must deal with the frustration and expense of lost merchandise and damage to the brand image. A typical countermeasure for addressing this issue is to control the amount of headspace – i.e., the volume of air within the bag – and compensate for the expansion at higher elevations so there is less stress on the sealed areas. Unfortunately, that means at sea level, the bag will look deflated. A flattened bag does not indicate the product is not fresh or is poorly packaged, but it can give the consumer that impression, as its appearance is not what is expected. In addition, the reduced amount of air in the bags may provide less protection for the snack-food product, as there is less cushioning, and thus the potential for more breakage in snack foods. Examining OPP-based films’ effectiveness in withstanding external pressure changes For this study, we examined a small set of OPP-based, heatcontinued on page 36 u

FIGURE 1. Formed bag being tested in the Visual Check water tank (left) and a ruptured filled bag (right). 2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

COATING & LAMINATING t continued from page 35

FIGURE 2. Number of leaks observed from sealed areas of each unfilled-pouch variable

FIGURE 3. Respective elevations at which unfilled bags of each variable burst open

sealable films designed for snack-food packaging for their effectiveness in withstanding external pressure changes and retaining product-packaging integrity, as well as potentially retaining typical headspace air-fill, so as to uphold the image of high-quality packaging. A control film and three improved-seal film test variables were adhesively laminated to an unprinted, biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP) print film. The laminations were run in a VFFS pillow pouch (10 in. long by 10 in. wide) lap-seal format on a Hayssen Ultima® SV bagger. Bagmaking conditions were set at 60 bpm with the end and back sealers ranging from 275° to 300° F to optimize seal performance specific to the lamination variable. The pouches were tested both unfilled (representing a maximum headspace condition) and filled with about 9 oz of a simulated snack product (plastic poker chips), which filled approximately one-third of the bag’s volume. We did not use any air or gas inflation of the bags.

sealable layers were modified with a proprietary amount of EP plastomer. The core-layer modification of this variable created a lower-modulus film, making the variable more pliable. The V3 test variable was a typical metallized-BOPP film, such as C1; however, the heat-sealable layer was extrusion-coated onto the BOPP substrate film with the blend of LLDPE and LDPE sealant resins.

The sealant-layer design of the control film (C1) was considered representative of conventional BOPP heat-sealable films that are used widely in the flexible-packaging industry and consist of an ethylene-propylene-butene (EPB) terpolymer. The test films (V1, V2 and V3) represented designs for improved heat-seal-integrity properties. Test film V1 was a derivative of C1, in which the heat-sealable layer was about 50% thicker. V2 used a blend of an ethylene-propylene (EP) plastomer and an EPB terpolymer; test film V3 employed a blend of linear-low density polyethylenes (LLDPE) and low-density polyethylenes (LDPE). In addition, different approaches were taken in the design of the subject films. The C1 and V1 film variables were produced in a typical sequential, biaxial-orientation process of three coextruded film layers in which the core layer was composed primarily of propylene homopolymer, one coextruded skin layer functioned as a metal adhesion layer and the opposite coextruded skin layer was the heat-sealable layer. The V2 test variable was made in a similar manner; however, both the core and the heat-

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

We hypothesized that over-the“mountain applications may require flexible packaging with improved heat-seal strength and hermetic properties.

”

Pouches were produced with the laminations and tested for hermetic-seal property by means of a Visual Check International Package Integrity Tester. The Visual Check tester was used to quantify package-seal robustness at different vacuum levels, simulating atmospheric pressures at different altitudes. In essence, the test chamber of the Visual Check was set at various vacuum levels: for example, about 5 in. Hg gauge (aka ”HgV), 7.5 ”HgV, 10 ”HgV, 12.5 ”HgV and 15 ”HgV, where 29.92 ”HgV represents a perfect vacuum and 0 is sea-level atmospheric pressure. These vacuum levels simulated air pressures at altitudes of about 5,000, 8,000, 11,000, 14,000 and 18,000 ft., respectively (ASTM D6653 Table X1). The formed bags were placed within the Visual Check vacuum chamber at those various settings, and observations were made as to whether the test bags exhibited leakage at the seals (shown by air bubbles in the Visual Check water tank) and/or a complete rupture of the seal area. Figure 1 continued on page 38 u

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COATING & LAMINATING t continued from page 36

FIGURE 4. Filled-bag performance in terms of leaker numbers

FIGURE 5. Filled-bag seal rupture at various altitudes

shows a bag being tested in the Visual Check tank for leaks, as well as a ruptured filled bag.

bags of each variable burst open. What is interesting is that the control C1 and variables V1 and V2 all showed catastrophic failure of the sealed areas at about 22,000-ft altitude (about 17 ”HgV). V3, however, again significantly outperformed the other designs, withstanding complete seal failure until above 40,000 ft (about > 23.5 ”HgV) elevation.

The results summarized in Figure 2 showed the average number of leaks observed from the sealed areas of each unfilled-pouch variable (10 pouches per variable were tested) at various simulated altitudes. The control C1 lamination was seen to exhibit leaks at the starting elevation of 5,000 ft; at progressively higher altitudes, the number of seal leaks increased significantly. The V1 lamination – which is essentially C1 with a thicker coextruded sealant layer – showed fewer leaks at each respective elevation, as compared with C1, with nearly no leakage at 5,000 ft. At 18,000 ft, the number of leaks (>10) was excessive for both C1 and V1. Variable V2 – the plastomer-modified core-layer design – showed significantly better hermetic- and seal-integrity performance, as compared with C1 and V1. At 5,000 ft elevation, no leaks were observed; and at 8,000 ft, there continued to be very few leaks observed. At 14,000-ft altitude, the leakage rate of V2 was about the same as that of V1, and only slightly better at 18,000 ft elevation. Variable V3 – the extrusion-coated design – significantly outperformed the other designs. Even at an altitude of 18,000 ft, no leaks were observed in any of the bags. Clearly, the sealant design of V3 was not only able to “caulk” gaps, or spaces, at the pouch corners and end/back seal junction, but it also had enough integrity to withstand the forces exerted on the sealed areas from the expansion of the interior gases under much lower external pressures. For C1, V1 and V2, leaks were seen to initiate primarily at the bag corners; for V3, leaks were observed to initiate at the end/back seal junction. The variables also were tested to determine at what altitude complete rupture or failure of the sealed areas would take place. Figure 3 illustrates the respective elevations at which unfilled

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

Microscopy analysis at a 500X “magnification was conducted on the lamination variables’ bag end-seal corners, where leaks are initially seen to form.

”

The data presented in Figures 2 and 3 are from unfilled pillow pouches, which presumably present a less desirable situation than filled bags. Filled bags, representing a more “real-world” case, also were tested for comparison. When less volume in the bag was occupied by air, the filled pouches showed a greater ability to withstand leaks and ruptures due to altitude changes. It was noted that seal quality was better with filled pouches compared with unfilled pouches, as the weight of the chips helped to reduce wrinkling and bunching in the bag corners. Figure 4 shows performance of filled bags in terms of leaker numbers. Although the filled-bag variables showed much better performance than those of unfilled bags, as indicated by fewer leaks at respective altitudes, the overall trend is the same in terms of which designs were more robust. In particular, V1 seemed to show good performance with a low average leaker-rate up to 11,000 ft; V2 had no leakers at 11,000 ft and a low leak-average up to 14,000 ft; V3 exhibited no leakers up to 18,000 ft in this

Similarly, Figure 5 shows the filled bags’ robustness against complete seal rupture. In this case, some separation can be seen in the performance with the V2 design, as compared with the unfilled-bag rupture performance of C1 and V1. While C1 and V1 filled and unfilled bags’ ultimate rupture occurred at about the same altitudes (see Figure 3), filled-V2 bags showed a marked improvement in retaining integrity up to a much higher altitude as compared with unfilled and filled bags of C1 and V1. V3 continued to perform outstandingly within the group.

FIGURE 6. Initial altitude of leaks for filled bags test. In general, on the basis of targeting an average leak-number of one or fewer, C1 seemed best suited for sea level in packaging applications up to 8,000 ft; V1 seemed best suited for elevations up to 11,000 ft.; V2 was best for higher elevations up to 14,000 ft, and V3 was best for higher elevations up to 18,000 ft, and possibly greater.

As a further step, filled bags were tested for the altitude at which a leak first appeared, as opposed to the average number of leaks observed at a set altitude (see Figure 6). This provided information about the efficacy of each film design’s hermetic properties. Vacuum was incrementally applied until a leak appeared within the sealed area of the bag, typically a corner position. C1 showed initial leaks when the vacuum level reached an equivalent elevation of 6,000 ft. V1’s initial leak was better, at about 8,300 ft. V2 was significantly better than C1 and V1, achieving an altitude of about 17,000 ft before exhibiting a leak. Again, V3 was the best of the group, achieving an altitude of about 22,000 ft before exhibiting any leak. continued on page 40 u

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COATING & LAMINATING t continued from page 39

TABLE 1. Microscopy analysis of lamination variables’ bag end-seal corners

the type best-suited for his or her particular application and elevation. n References 1. ASTM D6653/D6653M, “Determining the Effects of High Altitude on Packaging Systems by Vacuum Method.” 2. Dekker Vacuum Technologies Inc., “What is Vacuum?” (technical data bulletin) www. dekkervacuum.com/resource-library/knowledgedatabase/technical-data/what-is-vacuum/ 3. Eddy Garcia-Meitin et al., “Development of Sealants for Flexible Packaging Using Light Microscopy,” Dow Chemical Company, ANTEC 2015 Proceedings. 4. Ken Chang and Elizabeth Shokunbi, “Hermetic-Seal Performance of BOPP Laminate Structures in VFFS Pouch Applications,” Converting Quarterly, 2016 Quarter 1 issue, pp. 56 -60. 5. John Spevacek, “Mission Impossible,” Gizmodo, www.gizmodo.com/5907087/im-that-guy-who-madesnack -bags-so-impossible-to-open, May 2, 2012. 6. “Air to Spare: Why Is That Package HalfEmpty?” Consumer Reports, January 2010, www. consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2010/ january/shopping/product-packaging/overview/productpackaging-ov/htm 7. “Packaging Problems at High Altitude,” High Altitude Living, www.highaltitudelife.com/packaging. htm, copyright 2006-2015. 8. “When Transporting Air-Sealed Snack Packages over High-Altitude Regions,” https://d18qs7yq39787j. cloudfront.net/uploads/solutionfile/211/mindumo_ snack_bags.pdf

Microscopy analysis at a 500x magnification was conducted on the lamination variables’ bag end-seal corners, where leaks are initially seen to form. Imaging software was used to calculate the area of the “gap,” or open space, where the film variable’s sealant layer was unable to seal effectively. Table 1 summarizes these data, and the images show progressively smaller gaps from C1 to V3, with C1 showing the largest average gap (31,232 sq microns) and V3 showing no gap. V1 showed about a 27% smaller gap size, compared with C1; V2’s was about 63% smaller than C1’s and about half the size of V1’s. This reduction in gap area for the respective lamination variables is consistent with the Visual Check hermeticity-test results. Conclusion On the basis of our study, we conclude that packaging film designs exist that could perform well in “over-the-mountain,” high-altitude and changing atmospheric conditions. Such film designs provide significantly improved hermetic-seal properties at various elevations above sea level to help retain product freshness and quality, as well as more-robust seals that prevent bursting or rupture of such pouches and subsequent loss of contents, or even a compromised package appearance. It is possible that such film technologies can be transferred to other packaging formats beyond pillow pouches and achieve similar improvements in package integrity. The variety of film designs available for higher-elevation packaging can enable the converter and end-user to select

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Disclaimer No statement concerning the use of these products is intended as a recommendation for use in the infringement of any patent.

Ken Chang, senior dir.-Film Research and Development at Toray Plastics (America), Inc. (Kingstown, RI). He joined Toray in 1996. Prior to that, Chang worked for Mobil Chemical Films Div. Chang has a Master’s of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Connecticut and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University. He can be reached at ken.chang@toraytpa.com. John Rhoat was a chemical engineering intern at Toray Plastics (America) during the summer of 2016. He is a senior at the University of Rhode Island, majoring in chemical engineering.

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COATING & LAMINATING

Dimensional stability of substrate films: an essential requirement for the deposition of functional layers? By Dipl.-Phys. Oliver Miesbauer, M.Sc., and Klaus Noller, Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV, Germany Editor’s Note: This paper is based on a presentation at the AIMCAL Web Coating & Handling Conference Europe, held in May-June 2016 in Dresden, Germany. More info: www.aimcal. org Abstract Deposition of multilayer structures in roll-to-roll (R2R) processes allows for a cost-effective functionalization of polymeric films. In case of low dimensional stability, however, these are strained due to thermal and mechanical stress. This causes crack formation within functional layers and, consequently, reduced performance. As an example, the deposition of barrier layers on the surface of fluoropolymer films is considered. The study shows how to avoid the damage of barrier layers during various processes either by adapting process parameters or by improving the dimensional stability of the films by lamination. Introduction lexible polymeric films show an increasing potential to substitute for rigid materials in buildings, automobiles and consumer electronics. Apart from their low weight and mechanical flexibility, they are especially attractive because they allow the deposition of functional layers in cost-effective R2R processes. Such layers may improve their mechanical, electrical and optical behavior or endow them with barrier properties against gases and water vapor.

Commonly, functional layers are deposited by physical or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or in atmospheric processes from liquid phase [1]. These processes may contain drying and curing steps where the substrate film is exposed to a high temperature in combination with web tension. This thermomechanical load can cause a significant dimensional change of the film and can damage already deposited layers. This makes it difficult to unite several functional properties by

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depositing complex multilayer structures on substrate films with a low dimensional stability. An important example is given by deposition of multilayer, highbarrier structures on substrate films to protect highly sensitive flexible photovoltaic modules against ingress of oxygen and water vapor [2]. Such barrier structures contain several inorganic barrier layers and polymeric intermediate layers in an alternating sequence [3,4]. Their excellent barrier performance commonly is explained by elongation of the diffusion path as a consequence of decoupled defects [4,5,6] or by an extended lag time of permeation [7,8]. The high-barrier films developed by Fraunhofer POLO® alliance use the concept of alternating barrier layers in R2R coating processes [9]. Reactively sputtered Zn2SnO4 (ZTO) layers are combined with hybrid polymers (ORMOCER® [10]) being applied from the liquid phase on top of polyester substrate films. For the multilayer barrier structure, PET Melinex® 400 CW / ZTO / ORMOCER / ZTO / ORMOCER, a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of (2.0 ± 1.2)⋅10-4g/m2/d1 was measured with calcium test at 38° C, 90% RH [9]. Consequently, the Fraunhofer POLO film exhibits barrier properties in the range that is required for flexible photovoltaics [11,12]. However, it is not suitable as encapsulation material for long-term outdoor applications because polyester films, such as PET, are degraded by UV radiation and humidity in combination with high temperature [13,14]. Therefore, it is desirable to transfer the Fraunhofer POLO concept to fluoropolymer films, such as ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), which show excellent resistance against UV radiation and also against weathering [15]. This target was pursued by the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging (IVV), for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology (FEP) and for Silicate Research (ISC) in the joint project flex25 [16].

FIGURE 1. Dimensional change of ETFE and PET films in the R2R lacquering machine dependent on temperature and web tensile stress

FIGURE 2. Oxygen permeability (QO2) of different fluoropolymer substrate films coated with ORMOCER / ZTO before and after winding and after ORMOCER application on top

Dimensional stability of ETFE films A critical issue of fluoropolymer films regarding their application as substrate films for encapsulation materials is their low dimensional stability: Young’s modulus of ETFE is about 5⋅108 Nm2 at 23° C and 1⋅108 Nm2 at 120° C [17] and is therefore one order of magnitude lower than the corresponding values 4⋅109 Nm2 and 2⋅109 Nm2 of PET [13].

results, however, were observed at 120° C, due to the decrease of Young’s modulus with increasing temperature and the glass transition of ETFE at 90° C [19]: the film shows a significant elongation in machine direction and a similar shrinkage in transverse direction at 120° C. The values range from 1% to 2%, depending on the web tensile stress. Similar values were obtained when applying ORMOCER during the winding process. These values are in the range of the crack onset strain of ZTO layers [18], which is defined as the minimum strain at which crack formation can be observed.

Used as intermediate layers, ORMOCER coatings are a substantial component of the Fraunhofer POLO barrier structure and have to be dried at a temperature of 120° C. As a consequence of their low Young’s modulus at 120° C, ETFE films are significantly strained due to web tension during the R2R coating process. Because the ETFE film already carries a ZTO layer when the ORMOCER is applied, the strain is transferred to the ZTO layer, where it can result in crack formation and therefore degrade the barrier performance [1,3,18]. The behavior of ETFE films (Nowoflon ET 6235 Z, thickness 100 µm) during ORMOCER application at the R2R lacquering machine of the Fraunhofer IVV was studied systematically; the machine is described elsewhere [9]. To understand the combined influence of high temperature and web tension the dimensional change of the films in machine and transverse direction was measured after winding them through the machine at different conditions. Figure 1 shows that the dimensional change of the ETFE film is negligible up to a temperature of 80° C. Significantly different

The dimensional change of ETFE in machine direction is about 10X higher than the corresponding value for the PET Melinex 401 film; this film shows shrinkage instead of strain in machine direction. These results make clear that the transfer of the Fraunhofer POLO barrier structure from PET Melinex to ETFE is challenging. Permeation through mechanically stressed ZTO-coated ETFE films To understand the influence of thermomechanical stress on the barrier properties of ZTO layers on ETFE films, the oxygen permeabilities of ETFE / ORMOCER / ZTO (thickness 150 nm) were measured before and after winding them through the lacquering machine at 120° C and a tensile stress of 2.5⋅106 Nm2. The ORMOCER primer layer is necessary to obtain high-quality inorganic layers on top of the rough surface of fluoropolymer films [20]. Corresponding trials were performed with two other continued on page 44 u 2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

COATING & LAMINATING t continued from page 43

the influence of the drying temperature and the ZTO thickness on the oxygen and water vapor permeation through ETFE / ORMOCER / ZTO after winding through the lacquering machine was studied in detail. Figure 3 shows that the barrier properties of a 160-nm-thick ZTO layer on ETFE / ORMOCER are lost when this film is stressed at 80° C or 120° C or when an ORMOCER layer is applied and dried at the suggested temperature 120° C.

FIGURE 3. Oxygen permeability and water vapor transmission rate of ETFE / ORMOCER / ZTO with ZTO thicknesses of 50 nm or 160 nm after winding at different temperatures and after ORMOCER application fluoropolymer substrate films: polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE). Figure 2 shows an increase of the oxygen permeability of two orders of magnitude when the fluoropolymer films are wound through the machine. The barrier loss of ZTO layers is explained by the dimensional change of the ETFE film due to thermomechanical stress in the R2R process. When an ORMOCER layer is applied on top of ETFE / ORMOCER / ZTO, lower oxygen permeabilities compared to the pure winding process are obtained due to the synergistic barrier effect between an oxide layer and an ORMOCER on top of it [10]. However, these permeabilities are in the same range of 1 cm3 m2 d1 bar1 as the values before ORMOCER coating. In contrast, the values measured for PET Melinex 401 / ZTO / ORMOCER being a step in the production of the POLO barrier structure are up to two orders of magnitude lower. In the view of the intention to transfer the Fraunhofer POLO barrier structure from PET Melinex to ETFE, the damage of ZTO layers on top of ETFE during ORMOCER application must be avoided. The following possibilities seem to be promising: • Reduction of drying temperature or web tension during ORMOCER application; • Reduction of ZTO thickness to increase crack onset strain [1,18]; • Improvement of the dimensional stability of ETFE films. The only reduction of the web tension to values still resulting in a good winding quality was found to be not sufficient. Therefore,

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In contrast, the loss of the barrier performance in the ORMOCER coating process with a drying temperature of 120° C is avoided when a ZTO layer with a reduced thickness of 50 nm was considered: for ETFE / ORMOCER / ZTO (thickness 50 nm) / ORMOCER, an oxygen permeability of < 0.1 cm3 m2 d1 bar1 (23° C, 50% RH) and a WVTR of 0.06 g m2 d1 (38° C, 90% RH) were measured. After application of an additional 50-nm-thick ZTO layer on top of the structure WVTR values of about 0.002 g m2 d1 (38° C, 90% RH) were measured; these values are in the range of the barrier requirements of flexible photovoltaic modules with intended lifetimes of several years. Promising results also were obtained when PVDF or ECTFE were considered as substrate films. ETFE films with improved dimensional stability The presented results show that the transfer of the POLO barrier structure to ETFE is possible by deposition of thin (50-nm) ZTO layers and by reducing web tension to very low values. Industrial coating processes, however, are carried out with a web speed being up to one order of magnitude higher than in the pilot process at Fraunhofer IVV; in these processes, a significant reduction of web tension may not be possible without economic disadvantage. Therefore, the availability of ETFE films with an improved dimensional stability would be desirable. Stretching of polymeric films at elevated temperatures is a common method to improve their mechanical properties [21]. During these studies, however, an alternative method was considered: Before the deposition of barrier layers, the ETFE film (Nowoflon ET 6235 Z, thickness 100 µm) was adhesivelaminated with its back side to a polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) film (Teonex Q 51, thickness 125 µm), which exhibits a high dimensional stability [13]. Consequently, the resulting laminate should be strained in the lacquering machine significantly less than the single ETFE film. To confirm this assumption, the PEN / ETFE laminate was coated on the ETFE surface with ORMOCER / ZTO (thickness 150 nm). As described earlier, this structure with a similar ZTO thickness of 160 nm on top of a single ETFE film showed a loss of the barrier performance after winding at 120° C. On top of PEN / ETFE, in contrast, the oxygen permeability measured after winding is below 0.4 cm3 m2 d1 bar1 and was, therefore, more continued on page 46 u

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than two orders of magnitude lower than on a single ETFE film. This allows us to conclude that the dimensional stability of ETFE films is significantly improved by lamination with the PEN film. Very low WVTR values between 0.002 g m2 d1 and 0.003 g m2 d1 (23° C, 85% RH) were finally measured for the complete Fraunhofer POLO multilayer barrier structure ORMOCER / ZTO / ORMOCER / ZTO even with 150-nm-thick ZTO layers when the PEN / ETFE laminate was used as a substrate. Conclusions Low dimensional stability of substrate films is a serious drawback for deposition of multilayer structures. The damage of layers can be avoided either by adjusting process parameters or by improving the dimensional stability of the films as they are laminated to more stable films before and separated from them finally. n Acknowledgements The authors thank Eva Heidenreich, Intzi Moufti Chalil, Veronika Prusko, Ulrich Galster, Mira Pfrogner and the members of the Dept. of Materials Development of the Fraunhofer IVV for carrying out the coating trials and material characterizations; Cindy Steiner, John Fahlteich (Fraunhofer FEP), Sabine Amberg-Schwab, Karl Deichmann and Mark Mirza (Fraunhofer ISC) for the supply of inorganically coated films and the ORMOCER® lacquer; and Rainer Brandt, Esra Kücükpinar and Sandra Kiese for fruitful discussion. This work was part of the flex25 project funded by the BMBF within the program Validierung des Innovationspotenzials wissenschaftlicher Forschung – VIP under no. 03V0224. References 1. C.A. Bishop, Vacuum Deposition onto Webs, Films and Foils, Elsevier, 2011 2. N. Grossiord, J.M. Kroon, R. Andriessen, P.W.M. Blom, Organic Electronics 13 (2012), pp 432–456 3. J.S. Lewis, M.S. Weaver, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics 10 (2004) 1, pp 45–57 4. J. Affinito, D. Hilliard, A New Class of Ultra-Barrier Materials, Society of Vacuum Coaters 47th Annual Technical Conference Proceedings, 2004, pp 563–593 5. H.-C. Langowski, Permeation of Gases and Condensable Substances

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

through Monolayer and Multilayer Structures, in: O.G. Piringer, A.L. Baner (eds.), Plastic Packaging - Interactions with Food and Pharmaceuticals, Wiley-VCH, 2008, pp 297–347 6. O. Miesbauer, M. Schmidt, H.-C. Langowski, Vakuum in Forschung und Praxis 20 (2008) 6, pp 32–40 7. G.L. Graff, R.E. Williford, P.E. Burrows, Journal of Applied Physics 96 (2004) 4, pp 1840–1849 8. O. Miesbauer, How lag time of permeation through flexible encapsulation materials is affected by their layer structure, LOPEC, Munich, 05.03.2015 9. J. Fahlteich, S. Amberg-Schwab, U. Weber, K. Noller, O. Miesbauer, C. Boeffel, N. Schiller, SID Symposium Digest of Technical Papers 44 (2013) 1, pp 354–357 10. S. Amberg-Schwab, Inorganic-organic polymers with barrier properties against water vapor, oxygen and migrating monomers, in: S. Sakka, (ed.), Handbook of Sol-Gel Science and Technology - 3. Applications of Sol-Gel Technology, Springer, 2005, pp 455–478 11. P.F. Carcia, R.S. McLean, S. Hegedus, Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells 94 (2010), pp 2375–2378 12. S. Cros, R. de Bettignies, S. Berson, S. Bailly, P. Maisse, N. Lemaitre, S. Guillerez, Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells 95 (2011), pp S65–S69 13. W.A. MacDonald, Flexible Substrates Requirements for Organic Photovoltaics, in: C. Brabec, V. Dyakonov, U. Scherf (eds.), Organic Photovoltaics, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2008, pp 471–489 14. G. Oreski, G.M. Wallner, Solar Energy 79 (2005), pp 612–617 15. J.G. Drobny, Technology of fluoropolymers, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2001 16. Validierung einer Rolle-zur-Rolle-Technologie zur Herstellung einer Verkapselungsfolie für die witterungs- und langzeitstabile Frontverkapselung von Solarzellen (flex25), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research within the programme: Validierung des Innovationspotenzials wissenschaftlicher Forschung – VIP under no. 03V0224 17. G. Guerra, C. De Rosa, M. Iuliano, V. Petraccone, P. Corradini, G. Ajroldi, Die Makromolekulare Chemie 194 (1993) 2, pp 389–396 18. J. Fahlteich, S. Günther, S. Straach, N. Schiller, NiederdruckPlasmatechnologien zur Rolle-zu-Rolle-Beschichtung von Kunststoffolien mit Barriereschichten, 20. Neues Dresdner Vakuumtechnisches Kolloquium - Beschichtung, Modifizierung und Charakterisierung von Polymeroberflächen, Dresden, 26.10.2012 19. Dyneon Fluoroplastics – Product Comparison Guide, Dyneon, 2003 20. O. Miesbauer, S. Kiese, V. Prusko, I. Moufti Chalil, E. Heidenreich, C. Steiner, J. Fahlteich, K. Noller, Studies of the Dimensional Stability

of Polymeric Films during Coating Processes, AIMCAL Web Coating & Handling Conference 2014 - Europe, Cascais, 08.-11.06.2014 21. G.L. Robertson, Food packaging: principles and practice, CRC Press, 2006

Oliver Miesbauer studied Physics (Technical Physics) at the Technische Universität München [Germany] (Diploma in 2002) and Mathematics at the LMU Munich (Master of Science in 2005). Currently, he is a scientist at the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV. He works on the development of multilayer barrier films and the modeling and theoretical characterization of related phenomena, especially permeation, using analytical and numerical methods. Miesbauer participated in several EU and national funded projects related to organic electronics and vacuum insulation. He can be reached at +49-8161-491-522, oliver.miesbauer@ivv.fraunhofer.de, www.ivv.fraunhofer.de/.

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COATING & LAMINATING

Surface modification of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and oxide-coated PET for adhesion improvement By Juliane Fichtner, Tobias Beck and Steffen Günther; Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology (FEP), Germany Editor’s Note: This paper is based on a presentation at the AIMCAL Web Coating & Handling Conference Europe, held in May-June 2016 in Dresden, Germany. More info: www.aimcal.org Abstract Polymer webs are increasingly being FIGURE 1. Scheme of potentially high permeation barrier multilayer systems coated with organic and oxide layers to The purpose of high permeation barrier systems is the prevention expand their range of applications. Those hybrid material of oxygen and water vapor destroying organic electronics. A combinations not only represent a wide field for academic rigid glass could be easily used to protect the organic electronics, research, but also offer the opportunity for developing new but in comparison to the multilayer systems on a polymer web, innovative industrial products, such as high permeation flexibility would disappear. The challenges with multilayer barrier systems for flexible electronics. The lifetime of systems are the low surface energy and adsorbed impurities on diverse material multilayer systems (oxide/organic) is the surface of the polymer web and the oxide layers, which are mainly determined by the adhesion between its layers. In disturbing the adhesion to the following varnish layer [1]. this work, a low-pressure plasma treatment was used, and its impact on wetting behavior and adhesion was tested. Therefore, a sufficient surface modification is necessary to For this purpose, contact angle and pull-off measurements improve the wetting behavior and the adhesion of the layers were performed. For further proof of the suitability for among each other. In this paper, a low-pressure plasma treatment high permeation barrier multilayer systems, UV-VIS and is introduced. A schematic picture of this roll-to-roll (R2R) permeation barrier measurements were accomplished. technique is seen in Figure 2. Introduction ultilayer systems made out of diverse materials have many different fields of application, such as food packaging, decorative products and flexible electronics. We analyzed a PETsubstrate-based layer system made by stacking zinc tin oxide (ZTO) or silicon oxide (SiOx) and acrylic-based varnish layers on top of each other (see Figure 1) as they are a potential multilayer system for high permeation barrier systems.

M 48

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In this process, the required plasma is generated by a planar double magnetron in bipolar mode. The targets were made of graphite and process gases (oxygen, nitrogen and mixtures of both) were used. The varied parameters were the electrical power, the web speed and the process pressure, which led to different activation intensities Xi. The activation intensity is given by the following equation:

Xi = (I1 + I2) times t

modification, which is different for the different substrates, where it gives the lowest contact angle values for SiOx. The decrease of the contact angle at O2-plasma treated SiOx sample in Figure 3b can be explained by enrichment with oxygen. The SiOx films exhibit a hybrid character. The oxygen of the plasma treatment leads to functional groups, such as hydroxy, keto and carbon acid groups, which enlarge the polar character of the SiOx films. Therefore, the interactions to polar fluids, like water, increase. The relation of the varnish adhesion to activation intensity is shown in Figure 4. FIGURE 2. Scheme of R2R low-pressure plasma treatment Thus I1 and I2 are the electrical currents of the magnetrons, and t is the time of the samples in the plasma zone. To prove the influence of the plasma treatment on varnish adhesion, an acrylic-based varnish (ESH-Lack LM 4191 by LottLacke GmbH) was deposited by a wire-bar applicator and cured by a linear electron-beam system. Results and discussion The dependency of the contact angle on the activation intensity for oxygen and nitrogen plasma gas is shown in Figure 3. It shows that for all substrates and both gases the contact angle decreases in comparison to the untreated substrates. The use of nitrogen results in similar contact angles for all substrates (see Figure 3a). The oxygen plasma causes a specific surface

The O2-plasma could not improve the wetting behavior for ZTO layers, which is why there is no graph for ZTO in Figure 4b. The adhesion of the varnish on SiOx layers could not be improved by O2-plasma treatment, even though the contact angle measurements assumed it (see Figure 3b). The reason could be that the oxygen plasma leads to a further oxidation of the SiOx films. This leads to Si-OH groups, which interact well with water by hydrogen bonds but do not affect varnish adhesion. The O2-plasma leads to keto and carboxyl groups at the PET surface, which further can be cracked by the electron beam at the varnish-curing procedure and create a chemical bonding to the varnish. This leads to an increase of the adhesion from 0.7 MPa to 2.7 MPa. The N2-plasma treatment increased the adhesion of the varnish on all three substrates. It enabled the wetting of the ZTO substrate with the acrylic varnish, which was not possible before the continued on page 51 u

FIGURE 3. Dependency between the contact angle and the activation intensities for low-pressure plasma treatment by using a graphite target, a) nitrogen and b) oxygen as process gases 2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

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COATING & LAMINATING t continued from page 49

FIGURE 4. Adhesion of an acrylic-based varnish in dependency of activation intensity for a) N2-plasma and b) O2-plasma treatment. Generally, a slight increase of the adhesion with increasing activation intensity can be seen. The differences between the adhesions from the N2-plasma treated samples could be explained by the different adhesion of the nitrogen-rich heterocycles layer onto the surface. So, the

maximum adhesion of the varnish on PET was 2.3 MPa, on SiOx 1.5 MPa and on ZTO 1.2 MPa. More detailed information about the N2-plasma treatment can be found in the AIMCAL Web Coating & Handling Conference Europe 2016 proceedings [2]. continued on page 52 u

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COATING & LAMINATING t continued from page 51

A low-pressure plasma treatment “with graphite target and a nitrogen/oxygen gas mixture can increase adhesion of an acrylicbased varnish on ZTO.

”

FIGURE 5. Visual transmittance in dependency of the volume fraction of nitrogen

To investigate the suitability of the technique for surface modification within high-barrier multilayer systems, the visual transmittance, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) and oxygen transmission rate (OTR) were investigated. Because of the decreasing visual transmittance of PET and ZTO by pure N2plasma (PET: 87.5% to 75.5%, ZTO: 78.4 to 67.5%), different nitrogen-oxygen gas mixtures were tested (see Figure 5). It illustrates that the visual transmission is nearly constant up to 80 v/v% nitrogen. Only further increase of the nitrogen content leads to a decrease of the visual transmittance. The contact angle measurements show there is a decrease of contact angle with

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FIGURE 6. Contact angle of PET and ZTO in dependency of different N2/O2 gas mixtures at an activation intensity of 185 As to 200 As

FIGURE 7. Adhesion of the varnish layer on ZTO in dependency of the nitrogen-oxygen gas mixture

increasing nitrogen content at the ZTO samples and an increase of the contact angle at the PET sample (see Figure 6).

composition for ZTO is 80 v/v% nitrogen and 20 v/v% oxygen, while PET shows the lowest contact angles for pure oxygen plasma. The dependency of the different gas mixtures on the varnish adhesion on ZTO is shown in Figure 7.

