UK manufacturer of self-adhesive label stock, Premier Coating & Converters (PCC) has installed a Vetaphone corona treating system at its headquarters in Andover.
The installation was made to improve the running capability of its coating line, where the company produces all combinations of substrate, adhesive, and liner products. PCC has been producing and shipping a variety of substrates to the label and narrow web sector of the print industry for over forty years.
The Vetaphone unit specified and installed at the company’s plant in Andover is a 1720mm wide 12kW VE2C-B(C4) station with ceramic electrodes for 6kW per side treatment. It is powered by two iCorona-2UK 6kW generators with two iHP200U transformers. The whole system is monitored and controlled by Vetaphone’s iCC8 panel. Ozone extraction is handled by two 90° RD62UR blower/fans.
Production Manager, Gary Thorne commented: “Using our bespoke in-house manufacturing coating lines, we apply adhesives to materials up to 1500mm wide with coat weights ranging from 14gsm to 65gsm. With 27m long ovens and two operators running the machine daily, we coat millions of metre’s worth of material every year. The Vetaphone installation was seamless and we were into full production in no time. It looks great on the shop floor and is a perfect example of how we continually improve our production facilities.”
Applying ink, varnish, or in PCC’s case adhesive to film or foil requires the surface energy or tension of the two mediums to be matched. This allows for a process called ‘wetting out’, which basically means that the liquid spreads out instead of ‘beading up’ on the surface, and the result is perfect adhesion between the two.
Kevin McKell, chief sales officer at Vetaphone. “I’ve known PCC for many years as innovators in substrate preparation, of which corona treatment is a key element. As new plastic formulations enter the labelling market it becomes increasingly important to be able to manage and precisely control the corona system to ensure that the correct, and often high dyne level is attained,” he commented.
PCC’s products are marketed under the ‘PREM’ banner and cover stocks for a comprehensive range of print techniques, including laser and inkjet, as well as for fixing applications, durable labels for harsh environments, and sustainable and high visual impact labels. The company also offers PPG Teslin self-adhesive labels (BS5609), a variety of adhesive options, and release liners.
The new double-sided Vetaphone corona treater at Premier Coating & Converters has increased operational efficiency at the company’s production facility in Andover, UK.
