Infrared Heating System helps Specialist Paper Coater to double line speed

Infrared heat helps to double line speed.<br>Copyright Heraeus Noblelight 2012<br>

Smith and McLaurin Ltd, is a leading manufacturer and global supplier of self-adhesive label, ticket and tag materials. Based in Johnstone, the company sells material in roll form to printers and converters who produce finished label ticket and tag products for a wide variety of end users, including, supermarkets, pharmacy chains, logistics companies and food manufacturers.

A particular product finds application where security is important, such as in labels and security envelopes. This product requires a water-based adhesive to be applied to a high value stock before a laminate is applied to the adhesive. In some cases, the laminated product is re-passed through the adhesive station so that the laminated layer itself carries a layer of surface adhesive.

Previously, the adhesive was dried in a warm air oven but this sometimes caused problems when drying coloured adhesives, with “spotting” or reticulation, which created an uneven and visible adhesive pattern on the substrate. As a result it was necessary to slow down the line to around 20m/min.

In an effort to solve the problem, Smith & McLaurin contacted Heraeus, who supplied a portable infra-red module to allow tests to be carried out on site. These proved so successful that a 32.5 kW, system equipped with five carbon medium wave emitters was installed immediately before the existing warm air heaters. The emitters are individually controlled so that they can be switched on and off according to the coating weight.

Iain McCourty, Engineering Manager at the Renfrewshire site, explains, “By using the infra-red heaters to direct an initial burst of energy at the wet adhesive we have been able to eliminate any “spotting”. This has meant that we have been able more than double line speed . It has also meant that we have been able to guarantee quality which has helped to consolidate our relationships with customers.”

Heraeus, the precious metals and technology group headquartered in Hanau, Germany, is a global, private company with more than 160 years of tradition. Our fields of competence include precious metals, materials, and technologies, sensors, biomaterials, and medical products, as well as dental products, quartz glass, and specialty light sources. With product revenues of €4.8 billion and precious metal trading revenues of €21.3 billion, as well as more than 13,300 employees in over 120 subsidiaries worldwide, Heraeus holds a leading position in its global markets.

Heraeus Noblelight GmbH with its headquarters in Hanau and with subsidiaries in the USA, Great Britain, France, China and Australia, is one of the technology- and market-leaders in the production of specialist light sources. In 2011, Heraeus Noblelight had an annual turnover of 103 Million € and employed 731 people worldwide. The organization develops, manufactures and markets infrared and ultraviolet emitters for applications in industrial manufacture, environmental protection, medicine and cosmetics, research, development and analytical measurement techniques.

For further information, please contact:

Technical:
Heraeus Noblelight GmbH
Reinhard-Heraeus-Ring 7
D-63801 Kleinostheim
Tel +49 6181/35-8545, Fax +49 6181/35-16 8545
E-Mail hng-infrared@heraeus.com
Press:
Dr. Marie-Luise Bopp
Heraeus Noblelight GmbH,
Abteilung Marketing/Werbung
Tel +49 6181/35-8547, Fax +49 6181/35-16 8547
E-Mail marie-luise.bopp@heraeus.com

Media Contact

Dr. Marie-Luise Bopp Heraeus Noblelight GmbH

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