WebFlight

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Micro-Control Coating Technology

Contactless Coating

WebFlight technology is a contactless method of applying coating solutions to web materials by controlling the micro-environment in which the coating solution and web meet. WebFlight does not employ rollers, knives, blades, or other contact devices to apply or level coating solutions across the web. Instead, WebFlight uses the following methods to optimize the coating process:

Micro-Environment Control

By precisely matching process variables, such as flow rate, line speed, and vacuum pressure with coating fluid and web substrate properties such as viscosity, surface tension, and surface energy, WebFlight systems enable maximum coating productivity.

Fluid Isolation

By isolating the coating fluid from the surrounding atmosphere, rheological characteristics remain constant throughout the run, which means fewer adjustments to all other process variables. In addition, emissions of VOC's are minimized and easily vented.

Atmospheric Pressure Control

Reduction of the atmospheric pressure in the vacuum chamber creates a low-pressure fluid eddy on the upstream side of the applicator opening, which serves two purposes. First, it primes the web with coating fluid ahead of the die slot, effectively enlarging the fluid stream, thereby facilitating adhesive and cohesive bonding to the substrate. Second, it acts as an air dam, diverting residual boundary layer air away from the injection point and into the vacuum chamber.

Coating Process Optimization

WebFlight technology's precision controls facilitate extreme uniformity of fluid deposition, higher line speeds, less down time, less solvent usage and greater throughput for virtually any combination of web materials and coating fluids.