Cosmo Films installs Nordmeccanica wide-format lamination machine
Cosmo Films, the manufacturer of speciality films for flexible packaging, lamination and labelling applications and synthetic papers, has invested in a solventless lamination machine at its Karjan plant in Vadodara.
28 Sep 2018 | 7938 Views | By Sujith Ail
The installed machine is a Nordmeccanica product which is 1.8 metres wide and can run up to 450 metres per minute speed. The machine can produce multi-layer film laminates in any thickness and has a maximum thickness capacity of 450 microns. The laminate could be a combination of different materials such as PP, PET, PE, nylon, aluminium foil or paper. A dedicated sheet cutter of the same width has also been installed next to the machine to process its output.
Pankaj Poddar, CEO Cosmo Films, said, “Solventless lamination machine is the latest addition to our R&D portfolio. As the machine can laminate structures as thick as 450 microns, it would help the company serve customers requiring thick film laminates.”
Some of the applications areas of thick laminates include graphic arts, baggage tags, retort and stand-up pouches, high-strength hanging labels, aseptic boxes and luncheon trays, composites for construction, and auto-segment. The machine could also help the company with the R&D testing during new product development process.
“Solventless lamination being an eco-friendly process with no emissions and low energy demands would also help us with our sustainability goals,” added Poddar.
This new lamination machine will accompany the already existing BOPP lines, extrusion coating and chemical coating lines and a metaliser at the Karjan plant.
About solventless lamination process
Adhesives used in the lamination process do not contain solvents.
The specific type of adhesive is composed of two components reacting with each other and consequently not requiring drying.
The two components of the adhesives are mixed first and then applied to the film by the roll coating method.
Then these two components react with each other on the film web itself without any heat or radiation.
The ratio of these components is important for polymerization which consequently decides the rate of curing and bond strength.
The low viscosity of these two components allows easy coating on the film. Initially, the adhesive lends a very low green bond but within a span of 24 hours the adhesive gets cured and develops strength.