Product Development Help is Here, There, Everywhere

We all need help sometimes, and companies offering pilot lines, labs, and technical facilities can be invaluable to converters.

PFFC (Paper, Film & Foil CONVERTER) recently conducted our annual survey of this unique segment of the industry and compiled a cross-section of the many companies that offer pilot line/lab/technical capabilities. Following you will find the updated listings. All information was supplied by the companies themselves.

Please see our Buyers Guide for more information.


Acumeter
155D Memorial Dr., Unit D, Shrewsbury, MA 01545-4030; Ph: 508/842-9200; Fax: 508/842-9699; E-mail: info@acumeter.com; Web: www.acumeter.com
Markets: Medical/pharmaceutical, sanitary/disposables, coating/laminating
Services: Coating (adhesives to 8 in., 100% solids to 8 in., UV to 6 in.), laminating to 8 in.
Substrates: Film, foil, foam, paper, nonwoven, tissue
Coating processes: Slot die
Coating techniques: Spray
No. of lab employees: 6
Adherent Laboratories
1118 Red Fox Rd., St. Paul, MN 55112; Ph: 651/247-3364; E-mail: info@adherentlabs.com; Web: www.adherentlabs.com
Markets: Beverages, frozen foods, health/beauty, meat/poultry, medical/pharmaceutical, photographic/graphic arts, sanitary/disposables, snacks, industrial, adhesives
Services: Coating (adhesive, 100% solids, water-based, UV), laminating
Substrates: Film, foil, paper, nonwoven
Coating processes: Roll coating, slot die
Annual sales: Below $20 million
No. of lab employees: 3
Offers adhesives research, testing, and consulting laboratory with pilot coater facilities.
Akzo Nobel Inks Corp.
15500 28th Ave. N, Plymouth, MN 55447-1902
Ph: 763/559-5911; Fax: 763/559-0243; Web: www.aninks.com
Markets: Beverages, frozen foods, health/beauty, meat/ poultry, medical/pharmaceutical, snacks, industrial
Services: Coating (adhesive, solvent- and water-based, UV), laminating, priming, flexographic printing
Substrates: Film, foil, foam, paper, paperboard, nonwoven
Coating processes: Flexographic
Coating techniques: Doctor blade
Annual sales: Between $36 million and $50 million
No. of lab employees: 6
Center for Technical Excellence is a technical and training center with a 10-in., six-color combination printing press. Center offers preferred customers the opportunity to run tests directly on press, allowing them to troubleshoot and train on ink systems and applications.
Battenfeld Gloucester Engineering Co.
Box 900, Blackburn Industrial Pk., Gloucester, MA 01931-0900; Ph: 978/282-1800; Fax: 978/282-9111; E-mail: sales@bge.battenfeld.com; Web: www.bge.battenfeld.com
Markets: Beverages, frozen foods, health/beauty, magnetic media, meat/poultry, medical/pharmaceutical, photographic/graphic arts, sanitary/disposables, snacks, industrial
Services: Coating (adhesive, 100% solids, solvent- and water-based, UV), laminating, priming
Substrates: Film (0.18-8+ mil), foil (0.00027-0.007 mil), foam (to 80 mil), paper (complete range), paperboard (to 150 mil), nonwoven (0.5-30 mil), tissue (single- to multi-ply); steel to 75 ga
Coating processes: Coextrusion, extrusion, roll coating, rotogravure, saturators, slot die, offset gravure
Coating techniques: Air knife, doctor blade, meyer rod, offset gravure, pressurized gravure, direct/reverse gravure, BTR, curtain, transfer roll, reverse roll
Annual sales: More than $75 million
No. of lab employees: 15
Pelletizing Laboratory offers underwater/water ring configurability to 650 lb/hr. Coextrusion Laboratory offers Black Clawson ROI die technology.
B.F. Perkins
701 Jefferson Rd., Rochester, NY 14623 Ph: 585/292-5280; Fax: 585/475-1255; E-mail: jbok@bfperkins.com; Web: www.bfperkins.com
Services: Laminating (thermal), calendering, embossing, all to 20 in.
Substrates: Film, foil, paper, nonwoven, tissue
Annual sales: Below $20 million
Black Clawson Converting Machinery LLC
46 N. First St., Fulton, NY 13069 Ph: 315/598-7121; Fax: 315/593-0396; E-mail: bc@blackclawson-cm.com; Web: www.blackclawson-cm.com