They converge to each other. At high oxygen contents, the carbon could burn to carbon monoxide. Therefore, optimal gas

TABLE 1. Permeation barrier values in dependency of the plasma treatment and electron-beam radiation for 50-nm ZTO films Plasma gas

Xi [As]

WVTR [g/(m2*d)]

OTR [cm3/(m2*d*bar)]

0.067

0.25

172.8

0.069

0.2

184.8

0.076

0.3

It shows a maximum adhesion of 0.8 MPa can be reached with a nitrogen content of 65 v/v% to 70 v/v%. To investigate the impact of the treatments to the permeation barrier properties of the ZTO films, Table 1 summarizes the water vapor transmission rates (WVTR) and oxygen transmission rates (OTR). The WVTR measurements were done at continued on page 54 u

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COATING & LAMINATING t continued from page 53

Acknowledgments Essential results presented in this paper were obtained in a public project, funded by the Free State of Saxony.

38° C and 90% RH and the OTR measurements at 23° C and 0% RH. It can be seen, there is no influence on WVTR and OTR for low-pressure plasma treatment. Conclusions The work presented in this paper has demonstrated that a lowpressure plasma treatment with graphite target and a nitrogenoxygen gas mixture, with 65 v/v% to 70 v/v% nitrogen, can increase the adhesion of an acrylic-based varnish on ZTO to 0.8 MPa. Thereby there is no impact to the permeation barrier (WVTR, OTR) and visual transmittance of the ZTO layer. The optimum treatment for PET is a low-pressure plasma treatment with graphite target and pure oxygen gas. Thereby the adhesion of an acrylic-based varnish could be increased to 2.7 MPa. The varnish adhesion onto SiOx could be increased from 0.5 MPa up to 1.5 MPa by using low-pressure plasma treatment with graphite target and nitrogen process gas.

References 1. W.A. Zisman, Contact Angle, Wettability, and Adhesion 1964, Chapter 1, pp 1–51 2. J. Fichtner, AIMCAL WCHC Europe 2016, www.aimcal.org/2016wchc-europe-files.html

Juliane Fichtner is a researcher at the Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP in Dresden, Germany. She can be reached at +49-3512586-145, juliane.fichtner@fep.fraunhofer.de, www.fep. fraunhofer.de.

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COATING & LAMINATING

Laminating with quality assurance via in-line coating weight measurement system By Wilmer Saavedra, consultant, Flexible Packaging Solutions Corp. Abstract Lamination defects are the most difficult and expensive issues to correct in the production of flexible packaging material. Once the lamination defects are detected, the converting process is almost finished, leaving no option but to dispose of defect material. There is a high correlation between the adhesive, the layers’ lamination and optical issues for optimum lamination quality. Almost all arise from such variables as over-coating, insufficient coating, uneven coating, incorrect mixing ratio and the use of reacted adhesive. Each one of them can result in producing unusable laminated material. This article takes a look at an unusual new technology – the in-line coating weight measurement system (ICWM). This technology may be viewed as the solution to assist all converters to make realtime adjustments instantly for laminating with the accurate coating weight. Introduction fter working in the flexible packaging industry for nearly 30 years, the most frequent questions I asked myself were: “What can I change to not have repeating problems while laminating? What if I take the correct actions and the defect still occurs?” Normally, the answer would have been that operators do not pay attention and conform to the wrong specifications.

While this could be the root of the problem, I believe an instrument to help advise operators when something wrong is happening would greatly increase the success rate of laminations. As with most production processes, certain variables can be measured directly while others cannot. The coating and adhesivelamination process is a good example taking into account the benefits of the new in-line coating weight measurement system (ICWM). Although more specifics will be covered below, the ICWM has three major functions: measure the coating weight, check the mix ratio indirectly and observe the adhesive fresh level indirectly. All these aspects have the potential to cause delamination. The ICWM (see Figure 1) is more than a “coating weight meter.” The operator needs to check the mixer or dispose of the reacted adhesive when he or she notices low readings from the ICWM. ICWM lets the operator know when there is a problem in production and to take necessary action. The operator will have to find out what exactly is causing the problem themselves based on the low measurements from the ICWM. Chemical principle The thickness coating meter works well with solventless and solvent-based adhesives as long as they contain the isocyanate continued on page 56 u

FIGURE 1. In-line coating weight measurement system installed on coater/laminator (left); components of sensor head, relay unit and data processor (right) 2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

COATING & LAMINATING t continued from page 55

FIGURE 2. Influence of NCO group on the coating weight

FIGURE 3. Infrared spectra for water and polyethylene functional group (-N=C=O). Physical properties can be determined based off the molecule’s vibrational-spectroscopy measurements using infrared light. It is a noninvasive way to provide information about the molecular composition and structure (see Figure 2). When infrared light is irradiated toward a sample, the infrared absorption phenomena for a specific wavelength occurs in accordance with the thickness of the sample. The amount of absorption is determined from the transmitted light or mirrorreflected incident light. The relational expression for the previously obtained absorbance and moisture value then is used to calculate thickness. As the absorbance increases, it means the coating weight value (gsm) is increasing, and the correlation between these two values is given by the calibration of the curve from the equipment. Taking into account that a polyurethane-based adhesive has a chemical reaction between a polyol group (OH) and an isocyanate group (NCO) to create a pre-polymer, any imbalance between the parts will be detected by the ICWM. This sends a message to the operator letting him or her know something is wrong.

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Performance features The original P-polarized incident light technology is used to eliminate errors from surface reflection or internal multireflection. This provides the ideal hardware for an infrared thickness meter. Features of the ICWM include the following: • Applicable for small spaces (in-line): The small sensor head requires no special installation space, allowing it to be positioned in any small space available on the existing production line. • Instant measurement: No pretreatment is required; thickness can be measured immediately without damage or contact. • Applicable in a broad range: Thickness and moisture of various materials can be measured using combinations of filters for up to six wavelengths. • High measurement accuracy: The original P-polarized incident light technology obtains stable measurements, even of film that is several μm or less in thickness. • Reliable long-term stability: The use of three-wavelength photometry ensures long-term accuracy against changes in ambient conditions and equipment. Infrared measuring process Basically, the measuring method used by the ICWM is infrared reflection absorption with a spectroscopic method of a rotating filter where up to six filters can be installed. Process parameters include the following: • First, infrared light is irradiated toward the coated section. • The infrared absorption for each specific wavelength occurs in relation to the thickness of the coated section. The range or deepness of the wave will determine key parameters. • The amount of this absorption is determined from the transmitted light or mirror-reflected incident light. The relational expression for the previously obtained absorbance and moisture value then is used to calculate thickness. • The original P-polarized incident light technology is used to eliminate errors from surface reflection or internal multireflection. As an example, infrared absorption spectra for water (H20) and polyethylene (-CH2-CH2-) are shown in Figure 3. Note that the -OH group is absorbed at 1.9 and 2.9 μm for water, and the -CH group at 2.3 and 3.4 μm for polyethylene.

Benefits of ICWM The in-line coat weight measurement has the following benefits: continued on page 58 u

COATING & LAMINATING t continued from page 56

• Minimizes quality problems in inspecting various factors causing delamination: over-coating, insufficient coating, uneven coating, incorrect mixing ratio and use of reacted adhesive. • Improves production efficiency and shortens confirmation time before production. • Continuously monitors production with in-line measurement. • Reduces costs, material loss and customer returns through detecting quality problems early. • Uses a simple, rapid procedure to measure coating weight compared with traditional weigh-scale methods. • By using an in-line, non-contact system to measure coating weight, operators can perform suitable adjustments without wasting time. • Confirms the mixing ratio and mixing status by checking the measurement values. • Confirms adhesive reaction with quick reactive times to ensure the lamination has been done properly before reaction. • Measures substances separately by infrared light not affected by base film and ink. Conclusion Today, the in-line coating measurement system is a reliable and

affordable reality that can benefit flexible packaging converters. This system will grant them a better understanding of their lamination processes to offer the highest quality laminate to their customers. The ICWM supports production processes such that all responsibilities are not left in the operator’s hands. It is of equal importance to have continuous improvement as you can afford detailed information to support an OEE process. With the technology advancements available and with automation leading most of the productive processes, it is imperative that laminating personnel get the technical knowledge and experience to avoid problems. n Wilmer Saavedra, consultant with Flexible Packaging Solutions Corp. (Miami, FL), holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico (Mayagüez) and an Associate degree in Marketing from Universidad Icesi in Cali, Colombia. He has almost 30 years in the flexible packaging converting industry, and he was the first Colombian juror in the 2014 DuPont Packaging Innovation Awards. Saavedra has a consulting contract with Karlville Development LLC to support lamination efforts and the in-line coating weight measurement system. He can be reached at 786-448-2050, email: wilmersaavedra1@gmail.com, www.karlville.com.

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VACUUM WEB COATING

Using a different range of flexible substrates – fibers, fabrics, nonwovens or foams By Charles A. Bishop, Ph.D., principal, C.A.Bishop Consulting, Ltd. Editor’s Note: This paper is based on a presentation at the AIMCAL Web Coating & Handling Conference Europe, held in May-June 2016 in Dresden, Germany. More info: www.aimcal. org Introduction here is great interest in being able to wear flexible electronics or smart materials that incorporate either some circuitry or device. A starting point was to adhere or laminate onto a flexible material an existing rigid or flexible electronic device. Many simple devices are readily available through craft suppliers [1-3], such as colored lighting. This add-on approach has limitations, including how to fasten them to the fabric and how to power and make connections to them. This approach tends to mean the flexibility is less than ideal. In clothing, lightemitting devices can be integrated into parts of the apparel where stiffness is acceptable, such as collars or belts.

The goal is to be able to make devices directly onto the fibers or fabrics, including devices to power the electronics [4]. Work is being done to produce a continuous fiber that has either a photovoltaic or a supercapacitor coated onto it which, when woven together, enables the fabric to convert light into electricity and to store the power for later use [5,6]. Another hybrid technology uses piezo and photovoltaic coatings [7]. Others are looking to coat the fabric as a whole while maintaining fabric performance. This includes not only the mechanical performance, such as flexibility, drape and tactile sensation, but it also must

have acceptable thermal comfort, which means temperature and moisture regulation in addition to being aesthetically pleasing. This paper will highlight some of the problems and possible solutions for coating these less often-used substrates. Fabrics Fabrics made of fibers allow the fibers to move over each other when the fabric is flexed. This enables the fabric to be flexed and stretched. If the fabric is coated, there can be a tendency for the fibers to be stuck to each other by the coating where the individual fibers touch (see Figure 1). Once the fibers are stuck to each other, they lose some of the flexibility and become stiffer and less elastic. Coating individual fibers would allow them to remain separate, but then the coated fibers would be subject to more abrasion. There also is a difference if the fiber is a monofilament or multifilament. If made of multiple finer fibers, these too will rub against each other, and if the individual fibers are coated, the coating would need to be robust against abrasion damage. Multifilament fibers can aid flexibility, which will be compromised if a coating is added where the coating sticks the individual fibers together. To maintain flexibility of the final textile, it can be useful for fibers to stretch, and this would require a high level of adhesion between coating and fiber.

FIGURE 1. Woven fibers have points of contact that allow movement. Wet coatings will minimize the surface energy by collecting at the contact points. This will limit the movement, but also stop abrasion.

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FIGURE 2. Schematic (left) shows a free-span deposition process using opposing magnetron sputtering sources. Schematic (right) shows a deposition drum wrapped with protective film so coating passing through the fabric will not reach the polished drum. Depending on the use of the fabric, there may be other considerations to take into account. If the fabrics are to be worn, then they would need to withstand washing without degradation of their function.

To provide more hygienic clothing for medical staff, work is being done to use coatings that undergo photocatalytic cleaning, such as using copper- or silver-nanocoated fabrics that spontaneously clean themselves under light [8].

Conducting fabric Basic conducting fabrics have been produced using stainless-steel fine wire as a core and covered with cotton, which is then used in the weave. The stainless-steel fibers are spaced and the sheath can be removed to provide contact points where electronic devices can be soldered [6]. An alternative approach is to spin the yarn, then spiral around the yarn a conducting fine wire or spin the fine wires in with the fibers to make the yarn. Yet another approach is to metallize fabrics with silver or silver plus other layers such as tin, nickel or copper where the whole fabric surface is conducting. In some cases, the fabric was not specifically designed for use as a conducting fabric but was silver-coated as a medical wound-dressing material.

The simplest fabrics using conducting yarns were developed for the military for a number of applications, such as making the fabric capable of electromagnetic interference shielding, inclusion of antennae in fabrics and to provide infrared shielding as part of blast protection fabrics. This development has continued to include sensors and active circuits. An extension of the antenna technology was to build into clothing radio frequency identification devices (RFID) rather than add tags after manufacture is complete.

Different shapes can affect how “the fibers pack together and so also affect how easily they may be opened up to allow plasma or ALD processing.

”

Simple conducting fibers also have been used for decades for reducing the static-charge problems in carpets. The inclusion of carbon conducting fibers in the tufts would enable the dissipation of static charge but could be a problem aesthetically for palecolored carpets as the black of the carbon could detract from the appearance. Fibers coated with a conductive coating or alternatively fibers plasma-modified to give charge the surface resistivity also were used. This use of conducting fibers and fabrics to minimize static problems continues to be an active area. Clothing developments have continued with piezo-resistive sensors for measuring and mapping pressure, bend and stretch including intelligent footwear to monitor balance, gait and fitness. Others have developed capacitive fabrics for touchscreencompatible apparel, such as data gloves that respond to movement, allowing performers to control special effects with gestures and full robotic exoskeletons [4,9]. continued on page 62 u 2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

VACUUM WEB COATING t continued from page 61

Medical applications have used silvercoated fabrics or nonwovens for wound treatment, as well as for surgical drapes. Resistive fabrics that enable radiant heating also are available as blankets to warm patients during surgery. A number of devices have been designed with stretch in mind [10] with the conductive tracks being produced in a serpentine pattern to allow the substrate to stretch with the metal conductor bending but not needing to stretch to the same amount. Some offerings do not use materials that were developed for the use they are being sold for, but the materials have been taken from other industries and applications and put together differently to offer a different use. Many may be FIGURE 3. Schematic of how a fiber bundle may be opened and plasma-treated regarded as trivial, but this cherrypicking of materials enables more rapid development. The silver-coated fabrics used in medical also are offered on hobby Websites as one electrode that may be applications where antimicrobial properties are required [11] combined into clothing to provide some other functionality. Vacuum coating fabrics and fibers As the substrates can vary between single monofilament fibers, bundles of fibers or woven or nonwoven rolls of fabric, there are many possible coating techniques. Materials such as fabrics, foams or nonwoven webs can have the problem that they are not optically opaque, and so if a vacuumdeposition process is used, there can be a problem of depositing some coating onto the deposition drum. The contact of the fabric to the deposition drum tends to be poor, so the removal of heat is limited. To prevent the deposition drum from being coated, it may be wrapped with foil or a polymer film, which will collect any material that passes through the fabric. This protective layer reduces the heat-transfer coefficient as there is an additional interface with another heat-transfer coefficient. With this in mind, it has been suggested that there can be advantages of using free-span deposition processing. If the substrate requires twoside coating, then passing the fabric free-span between facing magnetron cathodes may be possible, provided the heat load on the fabric is acceptable (see Figure 2). Plasma treatment of fabric fibers has been done for many years, such as plasma treatment of wool to modify dye uptake, to increase the hydrophobicity of fibers used in carpeting, or to modify the wetting of fibers used in fiber-reinforced polymers. A key part of the process is to try to separate the individual fibers continued on page 64 u

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to pass out of the stuffer box was delayed. This caused the fiber to bunch up, so when they were then allowed out of the box and cooled, they were no longer straight, but instead randomly crinkled up. In effect, this was the polymerfiber industry trying to copy nature. Wool has a natural waviness known as crimp which can help the twisted fibers hold together. This same type of process may be used to open out fibers to make treating or coating uniformly easier. ALD, too, can operate at near or even above atmospheric pressure. ALD that has been found to have benefits FIGURE 4. Schematic of ALD system using multiple passes of the fiber spiralling along a pair for depositing barrier of rollers to build up coating thickness coatings also has benefits when depositing onto this such that the whole surface of each can be treated. This can be range of substrates. The nature of ALD is that the whole surface aided by strategic use of gas introduction nozzles. is coated monolayer by monolayer. It does not matter that there are curved surfaces and several overlaying fibers. The pressure of the treatment is often increased so that the mean free path is reduced such that the plasma can engulf the Using a winding system where the fiber passes between the fiber or fabric as shown in Figure 3. As the atmospheric plasma different zones, it is possible to pass the fiber from an unwind technology has been improved over recent years and the option and then multiple times over two rollers before removing to a for atmospheric plasma deposition has been developed, this is rewind and so build up the coating thickness in a compact system giving new opportunities for modifying fibers and fabrics. (see Figure 4). Particularly if the fabric is wound through the process free-span, then the deposition occurs from both sides Where polymer fibers are used, the shape of the fiber may be simultaneously and thus maximize coating uniformity through modified by having something other than a circular hole in the the fiber. spinneret that the polymer is extruded through. In carpeting, some fibers used were trilobal, and this shape gave a different optical If a fabric is to be coated, this would require a bigger version scattering and packing, allowing dirt to fall through the pile to of the same system shown schematically in Figure 4. As ALD cavities at the base of the pile and thus modifying the carpet’s aesthetics. Teijin has a variety of different monofilament fibers available from hollow, square shaped to fibers having eight fins and hollow. These different shapes can affect how the fibers pack together and so also affect how easily they may be opened up to allow plasma or atomic layer deposition (ALD) processing.

If the fabric is wound through “the process free-span, then the

In polymer-fiber manufacturing, one processing option was to use a stuffer box to change the fiber. The multiple fibers from the extrusion spinneret passed into a stuffer box that was heated so that the fibers softened. The rate at which they were allowed

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deposition occurs from both sides simultaneously.

”

coatings can be continuous at thinner layers, they also are more flexible, and so if the adhesion can be maximized, the coated fibers or fabrics should offer a maximum flexibility without loss of functionality. n References 1. www.lessemf.com 2. www.shieldextrading.net 3. www.lurex.com 4. Matteo Stoppa & Alessandro Chiolerio. “Wearable Electronics and Smart Textiles: A Critical Review,” Sensors 2014, 14, 11957-11992; doi:10.3390/s140711957 5. David Harrison, et al. “A coaxial single-fiber supercapacitor for energy storage,” Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013,15, 12215-12219 6. NMP.2011.4.0-3: Advanced textiles for the energy and environmental protection markets. EU FP7 Project Coordinator: Ian Jones, TWI Ltd, UK www.powerweave.eu 7. D. Vatansever, et al. “Hybrid Photovoltaic-Piezoelectric Flexible Device for Energy Harvesting from Nature,” Adv. Sci. Technol. 2013, 77, 297-301 8. www.rmit.edu.au 9. Martin Weigel, et al. “iSkin: Flexible, stretchable and visually customizable on-body touch sensors for mobile computing,” CHI 2015, April 18-23 2015, Seoul, Republic of Korea http://dx.doi. org/10.1145/2702123.2702391

10. Renxiao Xu, et al. “Fabric-based stretchable electronics with mechanically optimized designs and prestrained composite substrates,” Extreme Mechanics Letters 1 (2014) 120–126 11. Laura Rio, et al. “Comparison of Methods for Evaluation of the Bactericidal Activity of Copper-Sputtered Surfaces against MethicillinResistant Staphylococcus aureus,” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol. 78, No. 23, Dec 2012, pp 8176–8182

Dr. Charles A. Bishop holds a Bachelor’s degree in Materials Engineering with a Diploma in Industrial Studies. His research led to developing a process for manufacturing titanium-based bone implants for tendon location. He went on to obtain a Master’s degree and Ph.D. following further research into vacuum-deposition processes. Bishop has 35+ years of experience in vacuum deposition, mainly onto flexible webs. He has published two books and writes the “Vacuum Verbiage”Q&A technical column and Blog for this publication. Bishop can be reached at +44-1509-502076, email: cabuk8@btinternet.com.

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INSPECTION & GAUGING

Novel approaches to high-barrier WVTR measurement and data evaluation By Dr. Matthias Reinelt, Sandra Kiese and Esra Kücükpinar, Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV, Germany Editor’s Note: This paper is based on a presentation at the AIMCAL Web Coating & Handling Conference Europe, held in May-June 2016 in Dresden, Germany. More info: www.aimcal. org Abstract A methodology for accelerated, simulation-assisted measurement of water vapor transmission rates (WVTR) is presented. It consists of a well-controlled carrier gas measurement setup with an additional trap system prior to the detector to further decrease the measurement limit (accumulating system, limit of 1∙10-5 g∙m-2∙d-1). Dry conditioning and humidification phases during the measurement are not necessarily performed until steady state (as usually done). Instead, forward simulations allow for much shorter characterization times by evaluation of the shape of the measurement curve on varying boundary conditions (dry/humid/dry/etc.). Layer-resolved material constants, such as effective diffusivities and solubilities, are obtained by fitting the modeled to the measured WVTR curve.

time it takes for water vapor to fully penetrate the material and reach steady-state conditions. Because of these properties, characterization and measurement of WVTR can take a very long time and require highly sensitive detector systems. This impedes efficient quality control, testing and further development of those materials, because currently the technological high-end encapsulation films show steadystate WVTR <0.01 mg∙m-2∙d-1 (23° C/85% RH), which is close to or below the detection limit of most available measurement systems [3]. The conditioning times before and during a complete measurement of the steady-state WVTR also can add up to several weeks or months due to the long breakthrough time of these materials. Therefore, it is essential that the further development of high-barrier materials is accompanied by significant progress in measurement and characterization methods. We propose an approach to increase the efficiency of the most commonly used carrier gas systems and reduce the measurement time by simulation-assisted data evaluation. Measurement procedure A detailed description of the newly developed measurement device (ACP, accumulating permeation system, schematic view shown in Figure 1) was published in [4]. Setup and first results were additionally published in [5,6].

Introduction ne purpose of high-barrier films is the protection of the very sensitive active layers and electrodes of organo-electronic devices Sample Climatic chamber 21-80°C (organic LEDs, organic photovoltaics). Dry N2 Upstream flow These functional parts corrode or delaminate quickly when exposed to Regulated oxygen or water vapor, which enter the humidification max. 15-90% RH device from the atmosphere by diffusion. 30 Cells Therefore, either rigid glass or flexible Dry He polymeric barrier films are commonly used for encapsulation, which are, in Automated Downstream flow the latter case, typically PET or PEN rotary valve substrates with alternating inorganic/ organic layers [1,2]. Those multilayer films have a low stationary water vapor Trap system Detector transmission rate (WVTR < 1 mg∙m-2∙d-1, 23° C/85% RH) and also can show a FIGURE 1. Schematic of the ACP measurement system developed at Fraunhofer significant breakthrough time, i.e.: the IVV as described in [4,5].

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Sample conditioning by dry N2 at zero humidity is performed before the measurement of WVTR of the sample. If this conditioning phase is allowed to last to sufficiently approach the steady state (completely dried sample), then the detected water amount during this period can be used to characterize the individual cell leak rate. Data acquisition during conditioning, humidification phase and especially in the transition between different upstream boundary conditions is of great importance, as the measurement during these phases is significantly influenced by the history of the sample and contains much information about the time constants of the different processes involved in water permeation, i.e.: the diffusivities in the sample. Data interpretation Black points in Figure 2 show an example of a typical measurement curve with the ACP of FIGURE 2. Example of a measured WVTR curve (black dots, slightly a high-barrier film of the Fraunhofer POLO® smoothed) and interpretative FEM simulations (red curve), as well as alliance. After a conditioning phase with dry the extrapolation of the steady-state WVTR. Sample was a high-barrier multilayer film of Fraunhofer POLO® alliance. Measurement conditions were upstream gas (up to 22 days), the increased humidity of 36% RH leads to an increasing 38° C and varying upstream RH conditions. permeation flux. Accordingly, when the humidification is turned off again after 30 days, the measured permeation flux at the downstream side decreases Measurement of WVTR is performed on samples of 155slowly and would finally converge to the dry background signal. mm diameter. A maximum of 30 samples can be measured simultaneously in a climatic chamber (21°-80° C). The The measured data points clearly show that steady-state upstream-sides of the cells are N2 flushed with PID-controlled conditions have not been reached – neither for drying phases humidification (15% RH-90% RH). On the downstream side, a nor for the humidification phase. With a theoretical model and dried He stream transports the permeated water vapor toward a detection system or just out of the system. Successive connection a suitable solution method (such as finite elements), it might not be always necessary to wait for steady-state conditions. of each cell to the detection system is achieved via an automated Conventionally, a large portion of the measurement curve is rotary valve. The permeated water vapor is first collected for disregarded for interpretation as only the steady-state values are a period of 10 mins, i.e.: 10 mins of accumulation time, in a used (WVTR = signal at humidified steady-state conditions – dry zeolite-based trap system with 100% efficiency. Next, the trap is background signal at steady state). Applying a theoretical model separated from the system and connected to the detector, during based on an extension of the diffusion equation [7], the whole which the water vapor is desorbed from the trap by heating and measurement curve can be used to get information about the transported toward the detector via dry He stream. sample [1]. Especially the shape of the curve is very sensitive to all involved material constants (diffusivities and solubilities) and Desorption time is much shorter than accumulation time; material thicknesses, especially for complex multilayered / multitherefore, a higher water concentration in the carrier gas material films. This has been shown to be efficient in several is measured compared to a gas stream directly fed into a contexts [8]. detector. By a calibration procedure and from the ratio between accumulation and desorption time, the actual WVTR is As a base for the simulation, the geometry – i.e.: material determined. This allows for a better signal-to-noise ratio and less thicknesses and layer sequence – is given. This information is influence of detector sensitivity. The resulting lower sampling usually known or can be obtained with minimal effort. Each rate of approximately 2 measurement points per day and the celllayer of a stack has a distinct solubility and diffusivity associated design is sufficient for most barrier materials. The measurement with the material of the layer, determining in combination the limit is approximately 1∙10-5 g∙m-2∙d-1, which can be increased WVTR of the whole film. Parameters for well-known materials further by longer accumulation time at the cost of a lower (such as PET) can be given as initial constraints to the simulation, sampling rate. continued on page 69 u 2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

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t continued from page 67

reducing the number of free variables. Less known parameters, such as effective diffusivities and solubilities of inorganic barrier materials (e.g.: silicone oxides or aluminum), are changed until the whole measurement curve is well reproduced by the simulation (red curve in Figure 2). That way, (effective) material parameters for complex structures can be obtained and used for further developments and production improvements. An important point for this strategy is that the shape of the curve is very sensitive to different changes of the boundary conditions and also the time scales on which those changes take place, i.e.: how the measured WVTR changes on varying humidity conditions. This can be used to get maximum information about the sample with a minimum of measurement time. In short, information about the WVTR is not extracted from the steady-state conditions, but from the way these conditions are approached. However, a good signal-to-noise ratio is essential for how precisely the values of the unknown material constants can be determined.

By a calibration procedure “and from the ratio between accumulation and desorption time, the actual WVTR is determined.

”

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With an appropriately conditioned model, the steady-state WVTR for the sample can be calculated (green curve in Figure 2). It can be shown that the effective solubility of the inorganic barrier layers is related to the defect density and, therefore, the production quality of the film [5]. Validation of WVTR measurement The measurements with the ACP device were validated with PCTFE films of varying thickness, PET PET/SiOx of varying thickness and two other high-barrier film structures. The results were compared to commercially available coulometric measurement systems (MOCON and BRUGGER). The results are in good agreement (both steady-state values and accelerated, simulation-assisted measurements). Conclusion Measurement of WVTR of high-barrier films toward the ultra-barrier range around WVTR of 10-6 g∙m-2∙d-1 can be experimentally very demanding and time-consuming. It is therefore essential to perform well-defined experiments and extract the maximum amount of information from the

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Accelerated, simulation“assisted measurement strategies can significantly shorten characterization and development cycles.

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experimental data. Accelerated, simulation-assisted measurement strategies can significantly shorten characterization and development cycles while in parallel, resulting not only in steady-state WVTR for the whole sample, but also layer-resolved physical material constants (effective diffusivity and solubility). n Acknowledgements The authors would like to acknowledge Hans Ewender for his support during the design and construction of this measurement device (ACP, accumulating permeation system). References 1. H.-C. Langowski, in O.G. Piringer, A.L. Baner, Plastic Packaging,

Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 2008, pp 297-347. 2. J.S. Lewis, M.S. Weaver, IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron, 2004, 10(1). 3. G. Nisato, et al., Organic Electronics 15 (2014), pp 3746-3755. 4. E. Kücükpinar in H. Simmler, et al., Annex 39 of IEA/ECBCSImplementing Agreement, 2005. 5. S. Kiese, et al., A novel approach for an accurate and rapid determination of water vapor transmission through ultra-high barrier films, in preparation, 2016. 6. S. Kiese, et al., Verpackungs-Rundschau - Technisch wissenschaftliche Beilage, P. Keppler Verlag GmbH & Co KG Heusenstamm, 06/2016. 7. O. Miesbauer, et al., Time dependent permeation of water vapor through multilayer barrier films used for the encapsulation of organic photovoltaic modules, LOPEC 2014, Munich, 26 May 2014. 8. M. Al-Ismailya, et al., Journal of Membrane Science 423–424 (2012), pp 165-174.

Dr. Matthias Reinelt is a physicist at the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging (IVV) in Freising, Germany. He specializes in theoretical modeling, simulations and method developments. His fields of work include shelf-life predictions of food and technical products and functional knowledge-based packaging design. Reinelt can be reached at +49-8161-491-541, matthias.reinelt@ivv.fraunhofer.de, www.ivv.fraunhofer.de/.

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ISCST

INSIGHTS

High technology coating: putting coating science into perspective By E.J. (Ted) Lightfoot, Ph.D., principal investigator, DuPont Abstract This series of articles has highlighted ways in which advanced scientific tools can bring practical value to the coating industry. This article provides perspective on how various approaches – scientific and technological – compare and complement each other. The mainstays of industry – statistical methods, hardware improvements (process retrofits and control upgrades), pilot studies and heuristics – are compared to the mainstays of the scientific approach – finite element models, asymptotic models, studies of dynamic wetting, flow visualization, characterization of the liquid coating and advanced analytical techniques for four prototypical problems: scale up of new products, increasing line speed, reducing defects and optimizing product properties.

Introduction ver the past two years, a series of vignettes on coating science have appeared in Converting Quarterly as ISCST Insights. These articles have highlighted the use of scientific tools to understand the coating and drying process. Of course, there are sophisticated technological tools used in industry as well. This article compares the most common tools used for process improvement in the coating industry, with particular attention to four common problems: scaling up a new product, increasing line speed, reducing defects and optimizing product properties.

Tools for process improvement The most common tools for process development and improvement in the coating industry are as follows: • “Heuristics” are practical, approximately correct, reasoning. Some are empirical (e.g., keep the ratio in reverse gravure greater than 1:1 to avoid gravure pattern); others come from asymptotic analysis (e.g., the time required for the falling rate goes as thickness squared). Some come from correlation of plant data or finite element results. Yet others are judgment-based. Heuristics are neither universally applicable nor particularly precise, but they often are useful. • Statistical methods (e.g., designed experiments and analysis of historical data) • Hardware improvements generally fall into one of two categories: 1. Process retrofits (e.g., adding a preheat section or changing coating technique) 2. Measurement and control upgrades (e.g., active LEL

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• •

•

• • • •

control, automatic coating weight control or on-line defect detection) Pilot studies (e.g. mapping the drying curve/drying window or coating window) Asymptotic predictions for coating weight and drying rate (e.g. the metered film thickness in reverse roll coating is approximately 0.63*gap*(1-VM/VA)). Like all heuristics, asymptotic results are approximate and only apply in some cases. For example, the result for reverse-roll coating is accurate to about 10% and only for low-speed ratios (the thickness increases for higher speed ratios). Finite element results can be divided into two categories: 1. Results from “canned” packages (e.g., TopCoat for coating or drying) 2. Custom modeling generally supported by universities, research consortia or internal resources at large coating companies [1] Studies of dynamic wetting and surface tension Flow visualization studies to track the onset of air entrainment and recirculation zones Rheological characterization to determine how the flow characteristics of a coating vary with shear rate and look for shear-induced colloidal instabilities Advanced analytical techniques for testing coatings cover a host of techniques ranging from profilometry to tribology; chemical analysis to electrical properties. Even an “old” field like microscopy now includes 3D optical microscopy, scanning electron, tunneling electron (with and without energy dispersive X-ray analysis to identify the composition of features in the coating) and atomic force microcopy.

