In-line Insights

Matt Tielkemeier, VP/GM at Dri-Tec, reports that most of his company's in-line coating/laminating units currently in the field are installed behind 6- to 8-color flexo presses printing flexible packaging.

The vast majority of these systems, he elaborates, apply laminating adhesive to the primary substrate, dry it, and then laminate a second barrier material to the primary substrate. However, he reports growing enthusiasm for adding a second pattern coater to the line for in-register application of cold seal adhesive, or in-register printing of game rules or coupons on the inside of packaging such as candy bars, soda bottle labels and hamburger wrappers.