What is a solventless laminating machine?
With the rising costs of organic solvents and increasing environmental protection requirements, the emission of organic solvents is increasingly subject to stringent restrictions. A solventless laminating machine offers health benefits, safety, environmental protection, low cost, and flexible packaging.
Why choose a solventless laminating machine?
The solventless laminating machine is increasingly in demand due to its safe, healthy, and environmentally friendly process, which is why it is rapidly developing worldwide. It uses 100% adhesive with solid materials that leave no solvent residue, reducing contamination of packaged contents, especially food, pharmaceuticals, etc. There are no volatile solvent emissions during production, and there is no pollution in the atmosphere.
Laminating adhesive for flexible packaging
Higher speed: The speed of a solventless laminating machine can reach up to 600 meters per minute without the risk of fire or explosion.
Lower adhesive consumption: The solventless laminating machine has lower production costs compared to solvent-based machines. The lamination layers and overall costs are significantly reduced.
Lower energy consumption: Since conventional drying systems are not adopted, energy consumption can be significantly reduced.
Better return on investment: The investment efficiency of a solventless laminating machine has doubled compared to solvent-based machines.
Reduced storage risks for transporting organic solvents.
(Ideal specifications for solventless laminating adhesive)
How the solventless laminating machine works
There are no solvents involved, so there is no need to worry about solvent residues. It is not affected by ambient temperature. The pot life of the adhesive is only about thirty minutes, which requires high control over tension and the collecting cone.
There are three types of cylinder layouts: vertical, horizontal, inclined, and the plate cylinder is positioned below the printing section. Generally, each unit has one printing cylinder and one coating cylinder. To increase printing pressure, some are equipped with two molding cylinders.
The technical advantage of the solventless laminating machine, with low adhesive costs and high efficiency, is very clear through the step-by-step sampling method, small batch production, mass production, and reduction of unnecessary risks and losses.
How to control the coating weight of the solventless laminating machine
1. Effect of coating distance on coating weight
The coating distance of the solventless laminating machine has a very clear effect on coating weight, and the coating distance varies due to different manufacturers of solventless laminating machines.
2. Effect of yemperature on coating weight
Some adhesives used in solventless laminating machines are significantly affected by temperature. With different temperatures of solventless adhesives, the fluidity and viscosity of the adhesive change drastically. At the same time, thermal expansion and cooling contraction phenomena occur in the coating roller and measuring roller with changes in adhesive temperature, affecting the coating distance.
3. Effect of transfer rubber roller on coating weight
The hardness, proper leveling, and smoothness of the transfer rubber roller directly affect coating weight. The resistance to corrosion of the transfer rubber roller also directly impacts coating weight. The pressure on the transfer rubber roller directly influences coating weight.
4. Effect of coating mechanism rotation speed on coating weight
Adjusting the coating weight of the solventless laminating machine involves adjusting the ratio between the coating roller and the transfer steel roller. Therefore, the stability of the linear speed of both rollers greatly affects coating weight.
What is important for using a solventless laminating machine:
High control accuracy: The solventless laminating machine requires high control and precision because some solventless adhesive products essentially do not have strong initial adhesion. There is a significant need for controlling tension in the solventless laminating machine and high control accuracy for the coating unit.
High precision production process: The solventless laminating machine requires precise control for process settings such as operating temperature, tension matching, pressure, and coating weight. Different production processes are required for various product structures.
High requirements for operators: A qualified operator for the solventless laminating machine needs to have good work responsibility and excellent operational skills.
Widely applicable structure
Solventless lamination can only be applied for the combination of packaging to packaging. With the continuous improvement of lamination adhesives and the ongoing maturation of the operational process, aluminum film and some multilayer structural products can also be produced.