Some of these tools are scientific, while others are technological. But, technology and science overlap more than many realize. For example, most companies rely on their vendors for support, and vendors often rely on engineering science as shown in Figure 1. The interplay between science and technology is illustrated using four common examples. Example 1: Scale-up of a new product Common practice is to rely on pilot or semi-works coaters to guide the scale-up from benchtop to production. The reliability of pilot studies depends on how well the pilot coater represents the plant [2] and varies between coating and drying. Drying can be predicted to engineering accuracy if the dryer configurations are equivalent because drying scales with

investment in time or money and may pay for themselves in planning a single test (see Figure 2). Furthermore, not all products or processes are simple: simultaneous multilayered coating is the single greatest technological advance in the history of coating (offering lower fixed costs, higher yields and greater design flexibility for many advanced materials applications). However, multilayer coatings require large and costly experimental programs to be scaled up with attractive yields. Although modeling the stability of multilayered coating requires custom software, the cost of this should be considered in the context of a realistic appraisal of the cost of a purely experimental approach. Example 2: Increasing line speed Commercially successful products usually are produced at an intersection of constraints. Production may be considered coating- or drying-limited; however, hidden dependencies often belie this simple description. Increasing or decreasing the solvent level in the coating can alleviate the apparent limit – only to bump up against other constraints, such as emissions limits, safety constraints, coating quality or fitness-for-use requirements.

FIGURE 1. The use of k-e turbulence models for designing an impingement nozzle (Courtesy of B&W-MEGTEC). Note the date: some vendors have been using engineering science for decades.

residence time and heat and mass transfer coefficients. However, subtle differences between lab and plant can complicate the scaleup. Coating is more difficult to pilot since coating performance varies with speed (and dryer length). Shear rate affects the fluid dynamics and coating stability, while dynamic wetting limits are only apparent at high speed. Flow visualization [3] and modeling informed by rheology studies provide the most robust guides to coating performance, while rheological characterization is the best way to anticipate shear-induced coagulation of the coating. However, industry mostly relies on history, heuristics and plantscale experimentation. Full-scale experimentation is required if for no other reason than only full-speed, plant-scale coatings can be used to determine fitness for use of the product [4]. Few companies will undertake a significant capital upgrade or modeling program to facilitate a simple product scaleup. However, canned programs do not require a significant

the experiments must be run “atAsmaximum speed, the cost of any unacceptable product also is at a maximum.

”

The common strategy for increasing line speed is to seek ways of changing the constraints or the interplay of the constraints. One approach is to upgrade the process: add drying or pollution-abatement capacity, change the coating head design, etc. However, capital upgrades are expensive, require careful planning, have long lead times and may require significant downtime to implement. Control upgrades also require careful planning but often cost less, have shorter lead time and require less downtime to implement than process upgrades. Control upgrades generally bring a variable production rate up to the highest demonstrated level (although adding LEL monitoring to a line operating under a design limit for LEL can double the allowable solvent level limit). Modifications to the formulation or processing conditions usually offer faster relief than hardware changes and are most often guided by statistically designed experiments on plant coaters, pilot studies or heuristic methods. However, some conditions may produce unacceptable product or exceed the LEL limit. This can compromise the statistical design of the plan. As the experiments must be run at maximum speed, the cost of any unacceptable product also is at a maximum. continued on page 74 u 2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

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FIGURE 2. Simulation of reverse-roll metering nip using TopCoat (Courtesy of Rheologic, Ltd). Note that the canned package models flow in the metering nip and cannot differentiate different feed configurations; however, it can prescreen coating trials so that the plant test can be expected to start making a smooth coating (in this case the coating would produce “cascade” or “seashore”). There are several ways to minimize the risk and cost of plant experiments. First, the ultimate limit on coating speed is dynamic wetting failure. Laboratory and scientific tests are useful for generating basic data on technological ways to improve dynamic wetting, such as improved formulations, substrate improvements [5], electrostatic assist [6], etc. It is always advisable to check the rheology: shear rates in high-speed coating can reach 100,000 sec-1 (five orders of magnitude higher than a Brookfield viscometer) [7] and cause colloidal instabilities [8]. However, finite element modeling is the most powerful tool for planning a capacity increase [9]. Canned programs produce simulations of both coating and drying that can be used as surrogates for experiments to ensure successful plant tests; with custom codes, the formulation and process parameters can be optimized numerically. Anecdotal reports of 50-100% increases in line speed through finite element optimizations are common (but not guaranteed). Example 3: Defect reduction The coating and drying process is capable of producing thousands of different defects. Most of these are forms of contamination (which often can be identified with advanced analytical techniques). The coating window is defined as the region in the operating space that is free from predictable defects. While finite element simulations can predict coating and drying windows,

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the majority of defectreduction programs are aimed at intermittent and random defects. Intermittent coating defects often come from flow features like recirculating flows that are predictable with finite elements and are detectable with flow visualization and eliminated with careful hardware design. Mathematical modeling – both asymptotic analysis and finite elements – can be a very powerful way to understand the physics of random defects caused by particles in a coating as well [10,11]. Statistical methods are imperative but are far more powerful with automatic defect detection.

Example 4: Product optimization Product optimization remains tied to empirical methods if for no other reason that it is impossible to predict all of the fitnessin-use properties mathematically. However, many advanced analytical methods can be correlated to end-use properties providing more rapid – and often more precise – evaluations than customer feedback. In some cases, computer models are capable of predicting end-use properties and allow for a far more efficient optimization than purely empirical means [12]. The biggest single use of computer optimization for product performance is in optimizing drying conditions to generate a desired microstructure. Conclusions The coating industry is and will remain an empirical industry. However, there are a number of high-technology tools – some technological, some scientific – that have established themselves as cost-effective ways to augment traditional empirical and heuristic approaches in solving the most common problems encountered in industry. n References 1. P.R. Schunk, K. Tjiptowidjojo, Coating Science through Modeling and Simulation, Converting Quarterly 2015 Q3, pp 80-84 2. M.W. Johnstone and R.E. Thring, Pilot Plants, Models and Scale-up Methods in Chemical Engineering, McGraw Hill: 1957

Anecdotal reports of 50-100% “increases in line speed through finite element optimizations are common (but not guaranteed).

”

3. Wieslaw J. Suszynski, Coating flow visualization: what can be seen and why it matters,” Converting Quarterly 2015 4Q, pp 68-72 4. Tim Oberle, Processing Techniques for Engineering High Performance Materials, CRC Press (2013) 5. Andrew M. Clarke, Christopher L. Bower, Kim E. Goppert, Method of creating and coating a material, US Patent 6,780,455 B2 (2004) 6. Mark C. Zaretsky, Coating method using electrostatic assist, US Patent 6,242,051 B1 (2001) 7. Peter M. Schweizer, Viscosity vs. Rheology, Converting Quarterly 2016 Q3, 88-89 8. Ronald G. Larson, The Structure and Rheology of Complex Fluids, Oxford University Press (1999) 9. Philip W. Schafer and Wilhelm Schabel, Drying of polymeric coatings: Model based design of technical thin-film dryers and

experimental validation, Converting Quarterly 2015 Q2, pp 76-79 10. K.N. Christodoulou, E.J. Lightfoot, R.W. Powell, AICHE Journal 44(7) 1484-1498 (1998) 11. Brian G. Higgins, Coating defects during the consolidation of colloidal films during drying, Converting Quarterly 2015 Q4 2015, pp 68-72 12. Leonard W. Schwartz, Numerical modeling of coating flow on porous substrates, Converting Quarterly 2015 Q2, pp 82-85

E.J. (Ted) Lightfoot, Ph.D., holds a B.S.E. from Princeton University and an M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He was an Industrial Fellow at the University of Minnesota Center for Interfacial Engineering. Lightfoot is a founding director and former president of the International Society for Coating Science and Technology. He currently chairs the Scientific Advisory Committee of the ISCST. Lightfoot has been employed in various roles relating to the coating, drying, laminating and extrusion industry by E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. for over 30 years. He is currently assigned as a principal investigator in DuPont’s Photovoltaic and Advanced Materials business. Lightfoot can be reached at 716-879-1711, fax: 716-879-4568, e.j.lightfoot@dupont.com.

Corona, Atmospheric Plasma & Flame

Innovative ative ve People. Ensuring ing Your Surface Treating Success. 262.255.6070 070 / www.enerconind.com/treating 2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

2017

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Annual Buyers Guide Contents

Products/Services Offered Index.......................................78 Products/Services Offered.................................................79 Converter Services..........................................................79 Equipment & Accessories Suppliers................................81 Materials Suppliers..........................................................92 Manufacturers Directory.....................................................99

2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

PRODUCTS/SERVICES OFFERED INDEX A

ACCUMULATORS.................................. 81 ADHESIVES............................................92 AIR POLLUTION CONTROL................... 82 ALIGNMENT SERVICES........................ 82

BAG MAKING MACHINERY................... 82 BALERS..................................................82 BARCODE VERIFICATION..................... 82 BARCODING EQUIPMENT.................... 82 BOX MAKING MACHINERY................... 82 BRAKES..................................................82 BRUSHING..............................................79

GRINDERS/SHARPENERS.................... 86

HEAT-TRANSFER FLUIDS..................... 97 HEATER LAMPS..................................... 86 HOT STAMPING EQUIPMENT............... 86

INKS........................................................97 INSPECTION SYSTEMS........................ 86

KNIFE POSITIONING SYSTEMS........... 86 KNIVES...................................................86

CALENDERING......................................82 CHUCKS.................................................82 CLEANING..............................................82 CLUTCHES.............................................82 COATING MACHINERY.......................... 82 COATINGS..............................................93 CONSULTANTS...................................... 79 CONTRACT CONVERTING.................... 79 CONTROLS.............................................83 CORE CUTTING EQUIPMENT............... 84 CORE PLUGS.........................................84 CORES & TUBES................................... 84 CURING EQUIPMENT............................ 84 CUTTERS................................................84 CYLINDERS............................................84

MANDRELS............................................86 MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT..... 87 MEASURE EQUIPMENT........................ 87 METALLIZING COMPONENTS.............. 87 METERING RODS (MAYER RODS)....... 87 MIXING EQUIPMENT............................. 87 MOTORS.................................................87

DEPOSITION MATERIALS..................... 95 DIECUTTING MACHINERY.................... 84 DIE MAKING MACHINERY..................... 84 DIES (COATING & FILM)........................ 84 DIES (FINISHING)................................... 85 DOCTOR BLADES.................................. 85 DRIVES...................................................85 DRYERS.................................................85

LABEL STOCKS.....................................97 LABORATORY SERVICES..................... 80 LAMINATING SYSTEMS........................ 86 LOAD CELLS..........................................86

NONWOVEN SUBSTRATES.................. 97

ONLINE PUBLICATION.......................... 80

E-BEAM EQUIPMENT/ ACCESSORIES....................................85 EMBOSSING MACHINERY.................... 85 EMULSIONS...........................................95 EXTRUDING MACHINERY..................... 85

PACKAGING MACHINERY..................... 87 PAPER....................................................97 PAPERBOARD.......................................98 PERFORATING EQUIPMENT................ 88 PERMEABILITY TESTERS..................... 88 PILOT SERVICES................................... 80 PRINTING PLATES................................ 88 PRINTING PRESSES............................. 88 PUMPS....................................................88

FESTOONING MACHINERY.................. 85 FILMS......................................................95 FILTERS..................................................85 FINISHING EQUIPMENT/ PRODUCTS..........................................85 FOILS......................................................97 FOLDING/GLUING MACHINERY.......... 85

RECYCLING EQUIPMENT..................... 88 RECYCLING...........................................98 REGISTRATION SYSTEMS................... 88 RESINS...................................................98 REWIND EQUIPMENT............................ 88 ROLL HANDLING SYSTEMS................. 88 ROLL OVERWRAPPERS....................... 88 ROLL PACKAGING................................. 88 ROLLS/ROLLERS................................... 88

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

SCANNING EQUIPMENT....................... 89 SCRIM/PLASTIC NETTING/MESH......... 98 SEALING MACHINERY.......................... 89 SHAFTS..................................................89 SHEETERS.............................................89 SLEEVES................................................89 SLITTERS (LOG TYPE).......................... 90 SLITTERS/REWINDERS........................ 90 SOFTWARE (PROCESS & ANALYTIC)...........................................90 SOLVENTS.............................................98 SPLICING EQUIPMENT......................... 90 STACKERS.............................................90 STATIC-CONTROL EQUIPMENT........... 90 STATIC-MONITORING EQUIPMENT..... 90 SUPPORTS (ROLL END)....................... 90 SURFACE-TREATMENT SYSTEMS...... 91

TENSION CONTROLS/SENSORS......... 91 TEXTILES MATERIAL SUPPLIERS....... 98 TRADE PRESS....................................... 81 TRADE SHOW/EXHIBITION................... 81 TRAINING/EDUCATION......................... 81 TRIM/SCRAP REMOVAL........................ 91 TRIMMERS.............................................91

UNIVERSITIES....................................... 81 UNWINDING EQUIPMENT..................... 91 UV SYSTEMS......................................... 91

VACUUM COATING MACHINERY......... 91 VACUUM EQUIPMENT COMPONENTS..................................... 91 VIDEO INSPECTION SYSTEMS............ 91

WEB CLEANING EQUIPMENT............... 91 WEB COOLING....................................... 92 WEB GUIDES.......................................... 92 WEB TENSION MEASUREMENT.......... 92 WINDING EQUIPMENT.......................... 92

CONVERTER SERVICES Converter Services BRUSHING Transilwrap Company, Inc.

CONSULTANTS Management

Converting Quarterly D&K Group Madico, Inc. Packages Limited Specialty Papers & Films, Inc.

R&D

Abo Akademi University Amsterdam Metallized Products B.V. Brueckner Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG C.A.Bishop Consulting Ltd Cham Paper Group Coating Tech Slot Dies Converting Quarterly D&K Group Delta ModTech FLEXcon Fraunhofer IVV Jessup Manufacturing Company Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology - Chemical Materials Solutions Center Madico, Inc. Met-Lux Microseal Industries Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. MIRWEC Film, Inc./ Yasui Seiki USA MOCON, Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd Optimation Technology, Inc. Parkinson Technologies Precision Die Systems Corporation Protect-all, Inc. Rayven Inc. Siemens Industry, Inc. Specialty Papers & Films, Inc. Unifoil Corp. University of Oxford, Department of Materials XDS Holdings, Inc.

Technical

3 Sigma Corporation Abo Akademi University Angstrom Sciences Inc. AWA Alexander Watson Associates Brueckner Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG C.A.Bishop Consulting Ltd Cham Paper Group Coating Tech Slot Dies Converting Quarterly D&K Group Delta ModTech Filmquest Group Inc. First Technology Innovation, Inc Fraunhofer IVV Hanita Coatings Jindal Films (was ExxonMobil Chemical) KlassENgineering Inc.

Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology - Chemical Materials Solutions Center Madico, Inc. Microseal Industries Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. MIRWEC Film, Inc./ Yasui Seiki USA MTi & Polyexe Corporation / An Inteplast Group Company Nordmeccanica NA Ltd NovaCentrix OASIS Alignment Services, LLC Optimation Technology, Inc. Parkinson Technologies PFFC - Paper, Film & Foil Converter Precision Die Systems Corporation Quickdraft Siemens Industry, Inc. Specialty Papers & Films, Inc. Technical Coating Int’l, Inc. The ADVANCED Team, Inc. Transilwrap Company, Inc. University of Massachusetts Lowell Vast Films, Ltd. XDS Holdings, Inc.

Training

Abo Akademi University AWA Alexander Watson Associates C.A.Bishop Consulting Ltd Cham Paper Group Coating Tech Slot Dies Converting Quarterly D&K Group Fraunhofer IVV Harper Corporation of America Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology - Chemical Materials Solutions Center Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. Optimation Technology, Inc. Parkinson Technologies PFFC - Paper, Film & Foil Converter Precision Die Systems Corporation Specialty Papers & Films, Inc.

CONTRACT CONVERTING Coating

3 Sigma Corporation Acucote Inc. Adchem Corporation Adhesive Applications Alpha Associates, Inc. Amsterdam Metallized Products B.V. Appvion, Inc. Brady Worldwide, Coated Products Camvac Limited Carestream Contract Manufacturing Cascades Sonoco Catalina Graphic Films CBC CCT Papers Celgard / Asahi Kasei Cham Paper Group Chase Corporation Conversion Technologies Int. Inc. Coveris™ Advanced Coatings D&K Group Davis-Standard, LLC Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto) DUNMORE Corporation Eastman Chemical Company

Valco Melton

411 Circle Fwy Drive Cincinnati, OH 45246 Phone: (513) 874-6550 Website: www.valcomelton.com Email: ask@valcomelton.com

Eternal Materials Co., LTD. Faustel FHR Anlagenbau GmbH Filmquest Group Inc. First Technology Innovation, Inc FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Hanita Coatings Hueck Folien GmbH Jessup Manufacturing Company Johnson Laminating & Coating, Inc. Kay Automotive Graphics Kent Adhesive Products Company dba Kapco Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology - Chemical Materials Solutions Center Lamart Corp. Lamin8 a division of The CLI Group Madico, Inc. Materion Large Area Coatings Metallizing Systems Inc. Microseal Industries MIRWEC Film, Inc./ Yasui Seiki USA MTi & Polyexe Corporation / An Inteplast Group Company Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION OLBRICH GmbH Polykote Corporation Polymer Science, Inc. Precision Coatings Inc. Pres-On Printpack Protect-all, Inc. Rayven Inc. Roethel GmbH & Co KG Roysons Corporation Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU Sierra Coating Technologies LLC Singular Metallizing Paper Corporation Super Film Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. Technical Coating Int’l, Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. thelamco, inc. Transilwrap Company, Inc. Unifoil Corp. University of Oxford, Department of Materials Valco Melton

Die-Cutting

Conversion Technologies Int. Inc. Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto)

FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Jessup Manufacturing Company Kay Automotive Graphics Kent Adhesive Products Company dba Kapco Lamin8 a division of The CLI Group Microseal Industries Preco, Inc. Pres-On Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Singular Metallizing Paper Corporation

Embossing, Stamping

Amsterdam Metallized Products B.V. Appvion, Inc. CBC CCT Papers Color Ad Packaging LTD. Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto) FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film JX Nippon ANCI, Inc. Kay Automotive Graphics Singular Metallizing Paper Corporation

Film Making

Amsterdam Metallized Products B.V. Argotec LLC Carestream Contract Manufacturing Celgard / Asahi Kasei Conversion Technologies Int. Inc. Covertech Griff Paper and Film Jessup Manufacturing Company Kay Automotive Graphics Lamart Corp. Madico, Inc. Microseal Industries MIRWEC Film, Inc./ Yasui Seiki USA Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU

Laminating

3 Sigma Corporation Acucote Inc. Adchem Corporation Adhesive Applications Alpha Associates, Inc. Amsterdam Metallized Products B.V. Brady Worldwide, Coated Products Camvac Limited Carestream Contract Manufacturing Cascades Sonoco Catalina Graphic Films Celgard / Asahi Kasei Chase Corporation Color Ad Packaging LTD. Conversion Technologies Int. Inc. Coveris™ Advanced Coatings Covertech D&K Group Davis-Standard, LLC Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto) DUNMORE Corporation Eastman Chemical Company Eternal Materials Co., LTD. Faustel FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Hueck Folien GmbH Independent Machine Company

2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

CONVERTER SERVICES Jessup Manufacturing Company Johnson Laminating & Coating, Inc. JX Nippon ANCI, Inc. Kay Automotive Graphics Kent Adhesive Products Company dba Kapco Lamart Corp. Lamin8 a division of The CLI Group Madico, Inc. Metallizing Systems Inc. Microseal Industries MIRWEC Film, Inc./ Yasui Seiki USA Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited Polykote Corporation Polymer Science, Inc. Precision Coatings Inc. Preco, Inc. Printpack Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Protect-all, Inc. Radiant Energy Systems, Inc. Rayven Inc. Roethel GmbH & Co KG Roysons Corporation Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU Sierra Coating Technologies LLC Singular Metallizing Paper Corporation Technical Coating Int’l, Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. thelamco, inc. Transilwrap Company, Inc. Unifoil Corp. Valco Melton

Metallizing

Amsterdam Metallized Products B.V. Celplast Metallized Products DUNMORE Corporation Eastman Chemical Company FHR Anlagenbau GmbH Filmquest Group Inc. FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Hueck Folien GmbH JBF RAK LLC Materion Large Area Coatings Met-Lux Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. Packages Limited Phifer Incorporated Polymer Science, Inc. Printpack Rol-Vac, LP Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU Singular Metallizing Paper Corporation Super Film Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. Technical Coating Int’l, Inc. Transilwrap Company, Inc. Unifoil Corp. Vacuum Depositing Inc. Vast Films, Ltd.

Perforating

Appvion, Inc. Conversion Technologies Int. Inc. Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto)

FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Preco, Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc.

Printing

CCT Papers Color Ad Packaging LTD. Covertech Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto) Griff Paper and Film Jessup Manufacturing Company Kay Automotive Graphics Lamart Corp. Packages Limited Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Singular Metallizing Paper Corporation Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc.

Sheeting

Acucote Inc. Adchem Corporation Adhesive Applications Amsterdam Metallized Products B.V. Carestream Contract Manufacturing Catalina Graphic Films CCT Papers Conversion Technologies Int. Inc. Coveris™ Advanced Coatings Covertech D&K Group Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto) Eternal Materials Co., LTD. FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Hazen Paper Co. Jessup Manufacturing Company Kay Automotive Graphics Lamart Corp. Madico, Inc. MIRWEC Film, Inc./ Yasui Seiki USA Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION Polymer Science, Inc. Precision Coatings Inc. Preco, Inc. Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Rayven Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Transilwrap Company, Inc.

Slitting/Rewinding

Acucote Inc. Adchem Corporation Adhesive Applications Alpha Associates, Inc. Appvion, Inc. Brady Worldwide, Coated Products Carestream Contract Manufacturing Catalina Graphic Films CBC CCT Papers Celgard / Asahi Kasei Chase Corporation Color Ad Packaging LTD. Conversion Technologies Int. Inc. Coveris™ Advanced Coatings Covertech D&K Group Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto) DUNMORE Corporation Eternal Materials Co., LTD.

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

Faustel Filmquest Group Inc. FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Independent Machine Company Jessup Manufacturing Company JX Nippon ANCI, Inc. Kay Automotive Graphics Kent Adhesive Products Company dba Kapco Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology - Chemical Materials Solutions Center Lamart Corp. Madico, Inc. Materion Large Area Coatings Medco Coated Products Metlon Corporation Met-Lux Microseal Industries MIRWEC Film, Inc./ Yasui Seiki USA Mt. Holly Springs Specialty Paper Inc. Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited Polykote Corporation Polymer Science, Inc. Precision Coatings Inc. Preco, Inc. Pres-On Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Protect-all, Inc. Rayven Inc. Rol-Vac, LP Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU Singular Metallizing Paper Corporation Super Film Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. Technical Coating Int’l, Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. thelamco, inc. Transilwrap Company, Inc. Unifoil Corp.

Surface Treating

Acucote Inc. Brady Worldwide, Coated Products Carestream Contract Manufacturing Catalina Graphic Films CBC CCT Papers Celgard / Asahi Kasei Cham Paper Group Conversion Technologies Int. Inc. Coveris™ Advanced Coatings Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto) DUNMORE Corporation Eternal Materials Co., LTD. Faustel FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Jessup Manufacturing Company Lamart Corp. Materion Large Area Coatings MIRWEC Film, Inc./ Yasui Seiki USA NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION Packages Limited Protect-all, Inc.

Rayven Inc. Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU thelamco, inc.

LABORATORY SERVICES 3 Sigma Corporation Abo Akademi University Alpha Associates, Inc. Angstrom Sciences Inc. Applied Materials WEB Coating GmbH Brady Worldwide, Coated Products Brueckner Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG Carestream Contract Manufacturing CBC Celgard / Asahi Kasei Cham Paper Group Chase Corporation Coveris™ Advanced Coatings D&K Group Delta ModTech Eastman Chemical Company Filmquest Group Inc. FLEXcon Fraunhofer IVV Hanita Coatings Jessup Manufacturing Company Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology - Chemical Materials Solutions Center Lamart Corp. Measureitall.com Met-Lux Microseal Industries MIRWEC Film, Inc./ Yasui Seiki USA MOCON, Inc. Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. NovaCentrix Optimation Technology, Inc. Polymer Science, Inc. Radiant Energy Systems, Inc. Roethel GmbH & Co KG Super Film Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. Technical Coating Int’l, Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Transilwrap Company, Inc. University of Oxford, Department of Materials Viavi Solutions (formerly JDSU– Flex Products Group) Griff Paper and Film

ONLINE PUBLICATION Converting Quarterly Journal of Plastic Film & Sheeting PFFC - Paper, Film & Foil Converter

PILOT SERVICES Coating

3 Sigma Corporation Abo Akademi University Adchem Corporation Adhesive Applications Alpha Associates, Inc.

EQUIPMENT & ACCESSORIES SUPPLIERS Appvion, Inc. Babcock & Wilcox MEGTEC Bostik, Inc. Brady Worldwide, Coated Products Brueckner Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG Carestream Contract Manufacturing Catalina Graphic Films Catbridge Machinery Celgard / Asahi Kasei Cham Paper Group Chase Corporation Coating Tech Slot Dies Conversion Technologies Int. Inc. Coveris™ Advanced Coatings D&K Group Delta ModTech Dow Chemical Company Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto) DUNMORE Corporation Eastman Chemical Company Eternal Materials Co., LTD. Evonik Corporation Faustel FHR Anlagenbau GmbH Filmquest Group Inc. FLEXcon Frontier LLC, a subsidiary of Delta ModTech Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Griff Paper and Film H.B. Fuller Hanita Coatings Jessup Manufacturing Company Johnson Laminating & Coating, Inc. Kay Automotive Graphics Kent Adhesive Products Company dba Kapco Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology - Chemical Materials Solutions Center Lamart Corp. Lamin8 a division of The CLI Group Madico, Inc. Materion Large Area Coatings Medco Coated Products Metallizing Systems Inc. Microseal Industries MIRWEC Film, Inc./ Yasui Seiki USA Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. OLBRICH GmbH Packages Limited Parkinson Technologies Polymer Science, Inc. Precision Coatings Inc. Precision Die Systems Corporation Printpack Protect-all, Inc. Radiant Energy Systems, Inc. Rayven Inc. Roethel GmbH & Co KG Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU Sierra Coating Technologies LLC Spooner Industries Inc. Super Film Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. Technical Coating Int’l, Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. thelamco, inc. Unifoil Corp.

University of Oxford, Department of Materials Valco Melton Worthen Industries

Super Film Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. Vast Films, Ltd. VON ARDENNE GmbH

Laminating

Other

Adchem Corporation Alpha Associates, Inc. Babcock & Wilcox MEGTEC Bostik, Inc. Brady Worldwide, Coated Products Carestream Contract Manufacturing Catalina Graphic Films Catbridge Machinery Chase Corporation Conversion Technologies Int. Inc. Coveris™ Advanced Coatings D&K Group Dow Chemical Company Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto) DUNMORE Corporation Eastman Chemical Company Eternal Materials Co., LTD. Faustel FLEXcon Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Griff Paper and Film H.B. Fuller Jessup Manufacturing Company JX Nippon ANCI, Inc. Kay Automotive Graphics Kent Adhesive Products Company dba Kapco Lamart Corp. Lamin8 a division of The CLI Group Madico, Inc. Microseal Industries MIRWEC Film, Inc./ Yasui Seiki USA Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited Parkinson Technologies Polymer Science, Inc. Printpack Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Protect-all, Inc. Radiant Energy Systems, Inc. Roethel GmbH & Co KG Sierra Coating Technologies LLC Technical Coating Int’l, Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. thelamco, inc. Unifoil Corp.

Metallizing

Applied Materials WEB Coating GmbH Buhler Inc. Camvac Limited DUNMORE Corporation FHR Anlagenbau GmbH FLEXcon Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Griff Paper and Film Materion Large Area Coatings Metallizing Systems Inc. Met-Lux Packages Limited Polymer Science, Inc. Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU

Applied Materials WEB Coating GmbH Babcock & Wilcox MEGTEC Carestream Contract Manufacturing Catbridge Machinery Conversion Technologies Int. Inc. Coveris™ Advanced Coatings D&K Group Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto) DUNMORE Corporation Faustel FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Kent Adhesive Products Company dba Kapco Madico, Inc. Materion Large Area Coatings MIRWEC Film, Inc./ Yasui Seiki USA New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. Parkinson Technologies Radiant Energy Systems, Inc. Rayven Inc. Sierra Coating Technologies LLC Spooner Industries Inc. VON ARDENNE GmbH

Printing

Abo Akademi University Chase Corporation Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Griff Paper and Film Kay Automotive Graphics Lamart Corp. OLBRICH GmbH Polymer Science, Inc. Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Roethel GmbH & Co KG Spooner Industries Inc.

TRADE PRESS Converting Quarterly Journal of Plastic Film & Sheeting PFFC - Paper, Film & Foil Converter C2 Coating & Converting Vacuum Technology & Coating

TRADE SHOW/EXHIBITION AWA Alexander Watson Associates CPP EXPO ICE USA Mack Brooks Exhibitions Ltd.

TRAINING/EDUCATION Abo Akademi University Cham Paper Group Coating Tech Slot Dies Delta ModTech Fox Valley Technical College Fraunhofer IVV Harper Corporation of America

Kazan National Research Technological University MIRWEC Film, Inc./ Yasui Seiki USA Nordmeccanica NA Ltd Northeastern University Oklahoma State University - Web Handling Research Center Optimation Technology, Inc. Printpack PUC-Rio State University of New York, College of Environmental Science & Forestry (SUNY-ESF) University of Massachusetts Lowell AWA Alexander Watson Associates Converting Quarterly Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology - Chemical Materials Solutions Center Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. PFFC - Paper, Film & Foil Converter Texas State University

UNIVERSITIES Abo Akademi University Fraunhofer IVV Texas State University University of Massachusetts Lowell University of Oxford, Department of Materials Clemson University Dept. of Packaging Science Fox Valley Technical College Kazan National Research Technological University National Taiwan University Northeastern University Oklahoma State University - Web Handling Research Center PUC-Rio Rochester Institute of Technology San Jose State University State University of New York at Binghamton State University of New York, College of Environmental Science & Forestry (SUNY-ESF) University Gent University of Leeds University of Maine University of Massachusetts Amherst University of the West of Scotland Western Michigan University

EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES SUPPLIERS ACCUMULATORS Bobst North America Inc. C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. Catbridge Machinery Celgard / Asahi Kasei Componex Corporation ConQuip, Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC Faustel Independent Machine Company Innovative Machine Corporation Midwest Engineered Systems Inc.

2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

EQUIPMENT & ACCESSORIES SUPPLIERS New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. Parkinson Technologies Pyradia Inc. SAM North America, LLC ADHESIVE APPLICATORS Bobst North America Inc. Celgard / Asahi Kasei ConQuip, Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC Faustel Nordson Extrusion Dies Industries – Premier Coating Division Precision Die Systems Corporation Valco Melton

AIR POLLUTION CONTROL Catalytic Oxidizing

Babcock & Wilcox MEGTEC OLBRICH GmbH Radiant Energy Systems, Inc. Spooner Industries Inc.

Solvent Recovery

Packages Limited Valco Melton

Pyradia Inc. Mississippi Polymers, Inc.

BARCODING EQUIPMENT

CHUCKS

Bobst North America Inc. Packages Limited

Air

BOX MAKING MACHINERY Bobst North America Inc. Packages Limited

Core BRAKES Electrical

Bobst North America Inc. Maxcess International Corporation

Bobst North America Inc. Jemmco LLC Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Packages Limited

Hydrostatic

Thermal Oxidizing

Mechanical

ALIGNMENT SERVICES Celgard / Asahi Kasei Great Lakes Alignment Survey Services, LLC OASIS Alignment Services, LLC PRUFTECHNIK Service Inc. The ADVANCED Team, Inc.

BAG MAKING MACHINERY Componex Corporation Davis-Standard, LLC Emerson and Renwick Ltd Margot Machinery, Inc. Packages Limited Valco Melton

Bobst North America Inc. Packages Limited

Bobst North America Inc. Margot Machinery, Inc. Packages Limited

Pneumatic

Bobst North America Inc. Dover Flexo Electronics Jemmco LLC Maxcess International Corporation Packages Limited

CALENDERING Bobst North America Inc. ConQuip, Inc. Innovative Machine Corporation Maxcess International Corporation New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Optimation Technology, Inc. Parkinson Technologies Polymer Science, Inc.

BALERS Packages Limited Precision AirConvey Corporation

BARCODE VERIFICATION Bobst North America Inc. Conversource, Inc. Optimation Technology, Inc.

Bobst North America Inc. Catbridge Machinery Goldenrod Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation

Electromagnetic

Advance Systems, Inc. Babcock & Wilcox MEGTEC Metallizing Systems Inc. Spooner Industries Inc.

Babcock & Wilcox MEGTEC Celgard / Asahi Kasei Margot Machinery, Inc. NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION Radiant Energy Systems, Inc. Spooner Industries Inc.

Bobst North America Inc. Celgard / Asahi Kasei Goldenrod Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

Goldenrod Corporation

PO Box 95 Pinesbridge Commerce Park 25 Lancaster Drive Beacon Falls, CT 06403 Phone: (800) 465-3763 Fax: (203) 723-8230 Website: www.goldenrodcorp.com

Vacuum

Buhler Inc. Meech Static Eliminators USA Inc. Packages Limited

Web - Contact

Applied Materials WEB Coating GmbH Bobst North America Inc. Buhler Inc. Margot Machinery, Inc. Meech Static Eliminators USA Inc. Packages Limited Polymag Tek Simco-Ion

Web - Non-Contact

Bobst North America Inc. Harper Corporation of America Meech Static Eliminators USA Inc. Packages Limited SAM North America, LLC Simco-Ion

CLUTCHES Bobst North America Inc. Jemmco LLC Maxcess International Corporation Montalvo Corporation

COATING MACHINERY 100% Solids

Mechanical

Bobst North America Inc. Goldenrod Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation

Safety

Bobst North America Inc. C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. Goldenrod Corporation Jemmco LLC Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Montalvo Corporation

ConQuip, Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC Delta ModTech Faustel Innovative Machine Corporation KROENERT GmbH & Co KG Margot Machinery, Inc. Matik, Inc. MIRWEC Film, Inc./ Yasui Seiki USA New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd OLBRICH GmbH Precision Die Systems Corporation SAM North America, LLC

CLEANING Glass

Buhler Inc.

