Coatings are used to provide product and packaging protection and enhancements in countless ways.

By Tom Polischuk

UV/EB coating technology has grown steadily in its use in packaging over the past 30 years, says Lapin, and is now in common use in label, multi-wall bag, and folding carton applications. However, he sees the largest growth possibilities for UV/EB coatings in flexible packaging.

“In the past, UV/EB coatings have only been used for a few limited flexible packaging applications. Flexible packaging converters are now discovering UV/EB coatings can offer many advantages, including superior protection of graphics, better heat resistance to allow for improved heat sealing, excellent high gloss appearance, controlled COF [coefficient of friction], and potential cost savings by replacing a laminated structure with a coating on a mono-web.”