Markets: Beverages, frozen foods, health/beauty, magnetic media, meat/poultry, medical/pharmaceutical, photographic/graphic arts, sanitary/disposables, snacks, industrial
Services: Coating (adhesive, 100% solids, solvent- and water-based, UV), laminating, priming
Substrates: Film (0.18-8+ mil), foil (0.00027-0.007 mil), foam (to 80 mil), paper (complete range), paperboard (to 150 mil), nonwoven (0.5-30 mil), tissue (single- to multi-ply); steel to 75 ga
Coating processes: Coextrusion, extrusion, roll coating, rotogravure, saturators, slot die, offset gravure
Coating techniques: Air knife, doctor blade, meyer rod, offset gravure, pressurized gravure, direct/reverse gravure, BTR, curtain, transfer roll, reverse roll
Annual sales: Between $51 million and $65 million
No. of lab employees: 7
Brampton Engineering
8031 Dixie Rd., Brampton, Ont., Canada L6T 3V1 Ph: 905/793-3000; Fax: 905/793-1753; E-mail: salesadmin@be-ca.com; Web: www.be-ca.com
Markets: Frozen foods, meat/poultry, medical/pharmaceutical, sanitary/disposables, snacks, industrial
Substrates: Film (12-300 micron)
Annual sales: $20 million to $35 million
No. of lab employees: 10
ISO certified
Operates three-layer blown film lab line, five-layer Aquafrost line.
Bruckner Maschinenbrau GmbH
Koenigsbergerstr 5-7, Siegsdorf, Germany; Ph: +49 8662 630; Fax: +49 8662-63220; E-mail: sales@brueckner.de.com; Web: www.brueckner.de
Markets: Beverages, magnetic media, meat/poultry, medical/pharmaceutical, photographic/graphic arts, snacks
Services: Coating (adhesive, solvent- and water-based)
Substrates: Film (3-100 mm), foil (500-2,000 mm), foam (50-80 mm), nonwoven, synthetic paper (50-100 mm)
Annual sales: More than $75 million
No. of lab employees: 10
ChemDevelopment
9349 Hamilton Dr., Mentor, OH 44060 Ph: 440/352-0218; Fax: 440/352-8572; E-mail: chemnet@apk.net; Web: www.chemsultants.com
Markets: Health/beauty, magnetic media, medical/pharmaceutical, photographic/graphic arts, industrial
Services: Coating (adhesive, 100% solids, solvent- and water-based, UV), laminating, all to 40 in.
Substrates: Film (0.25-20 mil), foil (1-12 mil), foam (1Ú16-1Ú4-in.) paper (20#-120#), nonwoven (1-5 mil)
Coating processes: Extrusion, offset gravure, roll coating, rotogravure, slot die, wire rod, knife over roll
Coating techniques: Meyer rod
No. of employees: 30
ISO certified
Offers full adhesive and coating development, physical and analytical testing.
Chemsutants Intl. Network
9349 Hamilton Dr., Mentor, OH 44060-4559 Ph: 440/352-0218; Fax: 440/352-8572; Web: www.chemsultants.com
Markets: Health/beauty, magnetic media; medical/pharmaceutical, photographic/graphic arts, industrial
Services: Coating (adhesive, 100% solids, solvent- and water-based, UV), laminating, all to 40 in.
Substrates: Film (0.25-20 mil), foil (1-12 mil), foam (1Ú16-1Ú4-in.), paper (20#-120#), nonwoven (1-5 mil)
Coating processes: Extrusion, offset gravure, roll coating, rotogravure, slot die
Coating techniques: Meyer rod
No. of employees: 30
Offers full adhesive and coatings development, physical and analytical testing.
Converting Machinery Technologies
5 Industrial Rd., Fairfield, NJ 07004 Ph: 973/808-8890; Fax: 973/808-8973; E-mail: info@uvcoatings.com; Web: www.uvcoatings.com
Markets: Industrial
Services: Coating (adhesive, 100% solids, UV), laminating, rotogravure printing, all to 62 in.
Substrates: Film (0.0005-0.030 in.), paper (25#-120#), paperboard
Coating processes: Offset gravure, roll coating, rotogravure, rod
Coating techniques: Meyer rod, offset differential gravure
Annual sales: Below $20 million
No. of employees: 12
Complete process lines include Fusion F-600 lamps; release liners for all applications as well as other specialty products.
CP Films Inc.
Box 5068, Martinsville, VA 24115; Ph: 276/627-3332; Fax: 276/627-3500; E-mail: indprods@cpfilms.com; Web: www.cpfilms.com
Markets: Medical/pharmaceutical, photographic/graphic arts, industrial, electronics
Services: Coating (adhesive, solvent- and water-based, UV, all to 24 in.), laminating (to 24 in.), film metallizing (10 and 12 in.), priming, deep dyeing
Substrates: Film (48 ga-14 mil)