Sheet

Harper Corporation of America Meech Static Eliminators USA Inc.

Faustel, Inc.

W194 N11301 McCormick Dr. Germantown, WI 53022 Phone: (262) 253-3333 Fax: (262) 253-3334 Website: www.faustel.com

Static Discharge

Buhler Inc. Meech Static Eliminators USA Inc. MIRWEC Film, Inc./ Yasui Seiki USA

Ultrasonic

Bobst North America Inc.

Blade

Bobst North America Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC Innovative Machine Corporation KROENERT GmbH & Co KG Margot Machinery, Inc. MIRWEC Film, Inc./ Yasui Seiki USA

New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. SAM North America, LLC

Co-Extrusion

Bobst North America Inc. ConQuip, Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC Margot Machinery, Inc. Matik, Inc. Nordson Extrusion Dies Industries – Premier Coating Division

Curtain

Davis-Standard, LLC Emerson and Renwick Ltd KROENERT GmbH & Co KG New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Optimation Technology, Inc. Precision Die Systems Corporation

Extrusion

Bobst North America Inc. ConQuip, Inc. D&K Group Davis-Standard, LLC Emerson and Renwick Ltd Innovative Machine Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd Nordson Extrusion Dies Industries – Premier Coating Division Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited Parkinson Technologies Precision Die Systems Corporation SAM North America, LLC Valco Melton

Gravure

Bobst North America Inc. Catbridge Machinery ConQuip, Inc. D&K Group Davis-Standard, LLC Emerson and Renwick Ltd Faustel Frontier LLC, a subsidiary of Delta ModTech Innovative Machine Corporation KROENERT GmbH & Co KG Margot Machinery, Inc.

Matik, Inc. Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. MIRWEC Film, Inc./ Yasui Seiki USA New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited Printco Industries, LLC Pyradia Inc. SAM North America, LLC

Innovative Machine Corporation KROENERT GmbH & Co KG Matik, Inc. Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. Pyradia Inc. R.D. Specialties, Inc. SAM North America, LLC

Hot Melt

Roll

American Roller Company Bobst North America Inc. Catbridge Machinery ConQuip, Inc. ConQuip, Inc. D&K Group Davis-Standard, LLC Delta ModTech Emerson and Renwick Ltd Faustel Innovative Machine Corporation KROENERT GmbH & Co KG Margot Machinery, Inc. Matik, Inc. Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd Nordson Extrusion Dies Industries – Premier Coating Division OLBRICH GmbH Packages Limited Precision Die Systems Corporation SAM North America, LLC Valco Melton E C Designs (USA) Ltd (Elite Cameron)

Knife

Bobst North America Inc. ConQuip, Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC Delta ModTech Emerson and Renwick Ltd Frontier LLC, a subsidiary of Delta ModTech Innovative Machine Corporation KROENERT GmbH & Co KG Margot Machinery, Inc. Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. MIRWEC Film, Inc./ Yasui Seiki USA NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. Pyradia Inc.

Adhesive Applications Applied Materials WEB Coating GmbH Bobst North America Inc. C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. ConQuip, Inc. D&K Group Davis-Standard, LLC Delta ModTech Emerson and Renwick Ltd Faustel Frontier LLC, a subsidiary of Delta ModTech Innovative Machine Corporation KROENERT GmbH & Co KG Margot Machinery, Inc. Matik, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited Printco Industries, LLC Pyradia Inc. SAM North America, LLC VON ARDENNE GmbH

Spray

Catbridge Machinery Emerson and Renwick Ltd New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Valco Melton

CONTROLS Color Matching

Bobst North America Inc. Harper Corporation of America Packages Limited

Curl

Bobst North America Inc. Packages Limited

Drives & Motors

Screen

American Roller Company Emerson and Renwick Ltd Frontier LLC, a subsidiary of Delta ModTech KROENERT GmbH & Co KG Matik, Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd OLBRICH GmbH

Slot Die

Adhesive Applications Babcock & Wilcox MEGTEC Bobst North America Inc.

Mayer Rod

Adhesive Applications American Roller Company C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. Catbridge Machinery ConQuip, Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC Delta ModTech Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto) Emerson and Renwick Ltd Faustel Frontier LLC, a subsidiary of Delta ModTech

Catbridge Machinery ConQuip, Inc. D&K Group Davis-Standard, LLC Delta ModTech Emerson and Renwick Ltd Faustel Frontier LLC, a subsidiary of Delta ModTech Innovative Machine Corporation KROENERT GmbH & Co KG Margot Machinery, Inc. Microseal Industries Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. MIRWEC Film, Inc./ Yasui Seiki USA Mitsubishi Materials New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. Precision Die Systems Corporation SAM North America, LLC Valco Melton

a subsidiary of Delta ModTech

Frontier LLC, a subsidiary of Delta ModTech 67 Campbell Road Towanda, PA 18848

HQ-Sales Office: (800) 279-3358 Local: (570) 265-2500 Website: www.frontiercoating.com

Bobst North America Inc. C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. ConQuip, Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC Faustel Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited

Emissions

Babcock & Wilcox MEGTEC Bobst North America Inc. Metallizing Systems Inc. NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION

Motion

Bobst North America Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC Faustel Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc.

2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

EQUIPMENT & ACCESSORIES SUPPLIERS Optimation Technology, Inc.

Registration

Bobst North America Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Montalvo Corporation OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited Siemens Industry, Inc.

Roller Nips

Nip Control AB

Speed

Beta LaserMike Products (A Brand of NDC Technologies) Bobst North America Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC Faustel Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION NDC Technologies Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited

Temperature

Bobst North America Inc. C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. Harper Corporation of America Margot Machinery, Inc. Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited

Tension

Bobst North America Inc. C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC Dover Flexo Electronics Faustel Jemmco LLC Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Measureitall.com Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. Montalvo Corporation NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited

Thickness

Bobst North America Inc. L and M Instruments LLC Margot Machinery, Inc. Measureitall.com NDC Technologies Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited Sensory Analytics - SpecMetrix Systems

Viscosity

Bobst North America Inc. Harper Corporation of America Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited

CORE CUTTING EQUIPMENT Deacro Industries Ltd. Margot Machinery, Inc. Parkinson Technologies Precision AirConvey Corporation E C Designs (USA) Ltd (Elite Cameron)

CORE PLUGS Badger Plug Co. Goldenrod Corporation Sonoco Products Company

CORES & TUBES Composite

American Roller Company Sonoco Products Company Valco Melton

Metal

American Roller Company

C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. ConQuip, Inc. KROENERT GmbH & Co KG Margot Machinery, Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd NovaCentrix OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. Prime UV Systems, Inc. Pyradia Inc. Radiant Energy Systems, Inc.

ConQuip, Inc. EIT Instrument Markets Harper Corporation of America KROENERT GmbH & Co KG Nordmeccanica NA Ltd NovaCentrix OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. Primarc UV Curing Lamps, a Baldwin Technology Brand Prime UV Systems, Inc. XDS Holdings, Inc.

Convection

Flexographic

Applied Materials WEB Coating GmbH ConQuip, Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd

Advance Systems, Inc. Babcock & Wilcox MEGTEC

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

11501 Eagle Street NW Minneapolis, MN 55448 Toll Free: (800) 279-3358 Phone: (763) 755-7744 Europe: +46 706 97 24 34 Website: www.deltamodtech.com Email: delta@deltamodtech.com

DIE MAKING MACHINERY Preco, Inc.

CYLINDERS

Advance Systems, Inc. Babcock & Wilcox MEGTEC C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC KROENERT GmbH & Co KG Metallizing Systems Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd NovaCentrix OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. Pyradia Inc. Radiant Energy Systems, Inc. SAM North America, LLC Spooner Industries Inc.

Delta ModTech

CUTTERS

CURING EQUIPMENT

Plastic

Bobst North America Inc. Delta ModTech Matik, Inc. Preco, Inc. Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Schober USA Inc.

C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd

Sonoco Products Company

Packages Limited Sonoco Products Company

DIE CUTTING MACHINERY

AZCO Corp. Cadence Inc. Dienes Corporation Hyde Industrial Blade Solutions Maxcess International Corporation Portage Knife Company Precision AirConvey Corporation Preco, Inc. TGW International

Paper

Margot Machinery, Inc. Packages Limited

American Roller Company Harper Corporation of America Ligum North America, LLC Luminite Products Corporation Packages Limited Printco Industries, LLC Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc.

Hydraulic

Margot Machinery, Inc. Packages Limited Preco, Inc.

Laser-Engraved

Harper Corporation of America Preco, Inc.

Lithographic

American Roller Company

Magnetic (Printing)

American Roller Company Rotogravure American Roller Company

DIES (COATING & FILM) Co-Extrusion Coating

Margot Machinery, Inc. Nordson Extrusion Dies Industries – Premier Coating Division Precision Die Systems Corporation SAM North America, LLC

Extrusion Coating

Margot Machinery, Inc. Nordson Extrusion Dies Industries – Premier Coating Division Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited Precision Die Systems Corporation SAM North America, LLC Valco Melton

Film Co-Extrusion

Margot Machinery, Inc. Nordson Extrusion Dies Industries – Premier Coating Division Packages Limited

Film Extrusion

Margot Machinery, Inc. Nordson Extrusion Dies Industries – Premier Coating Division Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited

Slot Die Coating

Catbridge Machinery Celgard / Asahi Kasei Coating Tech Slot Dies Innovative Machine Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc.

MIRWEC Film, Inc./ Yasui Seiki USA Mitsubishi Materials Nordson Extrusion Dies Industries – Premier Coating Division Optimation Technology, Inc. Precision Die Systems Corporation SAM North America, LLC Valco Melton

DIES (FINISHING) Cutting (Solid)

Adhesive Applications Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Schober USA Inc.

Cutting (Steel Rule)

Adhesive Applications American Cutting Edge Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc.

Embossing

American Roller Company Packages Limited Schober USA Inc.

Laser Beam

Delta ModTech

Rotary

Adhesive Applications Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Schober USA Inc.

DOCTOR BLADES Bobst North America Inc. Conversource, Inc. Harper Corporation of America MIRWEC Film, Inc./ Yasui Seiki USA Packages Limited Printco Industries, LLC TGW International

DRYERS Acoustic

Bobst North America Inc.

Air Flotation

Advance Systems, Inc. Babcock & Wilcox MEGTEC Bobst North America Inc. C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. ConQuip, Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC Emerson and Renwick Ltd Faustel Frontier LLC, a subsidiary of Delta ModTech Innovative Machine Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. Metallizing Systems Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. Printco Industries, LLC Pyradia Inc. Radiant Energy Systems, Inc. SAM North America, LLC Spooner Industries Inc. XDS Holdings, Inc.

Convection

Advance Systems, Inc. Babcock & Wilcox MEGTEC Bobst North America Inc. Celgard / Asahi Kasei ConQuip, Inc. Emerson and Renwick Ltd Faustel Innovative Machine Corporation KROENERT GmbH & Co KG New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Optimation Technology, Inc. Pyradia Inc. Radiant Energy Systems, Inc. Spooner Industries Inc. XDS Holdings, Inc.

EB DRIVES Electrical

Bobst North America Inc. C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited Siemens Industry, Inc.

Mechanical

Bobst North America Inc. C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. OLBRICH GmbH Packages Limited

Bobst North America Inc. Faustel

Idler

Advance Systems, Inc. Bobst North America Inc. C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. ConQuip, Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC Faustel Innovative Machine Corporation KROENERT GmbH & Co KG Margot Machinery, Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. OLBRICH GmbH Pyradia Inc. Radiant Energy Systems, Inc. SAM North America, LLC XDS Holdings, Inc.

Advance Systems, Inc. Babcock & Wilcox MEGTEC Bobst North America Inc.

C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. ConQuip, Inc. Emerson and Renwick Ltd Faustel Frontier LLC, a subsidiary of Delta ModTech HYBEC Corporation Innovative Machine Corporation KROENERT GmbH & Co KG Margot Machinery, Inc. Metallizing Systems Inc. NovaCentrix OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. Prime UV Systems, Inc. Pyradia Inc. Radiant Energy Systems, Inc. SAM North America, LLC XDS Holdings, Inc.

Bobst North America Inc. ConQuip, Inc. Faustel Frontier LLC, a subsidiary of Delta ModTech Innovative Machine Corporation KROENERT GmbH & Co KG OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. Primarc UV Curing Lamps, a Baldwin Technology Brand

E-BEAM EQUIPMENT/ ACCESSORIES Bobst North America Inc. Buhler Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd VON ARDENNE GmbH

EMBOSSING MACHINERY Bobst North America Inc. Catbridge Machinery Davis-Standard, LLC Delta ModTech Emerson and Renwick Ltd Innovative Machine Corporation New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. OLBRICH GmbH SAM North America, LLC Schober USA Inc. Vitek Corporation/JBF/Moeller

EXTRUDING MACHINERY Blown Film

Bobst North America Inc. Componex Corporation Covertech Davis-Standard, LLC Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited SAM North America, LLC

Componex Corporation ConQuip, Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC Innovative Machine Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. Packages Limited Parkinson Technologies SAM North America, LLC

Machine Direction Orienter

Bobst North America Inc. Brueckner Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG ConQuip, Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC Innovative Machine Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. Parkinson Technologies SAM North America, LLC

Orienter

Bobst North America Inc.

Thermoforming

Bobst North America Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC

FESTOONING MACHINERY Bobst North America Inc. ConQuip, Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC Emerson and Renwick Ltd Independent Machine Company New Era Converting Machinery, Inc.

FILTERS Bobst North America Inc. Catbridge Machinery Packages Limited

FINISHING EQUIPMENT/ PRODUCTS Accraply Inc. Bobst North America Inc. Catbridge Machinery D&K Group Delta ModTech Maxcess International Corporation OLBRICH GmbH Prime UV Systems, Inc. Quickdraft Valco Melton Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto)

FOLDING/GLUING MACHINERY Bobst North America Inc. Emerson and Renwick Ltd TGW International Valco Melton

Cast Film

Bobst North America Inc. Brueckner Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG 2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

EQUIPMENT & ACCESSORIES SUPPLIERS GRINDERS/SHARPENERS Knife

American Cutting Edge Cadence Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Portage Knife Company Schober USA Inc. TGW International

TGW International

5 Braco International Blvd. Wilder, KY 41076 Phone: (859) 647-7383 Website: www.tgwint.com Email: sales@tgwint.com

Slitter Blade

American Cutting Edge Cadence Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Portage Knife Company Schober USA Inc. TGW International

HEATER LAMPS Air

Bobst North America Inc. HYBEC Corporation

IR Halogen

Bobst North America Inc. HYBEC Corporation

Near-IR

Bobst North America Inc. HYBEC Corporation

HOT STAMPING EQUIPMENT Bobst North America Inc. Delta ModTech Matik, Inc. Schober USA Inc.

INSPECTION SYSTEMS Laser

Beta LaserMike Products (A Brand of NDC Technologies) Bobst North America Inc. Mahlo America, Inc. Optimation Technology, Inc. RYECO, Inc. Sensory Analytics - SpecMetrix Systems

Optical

Beta LaserMike Products (A Brand of NDC Technologies) Bobst North America Inc. Erhardt + Leimer Inc. ISRA VISION L and M Instruments LLC Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Measureitall.com MOCON, Inc. Optimation Technology, Inc. Roll-2-Roll Technologies, LLC RYECO, Inc. Schenk Vision Sensory Analytics - SpecMetrix Systems Wintriss Engineering Corporation

Photoelectric

Bobst North America Inc. Erhardt + Leimer Inc. L and M Instruments LLC Optimation Technology, Inc. RYECO, Inc.

LAMINATING SYSTEMS 100% Solids

Bobst North America Inc. C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. Comexi North America, Inc. ConQuip, Inc. ConQuip, Inc. Emerson and Renwick Ltd Independent Machine Company Innovative Machine Corporation Ligum North America, LLC Margot Machinery, Inc. Matik, Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd OLBRICH GmbH Packages Limited Prime UV Systems, Inc. SAM North America, LLC E C Designs (USA) Ltd (Elite Cameron)

Bobst North America Inc. Erhardt + Leimer Inc. Novation, Inc. RYECO, Inc. Vacuumatic Maschinen GmbH

KNIFE POSITIONING SYSTEMS

KNIVES Circular

American Cutting Edge Bobst North America Inc. Cadence Inc. Catbridge Machinery Conversource, Inc. Dienes Corporation Hyde Industrial Blade Solutions Maxcess International Corporation Parkinson Technologies Portage Knife Company Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Schober USA Inc.

Plain

American Cutting Edge Bobst North America Inc. Cadence Inc. Hyde Industrial Blade Solutions Maxcess International Corporation Parkinson Technologies Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Schober USA Inc.

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

Solventless

Bobst North America Inc. Comexi North America, Inc. ConQuip, Inc. ConQuip, Inc. Covertech D&K Group Davis-Standard, LLC Emerson and Renwick Ltd Faustel Innovative Machine Corporation JX Nippon ANCI, Inc. Margot Machinery, Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. OLBRICH GmbH Packages Limited Pyradia Inc. SAM North America, LLC

Thermal

Web Marking

Bobst North America Inc. Catbridge Machinery Deacro Industries Ltd. Dienes Corporation Maxcess International Corporation New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Parkinson Technologies

Packages Limited Pyradia Inc. SAM North America, LLC

Extrusion

Bobst North America Inc. ConQuip, Inc. Covertech D&K Group Emerson and Renwick Ltd Independent Machine Company Innovative Machine Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited Parkinson Technologies SAM North America, LLC Valco Melton

Solvent

Bobst North America Inc. Catbridge Machinery Comexi North America, Inc. ConQuip, Inc. Covertech D&K Group Davis-Standard, LLC Emerson and Renwick Ltd Faustel Innovative Machine Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. Matik, Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd OLBRICH GmbH

Bobst North America Inc. C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. Catbridge Machinery D&K Group Davis-Standard, LLC Emerson and Renwick Ltd Faustel Independent Machine Company Innovative Machine Corporation JX Nippon ANCI, Inc. Matik, Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. Preco, Inc. Pyradia Inc. SAM North America, LLC

Wax

Bobst North America Inc. Catbridge Machinery ConQuip, Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC Emerson and Renwick Ltd Innovative Machine Corporation Matik, Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd OLBRICH GmbH Packages Limited

LOAD CELLS Bobst North America Inc. Celgard / Asahi Kasei Dover Flexo Electronics Erhardt + Leimer Inc. Jemmco LLC Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Packages Limited

MANDRELS Bobst North America Inc. Goldenrod Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc.

Maxcess International Corporation Mid South Roller A-Korn Roller, Inc. Ligum North America, LLC

MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT Cart Movers

Faustel Goldenrod Corporation New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Packages Limited E C Designs (USA) Ltd (Elite Cameron)

Cranes/Hoists/UpEnders Faustel Margot Machinery, Inc. Tilt-lock E C Designs (USA) Ltd (Elite Cameron)

Lift Trucks

E C Designs (USA) Ltd (Elite Cameron)

Roll Lifting Equipment

Davis-Standard, LLC Faustel Goldenrod Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. E C Designs (USA) Ltd (Elite Cameron) Nordmeccanica NA Ltd

MEASURE EQUIPMENT Gauge

Bobst North America Inc. NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION Packages Limited

Moisture Transmitter

Bobst North America Inc. Mahlo America, Inc. NDC Technologies Packages Limited Process Sensors Corporation

Nip Pressure

Bobst North America Inc. Menges Roller Company NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION Nip Control AB Packages Limited

Nip Width

Bobst North America Inc. Menges Roller Company Nip Control AB Packages Limited

On-line Coating Weight Gauge Bobst North America Inc. Erhardt + Leimer Inc. L and M Instruments LLC Mahlo America, Inc. Margot Machinery, Inc. NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION NDC Technologies Packages Limited Process Sensors Corporation Schenk Vision Sensory Analytics - SpecMetrix Systems

On-line Inspection

Beta LaserMike Products (A Brand of NDC Technologies) Bobst North America Inc. L and M Instruments LLC Margot Machinery, Inc. Packages Limited Roll-2-Roll Technologies, LLC Schenk Vision Sensory Analytics - SpecMetrix Systems Wintriss Engineering Corporation

Rheometers

Bobst North America Inc.

Roller Nips

Nip Control AB

Surface Tension & Wetting Bobst North America Inc. Diversified Enterprises Packages Limited

Temperature & RH

Bobst North America Inc. Mahlo America, Inc. Margot Machinery, Inc. Packages Limited Process Sensors Corporation

Tension

Beta LaserMike Products (A Brand of NDC Technologies) Bobst North America Inc. Dover Flexo Electronics Erhardt + Leimer Inc. Jemmco LLC Margot Machinery, Inc. Packages Limited

Thickness Gauges

Bobst North America Inc. Diversified Enterprises Erhardt + Leimer Inc. Mahlo America, Inc. Margot Machinery, Inc. NDC Technologies Packages Limited Schenk Vision Sensory Analytics - SpecMetrix Systems

Viscometers

Bobst North America Inc. Conversource, Inc. Diversified Enterprises Harper Corporation of America Margot Machinery, Inc. Packages Limited

METERING RODS (Mayer Rods) Davis-Standard, LLC Diversified Enterprises New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. R.D. Specialties, Inc. Buschman Corporation

Web Length

Bobst North America Inc. Packages Limited Beta LaserMike Products (A Brand of NDC Technologies) Bobst North America Inc. Novation, Inc. Packages Limited RYECO, Inc.

Web Speed

Bobst North America Inc. Packages Limited

METALLIZING COMPONENTS Cathodes

Angstrom Sciences Inc. Applied Materials WEB Coating GmbH Bobst North America Inc. Buhler Inc. FHR Anlagenbau GmbH Sputtering Components Inc. VON ARDENNE GmbH

Crucibles

3M Technical Ceramics (Formerly ESK) Angstrom Sciences Inc. Bobst North America Inc. Buhler Inc. Kennametal Inc.

Dewetting Solutions

3M Technical Ceramics (Formerly ESK) Bobst North America Inc. Buhler Inc. Metallizing Systems Inc.

Evaporation Boats

3M Technical Ceramics (Formerly ESK) Angstrom Sciences Inc. Bobst North America Inc. Buhler Inc. Kennametal Inc. Metallizing Systems Inc.

Buschman Corporation 4100 Payne Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44103

Phone: (216) 431-6633 Fax: (216) 431-5037 Email: parts@buschmancorp.com Website: www.buschmancorp.com

MIXING EQUIPMENT Anderson Dahlen, Inc. Packages Limited

MOTORS Electric

Bobst North America Inc. Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. Packages Limited Siemens Industry, Inc.

Hydrostatic

Bobst North America Inc. Packages Limited

Pneumatic

Bobst North America Inc. Margot Machinery, Inc. Packages Limited

Servo

Bobst North America Inc. Margot Machinery, Inc. Midwest Engineered Systems Inc.

Variable-Speed

Bobst North America Inc. Margot Machinery, Inc. Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. Siemens Industry, Inc.

PACKAGING MACHINERY AZCO Corp. Bobst North America Inc. Componex Corporation Davis-Standard, LLC Delta ModTech Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Optimation Technology, Inc. 2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

EQUIPMENT & ACCESSORIES SUPPLIERS Packages Limited Valco Melton Vitek Corporation/JBF/Moeller

PERFORATING EQUIPMENT Bobst North America Inc. Catbridge Machinery Optimation Technology, Inc. Portage Knife Company Schober USA Inc. AFS AZCO Corp.

PERMEABILITY TESTERS Oxygen Permeability

Gravure

Bobst North America Inc. Comexi North America, Inc. ConQuip, Inc. Emerson and Renwick Ltd Margot Machinery, Inc. OLBRICH GmbH Packages Limited Printco Industries, LLC SAM North America, LLC

Screen

Bobst North America Inc. Emerson and Renwick Ltd OLBRICH GmbH

PUMPS

MOCON, Inc. Packages Limited

Centrifugal - Sealed

Water Vapor

Centrifugal - Seal-less

PRINTING PLATES

Cryogenic Water Vapor

MOCON, Inc. Packages Limited

Flexographic

Bobst North America Inc. Ligum North America, LLC Luminite Products Corporation Packages Limited Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc.

Gravure

Bobst North America Inc. Packages Limited

Other

Bobst North America Inc.

PRINTING PRESSES Combination

Bobst North America Inc. Componex Corporation Emerson and Renwick Ltd OLBRICH GmbH

Digital

Componex Corporation ConQuip, Inc.

Flexographic

Bobst North America Inc. Comexi North America, Inc. Componex Corporation Covertech Emerson and Renwick Ltd Faustel Margot Machinery, Inc. Matik, Inc. OLBRICH GmbH Packages Limited Printco Industries, LLC Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc.

Margot Machinery, Inc.

Bobst North America Inc. Margot Machinery, Inc. Packages Limited

Applied Materials WEB Coating GmbH Buhler Inc. Margot Machinery, Inc.

Diaphragm

Bobst North America Inc. Margot Machinery, Inc. Tacmina USA Corporation

Metering

Bobst North America Inc. Celgard / Asahi Kasei Margot Machinery, Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd Precision Die Systems Corporation

Other

Bobst North America Inc. Margot Machinery, Inc. Menges Roller Company Precision Die Systems Corporation

RECYCLING EQUIPMENT Precision AirConvey Corporation Vitek Corporation/JBF/Moeller Quickdraft

Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. Packages Limited Parkinson Technologies Titan (Atlas Converting North America, Inc.)

REGISTRATION SYSTEMS

ROLL OVERWRAPPERS

Bobst North America Inc. Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. Montalvo Corporation Packages Limited

REWIND EQUIPMENT Accraply Inc. Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd. AZCO Corp. Bobst North America Inc. C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. Catbridge Machinery ConQuip, Inc. Conversource, Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC Deacro Industries Ltd. Faustel Independent Machine Company Innovative Machine Corporation Jemmco LLC Margot Machinery, Inc. Martin Automatic Inc Matik, Inc. Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. Montalvo Corporation New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd OLBRICH GmbH Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited Printco Industries, LLC Pyradia Inc. SAM North America, LLC Titan (Atlas Converting North America, Inc.) Vitek Corporation/JBF/Moeller Webco Engineering Inc.

Roll Pushers

Bobst North America Inc. Margot Machinery, Inc.

Vacuum

Roll Restorers

Bobst North America Inc.

Roots

Bobst North America Inc. Buhler Inc. Margot Machinery, Inc.

Bobst North America Inc. Packages Limited

Transfer/Storage RECYCLING Badger Plug Co.

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

ROLL PACKAGING Protective Roll Pallets

Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc.

Protective Roll Wrap

Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd. Covertech Finzer Roller Harper Corporation of America Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Titan (Atlas Converting North America, Inc.) Webco Engineering Inc.

ROLLS/ROLLERS Anilox

Bobst North America Inc. Conversource, Inc. Finzer Roller Harper Corporation of America Maxcess International Corporation Mid South Roller Packages Limited Printco Industries, LLC

Bowed ROLL HANDLING SYSTEMS Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd. Bobst North America Inc. Deacro Industries Ltd. Goldenrod Corporation Packages Limited Parkinson Technologies Tilt-lock Titan (Atlas Converting North America, Inc.)

Plunger

Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd. Finzer Roller Margot Machinery, Inc. OLBRICH GmbH Titan (Atlas Converting North America, Inc.) Vitek Corporation/JBF/Moeller

Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd. Badger Plug Co. Bobst North America Inc. Comexi North America, Inc. Harper Corporation of America

ABBA Roller, LLC American Roller Company Bobst North America Inc. Finzer Roller Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Mid South Roller Packages Limited

Chrome

ABBA Roller, LLC Bobst North America Inc. Finzer Roller Imperial Rubber Products Inc. INTEGRITY Roller Services Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Menges Roller Company Mid South Roller Packages Limited Printco Industries, LLC Roll Technology Corp. Rotadyne

Corona-Treating

ABBA Roller, LLC American Roller Company Bobst North America Inc. Finzer Roller Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Menges Roller Company Mid South Roller Packages Limited Rotadyne

Menges Roller Company 260 Industrial Dr Wauconda, IL 60084

Phone: (847) 487-8877 Fax: (847) 487-8897 Website: www.mengesroller.com

Idler

ABBA Roller, LLC A-Korn Roller, Inc. American Roller Company Bobst North America Inc. C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. Componex Corporation Dover Flexo Electronics Finzer Roller Imperial Rubber Products Inc. INTEGRITY Roller Services Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Menges Roller Company Mid South Roller Packages Limited Printco Industries, LLC Rotadyne

New

ABBA Roller, LLC A-Korn Roller, Inc. American Roller Company Bobst North America Inc. C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. Componex Corporation Dover Flexo Electronics Finzer Roller INTEGRITY Roller Services Maxcess International Corporation Menges Roller Company Mid South Roller OLBRICH GmbH Packages Limited Roll Technology Corp. Rotadyne

Plasma Coated

ABBA Roller, LLC American Roller Company Bobst North America Inc. Componex Corporation Dover Flexo Electronics Finzer Roller Margot Machinery, Inc.

Maxcess International Corporation Menges Roller Company Packages Limited Roll Technology Corp.

Refinish/Repair

ABBA Roller, LLC American Roller Company Catbridge Machinery Dover Flexo Electronics Finzer Roller Imperial Rubber Products Inc. INTEGRITY Roller Services Maxcess International Corporation Menges Roller Company Mid South Roller Roll Technology Corp. Rotadyne

Rubber

ABBA Roller, LLC A-Korn Roller, Inc. American Roller Company Bobst North America Inc. C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. Componex Corporation Conversource, Inc. Finzer Roller Harper Corporation of America Imperial Rubber Products Inc. INTEGRITY Roller Services Ligum North America, LLC Luminite Products Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Menges Roller Company Mid South Roller Packages Limited Polymag Tek Printco Industries, LLC Rotadyne

Spreader

ABBA Roller, LLC A-Korn Roller, Inc. American Roller Company Bobst North America Inc. Componex Corporation Finzer Roller Imperial Rubber Products Inc. Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Menges Roller Company Mid South Roller Packages Limited Rotadyne

Teflon Coated

ABBA Roller, LLC American Roller Company Bobst North America Inc. C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. Componex Corporation Finzer Roller Imperial Rubber Products Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Menges Roller Company Mid South Roller Packages Limited Rotadyne

Urethane-Coated

ABBA Roller, LLC American Roller Company Bobst North America Inc. Finzer Roller INTEGRITY Roller Services Maxcess International Corporation Menges Roller Company Mid South Roller Packages Limited Rotadyne

Vacuum

ABBA Roller, LLC A-Korn Roller, Inc. Bobst North America Inc. Innovative Machine Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Menges Roller Company Rotadyne SAM North America, LLC Imperial Rubber Products Inc.

SCANNING EQUIPMENT Laser

Beta LaserMike Products (A Brand of NDC Technologies) Bobst North America Inc. Mahlo America, Inc. NDC Technologies

Optical

Beta LaserMike Products (A Brand of NDC Technologies) Bobst North America Inc. Buhler Inc. L and M Instruments LLC Mahlo America, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation NDC Technologies Roll-2-Roll Technologies, LLC Sensory Analytics - SpecMetrix Systems VON ARDENNE GmbH Wintriss Engineering Corporation

PO Box 95 Pinesbridge Commerce Park 25 Lancaster Drive Beacon Falls, CT 06403 Phone: (800) 465-3763 Fax: (203) 723-8230 Website: www.goldenrodcorp.com Maxcess International Corporation E C Designs (USA) Ltd (Elite Cameron)

Hydraulic/Mechanical

Bobst North America Inc. Goldenrod Corporation Maxcess International Corporation

Winder-Collapsible

Bobst North America Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Rotadyne

SHEETERS Accraply Inc. AZCO Corp. Margot Machinery, Inc. Optimation Technology, Inc. TGW International

SLEEVES Anilox

Bobst North America Inc. Harper Corporation of America Packages Limited

Flexographic

Photoelectric

Bobst North America Inc. L and M Instruments LLC

SEALING MACHINERY Delta ModTech

SHAFTS

A-Korn Roller, Inc. Bobst North America Inc. Conversource, Inc. INTEGRITY Roller Services Ligum North America, LLC Luminite Products Corporation Packages Limited Rotadyne

Gravure

Air Expanding

Bobst North America Inc. Erhardt + Leimer Inc. Goldenrod Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation

Differential

Goldenrod Corporation

Bobst North America Inc. Deacro Industries Ltd. Erhardt + Leimer Inc. Goldenrod Corporation

Bobst North America Inc. Harper Corporation of America INTEGRITY Roller Services Ligum North America, LLC Packages Limited

Screen

Bobst North America Inc. INTEGRITY Roller Services

2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

EQUIPMENT & ACCESSORIES SUPPLIERS SLITTERS (LOG TYPE) Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd. GOEBEL IMS Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Titan (Atlas Converting North America, Inc.) TGW International

SLITTERS/REWINDERS Accessories

Accraply Inc. Badger Plug Co. Bobst North America Inc. Cadence Inc. Catbridge Machinery Componex Corporation Dienes Corporation GOEBEL IMS Hyde Industrial Blade Solutions Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Parkinson Technologies

Specialty Blade Experts

Cadence, Inc.

