Technical Reports

Can This Coater Be Saved?

Published: January 31, 2006, By Edward D. Cohen, Edward D. Cohen Consulting

What to do with an aging coater? Modernize!

The Secret Strain

Published: December 31, 2005, By Timothy J. Walker, TJWalker & Assoc.

Measuring Force

Published: October 31, 2005, By Eldridge M. Mount III, EMMOUNT Technologies

Learn what adhesion is, how it is measured, what a test really measures relative to the true adhesion between two surfaces, how adhesion affects the performance of the final laminated or multilayer product, an ideal adhesion test between two materials, and what the common T-peel adhesion test measure.

Mastering RFID

Published: September 30, 2005, By By Mark Blitshteyn, Ion Industrial

This article analyzes existing ESD control standards and interprets them for RFID label converting. In addition, available static control methods in RFID converting are examined along with a case study for static control on an RFID tag insertion module for a narrow-web press.

Mastering RFID, Part 2

Published: September 30, 2005, By Mark Blitshteyn, Ion Industrial

This second of a two-part series covers development of an ESD protection program.

Fighting Flaws

Published: August 31, 2005, By Edward D. Cohen, Edward D. Cohen Consulting Inc.

A standard coating line requires different types of equipment to function effectively to produce a defect-free product. Often the main focus of defect reduction efforts is on the major equipment and on application conditions, dryer conditions, and the web transport system.

The Design Supply Chain

Published: May 31, 2005, By Mark Vanover, Esko-Graphics

The packaging industry needs a comprehensive workflow that optimizes process efficiency throughout the entire supply chain.

Truth or Myth?

Published: May 31, 2005, By Dr. Paul E. Gloor, Johnson Polymer LLC

There are many proposed theories that might influence the slide angle. We tested extensively to determine if these postulations are true.

Detecting the Edge

Published: March 31, 2005, By Andrew Kalnajs, AccuWeb Inc.

Web guides have evolved dramatically since their first appearance on converting lines in the 1930s. Electronic edge detectors and electric motors gradually displaced pneumatics and hydraulics as demand grew for greater accuracy and reliability, and tolerance for leaky hydraulics diminished. The earliest electronic systems were far from perfect—in particular the edge detectors were sensitive to dust and temperature swings—but they were a big improvement over their predecessors

Taming Plastics

Published: February 28, 2005, By Greg Zimmer, Zimmer Industries

Plastics may be flexible, brittle, or stretchable; thin, medium, or thick; clear to opaque; really easy to tear, easy to tear, tough to tear, or impossible to tear; have excellent "memory" or have no "memory"; react readily to heat or don’t react to heat at all; allow air to pass through them or actually prevent bullets from passing through them. You get the picture. So how do you cut, crease, and perforate such incredibly diverse (and perverse) materials

Film Opens New Markets

Published: February 28, 2005, By Steve Sargeant, PhD., Toray Plastics (America)

Since pressure-sensitive labels and tapes—and other materials such as stamps—have become more sophisticated, the market for these materials has been expanding rapidly. In such product constructions, it has been common practice to apply a release coating, typically a silicone-based material, to the paper liner from which the materials are peeled or dispensed.

Die Options Explained

Published: December 31, 2004, By Bill Knotts, Spartanics

The wide range of specialty packaging items now being ordered by customers often makes optically registered die-cutting systems the better method for cost-effective and high quality die-cutting. However, new types of dies make it important to reacquaint yourself with your options when using an optically registered die-cutting system.

Web Tension 101

Published: November 30, 2004, By Jeff Damour, Converter Accessory Corp.

Typically, tension is measured in PLI (pounds per linear inch) in the US. If you know PLI and you want to know total tension applied to the web, multiply PLI times the width of the material in inches. If you know total pounds of tension applied to the web and you want to know PLI, divide the total pounds of tension across the web by the width of the web in inches.

Eliminate Pesky Bubbles

Published: November 30, 2004, By Edgar B. Gutoff, Consulting Chemical Engineer

How do bubbles form, and how can we eliminate them? Avoid introducing air into the coating fluid.

Mechanics of Tension Control, Part II

Published: November 30, 2004, By Jeff Damour, Converter Accessory Corp.

For this basic tutorial in the mechanics of web tension control, tension is defined as the force applied to a continuous web of material in the machine direction.

Extrusion Dies

Published: October 31, 2004, By Jamie Foederer, Extrusion Dies Industries (EDI)

Due to the intense competition in today's marketplace, extrusion-coating converters face greater challenges than ever.

Lasers Beam

Published: September 30, 2004, By David Clark and Tony Hoult, Coherent Inc.

Digital converting is on the verge of widespread adoption in flexible packaging applications due to compact carbon dioxide lasers.

The Rx for RH

Published: August 31, 2004, By Pierre A. Husson, Husson Inc.

Remember the converting problems you had last winter? Reducing them this year might be easier than you think.

Weight Control

Published: June 30, 2004, By Edward D. Cohen, Edward D. Cohen Consulting

The quality and performance of a coated product depend on obtaining the desired coating weight and maintaining its uniformity in all the rolls of manufactured product.