Coating processes: Offset gravure, slot die, direct and reverse gravure
Coating techniques: Vacuum
Annual sales: Over $75 million
ISO certified
Davis-Standard Killion Lab & Specialty Systems, a Crompton business
One Extrusion Dr., Pawcatuck, CT 06379; Ph: 860/599-6342; Fax: 860/599-6398; E-mail: info@davis-standard.com; Web: www.davis-standard.com
Markets: Beverages, frozen foods, health/beauty, medical/pharmaceutical, sanitary/disposables
Services: Coating (adhesive), laminating, metallizing, priming
Substrates: Film, foil, foam, paper, paperboard, nonwoven, tissue
Coating processes: Coextrusion, extrusion
Coating techniques: Two-sided
ISO certified
Dunmore Corp.
145 Wharton Rd., Bristol, PA 19007 Ph: 215/781-8895; Fax: 215/781-9293
Markets: Photographic/graphic arts, industrial
Services: Coating (solvent- and water-based, UV), laminating, all to 16 in.
Substrates: Film (0.25-15 mil), nonwoven (2-15 mil)
Coating processes: Direct/reverse gravure, meyer rod
Coating techniques: Meyer rod, gravure, slot
Annual sales: Between $36 million and $50 million
No. of employees: 140
ISO certified
Electrostatics Inc.
352 D. Godshall Dr., Harleysville, PA 19438-2017 Ph: 215/513-0850; Fax: 215/573-0855; E-mail: sales@electrostatics.com; Web: www.electrostatics.com
Markets: Medical/pharmaceutical, photographic/graphic arts, sanitary/disposables, snacks, industrial
Substrates: Film, foil, paper, nonwoven, tissue
Annual sales: Below $20 million
No. of employees: 21
Offers testing of roll or sheet material to determine the ability of the product to develop static electricity and the removal of contamination
Enercon Industries Corp.
Box 773, W140 N9572 Fountain Blvd., Menomonee Falls, WI 53051; Ph: 262/255-6070; Fax: 262/255-7784; E-mail: info@enerconind.com; Web: www.enerconind.com
Markets: Printing, converting
Services: Corona surface treatment, plasma treatment, and flame Treatment
Substrates: Film, foil, foam, paper, paperboard, nonwoven, tissue, all to 60 in.
Euclid Coating Systems Inc.
3494 N. Euclid Ave., Bay City, MI 48706 Ph: 989/922-4789; Fax: 989/922-4789
Markets: Beverages, frozen foods, magnetic media, medical/pharmaceutical, photographic/graphic arts, sanitary/disposables, industrial
Services: Coating (adhesive, 100% solids, solvent- and water-based, EB, UV, all 6-36 in.), laminating (6-48 in.), metallizing of paper and film (6-36 in.)
Substrates: Film, foil, foam, paper, paperboard, nonwoven, tissue
Coating processes: Offset gravure, roll coating, rotogravure, saturators
Coating techniques: Air knife, doctor blade
Annual sales: Below $20 million
No. of employees: 20
Faustel Inc.
Box 1000, Germantown, WI 53022; Ph: 262/253-3333; Fax: 262/253-3334; E-mail: sales@faustel.com; Web: www.faustel.com
Markets: Beverages, frozen foods, health/beauty, magnetic media, meat/poultry, medical/pharmaceutical, photographic/graphic arts, sanitary/disposals, snacks, industrial
Services: Coating (adhesive, 100% solids, solvent- and water-based, EB, UV), laminating, priming
Substrates: Film, foil, paper, paperboard, nonwoven
Coating processes: Offset gravure, roll coating, rotogravure, saturators, slot die
Coating techniques: Doctor blade, meyer rod, two-sided
Annual Sales: Between $20 million and $35 million
No. of lab employees: 5
Handles webs from 6-24 in. wide at speeds to 2,000 fpm; tension from 1.2-96 lb.
Frontier Industrial Technology Inc.
Box 400, Towanda, PA 18848 Ph: 570/265-2500; Fax: 570/265-9554; E-mail: info@frontierindustrial.com; Web: www.frontierindustrial.com
Markets: Magnetic media, medical/pharmaceutical, photographic/graphics arts, industrial
Services: Coating (adhesive, 100% solids, solvent- and water-based, UV), laminating, priming
Substrates: Film, foil, foam, paper, paperboard, nonwoven, tissue
Coating processes: Coextrusion, extrusion, slot die
Coating techniques: Slot die
Annual Sales: Sales: Below $20 million
No. of lab employees: 6
Offers coating widths to 12 in.; web widths to 13 in.; single- and dual-slot die coatings; coating thicknesses of 1 micron-30 mil.
Gallus Inc.