9 Technology Drive Staunton, VA 24401 Phone: (540) 248-2200 Fax: (540) 248-4400 Website: www.cadenceinc.com/ blades

Catbridge Machinery

222 New Road Parsippany, NJ 07054 USA Phone: (973) 808-0029 Fax: (973) 808-0076 Website: www.catbridge.com

Deacro Industries Ltd.

135 Capital Court Mississauga, Ontario L5T 2R8 Phone: (905) 564-6566 Fax: (905) 564-6533 Website: www.deacro.com

Score Cut

100 Goldstein Drive Woonsocket, RI 02895 Phone: (401) 762-2100 Fax: (401) 762-2295 Website: www.

parkinsontechnologies.com

Portage Knife Company Quickdraft E C Designs (USA) Ltd (Elite Cameron)

Center-Wind

Accraply Inc. Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd. Bobst North America Inc. Catbridge Machinery Comexi North America, Inc. Deacro Industries Ltd. Dienes Corporation GOEBEL IMS Independent Machine Company Innovative Machine Corporation Kampf Machinery Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. Matik, Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited Parkinson Technologies Titan (Atlas Converting North America, Inc.) Webco Engineering Inc. E C Designs (USA) Ltd (Elite Cameron)

Razor-Blade Cut

Accraply Inc. Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd. Bobst North America Inc. Cadence Inc. Catbridge Machinery Comexi North America, Inc. Deacro Industries Ltd. Dienes Corporation GOEBEL IMS Independent Machine Company Innovative Machine Corporation Kampf Machinery Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. Matik, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Packages Limited Parkinson Technologies Portage Knife Company Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. TGW International Titan (Atlas Converting North America, Inc.) E C Designs (USA) Ltd (Elite Cameron)

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

Accraply Inc. Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd. Bobst North America Inc. Cadence Inc. Catbridge Machinery Deacro Industries Ltd. Dienes Corporation GOEBEL IMS Independent Machine Company Kampf Machinery Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. Matik, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Parkinson Technologies Portage Knife Company Preco, Inc. Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. TGW International Titan (Atlas Converting North America, Inc.) Webco Engineering Inc. E C Designs (USA) Ltd (Elite Cameron)

Shear Cut

Accraply Inc. Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd. Bobst North America Inc. Cadence Inc. Catbridge Machinery Comexi North America, Inc. Deacro Industries Ltd. Dienes Corporation GOEBEL IMS Independent Machine Company Innovative Machine Corporation Kampf Machinery Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. Matik, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION Optimation Technology, Inc. Parkinson Technologies Portage Knife Company Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. TGW International Titan (Atlas Converting North America, Inc.) Webco Engineering Inc. E C Designs (USA) Ltd (Elite Cameron)

Surface-Wind

Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd. Bobst North America Inc. Bobst North America Inc. Catbridge Machinery Deacro Industries Ltd. Dienes Corporation GOEBEL IMS Independent Machine Company Kampf Machinery Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. Matik, Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited Parkinson Technologies

Titan (Atlas Converting North America, Inc.) Webco Engineering Inc. E C Designs (USA) Ltd (Elite Cameron)

SOFTWARE (PROCESS & ANALYTIC) Bobst North America Inc. Overbridge Technology

SPLICING EQUIPMENT Bobst North America Inc. Catbridge Machinery ConQuip, Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC Dover Flexo Electronics Emerson and Renwick Ltd Faustel Margot Machinery, Inc. Martin Automatic Inc Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Optimation Technology, Inc. Parkinson Technologies SAM North America, LLC MTorres Diseños Industriales

STACKERS AZCO Corp. Bobst North America Inc. Emerson and Renwick Ltd Margot Machinery, Inc. Matik, Inc. Preco, Inc.

STATIC-CONTROL EQUIPMENT Alpha Innovation, Inc. Bobst North America Inc. Margot Machinery, Inc. Meech Static Eliminators USA Inc. Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Quickdraft Simco-Ion NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION

STATIC-MONITORING EQUIPMENT Bobst North America Inc. Meech Static Eliminators USA Inc. Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Simco-Ion Alpha Innovation, Inc.

SUPPORTS (ROLL END) Bobst North America Inc.

SURFACE-TREATMENT SYSTEMS Chemical

Titan (Atlas Converting North America, Inc.) Cadence Inc. Conversource, Inc.

Bobst North America Inc.

Corona Discharge

TRIMMERS

AFS American Roller Company Bobst North America Inc. Celgard / Asahi Kasei Enercon Industries Margot Machinery, Inc. Vetaphone

Bobst North America Inc. Emerson and Renwick Ltd TGW International Celgard / Asahi Kasei Dienes Corporation

Accraply Inc. Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd. AZCO Corp. Bobst North America Inc. Catbridge Machinery ConQuip, Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC Deacro Industries Ltd. Emerson and Renwick Ltd Erhardt + Leimer Inc. Faustel GOEBEL IMS Independent Machine Company Innovative Machine Corporation Jemmco LLC Margot Machinery, Inc. Matik, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Montalvo Corporation MTorres Diseños Industriales New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited Parkinson Technologies Printco Industries, LLC Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Pyradia Inc. SAM North America, LLC Webco Engineering Inc. C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. OLBRICH GmbH Titan (Atlas Converting North America, Inc.)

Bobst North America Inc.

Flame

Bobst North America Inc. Enercon Industries Margot Machinery, Inc.

Plasma

AFS Angstrom Sciences Inc. Applied Materials WEB Coating GmbH Bobst North America Inc. Buhler Inc. Enercon Industries FHR Anlagenbau GmbH Vetaphone VON ARDENNE GmbH

Bobst North America Inc. FHR Anlagenbau GmbH

TENSION CONTROLS/ SENSORS Bobst North America Inc. Dover Flexo Electronics Erhardt + Leimer Inc. Jemmco LLC Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. Packages Limited Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Beta LaserMike Products (A Brand of NDC Technologies)

TRIM/SCRAP REMOVAL American Roller Company Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd. Bobst North America Inc. C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. Dienes Corporation Emerson and Renwick Ltd Independent Machine Company Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Optimation Technology, Inc. Packages Limited Parkinson Technologies Precision AirConvey Corporation Quickdraft

UNWINDING EQUIPMENT

UV SYSTEMS Bobst North America Inc. Emerson and Renwick Ltd NovaCentrix Prime UV Systems, Inc. XDS Holdings, Inc. Primarc UV Curing Lamps, a Baldwin Technology Brand

VACUUM COATING MACHINERY CVD

Applied Materials WEB Coating GmbH Bobst North America Inc. FHR Anlagenbau GmbH Sputtering Components Inc.

Electron Beam

Advanced Energy Applied Materials WEB Coating GmbH Bobst North America Inc. Buhler Inc. FHR Anlagenbau GmbH Nordmeccanica NA Ltd VON ARDENNE GmbH

Bobst North America Inc. Buhler Inc. Emerson and Renwick Ltd FHR Anlagenbau GmbH Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Nordmeccanica NA Ltd VON ARDENNE GmbH

VACUUM EQUIPMENT COMPONENTS Applied Materials WEB Coating GmbH Siemensstrasse 100 63755 Alzenau, Germany

Phone: +49-6023-92-6000 Fax: +49-6023-92-6200 Web: www.appliedmaterials.com

Parent Company: Applied Materials, Inc. Global Sales Offices: Web_Sales@amat.com

Monomer Evaporation Bobst North America Inc. Buhler Inc. FHR Anlagenbau GmbH Margot Machinery, Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd

PECVD

Advanced Energy Applied Materials WEB Coating GmbH Bobst North America Inc. FHR Anlagenbau GmbH VON ARDENNE GmbH

Resistance Evaporation

3M Technical Ceramics (Formerly ESK) Advanced Energy Applied Materials WEB Coating GmbH Bobst North America Inc. Buhler Inc. FHR Anlagenbau GmbH Margot Machinery, Inc. Metallizing Systems Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd

Sputtering

Advanced Energy Angstrom Sciences Inc. Applied Materials WEB Coating GmbH Bobst North America Inc. Buhler Inc. Emerson and Renwick Ltd FHR Anlagenbau GmbH Margot Machinery, Inc. Nordmeccanica NA Ltd Sputtering Components Inc. VON ARDENNE GmbH

Vacuum Roll

New

Anderson Dahlen, Inc. Angstrom Sciences Inc. Applied Materials WEB Coating GmbH Bobst North America Inc. Buhler Inc. Sensory Analytics - SpecMetrix Systems Sputtering Components Inc.

Re-Built

Angstrom Sciences Inc. Buhler Inc.

Bühler Inc.

539 James Jackson Avenue Cary, NC 27513 Phone: (919) 657-7100 Fax: (919) 657-7101 Email: leyboldoptics.cary@ buhlergroup.com Website: www.buhlergroup.com

VIDEO INSPECTION SYSTEMS Bobst North America Inc. Erhardt + Leimer Inc. Margot Machinery, Inc. Wintriss Engineering Corporation

WEB CLEANING EQUIPMENT Contact

Erhardt + Leimer Inc. Matik, Inc. Simco-Ion

Non-Contact

Erhardt + Leimer Inc. Matik, Inc. Simco-Ion

Static Discharge Simco-Ion

Applied Materials WEB Coating GmbH 2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

MATERIALS SUPPLIERS Ultrasonic

Conversource, Inc.

Vacuum

Simco-Ion

WEB COOLING Acoustic

Bobst North America Inc.

Conduction

Advance Systems, Inc. Bobst North America Inc. ConQuip, Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC Faustel Innovative Machine Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. Menges Roller Company New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Pyradia Inc. XDS Holdings, Inc.

Convection

Advance Systems, Inc. Bobst North America Inc. ConQuip, Inc. Davis-Standard, LLC New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Pyradia Inc. Spooner Industries Inc.

WEB GUIDES Air

Bobst North America Inc. Margot Machinery, Inc. Packages Limited Spooner Industries Inc.

Electrohydraulic

Bobst North America Inc. Erhardt + Leimer Inc. Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Packages Limited

Electromechanical

Bobst North America Inc. Erhardt + Leimer Inc. Margot Machinery, Inc. Martin Automatic Inc Maxcess International Corporation Packages Limited Roll-2-Roll Technologies, LLC

Pneumohydraulic

Bobst North America Inc. Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Packages Limited

WEB TENSION MEASUREMENT Erhardt + Leimer Inc.

Margot Machinery, Inc. Maxcess International Corporation Measureitall.com Montalvo Corporation Dover Flexo Electronics Jemmco LLC Optimation Technology, Inc.

WINDING EQUIPMENT Center-Wind

Bobst North America Inc. Catbridge Machinery ConQuip, Inc. Deacro Industries Ltd. Emerson and Renwick Ltd Faustel GOEBEL IMS Independent Machine Company Innovative Machine Corporation Kampf Machinery Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Packages Limited Parkinson Technologies Pyradia Inc. SAM North America, LLC Webco Engineering Inc. E C Designs (USA) Ltd (Elite Cameron)

Combination Center-Surface

Bobst North America Inc. Catbridge Machinery ConQuip, Inc. Emerson and Renwick Ltd Faustel GOEBEL IMS Independent Machine Company Innovative Machine Corporation Kampf Machinery Corporation KROENERT GmbH & Co KG Margot Machinery, Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Packages Limited Parkinson Technologies Pyradia Inc. SAM North America, LLC Webco Engineering Inc. E C Designs (USA) Ltd (Elite Cameron)

Shafted

Bobst North America Inc. Catbridge Machinery ConQuip, Inc. Deacro Industries Ltd. Emerson and Renwick Ltd Faustel GOEBEL IMS Independent Machine Company Innovative Machine Corporation Kampf Machinery Corporation KROENERT GmbH & Co KG Margot Machinery, Inc. New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Packages Limited Parkinson Technologies Printco Industries, LLC Pyradia Inc. SAM North America, LLC Webco Engineering Inc.

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

E C Designs (USA) Ltd (Elite Cameron)

Shaftless

Bobst North America Inc. Catbridge Machinery ConQuip, Inc. Deacro Industries Ltd. Emerson and Renwick Ltd Faustel GOEBEL IMS Independent Machine Company Innovative Machine Corporation Kampf Machinery Corporation KROENERT GmbH & Co KG Margot Machinery, Inc. MTorres Diseños Industriales New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Packages Limited Parkinson Technologies Pyradia Inc. SAM North America, LLC Webco Engineering Inc. E C Designs (USA) Ltd (Elite Cameron)

Spooling

Bobst North America Inc. GOEBEL IMS Independent Machine Company Innovative Machine Corporation Kampf Machinery Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. Vitek Corporation/JBF/Moeller

Surface-Wind

Bobst North America Inc. Catbridge Machinery ConQuip, Inc. Emerson and Renwick Ltd GOEBEL IMS Independent Machine Company Innovative Machine Corporation Kampf Machinery Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. MTorres Diseños Industriales Packages Limited Parkinson Technologies Pyradia Inc. Vitek Corporation/JBF/Moeller Webco Engineering Inc. E C Designs (USA) Ltd (Elite Cameron)

Traverse

Bobst North America Inc. GOEBEL IMS Independent Machine Company Innovative Machine Corporation Kampf Machinery Corporation Margot Machinery, Inc. Packages Limited Vitek Corporation/JBF/Moeller

Turreted

Bobst North America Inc. Catbridge Machinery ConQuip, Inc. Deacro Industries Ltd. Emerson and Renwick Ltd Faustel GOEBEL IMS

Independent Machine Company Innovative Machine Corporation Kampf Machinery Corporation KROENERT GmbH & Co KG Margot Machinery, Inc. MTorres Diseños Industriales New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Packages Limited Parkinson Technologies Pyradia Inc. SAM North America, LLC E C Designs (USA) Ltd (Elite Cameron)

MATERIALS SUPPLIERS ADHESIVES Acrylic

Adhesive Applications Ashland Specialty Ingredients BASF Corporation Bostik, Inc. CCT (Coating & Converting Technologies) Celgard / Asahi Kasei D&K Group Dow Chemical Company Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. FLEXcon Franklin Adhesives and Polymers Griff Paper and Film H.B. Fuller Henkel Corporation Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. Packages Limited Paramelt USA Polymer Science, Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Worthen Industries

Cold Seal

Angstrom Sciences Inc. BASF Corporation Bostik, Inc. D&K Group Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. H.B. Fuller Microseal Industries Packages Limited Paramelt USA Polymer Science, Inc. Valco Melton Sun Chemical

Conductive

Adhesives Research, Inc. Angstrom Sciences Inc. Bostik, Inc. Brady Worldwide, Coated Products D&K Group Griff Paper and Film Microseal Industries Polymer Science, Inc.

Epoxy

Ashland Specialty Ingredients Bostik, Inc. Celgard / Asahi Kasei

D&K Group Dow Chemical Company Griff Paper and Film H.B. Fuller Henkel Corporation Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. Packages Limited Polymer Science, Inc. Valco Melton

EVA

Bostik, Inc. D&K Group Dow Chemical Company Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. Griff Paper and Film H.B. Fuller Henkel Corporation Microseal Industries Packages Limited Paramelt USA Polymer Science, Inc. Valco Melton Worthen Industries

Microsphere

Bostik, Inc. D&K Group FLEXcon Franklin Adhesives and Polymers Griff Paper and Film H.B. Fuller Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc.

Optical

Ashland Specialty Ingredients Bostik, Inc. Brady Worldwide, Coated Products Coveris™ Advanced Coatings D&K Group FLEXcon Franklin Adhesives and Polymers Lamart Corp. Polymer Science, Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc.

Pigmented

Worthen Industries

Hot Melt

Polyamide

Hydrophilic

Polyesters / Co-Polyesters

Packages Limited Sonoco Products Company Worthen Industries

Adhesives Research, Inc. BASF Corporation Bostik, Inc. D&K Group Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. H.B. Fuller Polymer Science, Inc.

Laminating

Adhesive Applications Ashland Specialty Ingredients BASF Corporation Bostik, Inc. Brady Worldwide, Coated Products Celgard / Asahi Kasei COIM USA, Inc. Conwed Plastics Coveris™ Advanced Coatings D&K Group Dow Chemical Company Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. FLEXcon Franklin Adhesives and Polymers H.B. Fuller Henkel Corporation Kay Automotive Graphics Medco Coated Products Mica Corporation Microseal Industries Morchem Inc. Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. Packages Limited Paramelt USA Polymer Science, Inc. Polytex Environmental Inks, LLC Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Valco Melton Worthen Industries ORAFOL Americas Inc.

D&K Group Packages Limited Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc.

Celgard / Asahi Kasei Worthen Industries

Polyimide

Bostik, Inc. Brady Worldwide, Coated Products D&K Group FLEXcon Henkel Corporation Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. Polymer Science, Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc.

Polyurethane

Argotec LLC Ashland Specialty Ingredients BASF Corporation Bostik, Inc. Brady Worldwide, Coated Products COIM USA, Inc. D&K Group Dow Chemical Company Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. FLEXcon H.B. Fuller Henkel Corporation Mica Corporation Morchem Inc. Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. Paramelt USA Polymer Science, Inc. Valco Melton Worthen Industries

Pressure Sensitive

Adhesive Applications Adhesives Research, Inc. Ashland Specialty Ingredients BASF Corporation Bostik, Inc.

Brady Worldwide, Coated Products CCT (Coating & Converting Technologies) Coveris™ Advanced Coatings D&K Group Dow Chemical Company Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. FLEXcon Franklin Adhesives and Polymers Griff Paper and Film H.B. Fuller Kay Automotive Graphics Medco Coated Products Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. Polymer Science, Inc. Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Rayven Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Valco Melton Worthen Industries

Reseal

Ashland Specialty Ingredients BASF Corporation Bostik, Inc. D&K Group Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. FLEXcon Franklin Adhesives and Polymers H.B. Fuller Polymer Science, Inc. Valco Melton

Rubber

Adhesive Applications Ashland Specialty Ingredients Bostik, Inc. CCT (Coating & Converting Technologies) D&K Group Dow Chemical Company Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film H.B. Fuller Microseal Industries Polymer Science, Inc. Worthen Industries

Silicone

Adhesives Research, Inc. Bostik, Inc. Brady Worldwide, Coated Products D&K Group FLEXcon Polymer Science, Inc. Polytex Environmental Inks, LLC

Thermoplastic

Ashland Specialty Ingredients Bostik, Inc. D&K Group Dow Chemical Company Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. FLEXcon H.B. Fuller Mica Corporation Microseal Industries Morchem Inc. Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. Polymer Science, Inc.

Polytex Environmental Inks, LLC Worthen Industries

Thermoset

Ashland Specialty Ingredients Bostik, Inc. Brady Worldwide, Coated Products D&K Group Dow Chemical Company H.B. Fuller Morchem Inc. Morchem Inc. Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION Polymer Science, Inc. Worthen Industries

Water Based

Adhesive Applications Ashland Specialty Ingredients BASF Corporation Bostik, Inc. Celgard / Asahi Kasei D&K Group Dow Chemical Company Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. FLEXcon Franklin Adhesives and Polymers H.B. Fuller Henkel Corporation Mica Corporation Microseal Industries Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION Packages Limited Paramelt USA Polymer Science, Inc. Polytex Environmental Inks, LLC Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Valco Melton Worthen Industries

COATINGS 100% Solids

Adchem Corporation Ashland Specialty Ingredients CCT (Coating & Converting Technologies) Coveris™ Advanced Coatings D&K Group Dow Chemical Company Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto) Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. Evonik Corporation H.B. Fuller Henkel Corporation Michelman Packages Limited Paramelt USA Polymer Science, Inc. Polytex Environmental Inks, LLC Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Worthen Industries Sun Chemical

Abrasion Resistance

Ashland Specialty Ingredients BASF Corporation Buhler Inc.

2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

MATERIALS SUPPLIERS Cascades Sonoco Coveris™ Advanced Coatings D&K Group Dow Chemical Company Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Michelman Morchem Inc. Paramelt USA Polymer Science, Inc. Polytex Environmental Inks, LLC Technical Coating Int’l, Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Worthen Industries Sun Chemical

Anti-Fog

COIM USA, Inc. Coveris™ Advanced Coatings D&K Group Griff Paper and Film Microseal Industries Paramelt USA Protect-all, Inc. Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc.

Antireflective

Ashland Specialty Ingredients BASF Corporation D&K Group FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Polymer Science, Inc. Polytex Environmental Inks, LLC Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Worthen Industries

Antistatic

Ashland Specialty Ingredients Buhler Inc. Cascades Sonoco D&K Group Griff Paper and Film Microseal Industries Paramelt USA Polymer Science, Inc. Polytex Environmental Inks, LLC Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU Technical Coating Int’l, Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Worthen Industries Sun Chemical

Barrier

Ashland Specialty Ingredients Buhler Inc. Cascades Sonoco CBC Coveris™ Advanced Coatings D&K Group Dow Chemical Company Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. FLEXcon

Griff Paper and Film Henkel Corporation Mica Corporation Michelman Packages Limited Polymer Science, Inc. Polytex Environmental Inks, LLC Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU Technical Coating Int’l, Inc. Worthen Industries Sun Chemical

Conductive

Ashland Specialty Ingredients Brady Worldwide, Coated Products CBC Coveris™ Advanced Coatings D&K Group Griff Paper and Film Microseal Industries Polymer Science, Inc. Polytex Environmental Inks, LLC Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU Technical Coating Int’l, Inc. Worthen Industries Sun Chemical

Corosion-Resistant

D&K Group Michelman Microseal Industries Morchem Inc. Paramelt USA Polytex Environmental Inks, LLC

Custom Formulated

Adchem Corporation Adhesive Applications Ashland Specialty Ingredients BASF Corporation Bostik, Inc. Cascades Sonoco CBC COIM USA, Inc. Coveris™ Advanced Coatings D&K Group Dow Chemical Company Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. Mica Corporation Microseal Industries Morchem Inc. Paramelt USA Polymer Science, Inc. Polytex Environmental Inks, LLC Protect-all, Inc. Rayven Inc. Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Worthen Industries Sun Chemical

Dyes

BASF Corporation D&K Group Polymer Science, Inc. Valco Melton

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

Heat Seal

Adchem Corporation BASF Corporation Bostik, Inc. COIM USA, Inc. D&K Group Dow Chemical Company Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. FLEXcon Franklin Adhesives and Polymers H.B. Fuller Hutchison Miller Sales Company Mica Corporation Michelman Microseal Industries Morchem Inc. Packages Limited Paramelt USA Polymer Science, Inc. Protect-all, Inc. Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU Worthen Industries

Hot Melts

Adchem Corporation Ashland Specialty Ingredients BASF Corporation CCT (Coating & Converting Technologies) D&K Group Dow Chemical Company Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. Franklin Adhesives and Polymers Griff Paper and Film H.B. Fuller Morchem Inc. Packages Limited Paramelt USA Polymer Science, Inc. Valco Melton Worthen Industries

Inks

Adhesive Applications BASF Corporation D&K Group Packages Limited Polymer Science, Inc. Polytex Environmental Inks, LLC Viavi Solutions (formerly JDSU– Flex Products Group) Sun Chemical

Liquid Crystals

D&K Group Polymer Science, Inc.

Matte Finish

Ashland Specialty Ingredients BASF Corporation CBC D&K Group Dow Chemical Company Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Hutchison Miller Sales Company Mica Corporation Michelman Microseal Industries

Packages Limited Polymer Science, Inc. Polytex Environmental Inks, LLC Protect-all, Inc. Rayven Inc. Technical Coating Int’l, Inc. Worthen Industries

Organic

CBC D&K Group Michelman

Photosensitive

Ashland Specialty Ingredients Polymer Science, Inc.

Primers

Acucote Inc. Ashland Specialty Ingredients BASF Corporation CBC COIM USA, Inc. Coveris™ Advanced Coatings D&K Group Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. Griff Paper and Film H.B. Fuller Hutchison Miller Sales Company Mica Corporation Michelman Microseal Industries Morchem Inc. Packages Limited Polymer Science, Inc. Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Worthen Industries Sun Chemical

Print Enhancement

Acucote Inc. Brady Worldwide, Coated Products Coveris™ Advanced Coatings D&K Group Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Henkel Corporation Mica Corporation Michelman Polytex Environmental Inks, LLC Protect-all, Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc.

Radiation Cured

Ashland Specialty Ingredients BASF Corporation Coveris™ Advanced Coatings Dow Chemical Company Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. Evonik Corporation Griff Paper and Film Michelman Polymer Science, Inc. Polytex Environmental Inks, LLC Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Worthen Industries Sun Chemical

Silicones

Adhesives Research, Inc. Ashland Specialty Ingredients D&K Group Evonik Corporation FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Infiana Polymer Science, Inc. Polytex Environmental Inks, LLC Rayven Inc.

Solvent Based

Adchem Corporation Adhesive Applications Ashland Specialty Ingredients Bostik, Inc. Brady Worldwide, Coated Products CCT (Coating & Converting Technologies) COIM USA, Inc. Coveris™ Advanced Coatings D&K Group Dow Chemical Company FLEXcon Henkel Corporation Infiana Medco Coated Products Microseal Industries Morchem Inc. Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION Packages Limited Polymer Science, Inc. Rayven Inc. Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU Technical Coating Int’l, Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Worthen Industries Sun Chemical

Solventless Based

Acucote Inc. Adchem Corporation Ashland Specialty Ingredients Bostik, Inc. Celgard / Asahi Kasei D&K Group Dow Chemical Company Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. Griff Paper and Film Henkel Corporation Infiana Packages Limited Paramelt USA Polymer Science, Inc. Protect-all, Inc. Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Worthen Industries Sun Chemical

Water Based

Adchem Corporation Adhesive Applications Appvion, Inc. Ashland Specialty Ingredients BASF Corporation

Bostik, Inc. Brady Worldwide, Coated Products Cascades Sonoco CBC Celgard / Asahi Kasei Coveris™ Advanced Coatings D&K Group Dow Chemical Company Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. FLEXcon Franklin Adhesives and Polymers Griff Paper and Film H.B. Fuller Henkel Corporation Mica Corporation Michelman Microseal Industries Morchem Inc. NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION Paramelt USA Polymer Science, Inc. Rayven Inc. Technical Coating Int’l, Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Worthen Industries Sun Chemical

Wax

BASF Corporation D&K Group Packages Limited Paramelt USA Polymer Science, Inc. Polytex Environmental Inks, LLC Worthen Industries

DEPOSITION MATERIALS Ceramics

3M Technical Ceramics (Formerly ESK) Angstrom Sciences Inc. Buhler Inc. Celgard / Asahi Kasei FHR Anlagenbau GmbH JBF RAK LLC Kennametal Inc. Materion Large Area Coatings Metallizing Systems Inc. NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION Packages Limited Polymer Science, Inc. Umicore Thin Film Products Vacuum Depositing Inc.

Metals

3M Technical Ceramics (Formerly ESK) Angstrom Sciences Inc. Buhler Inc. FHR Anlagenbau GmbH Griff Paper and Film IntrAL inc. MANFISA (Manufacturas Irular, S.A.) Materion Large Area Coatings Metallizing Systems Inc. Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. NovaCentrix Phifer Incorporated Polymer Science, Inc.

ShapedWire / Solon Specialty Wire Speedmet Aluminum San. Tic. Ltd. Umicore Thin Film Products Viavi Solutions (formerly JDSU– Flex Products Group)

EMULSIONS D&K Group NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION Mica Corporation Paramelt USA

FILMS Acrylic

Acucote Inc. Appvion, Inc. Celgard / Asahi Kasei D&K Group Filmquest Group Inc. Flex Films (USA) Inc. FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Kay Automotive Graphics Microseal Industries Now Plastics Polymer Science, Inc.

Adhesive

Brady Worldwide, Coated Products

Brushed

Transilwrap Company, Inc.

Cellophane

Filmquest Group Inc. Polymer Science, Inc. Protect-all, Inc.

Cellulose Acetate

Acucote Inc. Catalina Graphic Films D&K Group Filmquest Group Inc. Hutchison Miller Sales Company Lamart Corp. Microseal Industries Polymer Science, Inc. Protect-all, Inc.

Co-Extruded

CHIRIPAL POLY FILMS LTD. Covertech D&K Group Filmquest Group Inc. Griff Paper and Film Hutchison Miller Sales Company Inteplast AmTopp Films Jindal Films (was ExxonMobil Chemical) MTi & Polyexe Corporation / An Inteplast Group Company Now Plastics Polymer Science, Inc. Protect-all, Inc. SKC Inc. Super Film Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. Taghleef Industries Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Terphane Inc. Toray Plastics (America), Inc. Transilwrap Company, Inc.

Ethyl Vinyl Acetate

Argotec LLC Bostik, Inc. Celgard / Asahi Kasei D&K Group Filmquest Group Inc. Garware Polyester Ltd. Griff Paper and Film Lamart Corp. Microseal Industries MTi & Polyexe Corporation / An Inteplast Group Company Now Plastics Polymer Science, Inc. Protect-all, Inc. Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU

Ethyl Vinyl Alcohol

D&K Group Filmquest Group Inc. FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Microseal Industries Now Plastics Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU Super Film Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.

Fluoropolymer

Argotec LLC Bostik, Inc.

Covertech Flexible Packaging Inc.

279 Humberline Drive Etobicoke, Ontario M9W5T6 Phone: (416) 798-1340 Fax: (416) 798-1342 Website: www.covertechflex.com

CFC International FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Honeywell Healthcare & Packaging Kay Automotive Graphics Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU

Holographic

Acucote Inc. Amsterdam Metallized Products B.V. Catalina Graphic Films CFC International Flex Films (USA) Inc.

2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

MATERIALS SUPPLIERS FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Hueck Folien GmbH Hutchison Miller Sales Company Protect-all, Inc. Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU Singular Metallizing Paper Corporation Toray Plastics (America), Inc. Transilwrap Company, Inc. Unifoil Corp.

Iridescent

FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Hutchison Miller Sales Company Kay Automotive Graphics Lamart Corp. Protect-all, Inc. Transilwrap Company, Inc. Unifoil Corp.

Metallized

Acucote Inc. Amsterdam Metallized Products B.V. Bostik, Inc. Catalina Graphic Films Celplast Metallized Products CFC International CHIRIPAL POLY FILMS LTD. D&K Group DUNMORE Corporation Eastman Chemical Company Filmquest Group Inc. FILMtech, Inc. Flex Films (USA) Inc. FLEXcon Garware Polyester Ltd. Griff Paper and Film Gulf Packaging Industries Ltd. Hanita Coatings Hueck Folien GmbH Hutchison Miller Sales Company Inteplast AmTopp Films JBF RAK LLC Jindal Films (was ExxonMobil Chemical) Madico, Inc. Materion Large Area Coatings Met-Lux Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. NovaCentrix Now Plastics Polinas Plastik Sanayii ve Ticareti A.S. Protect-all, Inc. Rol-Vac, LP Roysons Corporation Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU Sumilon Polyester Ltd Super Film Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. Taghleef Industries Inc. Technical Coating Int’l, Inc. Terphane Inc. Toray Plastics (America), Inc. Unifoil Corp. Vacuum Depositing Inc. Vast Films, Ltd. Viavi Solutions (formerly JDSU– Flex Products Group)

Nylon

BASF Corporation Brueckner Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG D&K Group Honeywell Healthcare & Packaging Infiana Met-Lux Now Plastics Packages Limited Protect-all, Inc. Rol-Vac, LP Roysons Corporation Super Film Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. Transilwrap Company, Inc.

Polyactic Acid D&K Group

Polyamide

Bostik, Inc. Brueckner Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG Coveris™ Advanced Coatings D&K Group FLEXcon Super Film Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc.

Polycarbonate

Catalina Graphic Films CFC International D&K Group Griff Paper and Film Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Transilwrap Company, Inc.

Polyester

Bostik, Inc. Brueckner Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG Carestream Contract Manufacturing Catalina Graphic Films CFC International CHIRIPAL POLY FILMS LTD. D&K Group DuPont Teijin Films Filmquest Group Inc. Flex Films (USA) Inc. FLEXcon Garware Polyester Ltd. Griff Paper and Film Infiana

Filmquest Group Inc.

320 Remington Boulevard Bolingbrook, IL 60440 Phone: (630) 226-9800 Fax: (630) 226-9400 Toll Free: (888) PET-FILM Website: www.petfilm.com

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

JBF RAK LLC Kay Automotive Graphics Mitsubishi Polyester Film, Inc. Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. Now Plastics PPG Industries / Teslin Substrate Protect-all, Inc. Rayven Inc. Rol-Vac, LP SKC Inc. Super Film Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. Technical Coating Int’l, Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Terphane Inc. Toray Plastics (America), Inc. Transilwrap Company, Inc.

Polyethylene, HDPE

Bostik, Inc. Brueckner Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG Celgard / Asahi Kasei D&K Group FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Hutchison Miller Sales Company Infiana MTi & Polyexe Corporation / An Inteplast Group Company Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. Protect-all, Inc. Rayven Inc. Technical Coating Int’l, Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Transilwrap Company, Inc.

Polyethylene, LDPE

Bostik, Inc. Covertech D&K Group FLEXcon Garware Polyester Ltd. Griff Paper and Film Hutchison Miller Sales Company Infiana MTi & Polyexe Corporation / An Inteplast Group Company Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. Protect-all, Inc. Rayven Inc. Technical Coating Int’l, Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Transilwrap Company, Inc.

Polyethylene, LLDPE

Covertech D&K Group FLEXcon Garware Polyester Ltd. Griff Paper and Film Infiana MTi & Polyexe Corporation / An Inteplast Group Company Protect-all, Inc. Technical Coating Int’l, Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc.

Polyethylene, PEN Covertech D&K Group DuPont Teijin Films

Filmquest Group Inc. FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Materion Large Area Coatings Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. SKC Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc.

