Extrusion International 4-2020

43 Extrusion International 4/2020 To cater for this growth in demand and improve market appreciation of the latest technology, Vetaphone has invested its unmatched experience and know-how in a state-of-the-art Test Lab facility at its headquarters in Kolding, Denmark. To appreciate the importance of the launch, it is im- portant to understand the basics of surface treatment. We have all expe- rienced the problem of trying to get a liquid to adhere to a non-absorbent material – try writing on a plastic bag and rubbing it with the thumb. Now enlarge that problem to an in- dustrial scale that sees plastic film as the most widely used packaging medium in the world today and you appreciate the importance of sur- face treatment. In simple terms, it is a modification of the surface layer of the substrate by applying an electrical discharge at close range. This changes the chemical make-up of the surface layer and allows the liquid ink or lac- quer to adhere without smudging. Today, with ever increasing pressure on brand owners to be responsible for the effect their packaging has on the environment, the whole issue of surface treatment has necessarily be- come more complex. And, it’s with this in mind that Vetaphone took the sumption across a range of what are becoming increasingly complex and difficult substrates to process.” Vetaphone expects that its Test Lab will attract visits from technical per- sonnel whose skill and recommenda- tion are key to ensuring successful commercial production. As such, it may be seen as a sales tool, but far more than that, it offers the compa- ny’s existing and potential customers the opportunity to engage in the sci- ence behind surface treatment and the benefits that come from a clear understanding of what it can offer. It might be a small part of the overall production process, but the part that surface treatment plays is crucial to commercial success. Vetaphone A/S Fabriksvej 11, DK-6000 Kolding, Denmark www.vetaphone.com SURFACE TREATMENT Test Lab Opened – to Refine Productivity and Develop New Products Surface treatment has come a long way in the 70 years since Verner Eisby, the founder of Vetaphone, invented and developed the technique that is now known worldwide as Corona. As market demand has led to the evolution of new inks, lacquers, and substrates, so surface treatment has been refined and become more highly tuned to today’s complex market requirements in which the demand for film and foil based printed packaging continues to rise decision to invest in this high-tech fa- cility that will allow it to work closely with its customers on product devel- opment. The Test Lab, which is located onsite in Kolding, offers printers, convert- ers, laminators and extruders the opportunity to run tests under con- trolled laboratory conditions prior to committing to the expense of com- mercial production. The same facili- ties are available to ink, lacquer, and substrate manufacturers too, each of which is under close market scru- tiny to ensure that their new products meet or exceed the current interna- tional standards. Explaining the considerable planning and investment that has gone in to making the Test Lab a reality, Veta- phone CEO Frank Eisby commented: “With our unrivalled experience in surface treatment technology, we have become the ‘go to’ supplier for many printing, converting and lami- nating machinery manufacturers, who realise the importance of de- tailed R&D on every component in the production line. By working in close cooperation with them as they de- velop their new technology, we can advise how best to ensure maximum productivity and lowest energy con- The new high-tech lab facility in Denmark offers Corona and Plasma roll to roll testing of substrates to closely simulate commercial production Frank and brother Jan now run the company established by their father Verner, who invented Corona treatment in 1951