In for the Long Haul

Branching out

While it's sometimes difficult to keep up with the breadth of uses their equipment is engaged in, coating/laminating suppliers definitely discern several applications that rack up the most requests.

For Kroenert's National Sales and Marketing Manager Kent Shouse, it's all about energy-efficient, UV-curable coatings and adhesives. He cites UV silicone release coatings; UV 100 percent solids liquid polymer acrylic PSAs; and a new class of UV low-melt-index, hot melt PSAs for tags, tapes, and labels as prime examples of the move away from thermally dried and cured coatings. Shouse also predicts a big future for in-line UV silicones, paired with UV PSAs or hot melt adhesives, for linerless tapes and labels.