Polyimide

Bostik, Inc. D&K Group FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Now Plastics

Polypropylene

Acucote Inc. Bostik, Inc. Catalina Graphic Films Celgard / Asahi Kasei CFC International D&K Group Filmquest Group Inc. Flex Films (USA) Inc. FLEXcon Garware Polyester Ltd. Griff Paper and Film Hutchison Miller Sales Company Infiana Inteplast AmTopp Films Jindal Films (was ExxonMobil Chemical) MTi & Polyexe Corporation / An Inteplast Group Company Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc. Now Plastics PPG Industries / Teslin Substrate Super Film Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Toray Plastics (America), Inc. Transilwrap Company, Inc.

Polypropylene (Cast)

D&K Group Flex Films (USA) Inc. FLEXcon Garware Polyester Ltd. Griff Paper and Film Infiana Multifilm Packaging Corp. Super Film Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Toray Plastics (America), Inc.

Polypropylene (Oriented)

Brueckner Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG CHIRIPAL POLY FILMS LTD. D&K Group Flex Films (USA) Inc. FLEXcon Garware Polyester Ltd. Griff Paper and Film Gulf Packaging Industries Ltd. Hutchison Miller Sales Company Infiana MTi & Polyexe Corporation / An Inteplast Group Company Super Film Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S.

Taghleef Industries Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Toray Plastics (America), Inc. MACPAC Films Ltd.

Polystyrene

Acucote Inc. Brueckner Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG Catalina Graphic Films D&K Group Filmquest Group Inc. FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Hutchison Miller Sales Company Now Plastics Protect-all, Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Transilwrap Company, Inc.

Polyurethane

Argotec LLC Carestream Contract Manufacturing CFC International Coveris™ Advanced Coatings D&K Group FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Kay Automotive Graphics Lamart Corp.

D&K Group DUNMORE Corporation Fox River Associates Griff Paper and Film Hutchison Miller Sales Company Infiana Rayven Inc.

Shrink

Brueckner Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG Flex Films (USA) Inc. Now Plastics SKC Inc. Taghleef Industries Inc. Hutchison Miller Sales Company

FOILS Acucote Inc. Adhesive Applications D&K Group DUNMORE Corporation Filmquest Group Inc. Griff Paper and Film Hutchison Miller Sales Company Now Plastics Packages Limited Protect-all, Inc. CFC International Coveris™ Advanced Coatings

Polyvinyl Chloride

Acucote Inc. Catalina Graphic Films D&K Group Griff Paper and Film Kay Automotive Graphics Mississippi Polymers, Inc. Now Plastics Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Transilwrap Company, Inc.

Polyvinyl Flouride

Conductive

Kay Automotive Graphics

Flexographic

Packages Limited

Gravure

Release

LABEL STOCKS

Fox River Associates, LLC 28 N. Bennett Street, Suite C Geneva, IL 60134

Phone: (630) 232-3824 Fax: (630) 232-3856 Website: www.foxriverassociates. com

Metallized

Clay-Coated

Paper/Film Liner

INKS

D&K Group FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Kay Automotive Graphics

Acucote Inc.

Bleached

Digital

Menges Roller Company

Packages Limited

Film - Film Liner

Acucote Inc. Argotec LLC Brady Worldwide, Coated Products Catalina Graphic Films CCT (Coating & Converting Technologies) D&K Group Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto) DUNMORE Corporation FLEXcon Green Bay Packaging Inc. Coated Products Operations Griff Paper and Film Infiana

Conwed Plastics D&K Group Griff Paper and Film Met-Lux NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION Roysons Corporation

D&K Group DUNMORE Corporation Hueck Folien GmbH Lamart Corp. Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc.

Microseal Industries Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc.

HEAT-TRANSFER FLUIDS

NONWOVEN SUBSTRATES

PAPER

Linerless

Acucote Inc. Amsterdam Metallized Products B.V. AR Metallizing Ltd. Catalina Graphic Films D&K Group Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto) DUNMORE Corporation FILMtech, Inc. FLEXcon Green Bay Packaging Inc. Coated Products Operations Griff Paper and Film Hueck Folien GmbH Lamart Corp. Now Plastics Packages Limited Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Rayven Inc. Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU Singular Metallizing Paper Corporation Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc.

Polyvinyl Alcohol

D&K Group FLEXcon Griff Paper and Film Hutchison Miller Sales Company

Lamart Corp. Now Plastics Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Rayven Inc. Saint-Gobain Performance PlasticsComposites Group /SolarGard SBU Taghleef Industries Inc. Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Toray Plastics (America), Inc.

Acucote Inc. Brady Worldwide, Coated Products D&K Group Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto) Fox River Associates Green Bay Packaging Inc. Coated Products Operations Griff Paper and Film Packages Limited Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Rayven Inc.

Paper/Paper Liner

Acucote Inc. AR Metallizing Ltd. Brady Worldwide, Coated Products CCT (Coating & Converting Technologies) D&K Group Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto) Fox River Associates Green Bay Packaging Inc. Coated Products Operations Griff Paper and Film Packages Limited Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Rayven Inc.

Acucote Inc. Appvion, Inc. Cham Paper Group Griff Paper and Film Packages Limited

Acucote Inc. Appvion, Inc. Cham Paper Group Griff Paper and Film

Flourescent

Acucote Inc. Appvion, Inc. Griff Paper and Film

Kraft

Acucote Inc. Cham Paper Group Griff Paper and Film Mt. Holly Springs Specialty Paper Inc. Protect-all, Inc.

Laminated

Acucote Inc. AR Metallizing Ltd. Cascades Sonoco Griff Paper and Film Hutchison Miller Sales Company Sierra Coating Technologies LLC Singular Metallizing Paper Corporation

Metallized

Acucote Inc. Amsterdam Metallized Products B.V. AR Metallizing Ltd. Cascades Sonoco Griff Paper and Film Packages Limited Singular Metallizing Paper Corporation Technical Coating Int’l, Inc. Unifoil Corp.

Recycled

Acucote Inc. Appvion, Inc. Cascades Sonoco

2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

MATERIALS SUPPLIERS Release

Acucote Inc. Cascades Sonoco Cham Paper Group Fox River Associates Griff Paper and Film

Kraft

Acucote Inc. Cascades Sonoco Griff Paper and Film

Cascades Sonoco Griff Paper and Film

275 Lower Morrisville Road Fallsington, PA 19054 Phone: (215) 428-1075 Fax: (215) 428-1189 Website: www.thegriffnetwork.com

Acucote Inc. Appvion, Inc. AR Metallizing Ltd. Cham Paper Group Griff Paper and Film Protect-all, Inc. Sierra Coating Technologies LLC

RECYCLING

Camvac Limited Chase Corporation Griff Paper and Film JX Nippon ANCI, Inc. Met-Lux Technical Coating Int’l, Inc.

Badger Plug Co. Celgard / Asahi Kasei Griff Paper and Film Packages Limited Polymer Science, Inc. Sonoco Products Company

RESINS

Phone: (888) 203-6548 Website: www.cascadessonoco.com

Packages Limited

Masterbatches Nylon

Acucote Inc. Cascades Sonoco Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto) Griff Paper and Film Hutchison Miller Sales Company Sierra Coating Technologies LLC Singular Metallizing Paper Corporation WestRock (was MeadWestvaco)

Metallized

Unbleached

TEXTILES

Cascades Sonoco

1 N. Second Street Mail Stop U01 Hartsville, SC 29550

Laminated Special Purpose

Unbleached

Packages Limited

Polyester

Celgard / Asahi Kasei JBF RAK LLC Morchem Inc.

Polyolefin

Celgard / Asahi Kasei Packages Limited

Acucote Inc. AR Metallizing Ltd. Cascades Sonoco Griff Paper and Film

Acucote Inc. Amsterdam Metallized Products B.V. AR Metallizing Ltd. Cascades Sonoco Griff Paper and Film Singular Metallizing Paper Corporation

Polyurethane

PAPERBOARD

Recycled

JX Nippon ANCI, Inc. Conwed Plastics

Bleached

Acucote Inc. Griff Paper and Film

Acucote Inc. Cascades Sonoco Sonoco Products Company

Special Purpose

Clay-Coated

Acucote Inc. Griff Paper and Film

Cascades Sonoco Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto) Griff Paper and Film Sierra Coating Technologies LLC

Morchem Inc.

SCRIM/PLASTIC NETTING/ MESH

SOLVENTS NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION

Access the Converting Quarterly Buyers Guide all year at www.convertingquarterly.com.

QUARTER 4

buyers guide

An easy-to-access resource throughout the year.

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

MANUFACTURERS DIRECTORY 3 Sigma Corporation 1985 West Stanfield Rd. Troy, Ohio 45373 Phone: (937) 440-3400 Fax: (937) 440-3410 TCudney@3sigma.cc www.3sigma.cc/

3M Technical Ceramics (Formerly ESK) Max-Schaidhauf-Straße 25 Kempten (Allgäu) Germany 87437 Phone: +49 0831-5618-0 Fax: +49 0831-5618-345 info.esk@mmm.com www.esk.com/ A & B Films Pte Ltd 5, Kim Chuan Terrace Singapore 537028 Singapore Phone: (+65) 63-83 4 Fax: (+65) 63-83 4 ys@abfilm.com www.abfilm.com/

ABBA Roller, LLC

1351 E. Philadelphia Street Ontario, CA 91761 Phone: (909) 947-1244 Fax: (310) 747-5161 info@abbaroller.com www.abbaroller.com Abo Akademi University Porthaninkatu 3 Laboratory of Paper Coating and Converting Turku Finland 20540 Phone: +3582-21531 Fax: +358-2-2154854 PaperCoating@abo.fi www.abo.fi/lpcc Accraply Inc. 3580 Holly Lane North Plymouth, MN 55447 Phone: (763) 557-1313 Fax: (763) 519-9656 sales@accraply.com www.accraply.com/

Acucote Inc.

AFS

PO Box 538 Graham, NC 27253 Phone: (336) 578-1800 Fax: (336) 578-5534 sales@acucote.com www.acucote.com

N114 W18850 Clinton Drive Germantown, WI 53022 Phone: (262) 253-6700 Fax: (262) 253-6977 sales@3DTLLC.com www.3DTLLC.com

Adchem Corporation 1852 Old Country Road Riverhead, NY 11901 Phone: (631) 727-6000 Fax: (631) 727-6010 info@adchem.com www.adchem.com

A-Korn Roller, Inc. 3545 S. Morgan St. Chicago, IL 60609 Phone: (773) 254-5700 Fax: (773) 650-7355 michael-koren@a-kornroller.com www.a-kornroller.com

Adhesive Applications 41 O’Neil St Easthampton, MA 01027 Phone: (800) 356-3572 Fax: (413) 527-7249 jsavino@adhesiveapps.com www.adhesiveapps.com/ Adhesives Research, Inc. 400 Seaks Run Road Glen Rock, PA 17327 Phone: (717) 235-7979 Fax: (717) 235-8320 brichter@arglobal.com www.adhesivesresearch.com/ Advance Systems, Inc. 1031 Ontario Road Green Bay, WI 54311 Phone: (920) 468-5477 Fax: (920) 468-0931 ASI_Sales@advancesystems.com www.advancesystems.com

Advanced Energy

1625 Sharp Point Dr. Ft. Collins, CO 80525 Phone: 970-221-4670 sales.support@aei.com www.advanced-energy.com

Alpha Associates, Inc. 145 Lehigh Avenue Lakewood, NJ 08701 Phone: 732-634-5700 lance@alphainc.com www.alphainc.com

Alpha Innovation, Inc. 86 Pleasant Street Marblehead, MA 01945 Phone: (781) 639-9796 bill@stopstatic.com www.stopstatic.com

American Cutting Edge

480 Congress Park Drive Centerville, OH 45459 Phone: (937) 438-2390 Fax: (888) 900-9136 converting@americancuttingedge.com www.AmericanCuttingEdge.com

2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

MANUFACTURERS DIRECTORY American Roller Company 1440 13th Avenue Union Grove, WI 53182 Phone: (262) 878-2445 Fax: (262) 878-1932 info@americanroller.com www.americanroller.com/ Amsterdam Metallized Products B.V. Paul van Vlissingenstraat 12 Amsterdam Netherlands 1096 BK Europe Phone: +31 0 20 4620 500 Fax: +31 0 20 4620 515 k.kuypers@metallized.nl www.metallized.nl Anderson Dahlen, Inc. 6850 Sunwood Drive N.W. Ramsey, MN 55303 Phone: (763) 852-4700 Fax: (763) 852-4795 tomknoll@andersondahlen.com www.andersondahlen.com Angstrom Sciences Inc. 40 South Linden St. Duquesne, PA 15110 Phone: (412) 469-8466 Fax: (412) 469-8511 info@angstromsciences.com www.angstromsciences.com/

AR Metallizing Ltd. 24 National Drive (Forge Park) Franklin, MA 02038 Phone: (508) 541-7700 Fax: (508) 541-7788 www.armetallizing.com

Babcock & Wilcox MEGTEC

Argotec LLC

53 Silvio O. Conte Drive Greenfield, MA 01301 Phone: (413) 772-2564 Fax: (413) 772-2565 info@argotec.com www.argotec.com Ashland Specialty Ingredients 5200 Blazer Parkway Dublin, OH 43017 Phone: (800) 322-6580 Fax: (614) 790-3206 djhatgas@ashland.com www.ashland.com

Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd. Applied Materials WEB Coating GmbH Siemensstrasse 100 Alzenau Bavaria Germany 63755 Phone: +49-6023-92-6000 Fax: +49-6023-92-6560 Web_Sales@amat.com www.appliedmaterials.com/

Wolseley Road, Kempston Bedford MK42 7XT United Kingdom Phone: +1 44 1234 852553 Fax: +1 44 1234 851151 stan.braycotton@atlasconverting.com www.atlasconverting.com

AWA Alexander Watson Associates Koningin Wilhelminaplein 13 Amsterdam 1062 HH Netherlands Phone: +31(0)206762069 Fax: +31(0)208208633 info@awa-bv.com www.awa-bv.com

Appvion, Inc.

825 E Wisconsin PO Box 359 Appleton, WI 54912 Phone: 920-734-9841 dswanson@appvion.com www.appvion.com

100

AZCO Corp.

26 Just Road Fairfield, NJ 07004 Phone: (973) 439-1428 Fax: (973) 439-9411 cs@azcocorp.com www.azcocorp.com

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

830 Prosper Road De Pere, WI 54115 Phone: (920) 336-5715 info@megtec.com www.megtec.com/

Badger Plug Co. PO Box 199 N1045 Technical Drive Greenville, WI 54942 Phone: (920) 757-7300 Fax: (920) 757-7339 sales@badgerplug.com www.badgerplug.com/ BASF Corporation Metasheen Building 205 South James Street Newport, DE 19804 Phone: (302) 992-5758 Fax: (704) 587-8115 casper.mullertz@basf.com www.basf.com/ Beta LaserMike Products (A Brand of NDC Technologies) 8001 Technology Boulevard Dayton, OH 45424 Phone: (937) 233-9935 Fax: (937) 233-7284 sales@betalasermike.com www.ndc.com/betalasermike

Bobst North America Inc. 146 Harrison Avenue Roseland, NJ 07068 Phone: (973) 226-8000 Fax: (973) 226-8625 john.kubinsky@bobst.com www.bobst.com

Bostik, Inc. 11320 W Watertown Plank Road Wauwatosa, WI 53226 Phone: (414) 774-2250 industrialmarketing@bostik-us.com www.bostik.com/us

Camvac Limited Brady Worldwide, Coated Products

PO Box 298 Milwaukee, WI 53201 Phone: (800) 662-1191 Fax: (414) 228-5998 tim_kremer@bradycorp.com www.bradyid.com/en-us/standards-andcompliance/custom-coating-services/ overview

Brueckner Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG Königsberger Str. 5-7 Siegsdorf Bavaria 83313 Germany Phone: +49 8662 630 sales@brueckner.com www.brueckner.com

Burrell Way Thetford IP24 3QY United Kingdom Phone: +44 1842 755021 Fax: +44 1842 762424 steve.jackson@camvaclimited.com

Buschman Corporation 4100 Payne Avenue Cleveland, OH 44103 Phone: (216) 431 6633 Fax: (216) 431 5037 parts@buschmancorp.com www.buschmancorp.com C. A. Litzler Co., Inc. 4800 West 160th St. Cleveland, OH 44135 Phone: (216) 267-8020 Fax: (216) 267-9856 mlitzler@calitzler.com www.calitzler.com/

Carestream Contract Manufacturing 8124 Pacific Avenue White City, OR 97503 Phone: (800) 234-8069 info@tollcoating.com www.tollcoating.com/

C.A.Bishop Consulting Ltd 5, Church Side Shepshed Nr. Loughborough Leicestershire LE12 9RL United Kingdom Phone: +44 (0)1509 502076 cabuk8@btinternet.com www.cabuk1.co.uk

Cascades Sonoco

1 N. Second St. Hartsville, SC 29550 Phone: (888) 203-6548 jeff.stacy@sonoco.com www.cascades-sonoco.com

Bryce Corporation 4505 Old Lamar Memphis, TN 38118 Phone: (800) 238-7277 Fax: (901) 369-4419 mbabb@brycecorp.com www.brycecorp.com/

Bühler Inc.

539 James Jackson Avenue Cary, NC 27513 Phone: (919) 657-7100 Fax: (919) 657-7101 sales.americas@leyboldoptics.com www.buhlergroup.com

Catalina Graphic Films 27001 Agoura Road, Suite 100 Calabasas Hills, CA 91301 Phone: (818) 880-8060 Fax: (818) 880-1144 aland@catalinagraphicfilms.com www.catalinagraphicfilms.com/

C2 Coating & Converting Dinkelsbühler Str. 9 Feuchtwangen 91555 Germany Phone: +49 9852 61621-0 Fax: +49 9852 61621-10 publisher@c2-europe.eu www.c2-europe.eu/

Catbridge Machinery

Cadence Inc.

9 Technology Drive Staunton, VA 24401 Phone: (540) 248-2200 Fax: (540) 248-4400 sales@cadenceinc.com http://www2.cadenceinc.com/AIMCAL_ blades

222 New Road Parsippany, NJ 07054 Phone: (973) 808-0029 Fax: (973) 808-0076 sales@catbridge.com www.catbridge.com/

2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

101

MANUFACTURERS DIRECTORY

CBC

820 South Olde Oneida Street Appleton, WI 54915 Phone: (888) 616-4222 Fax: (920) 991-2339 tcrist@cbccoating.com www.cbccoating.com/ CCT (Coating & Converting Technologies) 80 East Morris St Philadelphia, PA 19148 Phone: (215) 271-0610 Fax: (215) 271-3305 info@ccttapes.com www.ccttapes.com CCT Papers 830 ST-VIATEUR Berthierville, Quebec J0K 1A0 Canada Phone: (450) 836-3846 Fax: (450) 836-4983 jchevrette@papcct.com www.papcct.com Celgard / Asahi Kasei 390 Business Blvd. NW Concord, NC 28027 Phone: (704) 720-5200 brandon.lane@celgard.com www.celgard.com

Cham Paper Group Fabrikstrasse Cham 6330 Switzerland Phone: +41 41 785 33 33 Fax: +41 41 785 31 58 mail.cham@cham-group.com www.cham-group.com Chase Corporation 26 Summer St. Bridgewater, MA 2324 Phone: (508) 819-4200 info@chasecorp.com www.chasecorp.com/

CHIRIPAL POLY FILMS LTD.

Chiripal House, 3rd Floor, Shivranjini Cross Roads, Satellite Ahmedabad Gujarat 380 015 India Phone: +91-79-26473394/09687688769 Fax: +91-79-26734664 rekha.jindal@chiripalgroup.com www.chiripalpolyfilms.in Clemson University Dept. of Packaging Science 227 Poole Agricultural Center Clemson, SC 29634 Phone: (864) 656-6937 Fax: (864) 656-4395 ddarby@clemson.edu

Coating Tech Slot Dies Celplast Metallized Products 67 Commander Blvd., Unit 4 Toronto, Ontario M1S 3M7 Canada Phone: (800) 866-0059 Fax: (416) 293-9198 naomi@celplast.com www.celplast.com/ CFC International 500 State St Chicago Heights, IL 60411 Phone: (708) 891-3456 Fax: (708) 758-3976 ypokhodnya@cfcintl.com www.cfcintl.com

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2322 Alpine Road, Suite 4 Eau Claire, WI 54703 Phone: (715) 544-7568 info@slotdies.com www.slotdies.com

COIM USA, Inc. 286 Mantua Grove Road West Deptford, NJ 08066 Phone: 800-345-8380 Fax: 609-482-8999 adhesives@us.coimgroup.com www.coimgroup.com Color Ad Packaging LTD. 200 Beghin Ave Winnipeg, Manitoba R2J 3W2 Canada Phone: (204) 777-7770 Fax: (204) 777-5545 www.coloradpackaging.com

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

Comexi North America, Inc. 6135 Park South Drive, Suite 510 Charlotte, NC 28210 Phone: (980) 237-6913 Fax: (980) 237-0272 info@comexigroupusa www.comexigroup.com Componex Corporation 10200 County Road F Edgerton, WI 53534 Phone: (608) 884-2201 Fax: (608) 884-2681 info@componex.net www.componex.net Connecticut Metal Industries One Riverside Dr Ansonia, CT 06401 Phone: (203) 736-0790 Fax: (203) 736-0795 sales@ctmetals.com www.foil2.com ConQuip, Inc. 11255 Pyrites Way Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 Phone: (916) 379-8200 Fax: (916) 379-8201 sales@conquipinc.com www.conquipinc.com Conversion Technologies Int. Inc. 700 Oak Street West Unity, Ohio 43570 Phone: (419) 924-5566 Fax: (419) 924-5619 ccromwell@conversiontechnologies.com www.conversiontechnologies.com Conversource, Inc. 1510 Page Industrial Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63132 Phone: (800) 808-1565 Fax: (800) 482-7688 IntegratedSolutions@Conversource.com www.conversource.com

Converting Quarterly

8646 Cooper Road Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158 Phone: (262) 697-0525 Fax: (262) 697-0525 mark@aimcal.org www.convertingquarterly.com

Conwed Plastics

2810 Weeks Ave SE Minneapolis, MN 55414 Phone: (800) 426-0149 contact@conwedplastics.com www.conwedplastics.com Coveris™ Advanced Coatings 700 Crestdale Road Matthews, NC 28105 Phone: +1 704 847 9171 Fax: +1 704 845-4307 Nathan.Tyrone@Coveris.com www.coverisadvancedcoatings.com/ Covertech 279 Humberline Dr. Etobicoke, Ontario M9W 5T6 Canada Phone: (416) 798-1340 Fax: (416) 798-1342 johnstarr@covertechfab.com www.covertechflex.com

Deacro Industries Ltd.

Dow Chemical Company

135 Capitol Court Mississauga, Ontario L5T 2R8 Canada Phone: (905) 564-6566 Fax: (905) 564-6533 sales@deacro.com www.deacro.com

100 South Independence Mall West Philadelphia, PA 19106 bkrishnan1@dow.com www.dow.com/ Drytac Canada Inc. (Toronto) 105 Nuggett Court Brampton, Ontario L6T 5A9 Canada Phone: (905) 660-1748 toronto@drytac.com www.drytac.com

Delta ModTech

11501 Eagle St. NW Minneapolis, MN 55448 Phone: (800) 279-3358 Fax: (763) 755-7744 delta@deltamodtech.com www.deltamodtech.com Deposition Technology Innovations 211 Eastern Blvd Jeffersonville, IN 47130 Phone: (812) 282-0488 Fax: (812) 282-3297 jpapalia@dtifilms.com www.dtifilms.com/

DUNMORE Corporation 145 Wharton Road Bristol, PA 19007 Phone: (215) 781-8895 Fax: (215) 781-9293 film@dunmore.com www.dunmore.com/

CPP EXPO

210 East Route 4, Suite 203-204 Paramus, NJ 07652 Phone: (516) 763-1322 Fax: (201) 543-5062 jmcdermott@cppexpo.com www.cppexpo.com/

D&K Group

1795 Commerce Drive Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 Phone: (847) 956-0160 Fax: (847) 956-8214 info@dkgroup.net www.dkgroup.com

Davis-Standard, LLC 1 Extrusion Drive Pawcatuck, CT 06379 Phone: (860) 599-1010 Fax: (860) 599-6258 info@davis-standard.com www.davis-standard.com

Dienes Corporation 27 West Main Street Spencer, MA 1562 Phone: (800) 345-4038 Fax: (508) 885-3452 sales@dienesusa.com www.dienesusa.com/

Diversified Enterprises 101 Mulberry St., Suite 2N Claremont, NH 03743 Phone: (603) 543-0038 Fax: (603) 543-1334 rsmith@accudynetest.com www.accudynetest.com/

Dover Flexo Electronics 217 Pickering Rd. Rochester, NH 03867 Phone: (603) 332-6150 Fax: (603) 332-3758 info@dfe.com www.dfe.com

DuPont Co., Engineering Technology

974 Centre Road P.O. Box 2915 Wilmington, DE 19805 Phone: (740) 474-0048 andrew.james.skomrock@dupont.com www.dupont.com

DuPont Teijin Films

3600 Discovery Drive Chester, VA 23836 Phone: (800) 635-4639 robert.r.burgess@usa.dupont.com usa.dupontteijinfilms.com Dyna-Tech Adhesives, Inc. Route 310, N. Country Club Road PO Box 628 Grafton, WV 26354 Phone: (304) 265-5200 Fax: (304) 265-5202 lslaven@dyna-techadhesives.com www.dyna-techadhesives.com 2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

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MANUFACTURERS DIRECTORY

E C Designs (USA) Ltd (Elite Cameron) Schlumpf USA 39 Enterprise Drive Suite 1 Windham, ME 4062 Phone: (207) 893-1903 Fax: (207) 893-1905 sales@elitecameron.com www.elitecameron.com

Eastman Chemical Company 4210 The Great Road Fieldale, VA 24089 Phone: (276) 627-3332 Fax: (276) 627-3500 dmason@Eastman.com www.eastman.com

Eckart America 650 West 67th Avenue, Suite 200 Schererville, IN 46375 Phone: (219) 864-4895 Fax: (219) 322-0528 joseph.perdue@altana.com www.eckart.net

Erhardt + Leimer Inc. 350 Tucapau Road Duncan, SC 29334 Phone: (864) 486-3000 Fax: (864) 486-3011 sales@erhardt-leimer-us.com www.erhardt-leimer-us.com

Finzer Roller Eternal Materials Co., LTD.

30 Yumin St., Ta-Fa Industrial Park Taliao District Kaohsiung 831 Taiwan Phone: +886 7 7873645 Fax: +886 7 7871445 yueway_lin@eternal-group.com www.r2rcoating.com/ Evonik Corporation PO Box 34628 Richmond, VA 23234 Phone: (804) 727-0780 liz.patterson@evonik.com www.evonik.com/tego-rc

EIT Instrument Markets 309 Kelly’s Ford Plaza SE Leesburg, VA 20175 Phone: (703) 478-0700 Fax: (703) 478-0291 uv@eit.com www.eit.com

Faustel

Emerson and Renwick Ltd Peel Bank Works Church Accrington Lancashire BB5 4EF United Kingdom Phone: +44 (0) 1254 872727 Fax: +44(0) 1254 871109 sales@eandr.com www.eandr.com

FHR Anlagenbau GmbH Am Hügel 2 Ottendorf-Okrilla Saxony 01458 Germany Phone: +49 35205 5200 postbox@fhr.de www.fhr.de

Enercon Industries W140N9572 Fountain Blvd Menomonee Falls, WI 53074 Phone: (262) 255-6070 Fax: (262) 255-7784 mplantier@enerconmail.com www.enerconind.com

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FILMtech, Inc. 200 Industrial Drive Bean Station, TN 37708 Phone: (865) 767-3533 Fax: (865) 767-3598 ddeangelis@filmtechinc.com www.filmtechinc.com/

W194 N11301 McCormick Dr. Germantown, WI 53022 Phone: (262) 253-3333 Fax: (262) 253-3334 sales@faustel.com www.faustel.com

Filmquest Group Inc. 320 Remington Boulevard Bolingbrook, IL 60440 Phone: (630) 226-9800 Fax: (630) 226-9400 john@petfilm.com www.petfilm.com/

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

129 Rawls Road Des Plaines, IL 60018 Phone: (888) 486-1900 Fax: (847) 390-6201 sales@finzerroller.com www.finzerroller.com

First Technology Innovation, Inc No.6, Nanyun 2nd Road,Science City, Guangdong Guangzhou 510663 China Phone: +86 20-2232-3333 Fax: +86 20-2232-3699 sales@fti.cn www.fti.cn/

Flex Films (USA) Inc.

1221 North Black Branch Road Elizabethtown, KY 42701 Phone: (270) 982-3456 Fax: (270) 982-3457 ptyle@flexfilm.com www.flexfilm.com/

FLEXcon

1 FLEXcon Industrial Park Spencer, MA 01562 Phone: (508) 885-8214 Fax: (508) 885-1465 jjoyce@flexcon.com www.flexcon.com/

Fox River Associates

28 N Bennett St, Suite C Geneva, IL 60134 Phone: (630) 232-3824 Fax: (630) 232-3856 duncan@fraltd.com www.foxriverassociates.com Fox Valley Technical College Graphic Arts Center 1825 N. Bluemound Drive Appleton, WI 54912 Phone: (920) 735-2579 Fax: (920) 735-2481 hemken@fvtc.edu

Garware Polyester Ltd. Aurangabad - Pune Road P.O. Waluj Aurangabad 431 210 India Phone: 91 240 2554427 – 30 Fax: 91 240 2555132 msa@garwarepoly.com www.garwarepoly.com/

Griff Paper and Film

275 Lower Morrisville Rd Fallsington, PA 19054 Phone: (215) 428-1075 Fax: (215) 428-1189 inquiry@paperandfilm.com www.thegriffnetwork.com

GOEBEL IMS

21 Goebelstrasse Darmstadt 64293 Germany Phone: +49 6151 8881 Fax: +49 6151 888 560 info@goebel-ims.com www.goebel-ims.com

Gulf Packaging Industries Ltd. First Industrial City, Block K, Tarik 217 Jubail 31951 Saudi Arabia 00966 (03) 341 22 44 00966 (03) 3404161 Elshami@gulfpack.com.sa www.gulfpack.com.sa

Goldenrod Corporation Franklin Adhesives and Polymers

2020 Bruck Street Columbus, OH 43207 Phone: (800) 877-4583 Fax: (614) 445-1555 mikewitte@franklininternational.com www.franklinadhesivesandpolymers.com/

Fraunhofer IVV

Giggenhauser Strasse 35 Freising 85354 Germany Phone: 49 8161 491 500 www.ivv.fraunhofer.de

Goldenrod Corporation

25 Lancaster Drive POBox Box PO 9595 Beacon Falls, 06403 PinesbridgeCTCommerce Park Phone: (203) 723-4400 25 Lancaster Drive Fax: (203) 723-8230 Beacon Falls, CT 06403 cservice@goldenrodcorp.com www.goldenrodcorp.com

H.B. Fuller 1200 Willow Lake Blvd. Vadnais Heights, MN 55110 Phone: (651) 236-5345 joseph.tuso@hbfuller.com www.hbfuller.com

Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Fax: (203) 723-8230 1500 Riveredge Pkwy, Suite 100 Website: www.goldenrodcorp.com Atlanta, GA 30328 Phone: (770) 795-3765 Fax: (770) 795-3877 gilpatrickw@graphicpkg.com www.graphicpkg.com/

Hanita Coatings Kibbutz Hanita Hanita 2288500 Israel Phone: 72 5 9859919 Fax: +972 4 985 9920 hanita@hanitacoatings.com www.hanitacoatings.com

Great Lakes Alignment Survey Services, LLC W7036 Rimrock Ln Greenville, WI 54942 Phone: (920) 574-2608 Fax: (262) 247-0688 mp@glassalignment.com www.glassalignment.com

Harper Corporation of America P.O. Box 38490 Charlotte, NC 28278 Phone: (704) 588-3371 Fax: (704) 588-3819 info@harperimage.com www.harperimage.com/

Phone: (800) 465-3763

Frontier LLC, a subsidiary of Delta ModTech 67 Campbell Road Towanda, PA 18848 Phone: (800) 279-3358 sales@frontierindustrial.com www.frontiercoating.com

Green Bay Packaging Inc. Coated Products Operations 3250 South Ridge Road Green Bay, WI 54304 Phone: (920) 337-1800 Fax: (920) 337-1797 mmendoll@gbp.com www.gbp.com

2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

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MANUFACTURERS DIRECTORY

HYBEC Corporation Hazen Paper Co.

