7 Types of Innovative Coating Technology That CTI Offers

Adhesive coating is a key process for manufacturing thousands of types of important goods. However, that’s not the whole story. In fact, adhesive coating is actually a large and diverse set of innovative coating technology with many different applications. 

Innovative Coating Technology

Today, we’ll take a quick look at some of the innovative coating technology options that CTI provides. Each offers its own advantages and is optimized for different use cases. That’s why CTI furnishes a variety of coating technologies to our customers, including all of the following. 

Roll Coating

Roll coating is among the most basic and frequently used technologies in the coatings industry. Put simply, roll coating passes a substrate between multiple rollers that are constantly in motion. One roller applies pressure on the substrate from above. Meanwhile, the other roller picks up adhesive from a reservoir pan underneath it. The combination of pressure from the two rollers applies the adhesive at a consistent speed and thickness. 

Roll coating is a popular coating system because it makes it easy to ensure a smooth and clean application of the adhesive. Furthermore, as we’ll see shortly, manufacturers can modify the roll coating technology in various ways to suit their applications. 

Gravure Coating

Gravure coating is a subset of roll coating and is another extremely common method. A gravure coating machine moves the substrate between two rollers. The lower roller has an engraved surface that picks up adhesive from a reservoir pan. A blade removes the excess from the gravure roller before it meets the substrate while the top roller applies pressure. Thus, gravure coating is often the premiere choice for applications that require a specific textured pattern for an adhesive. 

Knife-Over-Roll Coating

In knife-over-roll coating, a nozzle dispenses an adhesive coating material onto a substrate. A roller then moves the substrate under a stationary “doctor blade” piece that’s calibrated to a precise height. The blade scrapes the excess coating off the substrate, leaving it with the correct adhesive layer thickness. Knife-over-roll coating is a fast and efficient method with high throughput. 

Meyer Rod Coating

Meyer rod coating pushes a substrate through a series of rollers, including one that applies an adhesive coating. After being coated, the substrate passes over a small wire-wrapped rod called a Meyer rod. Two hold-down rollers apply pressure from above while the Meyer rod’s wires doctor the adhesive to the right level. Thus, by changing the gauge and winding of the wires, a manufacturer can change the application pattern of the adhesive.  

Hot Melt Spray Coating

This method uses a spray nozzle to apply a hot melt adhesive. Once the adhesive has been heated to its melting point, it’s pumped into a vessel attached to a sprayer. The manufacturer uses the sprayer to apply the hot melt adhesive to the substrate. This method is highly versatile and wastes very little adhesive, making it ideal for many different coating applications. 

Slot Die Coating

A slot die coating machine feeds a liquid adhesive through a slot die onto a substrate. The adhesive becomes a continuous liquid film on the substrate. Slot die coating offers the advantages of precise control over the rate of adhesive application and the amount applied. 

We’ve provided a short overview of these key coating processes today. However, one of the most critical advantages that CTI offers is our ability to reconfigure and customize our coating technologies. Thanks to our modular system, it’s easier than ever to apply innovative coating technology to your production process. 

Additional Services at CTI

Ultimately, our team and facilities offer a wide range of services. In addition to to our coating processes, we also offer slitting and die cutting.

Slitting & Die Cutting

To further accommodate our coating and lamination customers, we offer customizable slitting and die cutting services.  Our state-of-the-art facilities are equipped with several flat-bed die cutters, which allow us the unique ability to cut from sheet or rolled form. Our facilities afford us unparalleled customization, since we have the capability to cut materials up to 5/8” in thickness, and can accommodate sheet sizes of up to 40” X 60” and rolled materials up to 60” wide.

We have capabilities to convert most materials, including:

• Cardboard
• Vinyl
• Paper
• Non-woven
• Foam
• Cloth

Request a Quote Today

Providing flat, list pricing for these types of projects can be extremely difficult. After all, CTI prides itself on being able to customize each and every project for customers. That customization is great for producing the highest quality products. But it makes it difficult to be able to provide list pricing.

However, what happens when a customer needs pricing before they can even begin planning? Thanks to their experience, CTI understands that this is an important step. That’s why they make it easy for customers to get this information. Simply fill out their easy-to-use quote form to get things started. The form lets a customer put in basic contact information. Additionally, the form also allows customers to leave some details about their needs. Therefore, when CTI’s experts get in touch, they will be able to provide more specific information. It’s one of the many ways that CTI keeps things moving and eliminates wasted time.

At CTI, we’re always happy to help businesses understand what we do and our applications of innovative coating technology. Call us at 419-924-5566 with any questions to get started today.