PO Box 189 240 South Water Street Holyoke, MA 01041 Phone: (413) 538–8204 Fax: (413) 533-1420 papers@hazen.com www.hazen.com

527 W. Golf Rd. Arlington Heights, IL 60005 Phone: (847) 258-4386 Fax: (847) 621-2276 yoshi@hybecusa.com www.hybecusa.com

10 Finderne Ave. Bridgewater, NJ 08507 Phone: (877) 797-4992 Fax: (908) 685-5061 kathryn.layser@henkel.com www.henkelna.com/industrial Honeywell FM&T 14520 Botts Road Kansas City, MO 64147 Phone: 816-488-5000 Honeywell Healthcare & Packaging 101 Columbia Road Morristown, NJ 07962 Phone: (800) 934-5679 Fax: (800) 445-0040 ken.guhse@honeywell.com www.honeywell-pmt.com/sm/capran/ Hueck Folien GmbH Gewerbepark 30 Baumgartenberg 4342 Austria Phone: +43 (0)7269 7570-0 Fax: +43 (0)7269 6616 m.bergsmann@hueck-folien.at www.hueck-folien.com/ Hutchison Miller Sales Company 157 E. Butler Ave. New Britain, PA 18901 Phone: (215) 345-1824 Fax: (215) 348-4604 info@hutchisonmiller.com www.hutchisonmiller.com/

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2400 Continental Blvd. Malvern, PA 19355 Phone: (484) 527-2000 info.malvern@infiana.com www.infiana.com

Innovative Machine Corporation Hyde Industrial Blade Solutions

Henkel Corporation

Infiana

54 Eastford Road Southbridge, MA 01550 Phone: (508) 764-4344 Fax: (508) 764-8172 epfeiffer@hydeblades.com www.hydeblades.com

ICE USA

641 West Lake Street, Suite 405 Chicago, IL 60661 Phone: (312) 809-9260 Fax: (312) 868-0069 exhibit@ice-x-usa.com www.ice-x-usa.com

Imperial Rubber Products Inc. 5691 Gates Street Chino, CA 91710 Phone: (909) 393-0528 Fax: (909) 393-9870 bobs@imperialrubber.com www.imperialrubber.com/

Independent Machine Company 2 Stewart Place Fairfield, NJ 07004 Phone: (973) 882-0060 Fax: (973) 808-9505 robinu@independentusa.com www.independentusa.com

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

3959 Valley East Industrial Drive Birmingham, AL 35217 Phone: (205) 856-4100 Fax: (205) 856-4117 danny@innovativemach.com www.innovativemach.com

INTEGRITY Roller Services 1953 N. Main Street Orange, CA 92865 Phone: (714) 283-8668 Fax: (714) 283-8669 leslie@integrityroller.com www.integrityrollerservices.com/ Inteplast AmTopp Films 9 Peach Tree Hill Rd. Livingston, NJ 07039 Phone: (973) 740-8211 Fax: (973) 994-8028 wphilhower@inteplast.com www.inteplast.com/

IntrAL inc.

135 West Carignan Blvd. Princeville G6L 4M3 Canada Phone: (819) 364-7551 Fax: (819) 364-7425 khansen@intralqc.com www.intralqc.com/

ISRA VISION 4470 Peachtree Lake Drive Duluth, GA 30096 Phone: (770) 449-7776 Fax: (770) 449-0399 info.surface@isravision.com www.isravision.com

JBF RAK LLC

PO Box 6574 Ras Al Khaimah 6574 United Arab Emirates Phone: +971 7 244 7269 Fax: +971 7 244 7279 filminfo@jbfrak.ae www.jbfrak.com

Jemmco LLC

10936 N Port Washington Road Mequon, WI 53092 Phone: (262) 512-9559 Fax: (262) 478-1306 sales@jemmco.com www.jemmco.com

Jessup Manufacturing Company PO Box 366 2815 W. Route 120 McHenry, IL 60051 Phone: (815) 385-6650 Fax: (815) 385-0079 rjessup@jessupmfg.com www.jessupmfg.com/

Jindal Films (was ExxonMobil Chemical) 411 Pegasus Dr LaGrange, GA 30240 Phone: (800) 231-6577 Fax: (315) 966-1075 william.handy@jindalfilms.com www.jindalfilms.com/ Johnson Laminating & Coating, Inc. 20631 Annalee Ave. Carson, CA 90746 Phone: (310) 635-4929 Fax: (310) 603-1266 info@johnsonlaminating.com www.johnsonlaminating.com/

Kent Adhesive Products Company dba Kapco

Journal of Plastic Film & Sheeting

300 Ashley Drive Rochester, NY 14620 Phone: (585) 461-1466 JPFS-Editor@rochester.rr.com www.sagepub.com/journals/Journal201584

1000 Cherry Street Kent, OH 44240 Phone: (800) 791-8964 Fax: (800) 451-3724 converting@kapco.com www.kapco.com

KlassENgineering Inc. 537 Homewood Ave Peterborough, Ontario K9H 2N4 Canada Phone: (705) 743-1076 Fax: (705) 743-2307 cklassen@klassen.on.ca www.klassen.on.ca

JX Nippon ANCI, Inc.

600 Townpark Lane, Suite 075 Kennesaw, GA 30144 Phone: (404) 891-1300 Fax: (404) 891-1310 claf.sales@clafusa.com www.claf.com

Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology - Chemical Materials Solutions Center 141 Gajeongro, Yuseong Daejeon 305-600 South Korea Phone: +82428607902 jahlee@krict.re.kr

Kampf Machinery Corporation 900 River Street, Unit H Windsor, CT 06095 Phone: (860) 640-0040 Fax: (860) 640-0046 sales@kampfusa.com www.kampfusa.com Kay Automotive Graphics 57 Kay Industrial Drive Lake Orion, MI 48359 Phone: (248) 377-4999 Fax: (248) 377-2097 www.kayautomotive.com

KROENERT GmbH & Co KG

Kazan National Research Technological University Vaccum Engineering Department 68 Karl Marx Street Kazan Tatarstan 420015 Russian Federation Phone: +792 70367397 rail.mur@mail.ru www.knrtu.ru

Schützenstraße 105 Hamburg 22761 Germany Phone: +49 40 853 93 01 Fax: +49 40 853 93 - 171 info@kroenert.de www.kroenert.com

L and M Instruments LLC

Kennametal Inc.

P.O. Box 2038 Shelton, CT 06484 Phone: (203) 513-2860 Fax: (203) 513-2861 Chris.decker@kennametal.com www.kennametal.com/

1902 Wright Place Cornerstone Corporate Center Carlsbad, CA 92008 Phone: (760) 918-5670 Fax: (760) 918-5505 jwaszak@landminstruments.com www.landminstruments.com

2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

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MANUFACTURERS DIRECTORY

Lamart Corp.

16 Richmond Street Clifton, NJ 07011 Phone: (973) 772-6262 CHirsh@LamartCorp.com www.lamartcorp.com Lamin8 a division of The CLI Group 932 Market Street Paterson, NJ 07513 Phone: (973) 279-9174 Fax: (973) 279-6916 info@lamin8.biz www.lamin8.biz Ligum North America, LLC 1100 91st Street Kenosha, WI 53143 Phone: (262) 671-1260 Fax: (262) 671-1255 michael.koren@ligum-na.com www.ligum-na.com Loparex 1255 Crescent Green Drive, Suite 400 Cary, NC 27518 Phone: (919) 678-7700 Fax: (919) 678-7900 Marketing.Info@loparex.com www.loparex.com/ Luminite Products Corporation 148 Commerce Drive Bradford, PA 16701 Phone: (888) 545-2270 Fax: (814) 817-1421 sales@luminite.com www.luminite.com

Mack Brooks Exhibitions Ltd. Romeland House, Romeland Hill St Albans, Herts AL3 4ET United Kingdom Phone: +44 (0)1727 814 410 Fax: +44 (0)1727 814 info@ice-x.com www.ice-x.com/europe

MACPAC Films Ltd. 21 Maqboolabad Tipu Sultan Road Karachi Pakistan Phone: 92 333 2141623 info@macpacfilms.com www.macpacfilms.com

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MACtac 4560 Darrow Rd Stow, OH 44224 Phone: (800) 328-2619 Fax: (330) 688-1153 www.mactac.com/

Madico, Inc.

64 Industrial Pkwy Woburn, MA 01801 Phone: (800) 456-4331 Fax: (781) 935-6841 windowfilm@madico.com www.madico.com/

Materion Large Area Coatings 300 Lamberton Road Windsor, CT 06095 Phone: (860) 688-2300 Fax: (860) 688-0278 cara.gresio@materion.com www.materion.com Matik, Inc. 33 Brook Street West Hartford, CT 06110 Phone: (860) 232-2323 Fax: (860) 233-0162 sales@matik.com www.matik.com

Mahlo America, Inc. 575 Simuel Road Spartanburg, SC 29304 Phone: (864) 576-6288 Fax: (864) 576-0009 info@mahloamerica.net www.mahloamerica.com

MANFISA (Manufacturas Irular, S.A.) C/Estella, s/n. Irurzun 31860 Spain Phone: +34 948 500206 Fax: +34 948 500725 bizquierdo@manfisa.com www.manfisa.com/ Margot Machinery, Inc. 502B Potential Parkway Scotia, NY 12302 Phone: (518) 346-6379 Fax: (518) 346-6385 dan@margot.com www.margot.com

Martin Automatic Inc 1661 Northrock Ct Rockford, IL 61103 Phone: (815) 654-4800 Fax: (815) 654-4810 info@martinautomatic.com www.martinautomatic.com

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

Maxcess International Corporation PO Box 26508 Oklahoma City, OK 73126 Phone: (405) 755-1600 Fax: (405) 755-8425 sales@maxcessintl.com www.maxcessintl.com/

Maxpro Manufacturing, LLC P.O. Box 567 Whiteville, NC 28472 Phone: (910) 640-5505 Fax: (910) 640-5519 sales@maxprofilms.com www.maxprofilms.com

Measureitall.com 1564 Thore Road Pinnacle, NC 27043 Phone: (336) 351-2542 Fax: (866) 407-5325 sales@measureitall.com www.measureitall.com/ Medco Coated Products 5156 Richmond Rd. Bedford Hts., OH 44146 Phone: (216) 292-7546 Fax: (216) 292-5900 customerservice@medcocoatedproducts. com www.medcocoatedproducts.com

Meech Static Eliminators USA Inc. 2915 Newpark Drive Norton, OH 44203 Phone: (800) 232-4210 Fax: (330) 564-2005 info@meech.com www.meech.com

MIRWEC Film, Inc./ Yasui Seiki USA

Mica Corporation

601 South Liberty Drive Bloomington, IN 47403 Phone: (812) 331-7194 Fax: (812) 331-1119 coating@mirwecfilm.com www.mirwecfilm.com

9 Mountain View Drive Shelton, CT 06484 Phone: (203) 922-8888 Fax: (203) 922-8894 rhammond@mica-corp.com www.mica-corp.com/

Menges Roller Company 260 Industrial Dr Wauconda, IL 60084 Phone: (847) 487-8877 Fax: (847) 487-8897 Info@MengesRoller.com www.MengesRoller.com

Metallizing Systems Inc. PO Box 8133 Bloomfield, MI 48302 Phone: (248) 681-5235 info@MetallizingSystems.com www.MetallizingSystems.com Metlon Corporation 133 Frances Ave. Cranston, RI 02910 Phone: (401) 467-3435 Fax: (401) 467-8720 converting@metlon.com www.metlon.com

Michelman

9080 Shell Road Cincinnati, OH 45236 Phone: (513) 793-7766 Fax: (513) 793-2504 printandpackagingamericas@michelman. com www.michelman.com/

Mississippi Polymers, Inc. 2733 South Harper Rd Corinth, MS 38834 Phone: (215) 885-1623 Fax: (215) 885-1754 kmoore@mississippipolymers.com www.mississippipolymers.com/

Mitsubishi Materials

Microseal Industries 610 E. 36th St PO Box 3054 Paterson, NJ 07513 Phone: (973) 523-0704 sales@microseal.com

11250 Slater Ave. Fountain Valle, CA 97208 Phone: (714) 352-6150 Fax: (714) 668-1321 hardmaterials@mmus.com www.mmc-slotdie.com

Mid South Roller

Mitsubishi Polyester Film, Inc.

1108 Enterprise Place Arlington, TX 76001 Phone: (800) 749-3094 Fax: (817) 468-1285 info@midsouthroller.com www.midsouthroller.com

PO Box 1400 2001 Hood Road Greer, SC 29652 Phone: (864) 879-5000 Fax: (864) 879-5006 bill_wells@m-petfilm.com www.m-petfilm.com/

Met-Lux

Site du P.E.D. Rodange Luxembourg L-4801 Phone: +35250254422 Fax: +35250254434 www.metlux.lu

Midwest Engineered Systems Inc. W238N1800 Rockwood Drive Waukesha, WI 53188 Phone: (866) 880-6937 SteveB@mwes.com www.mwes.com

MOCON, Inc.

7500 Mendelssohn Ave. North Minneapolis, MN 55428 Phone: (763) 493-6370 Fax: (763) 493-6358 info@mocon.com www.mocon.com

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MANUFACTURERS DIRECTORY Montalvo Corporation 50 Hutcherson Road Gorham, ME 04038 Phone: (207) 856-2501 info@montalvo.com www.montalvo.com Morchem Inc. 304 North Main Street Jefferson, WI 53549 Phone: (920) 723-1321 bmallory@morchem.com www.Morchem.com

Mt. Holly Springs Specialty Paper Inc. One Mountain Street Mt. Holly Springs, PA 17065 Phone: (717) 486-8500 Terryr@MHSSP.com www.mhssp.com

MTi & Polyexe Corporation / An Inteplast Group Company 50 Pine Road Brentwood, NH 03833 Phone: (207) 450-7071 Fax: (207) 799-7149 msullivan@mtipolyexe.com www.mtipolyexe.com/

Multifilm Packaging Corp. 1040 N. McLean Boulevard Elgin, IL 60123 Phone: (847) 695-7600 Fax: (847) 695-7645 sales@multifilm.com www.multifilm.com

NATIONAL COATING CORPORATION 105 Industrial Way PO Box 406 Rockland, MA 02370 Phone: (781) 878-2781 Fax: (781) 871-4955 inquire@natcoat.com www.natcoat.com

National Taiwan University No. 1 Sec. 4 Roosevelt Road Taipei 106 Taiwan Phone: 886-2-3366-5067 abwang@spring.iam.ntu.edu.tw www.ntu.edu.tw

NDC Technologies

MTorres Diseños Industriales Ctra. Pamplona - Huesca, Km. 9 Torres de Elorz (Navarra) 31119 Spain Phone: 011-34-948-317-811 michael.sellers@mtorres.com www.mtorres.com

5314 North Irwindale Ave. Irwindale, CA 91706 Phone: (626) 960-3300 rshead@ndc.com www.ndc.com

1150 Sheldahl Rd. Northfield, MN 55057 Phone: (507) 663-8000 Fax: (507) 664-8028 bruce.olson@multek.com www.sheldahl.com/

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Nordmeccanica NA Ltd 155 Ricefield Lane Hauppauge, NY 11788 Phone: (631) 242-9898 Fax: (631) 242-9899 na@nordmeccanica.com www.nordmeccanica.com/

Nordson Extrusion Dies Industries – Premier Coating Division 2700 Olson Drive Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 Phone: (715) 723-0513 Fax: (715) 723-0530 info@nordsonfluidcoating.com www.nordsonfluidcoating.com Northeastern University 360 Huntington Ave NSF Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing Boston, MA 02115 Phone: (617) 373-3294 eric.howard@neu.edu www.nanomanufacturing.us

NovaCentrix

New Era Converting Machinery, Inc. Multek Flexible Circuits, Inc.

Nip Control AB Gamla Skolvägen 34 Saltsjöbaden 133 35 Sweden Phone: +46 8 55 61 64 77 info@nipcontrol.com www.nipcontrol.com

PO Box 377 Hawthorne, NJ 07507 Phone: (201) 670-4848 Fax: (201) 670-8867 info@neweraconverting.com www.neweraconverting.com/

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

400 Parker Drive, Suite 1110 Austin, TX 78728 Phone: (512) 491-9500 stan.farnsworth@novacentrix.com www.novacentrix.com/

Novation, Inc.

6374 Winside Drive Bethlehem, PA 18017 Phone: (610) 837-5026 Fax: (610) 837-9938 sales@novation-inc.com www.novation-inc.com

Now Plastics

136 Denslow Road East Longmeadow, MA 01028 Phone: (413) 525-1010 Fax: (413) 525-8951 nowplastics.com www.nowplastics.com/ OASIS Alignment Services, LLC 255 Pickering Road Rochester, NH 03867 Phone: (603) 332-9641 Fax: (603) 332-0356 customerservice@oasisalignment.com www.oasisalignment.com/ Oklahoma State University - Web Handling Research Center Oklahoma State University 211B Engineering North Stillwater, OK 74078 Phone: (405) 744-5900 Fax: (405) 744-7873 karl.reid@okstate.edu webhandling.okstate.edu

Overbridge Technology 63 South 7th Street Emmaus, PA 18049 Phone: (610) 966-8200 Fax: (888) 512-3573 info@overbridgetech.com overbridgetech.com

Packages Limited

Packages Limited Shahrah-e-Roomi Lahore Punjab 54760 Pakistan Phone: +00924235811541 Fax: +00924235920479 asim.shamim@packages.com.pk www.packages.com.pk Paramelt USA 2817 McCracken Street Muskegon, MI 49441 Phone: (231) 759-7304 USinfo@paramelt.com www.paramelt.com

Parkinson Technologies OLBRICH GmbH

Teutonenstrasse 2-10 Bocholt 46395 Germany Phone: +49 28 71 283 0 Fax: +49 28 71 283-189 info@olbrich.com www.olbrich.com/ Optimation Technology, Inc. 50 High Tech Drive Rush, NY 14543 Phone: (585) 321-2300 Fax: (585) 321-2700 MCF@optimation.us www.optimation.us/ ORAFOL Americas Inc. 1100 Oracal Parkway Black Creek, GA 31308 Phone: (888) 672-2251 Fax: (912) 851-5060 brian.mcveigh@orafol.com www.orafolamericas.com

100 Goldstein Drive Woonsocket, RI 02895 Phone: (401) 762-2100 Fax: (401) 762-2295 sales@parkinsontechnologies.com www.parkinsontechnologies.com/

PFFC - Paper, Film & Foil Converter A Property of YTC Media Inc. 5624 W. Wilson Ave. Chicago, IL 60630 Phone: (773) 916-7332 ysimonsis@pffc-online.com www.pffc-online.com/

Plymouth Rubber Europa, SA 960 Turnpike Street, Suite 2A Canton, MA 02021 Phone: 800-458-0336 Fax: 844-849-7219 info-usa@plymouthrubber.com www.plymouthrubber.com Polinas Plastik Sanayii ve Ticareti A.S. Bulgurlu Mh. Kisikli Alemdag Cad. Masaldan Is Merk Istanbul 34696 Turkey Phone: +90 236 226 22 00 www.polinas.com.tr

Polykote Corporation

135 Kuebler Road Easton, PA 18040 Phone: (610) 258-1604 Fax: (610) 258-3670 jrestrepo@polykotecorp.com www,polykotecorp.com Polymag Tek 215 Tremont Street Rochester, NY 14608 Phone: (800) 787-0830 Fax: (585) 235-8395 info@polymagtek.com www.polymagtek.com Polymer Science, Inc. 2787 S Freeman Road Monticello, IN 47960 Phone: (888) 533-7004 Fax: (574) 583-3984 sales@polymerscience.com www.polymerscience.com/ Polytex Environmental Inks, LLC 820 E. 140th St. Bronx, NY 10454 Phone: (718) 402-2000 Fax: (718) 402-2984 sales@polytexink.com www.polytexus.com

Phifer Incorporated 4400 Kauloosa Ave Tuscaloosa, AL 35403 Phone: 800-854-9473 Fax: 205-750-4890 Terry.White@phifer.com www.phifer.com 2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

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MANUFACTURERS DIRECTORY

Portage Knife Company 75 Skelton Road Akron, OH 44312 Phone: (330) 784-0700 Fax: (330) 784-0701 sales@portageknife.com www.portageknife.com

PPG Industries / Teslin Substrate 440 College Park Drive Monroeville, PA 15146 Phone: (800) 437-8318 martino@ppg.com www.teslin.com

Precision Die Systems Corporation

3132 Louis Avenue Eau Claire, WI 54703 Phone: (715) 836-7094 Fax: (715) 836-3945 ryanmccoy@precisiondiesystems.com www.precisiondiesystems.com Preco, Inc. 500 Laser Drive Somerset, WI 54025 Phone: (715) 247-3285 Fax: (715) 247-5650 sales@precoinc.com www.precoinc.com Pres-On 2600 East 107th St. Bolingbrook, IL 60440 Phone: (800) 323-7467 Fax: (630) 628-8025 sales@preson.com www.preson.com/

Printco Industries, LLC

2596 State Hwy. 32 Pulaski, WI 54162 Phone: (920) 865-7775 Fax: (920) 865-3624 ddemille@printco-industries.com www.printco-industries.com

Printpack

2800 Overlook Parkway Atlanta, GA 30339 Phone: (404) 460-7000 Fax: (404) 691-8052 info@printpack.com www.printpack.com

Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc. Precision AirConvey Corporation 465 Corporate Blvd Newark, DE 19702 Phone: (302) 266-0555 Fax: (302) 266-7537 get-facts@airconvey.com www.airconvey.com

Precision Coatings Inc. 8120 Goldie St Walled Lake, MI 48390 Phone: (800) 521-8380 Fax: (248) 363-8413 info@pcicoatings.com www.pcicoatings.com/

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Primarc UV Curing Lamps, a Baldwin Technology Brand 2 Danforth Rd Easton, PA 18045 Phone: (610) 829-4240 Fax: (610) 829-4260 sales@primarcuv.com www.primarc.com

Prime UV Systems, Inc. 416 Mission Street Carol Stream, IL 60188 Phone: (630) 681-2100 Fax: (630) 681-0022 sales@primeuv.com www.primeuv.com/

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

621 Route One South North Brunswick, NJ 08902 Phone: (800) 345-0234 Fax: (732) 729-7373 sales@protapes.com www.protapes.com

Process Sensors Corporation 113 Cedar Street Milford, MA 01757 Phone: (508) 473-9901 Fax: (508) 473-0715 info@processsensors.com www.processsensors.com

Protect-all, Inc.

109 Badger Parkway Darien, WI 53114 Phone: (262) 724-3292 Fax: (262) 724-5471 sales@protect-all.com www.protect-all.com

PRUFTECHNIK Service Inc. 7821 Bartram Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19153 Phone: (844) 242-6296 Fax: (215) 893-3902 info@pruftechnik.com www.pruftechnik.com/

Rayven Inc. 431 North Griggs Street Saint Paul, MN 55104 Phone: (651) 642-1112 Fax: (651) 642-9497 info@rayven.com www.rayven.com/

PUC-Rio Rua Marques de Sao Vicente 225 Rio de Janeiro RJ 22451 Brazil Phone: +3527-2531 www.puc-rio.br

Rochester Institute of Technology 78 Lomb Memorial Drive, PO Box 9887 Building 70-1165 Rochester, NY 14623 Phone: (585) 475-6038 cedipk@rit.edu

Pyradia Inc.

5125, rue J.-A. Bombardier Saint-Hubert, Quebec J3Z 1G4 Canada Phone: (450) 463-3344 Fax: (450) 463-3252 sales@pyradia.com www.pyradia.com

Quickdraft

1525 Perry Drive SW Canton, OH 44710 Phone: (855) VENTURI, (330) 477-4574 Fax: (330) 477-3314 info@quickdraft.com www.quickdraft.com

Roethel GmbH & Co KG Heiksfeld 11 Bochum 44805 Germany Phone: +49 234-87940 Fax: +49 234-879444 rodassoc@aol.com www.roethel.com/ Roll Technology Corp. 4412 White Horse Rd. Greenville, SC 29611 Phone: (800) 742-7655 Fax: (864) 269-7707 david@rolltech.com www.rolltech.com/ Roll-2-Roll Technologies, LLC 1414 S Sangre Rd Stillwater, OK 74074 Phone: 405-726-0985 info@r2r-tech.com www.r2r-tech.com

560 Salt Rd. Webster, NY 14580 Phone: (585) 265-0220 Fax: (585) 265-1132 sales@rdspecialties.com www.rdspecialties.com/

Radiant Energy Systems, Inc. 175 N. Ethel Avenue Hawthorne, NJ 07506 Phone: (973) 423-5220 Fax: (973) 423-5228 info@RadiantEnergy.com www.RadiantEnergy.com

RYECO, Inc.

810 Pickens Industrial Drive Marietta, GA 30101 Phone: (770) 423-0934 Fax: (770) 424-2554 sales@ryeco.com www.ryeco.com

Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics-Composites Group / SolarGard SBU 4540 Viewridge Ave. San Diego, CA 92123 Phone: (858) 614-1117 robert.m.gardner@saint-gobain.com www.solargard.com/

SAM North America, LLC

Rol-Vac, LP R.D. Specialties, Inc.

Roysons Corporation 40 Vanderhoof Avenue Rockaway, NJ 07866 Phone: (888) 769-7667 Fax: (973) 625-5917 lcamp@roysons.com www.roysons.com

PO Box 777 207 Tracy Road Dayville, CT 06241 Phone: (860) 928-9929 Fax: (860) 928-9939 jgbenedict@rolvac.com www.rolvac.com/ Rotadyne 1101 Windham Parkway Romeoville, IL 60446 Phone: (630) 679-7050 Fax: (630) 679-1509 esahli@rotadyne.com www.rotadyne.com

31 County Route 59 Phoenix, NY 13135 Phone: (315) 934-4287 Fax: (315) 934-4331 info@sam-na.com www.sam-na.com

San Jose State University One Washington Square San Jose, CA 95192 Phone: (408) 924-7123 Fritz.Yambrach@sjsu.edu Schenk Vision 1830 Woodale Dr, Suite 500 Woodbury, MN 55125 Phone: (651) 730-4090 Fax: (651) 730-1955 schenkmarcom@yahoo.com www.drschenk.com

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MANUFACTURERS DIRECTORY Schober USA Inc. 4690 Industry Drive Fairfield, OH 45014 Phone: (513) 489-7393 Fax: (513) 489-7485 solutions@schoberusa.com www.schoberusa.com

Sensory Analytics - SpecMetrix Systems The Sensory Building 4413 West Market Street Greensboro, NC 27407 Phone: (336) 315-6090 Fax: (336) 315-6030 greg.frisby@sensoryanalytics.com www.specmetrix.com

ShapedWire / Solon Specialty Wire 30000 Solon Road Solon, OH 44139 Phone: (815) 713-6959 Fax: (440) 248-5491 kevin.sopczak@leggett.com www.leggett.com

Simco-Ion

2257 North Penn Rd. Hatfield, PA 19440 Phone: (215) 822-6401 Fax: (215) 822-3795 customerservice@simco-ion.com www.simco-ion.com Singular Metallizing Paper Corporation 17 Barstow Road, Suite #407 Great Neck, NY 11021 Phone: (516) 829-2988 Fax: (516) 870-0260 info@smpusa.net www.smpusa.net

SKC Inc.

1000 SKC Drive Covington, GA 30014 Phone: (678) 342-1000 Fax: (678) 342-1111 NMullins@skcfilms.com www.skcfilms.com/

Siemens Industry, Inc.

3333 Old Milton Parkway Alpharetta, GA 30005 Phone: (770) 871-3800 Fax: (770) 871-3815 mcs.converting.industry@siemens.com www.siemens.com/converting

Sierra Coating Technologies LLC 1820 Enterprise Dr. De Pere, WI 54115 Phone: (920) 983-8008 sales@sierracoating.com www.Sierracoating.com

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Sonoco Products Company 1 N. Second Street Hartsville, SC 29550 Phone: (843) 383-7000 Fax: (843) 339-6019 marcia.winburn@sonoco.com www.sonoco.com/

Specialty Papers & Films, Inc. 101 Old York Road New Hope, PA 18938 Phone: (215) 862-9434 dene@spf-inc.com www.spf-inc.com

www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

Speedmet Aluminum San. Tic. Ltd. ITOSB, 10. Cadde No: 2 Tepeoren, Tuzla Istanbul Turkey 34959 Phone: +90 216 593 1710 Fax: +90 216 593 1717 sales@speedmet.com Spooner Industries Inc. 2056 Scenic Drive NW Lancaster, OH 43130 Phone: (740) 681-1123 Fax: (740) 681-1123 phenderson@spooner.co.uk www.spoonerusa.com Sputtering Components Inc. 375 Alexander Drive Owatonna, MN 55060 Phone: (507) 455-9140 Fax: (507) 455-9148 sales@sputteringcomponents.com www.sputteringcomponents.com State University of New York at Binghamton PO Box 6000 Binghamton, NY 13902 Phone: (607) 777-6880 Fax: (607) 777-4683 bahgat@binghamton.edu www.ieec.binghamton.edu/ieec/ State University of New York, College of Environmental Science & Forestry (SUNY-ESF) 235 Gateway Center One Forestry Drive Syracuse, NY 13210 Phone: (315) 470-4871 radcuring@esf.edu www.radcuring.com Sumilon Polyester Ltd Delhi Gate, Vairagini Wadi Near Amisha Hotel Surat Gujarat 395003 India Phone: +912616797979 sumilon@sumilon.com www.sumilonpolyfilm.com

Sun Chemical

135 West Lake Street Northlake, IL 60164 Phone: (708) 236-3798 Fax: (708) 562-0580 naimarketing@sunchemical.com www.sunchemical.com

Super Film Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. 2 Organize Sanayi Bolgesi Gaziantep 27120 Turkey Phone: +90 342 211 6000 Fax: +90 342 337 2870 export@superfilm.com www.superfilm.com/

Tacmina USA Corporation 105 W. Central Road Schaumburg, IL 60195 Phone: (312) 810-8128 Fax: (847) 713-5416 jim_feltman@tacmina.com www.tacmina.com

Taghleef Industries Inc. 500 Creek View Road, Suite 301 Newark, DE 19711 Phone: 800-688-2044 Brendan.Mcnulty@ti-films.com www.ti-films.com/

Technical Coating Int’l, Inc. 150 Backhoe Rd. Leland, NC 28451 Phone: (910) 371-0860 Fax: (910) 371-0929 ds@tciinc.com www.tciinc.com/

Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. 16700 West Lincoln Avenue New Berlin, WI 53151 Phone: (262) 797-3228 Fax: (262) 797-3276 addanihel@tekra.com www.tekra.com/

Terphane Inc.

2754 West Park Dr. Bloomfield, NY 14469 Phone: (585) 657-5800 Fax: (585) 657-5836 dan.roy@terphane.com www.terphane.com/

thelamco, inc.

PO Box 456 1202 Territorial Road Benton Harbor, MI 49023 Phone: (269) 926-6101 Fax: (269) 926-8066 info@thelamco.com www.thelamco.com/ Tilt-lock 12070 43rd St. N.E. Saint Michael, MN 55376 Phone: (800) 999-8458 Fax: (763) 497-7046 Sales@tiltlock.com www.tiltlock.com/

tesa tape, inc.

5825 Carnegie Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28209 Phone: (704) 554-0707 Fax: (704) 553-5677 bboelkins@tesatape.com www.tesatape.com Texas State University 601 University Dr Ingram School of Engineering San Marcos, TX 78666 Phone: (832) 367-8775

Titan (Atlas Converting North America, Inc.) 9801-F Southern Pine Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28273 Phone: (704) 587-2450 Fax: (704) 587-2451 sales.titan@atlasconverting.com www.atlasconverting.com

Toray Plastics (America), Inc. TGW International

5 Braco International Blvd. Wilder, KY 41076 Phone: (859) 647-7383 sales@tgwint.com www.tgwint.com The ADVANCED Team, Inc. 126 Periwinkle Lane Mooresville, NC 28117 Phone: (704) 528-4325 Fax: (704) 528-3628 Scott@theADVANCEDteam.com www.theADVANCEDteam.com

50 Belver Avenue North Kingstown, RI 02852 Phone: (800) 453-6866 Fax: (401) 294-2154 mary.gervais@toraytpa.com www.toraytpa.com

Transilwrap Company, Inc. 9201 W. Belmont Avenue Franklin Park, IL 60131 Phone: (847) 678-1800 Fax: (847) 233-0199 evan_everett@transilwrap.com www.transilwrap.com/ Umicore Thin Film Products 50 Sims Avenue Providence, RI 02909 Phone: (401) 456-0800 Fax: (401) 421-2419 Fezan.Sayed@Umicore.com www.thinfilmproducts.umicore.com 2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

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MANUFACTURERS DIRECTORY

Unifoil Corp.

12 Daniel Road East East Fairfield, NJ 07004 Phone: (973) 244-9900 Fax: (973) 244-5555 jfunicelli@unifoil.com www.unifoil.com/ University Gent Krijgslaan 281, S1 Gent 9000 Belgium Phone: +3292644363 Fax: +3292644996 roger.degryse@ugent.be University of Leeds School of Mechanical Engineering Woodhouse Lane Leeds WEST YORKSHIRE LS2 9JT United Kingdom Phone: +44 113 34 32151 Fax: +44 113 23 49679 j.l.summers@leeds.ac.uk www.engineering.leeds.ac.uk/mech/ University of Maine Dept of Chemical & Biological Engineering 5737 Jenness Hall Orono, ME 04469 Phone: 207-581-2300 www.maine.edu University of Massachusetts Amherst 710 North Pleasant Street 374 Lederle Graduate Research Tower Amherst, MA 01003 Phone: (413) 545-1334 pclark@polysci.umass.edu chm.pse.umass.edu/ University of Massachusetts Lowell 1 University Avenue Lowell, MA 01854 Phone: (315) 382-3241 Thomas_Bezigian@gmail.com www.uml.edu

University of Oxford, Department of Materials Department of Materials Parks Road Oxford OX1 3PH United Kingdom Phone: +44 1865 273 781 Fax: +44 1865 273 789 hazel.assender@materials.ox.ac.uk www.materials.ox.ac.uk/ University of the West of Scotland Institute of Thin Films, Imaging and Sensors Renfrewshire Paisley PA1 2BE United Kingdom Phone: +44 141848 3610 Fax: +44 1418483627 frank.placido@uws.ac.uk www.thinfilmcentre.co.uk/ UPM Raflatac, Inc. 400 Broadpointe Drive Mills River, NC 28759 Phone: (800) 992-3882 Fax: (800) 452-4127 usasales@upmraflatac.com www.upmraflatac.com/

Vacuum Depositing Inc. 1294 Old Fern Valley Rd. Louisville, KY 40219 Phone: (502) 969-4227 Fax: (502) 969-3378 dbryant@vdi-llc.com www.vdi-llc.com/

Vacuum Technology & Coating 27 Walker Lane Weston, CT 06883 Phone: (203) 454-5678 Fax: (203) 454-5810 vtcmag@snet.net www.vtcmag.com/

Vacuumatic Maschinen GmbH Emmericher Strasse 31 Wesel 46485 Germany Phone: +49 281 339950 Fax: +49 281 3399520 h.vierboom@vacuumatic.com www.vacuumatic-rtis.com

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www.convertingquarterly.com • 2016 Quarter 4

Valco Melton

411 Circle Fwy Dr. Cincinnatti, OH 45246 Phone: (513) 874-6550 ask@valcomelton.com www.valcomelton.com Vast Films, Ltd. 101 Aid Drive, PO Box 183 Darlington, PA 16115 Phone: (727) 827-2200 Fax: (724) 827-2020 c.finsted@vastfilm.com www.vastfilm.com/

Vetaphone

155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4250 Chicago, IL 60606 Phone: (312) 803-3691 sales@vetaphone.com www.vetaphone.com

Viavi Solutions (formerly JDSU– Flex Products Group) 1402 Mariner Way Santa Rosa, CA 95407 Phone: (707) 525-9200 Fax: (707) 525-7533 adam.scheer@viavisolutions.com www.jdsu.com/ Vitek Corporation/JBF/Moeller PO Box 11541 Charlotte, NC 28220 Phone: (704) 333-3404 Fax: (704) 333-3324 info@vitekcorp.com www.vitekcorp.com VON ARDENNE GmbH Plattleite 19-29 Dresden Saxony 01324 Germany Phone: +49 351 26 37-300 Fax: +49 351 26 37-308 sales@vonardenne.biz www.vonardenne.biz/

Webco Engineering Inc. 155 Northboro Road Southborough, MA 01772 Phone: (508) 303-0500 Fax: (508) 303-0700 info@webcoeng.com www.webcoeng.com Western Michigan University Paper & Printing Pilot Plant 4651 Campus Dr Kalamazoo, MI 49008 Phone: (269) 276-3532 Fax: (269) 276-3535 shawn.mortimore@wmich.edu www.wmich.edu/pilotplants WestRock (was MeadWestvaco) 501 South 5th Street Richmond, VA 23219 Phone: (804) 444-4121 www.westrock.com Wintriss Engineering Corporation 9010 Kenamar Drive, Suite 101 San Diego, CA 92121 Phone: (800) 550-7300 Fax: (858) 653-3910 Ben@weco.com www.weco.com/

XDS Holdings, Inc. 2461 Progress Court Neenah, WI 54956 Phone: (920) 722-8123 Fax: (920) 722-1226 dryers@teamxds.com www.teamxds.com

EVENT SCHEDULE 2016/2017 Introduction to Pressure-sensitive Adhesive Workshop 2016

In cooperation with Chemsultants International November 7-8, 2016 | Amsterdam, the Netherlands

AWA IMLCON™ & IMDCON™ 2016 November 16-18, 2016 | Chicago, IL, USA

AWA Global Release Liner Industry Conference & Exhibition 2017 March 29-31, 2017 | Chicago, IL, USA

AWA Mergers and Acquisitions Executive Forum 2017 April 3, 2017 | Chicago, IL, USA

AWA International Sleeve Label Conference & Exhibition 2017 April 5-7, 2017 | Miami, FL, USA

Introduction to Heat Shrink Sleeve Label Technologies Workshop 2017 (Incl. live demonstrations and simultaneous Spanish translation) May 23-24, 2017 | Minneapolis, MN, USA

AWA Label Release Liner Industry Seminar 2017

September 25, 2017 | Brussels, Belgium

LATEST PUBLICATIONS Worthen Industries

3 East Spit Brook Road Nashua, NH 03060 Phone: (603) 888-5443 Fax: (603) 888-7945 eworthen@worthenind.com www.worthenind.com/ Wuxi Teckwah Printing & Packaging Co., Ltd No.32, Xigan Road. Ehu Town, Xishan District Wuxi Jiangsu 214116 China Phone: 86 510 8874 8181 Fax: 86 510 8874 0059 aikpin_ang@teckwah.com.cn www.wuxiteckwah.com

Global Specialty Papers and Paperboards Market Study 2016 AWA South American Release Liner Market Study 2016 AWA North American Labeling and Product Decoration Market Study 2016 AWA Global Wine Label AWAreness™ Report 2016 AWA Global Pressure-sensitive Adhesives Market Study 2016 AWA Global Sleeve Label Market Study 2016

WWW.AWA-BV.COM Tel: +31 206762069 | info@awa-bv.com 2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

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JUBILEE EVENT: 10TH EDITION!

The World’s Leading Exhibition for Paper, Film & Foil Converting 21 - 23 MARCH 2017 MUNICH TRADE FAIR CENTRE, GERMANY

ONLINE TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM JANUARY 2017! Technological innovations, smart production solutions and practical know-how

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WWW.ICE-X.COM/EUROPE

Materials Coating/Laminating Drying/Curing (Pre)Treatment Accessories Slitting/Rewinding Flexographic/Rotogravure Printing Finishing Factory Management/Waste Disposal Retrofits/Machine Upgrades Toll Coating/Converting/Slitting Control, Test & Measurement Software Services

ORGANISERS:

PATENT PROFILES Recent Awards & Applications Flexible electronic substrate

US Patent Application #20160302300 (filed Oct. 13, 2014, application #15/036592) Inventors: Pavel Shashkov, et al (Linton, UK) Assignee: Cambridge Nanotherm, Ltd. Abstract: A flexible electronic substrate (FES) includes a metallic layer, a dielectric nanoceramic layer formed by oxidation of a surface of the metallic layer and an electrical circuit formed on a surface of the dielectric layer. The FES may be used for supporting a device – for example, a flexible display, an OLED, an optoelectronic device or an RF device. The dielectric nanoceramic layer has a crystalline structure consisting of substantially equiaxed grains having an average grain size of 100 nm or less, a thickness of between 1 micron and 50 microns, a dielectric strength of greater than 20 KV mm.sup.-1 and a thermal conductivity of greater than 3 W/mK. The FES has a minimum bend radius of lower than 25 cm.

material layer, an adhesive layer, a metal layer and a sealant layer are laminated successively, wherein: the base material layer includes a polyester film; and the metal layer is an aluminum foil in which the 0.2% proof stress at the time of performing a tensile test in a direction parallel to the rolling direction is from 55 to 140 N/mm2. n

Battery packaging material

US Patent Application #20160301040 (filed Dec. 1, 2014, application #15/100888) Inventors: Atsuko Takahagi, et al (Tokyo, Japan) Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. Abstract: To provide a technique for a battery-packaging material made of a film-form laminate in which at least a base material layer, an adhesive layer, a metal layer and a sealant layer are laminated successively, wherein: electrolytic solution resistance is further improved by including a polyester film in the base material layer; cracks and pinholes are less likely to be created at the time of forming the polyester-film-including base material layer; and formability is improved. This batterypackaging material is made of a laminate in which at least a base

TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEW INVENTION Have you applied for or received a new US patent on a converting-related machine or material? Tell us about it. Send the details, including US Patent Application Number, filing date, inventor and assignee, to Editor-In-Chief Mark Spaulding, Converting Quarterly, at mark@aimcal.org. We’ll publish the abstract in the next available issue.

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TECHNOLOGY WATCH Plugs help guide slit rolls for easier stacking Badger Plug (Greenville, WI) introduces new patented single and double E-Z Locator Plugs. When stacking slit rolls for shipment, workers often can’t see the core plug as they hold each roll trying to safely position it on the plug. E-Z Locator Plugs help speed stacking and palletizing of slit rolls whether done manually or with robotic handling. Used in combination with divider sheets with pre-cut holes, the plugs guide the next slit-roll core securely onto the plug. Each slit roll in the stack is interlocked by plugs and divider sheets prevent rolls from shifting during transit. A range of high-impact thermoplastic double plugs in a variety of stock sizes from 2-3/4 through 8 in. are offered. BADGER PLUG, 920-757-7300, www.badgerplug.com/doublevideo.html New series of electronic knifeholders offer superior slit quality, ease of use, increased blade life Maxcess (Camas, WA) debuts the new Tidland Control Series electronic knifeholders, which feature LED-backlit touchscreen interfaces, mill-duty durability and available wireless operation. The Control Series needs less setup and training time, improves safety by reducing the need for operator intervention and is robust enough to withstand harsh mill environments. Available in Control and Control Plus models, the knifeholders are said to ensure proper setup by self-calibrating to optimize two critical operating parameters – side force and overlap. This reduces blade wear and minimizes changes, resulting in less downtime and reduced operating costs. The Control Plus model offers closed-loop side-force control and real-time monitoring via its onboard touchscreen or a PC interface. MAXCESS, 405-752-7824, www.maxcessintl.com Precision ink dispenser expands to 24 stations HMJ tech’s (Brockville, ON, Canada) new HMJ-250 Medium Batch Ink Dispenser offers realtime control for getting every batch within specification the first time. It has a compact footprint with a stainless-steel frame, rugged moving parts and outstanding design features. Expandable to 24 stations, this versatile machine can draw from any type of source container including pails, drums and totes. It can quickly and accurately dispense into narrow-mouth

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jugs, or pails up to 6 gals, and includes a proprietary, automated valve-cleaning system that leaves valves clean and dry after every single dispense. The modular media farm has dramatically simplified installations to customize the dispenser for ink rooms of all shapes and sizes. HMJ TECH, 613-803-4630, www.HMJtech.com Duplex turret slitter/rewinder, water-based laminator, Cloud data featured at K Show 2016 Comexi Group (Girona, Spain) brought a wide range of converting and printing machinery to the recent K 2016 show in Germany. The Comexi S1DT dual turret slitter/rewinder handles many of the most-demanding finishing jobs. The Comexi L20000 water-based laminator is specifically designed for JIT lamination that responds to the needs of the HP Indigo digital press 20000. This innovation is more sustainable and efficient, eliminating solvents through the water-rolling process. The Comexi Cloud is reportedly the fastest and easiest way to analyze production data to optimize resources. It provides realtime information that improves productivity, process safety, and reduces downtime and waste. COMEXI GROUP, +34-972-477-744, www.comexi.com Economical laminator offers high-end features Advanced Greig Laminators (DeForest, WI) introduces its newly redesigned Encore Series Laminator, which incorporates features normally found on higher-end systems. These include pneumatic control of all wind-up stations with interchangeable cores allowing for more precise film tension; proprietary nip-roll design and the industry’s best heating and nip-pressure design for ease of use, consistent results and faster throughput; redesigned frame incorporating upgraded dead-shaft idler rolls with SKF bearings providing less resistance to the throughput materials; lightweight swing out shafts for easy core exchange without tools; and enhanced Autogrip core chuck to address the issue of inside-core variances commonly found with some cast vinyl manufacturers. ADVANCED GREIG LAMINATORS, 800-276-2664, www.aglinc.com OPP, PET film innovations, corporate global reach to be highlighted at PACK EXPO International 2016 Toray Plastics (America) (Kingstown, RI) will feature its advanced Torayfan® OPP and Lumirror® PET film technologies, collaborative spirit, and global reach at PACK EXPO International 2016 in Chicago. Toray also will update attendees about its participation in the HP Indigo Pack Ready program. Among the offerings: Torayfan® CBS2 film is a PVdC-free, clear, excellent oxygen- and moisture-barrier BOPP film designed for use as the inside sealant web for the packaging of snacks, cookies, crackers, granola, fruit/nut mixes, and confections. Lumirror® QN497 is an ultra-high, gas-barrier metallized PET film designed to be the inner layer of a laminate film in

Linerless label production, extended color gamut added to hybrid digital inkjet press FFEI Ltd. (Hemel, UK), introduces several new media handling and digital finishing enhancements for the Graphium hybrid digital inkjet label press. In addition, a new orange ink that gives Graphium the widest color gamut on digital label presses is available. The thin-film modification kit handles substrates as thin as 0.5-mil (12 microns). For converters of linerless labels, it now means they can take advantage of the many benefits of hybrid label production. The Graphium’s new closed-loop tension control, advanced encoder and rollers for foil replacement, extended shelf life, and gasflushed applications requiring superior moisture-, oxygen-, and aroma-barrier properties, such as coffee packaging. Toray HP Indigo Pack Ready films that are fit for use include Lumirror® PA66 PET film and Torayfan® FMS and F62W OPP films. TORAY PLASTICS (AMERICA), 401-6672281, www.toraytpa.com

continued on page 122 u

HIGH TRACTION HIGH RELEASE Introducing

5 Non-Stick Coating Our new WINtrac 5 is our highest release, highest traction, non-stick coating yet! Designed for easy roller clean-up, ink wipes off fast and easy.

New flexo press engineered for solvent-, water-based inks and UV-LED and EB curing at 500 mpm KBA-Flexotecnica’s (Dallas, TX) new NEO XD LR HYBRID CI-flexographic printing press is for solvent- and water-based inks as well as curing ink systems, such as UV-LED and EB. With up to 12 colors, a cut-off from 400 to 1,200 mm, a maximum web width of 1,650 mm and a maximum printing speed of up to 500 mpm, this innovative press meets various production demands for flexible packaging. The unusual system employs a single printing process, or multi-process combinations on the main central drum as well as on in-line downstream units. Cutting-edge technical solutions include a new ultra-stiff printing unit designed to minimize the effects of vibration and plate bounce in the most severe printing conditions ensuring excellent print quality at maximum speed. Wrap-up safety covers with protective glass doors help ensure maximum operator health and safety, and a new level of press ergonomics, which makes anilox and platesleeve changes faster and easier even in the case of large web widths and repeat sizes, guarantees efficient and economical production. KBA NORTH AMERICA, +39-371-4431, www. kba.com

The winning combination for fast roll cleaning & increased web speed WINtrac 5 Coating & WINertia AV Idler Rolls Call or email us for your FREE idler consultation.

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componex.net • 608-884-2201 • info@componex.net 2016 Quarter 4 • www.convertingquarterly.com

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TECHNOLOGY WATCH t continued from page 121

thin-film production, the handling of 12- to 250-micron films is now very practical. This new capability means that packaging weight and waste can be reduced while maintaining exceptional print quality, ensuring fit-for-purpose products. Also Graphium’s in-line closed-loop lamination enables precise application of a functional barrier to provide superior rewind without curling. FFEI, +44-1442-210456, www.ffei.co.uk Turret unwind upgrades boost productivity Davis-Standard’s (Pawcatuck, CT) aftermarket group offers turret unwind upgrades that significantly improve productivity and minimize downtime. One example involved the modification of two turret unwinds on a 1,200 fpm pressure-sensitive adhesive coating line. D-S changed the turret unwind operation from air brakes with a speeder motor to a fully regenerative operation, which significantly improved both efficiency and performance. The aftermarket group is able to upgrade PLC, drive and mechanical systems on thousands of existing installations, including non-Davis-Standard brands. DAVIS-STANDARD, 860-599-1010, www.davis-standard.com Zero-migration adhesives set new frontier in contaminant-free food packaging SAPICI (Caronno Pertusella Varese, Italy) launches an innovative line of laminating adhesives with pioneering zeromigration technology for food packaging. These products with free-monomer content less than 0.1% by weight dispel the risk factors as well as the danger of food contamination. Some laminating adhesives used in food packaging register, at their origin, a certain quantity of substances suspected to be carcinogenic. They could potentially threaten the health of workers who handle and inhale the product and the health of the final consumer. SAPICI, +39-2-9644621, www.sapici.it EB-curing option integrates with mid-web digital finishing system for labels, flex packs Edale (Whiteley, UK) and ebeam Technologies (Flamatt, Switzerland) have integrated a new electron-beam (EB) curing option for the Digicon 3000, a mid-web finishing solution for digitally printed flexible packaging and labels. Highly configurable, it offers numerous options including finishing for labels, shrink sleeves, packaging and POS/POP as well as in-line coating and lamination of flexible packaging and labels. It is also compatible with the HP Indigo 20000 digital press. Benefits include improved print integrity and visual presentation as well as substantially increased package durability and abrasion resistance. Another important benefit is speed; ebeam curing is instantaneous, and because output from the HP Indigo is often surface print, it is possible to surface-coat for protection, and immediately send to slitting and pouch or bagmaking. ebeam inks and varnish contain

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no photoinitiators so the risk of migration and contamination of food is negated. EBEAM TECHNOLOGIES, http://comet-ebeam.com High-performance, modular duplex slitter/rewinder has different configurations, competitively priced Catbridge Machinery’s (Parsippany, NJ) new, Americanmade Model 900-M duplex slitter/rewinder offers numerous productivity features and configurations. Productivity components include robust construction for 24/7 operations, technologies and special features to help ensure efficiency and accuracy, and an advanced yet user-friendly control system. For versatility, the 900-M can handle a variety of primary films, flexible-packaging laminations, and papers. This duplex center winder also can be configured for specific customer needs by allowing for multiple slitting methods and unwind options. Built to the highest-quality safety standards and backed by a world-class service department, the system can be trialed at the co.’s Montville, NJ, facility. CATBRIDGE MACHINERY, 973-808-0029, www.catbridge. com Re-engineered primary slitter handles broad range of BOPP films at speeds to 4,900 fpm GOEBEL IMS (Darmstadt, Germany) presented its newly designed MONOSLIT primary slitter series, including the MONOSLIT with a working width of up to 354 in. and the MONOSLIT GIANT with a 472 in. working width, at the recent K 2016 show. Both are designed for converting a broad spectrum of films ranging from BOPP materials for the MONOSLIT GIANT to BOPP, BOPET, OPP, CPP, BOPA, BOPS and other special films. Packaging, capacitor, battery separator and optical films with film thicknesses between 0.5 and 500 microns can be converted with the MONOSLIT series at a speed of up to 4,900 fpm., featuring an extremely smooth run at maximum speed while guaranteeing outstanding quality of the end product. The new design allows for an unwinding diameter of up to 71 in. and a rewinding diameter of up to 61 in., with winding stations allowing for a maximum finished roll weight of up to 11,000 lbs. MATIK, INC., 860-232-2323, www.matik.com Feedblock fine-tunes each layer, balances velocities Nordson EDI’s (Chippewa Falls, WI) new-generation coextrusion feedblock enables processors of film, sheet, and coatings to fine-tune individual layers as well as accommodate changes in layer ratio, and to adjust the tuning system without removing the feedblock from the production line. The feedblock combines melt

streams from separate extruders into a multilayer “sandwich” that the extrusion die subsequently distributes to the target product width. The EDI™ Ultraflow™ V-T feedblock has separate devices for fine-tuning layer stability and thickness uniformity, and both are capable of being adjusted without stopping production. As in the widely used Ultraflow™ V feedblock, one of these devices is a pair of “combining planes” (located where the outer-layer melt streams join the core layer in the central flow channel) that fine-tune the overall structure by adjusting the gaps at the point of layer combination. NORDSON CORP., 715-726-1201, www.nordson.com Polyurethane-based inks fits high-performance flexographic printing, withstand retort process Flint Group (Anniston, AL) introduces VarioLam AB LEC, a range of multi-functional polyurethane (PU) based inks, suitable for high-performance flexographic printing and withstanding the retort process. This single ink system is free of a cross-linker, nitrocellulose (NC), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) binder. It enables the printing of high-definition graphics that can withstand

the moisture, heat and pressure of the retort process ,which is used to ensure the extended shelf life and safety of foods. VarioLam AB LEC provides very high bond strengths on a wide range of film structures. It is universal for every lamination structure and therefore strongly supports a Lean Production, Continuous Improvement Process (CIP), as well as an enhanced Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE). FLINT GROUP, 763-398-2716, www.flintgrp.com Oxygen-barrier coated films fit transparency needs for lightweight food packaging applications Sun Chemical (Parsippany, NJ) has entered into a partnership with ACPO, Ltd., a premier coater of flexible films, to meet the growing demand of brand owners and flexible-packaging converters for high-barrier transparent packaging. Sun Chemical will supply its SunBar® oxygen-barrier coatings to ACPO to coat and supply various films to flex-pack makers. SunBar oxygen-barrier coatings offer converters cost-effective, durable, sustainable films that support lightweight packaging trends by creating a smooth, homogenous, pinhole-free, and flexible layer that can be easily overprinted with inks and laminated to a variety of secondary films. ACPO, LTD., www.acpo.com; SUN CHEMICAL CORP., www.sunchemical.com n

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MARKETPLACE

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96.5” (2450mm) E/Beam Equipment, Web widths from 40” (1000mm) to 80” (2000mm) Sputter Equipment, widths from 0.5” (12mm) to 80” (2000mm) Sputter R&D Equipment, widths from 4” (100mm) to 40” (1000mm) Multi Layer capability for complex coatings Plasma Treatment for enhanced uniformity and adhesion Closed loop deposition systems Inline Optical and Resistance monitoring Typical Film types and thickness PET, PEN, OPP, Nylon, Polyimide from 9 to 250 micron Materials Deposited include (but not limited to) Cr, Al, Cu, Ag, Ni, NiCr, Si, SiO2, Ti, TiO2, TiN, SS, Sn, In, ITO, ZnS, Inconnel Custom Rewinding and Slitting services Vacuum Depositing Inc. 1294 Old Fern Valley Road, Louisville, KY. 40219

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Thelamco-2016CQ-thirdpagead:Layout 1

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Your Technology Source for the Converting Industry AIMCAL Europe Technical Conference • May 30-June 2, 2016 • Register Now

The Griff Network

The Griffcreate Network Coating, Laminating Extrusion Materials that & solutions. Coating, Laminating & Extrusion Materials that create solutions. www.thegriffnetwork.com Film, Foil, Paper, & Tapes www.thegriffnetwork.com Coating, Laminating & Extrusion Film, Foil, Paper, & Tapes “Focused details, so you can Contracton &the Custom Converting “Focused on the details, so you can focus on the results” Contract & Custom Converting Film,focus Foil, & Tapes onPaper the results” Slitting, Sheeting, Die-Cutting Slitting,Laminating Sheeting, Die-Cutting Coating, & Extrusion Product Development Contract & Custom Converting Coating, Laminating & Extrusion Product Development Film, Foil, Paper, & Tapes Film, Foil, Paper, & Tapes Slitting, ContractSheeting, & CustomDie-Cutting Converting Contract & Custom Converting Product Development Slitting, Sheeting, Die-Cutting Slitting, Sheeting, Die-Cutting Product Development Product Development inquiry@thegriffnetwork.com inquiry@thegriffnetwork.com (215) 428-1075 (215) Morrisville 428-1075 Road 275 Lower 275 Lower Morrisville Road Fallsington, PA 19054 Fallsington, PA 19054 inquiry@thegriffnetwork.com inquiry@thegriffnetwork.com (215) 428-1075 (215) Morrisville 428-1075 Road 275 Lower 275 Lower Morrisville Road Fallsington, PA 19054 Fallsington, PA 19054

Slitter/rewinder focus on pure productivity & profitability

• Quarterly Magazine (print & digital) • Weekly E-Newsletter • Industry Expert Blogs • Buyers Guide • Mobile Apps

2016 Quarter 2 2016 FPA Achievement Awards ........................................ 8 2016 AIMCAL Product, Technology & Sustainability Awards .................................................... 26 Dealing with slitting and winding roll-defect complexity ........................................................ 32 Slitter/rewinder focus on pure productivity & profitability ....................................... 37 US Flexible-Packaging Market Forecast ......................... 41 Resolving brand-owner challenges with oxygen-barrier nanotechnology coating ................. 42 Old coating methods never die ........................................ 48 Preventing static fires: Part 2........................................... 52 Non-contacting, non-nuclear caliper sensor for online direct thickness gauging ................................. 58 Acoustic drying of paper, films in commercial settings...................................................... 66 Copper-shell design is key to next-generation chill rolls ............................................. 70 ISCST Insights: Drying of polymeric coatings: Model-based design of technical thin-film dryers and experimental validation............................................. 76

AIMCAL Official Publication of the Association of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators

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INDUSTRY CALENDAR NOVEMBER 2016 6-9 PACK EXPO International 2016: McCormick Place Complex, Chicago, IL. PMMI. www.packexpointernational.com

27-March 1 uv.eb WEST 2017: Embassy Suites San Francisco Airport Waterfront Hotel, Burlingame, CA. RadTech. www. radtech.org

15-17 Multilayer Packaging Films 2016: Austria Trend Hotel Savoyen, Vienna, Austria. AMI Plastics. www.amiplastics.com/ events/event?Code=C717

27-March 1 PACK EXPO East 2017: Pennsylvania Convention Ctr., Philadelphia, PA. PMMI. www.packexpoeast.com

16-17 Printed Electronics USA 2016: Convention Ctr., Santa Clara, CA. IDTechEx. www.idtechex.com/printed-electronicsusa/show/en/ 16-18 ICE China 2016: Shanghai Mart, Shanghai, China. Mack Brooks Exhibitions. www.ice-x-china.com/en/ 16-18 AWA IMLCON & IMDCON 2016: Hyatt Rosemont Hotel, Rosemont, IL. AWA Alexander Watson Associates. www. awa-bv.com DECEMBER 2016 5-8 Basic Flexo Printing: Bordini Ctr., Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, WI. FVTC. www.fvtc.edu/training-services/ business-industry-services 6-7 Flexible Packaging Middle East & Africa 2016: ShangriLa Hotel, Dubai, UAE. Applied Market Information, Ltd. www. amiplastics.com/events/event?Code=C761 FEBRUARY 2017 6-8 The Packaging Conference 2017: Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay Hotel, Tampa, FL. The Packaging Conference LLC. www. thepackagingconference.com

MARCH 2017 1-3 FPA Annual Meeting 2017: Boca Raton Resort & Club, Boca Raton, FL. Flexible Packaging Assn. www.flexpack.org 21-23 ICE Europe 2017: Trade Fair Centre, Munich, Germany. Mack Brooks Exhibitions. www.ice-x.com/europe/english 29-31 AWA Global Release Liner Conference & Exhibition 2017: Chicago, IL. AWA Alexander Watson Associates. www. awa-bv.com APRIL 2017 3 AWA Mergers & Acquisitions Executive Forum 2017: Chicago, IL. AWA Alexander Watson Associates. www.awa-bv. com 3-5 Specialty Papers Europe 2017: Hilton Hotel Cologne, Cologne, Germany. Smithers Pira. www. specialtypaperconference.com/europe 5-7 AWA International Sleeve Label Conference & Exhibition 2017: Miami, FL. AWA Alexander Watson Associates. www.awa-bv.com

ADVERTISING INDEX AIMCAL................................................... www.aimcal.org..................................... 50, 68, 126

Martin Automatic Inc................................ www.martinautomatic.com..................................... 1

AWA Events............................................ www.awa-bv.com............................................... 117

Matik........................................................ www.matik.com.................................................... 53

AZCO Corp.............................................. www.azcocorp.com............................................ 124

Maxcess.................................................. www.maxcessintl.com........................................ IFC

Bobst....................................................... www.bobst.com................................................... 65

Medco Coated Products.......................... www.medcocoatedproducts.com....................... 125

Bühler Inc................................................ www.buhlergroup.com......................................... 69

Menges Roller Co.................................... www.mengesroller.com....................................... 52

Cascades-Sonoco................................... www.cascades-sonoco.com................................ 41

Metlon Corporation.................................. www.metlon.com............................................... 124

Carestream Contract Manufacturing....... www.tollcoating.com............................................ 59

Microseal Industries Inc........................... www.microseal.com........................................... 124

Catbridge................................................. www.catbridge.com............................................. 47

Mirwec Film............................................. www.mirwecfilm.com......................................... 123

Comexi.................................................... www.comexi.com................................................. 23

Mitsubishi Materials................................. www.mmc-slotdie.com......................................... 63

Componex............................................... www.componex.net........................................... 121

MTorres Diseños Industriales, SAU........ www.mtorres.com................................................ 59

Connecticut Metal Industries................... www.foil2.com...................................................... 21

NDC Technologies.................................. www.ndc.com/converting..................................... 54

Converting Quarterly............................... www.convertingquarterly.com............................ 125

New Era Converting Machinery, Inc........ www.neweraconverting.com............................... BC

Davis-Standard........................................ www.davis-standard.com..................................... 37

Nordmeccanica Group............................ www.nordmeccanica.com.................................... 27

Deacro..................................................... www.deacro.com................................................. 71

Novation Inc............................................ www.novation-inc.com......................................... 58

Delta ModTech........................................ www.deltamodtech.com......................................... 5

Parkinson Technologies, Inc................... www.dusenbery.com/flex..................................... 71

Dienes Corporation................................. www.dienesusa.com............................................ 45

Polymag Tek Incorporated...................... www.polymagtek.com.......................................... 51

Dover Flexo Electronics.......................... www.dfe.com....................................................... 34

ProTapes & Specialties........................... www.protapes.com.............................................. 33

Elite Cameron.......................................... www.elitecameron.com........................................ 13

Ryeco...................................................... www.ryeco.com................................................... 15

Enercon................................................... www.enerconind.com/treating............................. 75

SAM North America................................. www.sam-na.com................................................ 70

Finzer Roller............................................ www.finzerroller.com........................................... 39

TGW International................................... www.tgwint.com................................................... 47

Fox River Associates............................... www.foxriverassociates.com............................... 62

The Griff Network.................................... www.thegriffnetwork.com................................... 125

Franklin Adhesives & Polymers............... www.franklinadhesivesandpolymers.com............ 31

thelamco.................................................. www.thelamco.com............................................ 125

Goldenrod Corporation............................ www.goldenrodcorp.com................................... IBC

Toray....................................................... www.toraytpa.com............................................... 57

Harper Corporation of America............... www.harperimage.com........................................ 17

Vacuum Depositing Inc. (VDI)................. www.vdi-llc.com................................................. 124

ICE Europe 2017..................................... www.ice-x.com/europe...................................... 118

Vacuumatic.............................................. www.vacuumatic-rtis.com.................................... 46

ICE USA 2017......................................... www.ice-x-usa.com.............................................. 76

Valco Melton............................................ www.valcomelton.com......................................... 17

Kampf USA.............................................. www.kampfusa.com........................................... 119

Vetaphone............................................... www.vetaphone.com........................................... 28

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WEB WISE Practical Web-Handling Advice

Q: What are some of the problems

with profile variations?

In my last column, I lamented on the multibilliondollar losses in the US alone due to webhandling-related waste, such as wrinkling and winding defects. I also opined that the single largest cause of many of these troubles is poor thickness profile control. The word “profile” means simply “the variation of X across the width of the web”, where X could be anything that could be seen or measured. Common metrics would, of course, include thickness or weight or coating. No less important for troubleshooter and manager alike is the profile of waste or customer complaint. For example, in paper about 80% of the defects are found on the outer 20% of the edges of the paper machine. This “smile-shaped” customer complaint profile could be caused by a smile-shaped thickness or weight profile. When we get to certain defects – such as most bagginess, all corrugations and some cases of starring – we know precisely what the problem is: the web is not level enough to satisfy the winder, which is most fussy and most sensitive to thickness profiles. In round numbers: at 1% variation, you have few complaints; at 10% variation, you have few customers. Yes, a few, such as blown-film, can exceed 20%, but only by complete rotating oscillation of the web. Even then, the edges of the finished rolls will be marred by “ring” stars that are the fingerprint of blown-film gage-control troubles. More frightening is foil, where a 1% gage variation across the width would be a huge source of complaint. However, the problem goes far beyond bagginess, corrugations and starring. Most cases of tight and loose and roll-structure winding defects are aggravated by poor profile. Missing problems on thin products The point of all of this is that at least some of our billion-dollar waste problem has a common theme: the inability to “see” and thus cull or control excessive gage variation on many thin products. Think of the challenge of trying to resolve thickness measurement to 0.1% of a 0.001-in. thick web (10% of the 1% variation that could be cause for complaint). This literally means being able to resolve thickness to 1 millionth of an inch (0.025 microns). Few sensors I am aware of come anywhere close enough. This means that we cannot see, and thus control, gage closely enough to satisfy the web, wound roll

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We cannot see and thus “control gage closely enough to satisfy the web, wound roll and end-use customer who judges workmanship on web flatness and wound roll appearance.

”

and end-use customer who judges workmanship on web flatness and wound roll appearance. This has led to use of roll-hardness instruments to screen rolls for gage variation instead because it can often better resolve these variations on paper and sometimes on film. Yet, roll hardness is not totally satisfactory even in those applications where it works well. It is no fun to find that manufacturing (or converting) needs adjustment an hour (day, week or month) after the web has already been made. Hope for future profile accuracy While the inadequacy of test lab and on-line gaging seems dire, there are cases for hope. First, the scanners found in the paper industries are usually better than random number generators. That is because they have a decades-long head start on other industries, and mills are not afraid of spending millions of dollars on a single scanner. Another is thick webs, where the relative accuracy needed to satisfy the winder is an easier sensor challenge. A totally different approach is to make the manufacturing and converting elements so level that the web is level, even if it can’t be measured. Finally, there are sensors that have suitable resolution for use on certain materials for both lab and on-line testing, but you would not know until the sensors were trialed. Caveat emptor, my friends. n

David R. Roisum, Ph.D. Consulting Technical Editor 920-312-8466 drroisum@aol.com www.roisum.com

GOLDENROD CORPORATION