2800 Black Lake Pl., Philadelphia, PA 19154-1024 Ph: 215/677-9600; Fax: 215/677-9700; E-mail: info@gallus.org; Web: www.gallus.org

Markets: Beverages, health/beauty, medical/pharmaceutical, snacks, industrial

Services: Coating (adhesive, water-based, UV), laminating, printing (flexo, offset lithography, rotary letterpress, silk screen)

Substrates: Film, foil, paper, paperboard, nonwoven, all 0.0005-0.020 mil

Coating techniques: Doctor blade

Sales: Between $20 million to $35 million

No. of employees: 35

Geometric Intl. Inc.

Commerce Court, Mount Pococo, PA 18344; Ph: 570/839-6270; Fax: 570/839-6293

Markets: Health/beauty, medical/pharmaceutical, photographic/graphic arts, sanitary/disposables, industrial, automotive, military packaging

Services: Coating (adhesive, 100% solids, solvent- and water-based, UV); laminating; priming; slitting to 60 in.

Substrates: Film, foil, foam, paper, paperboard, nonwoven, fabric

Coating processes: Offset gravure, roll coating, rotogravure, slot die, knife

Coating techniques: Doctor blade, meyer rod, hot melt
Annual sales: Below $20 million
No. of lab employees: 3

Operates two coating lines (15 and 40 in. wide) with dryers. The 15-in. line has a servo drive system operating at 300 fpm; the 40-in. line operates at 20 fpm and 800 fpm.

Glenro Inc.
39 McBride Ave., Paterson, NJ 07501 Ph: 800/922-0106; Fax: 973/279-9103; E-mail: info@glenro.com; Web: www.glenro.com

Markets: Health/beauty, magnetic media, medical/pharmaceutical, photographic/graphic arts, sanitary/disposables, industrial, batteries

Services: Coating (adhesive, 100% solids, solvent- and water-based, all to 24 in.); laminating to 87 in.; priming to 24 in.

Substrates: Film, foil, foam, paper, paperboard, nonwoven, tissue, filter media, all to 6 in.

Coating processes: Offset gravure, roll coating, saturators, reverse roll, knife over flat bed, meyer rod

Coating techniques: Meyer rod

Annual sales: Below $20 million
Number of lab employees: 5
Pilot line consists of two opposed heated belts between which the materials being bonded are subjected to heat and pressure on a continuous feed.
Great Lakes Coating & Laminating Inc.

1835 Buerkle Rd., White Bear Lake, MN 55110; Ph: 651/777-6863; Fax: 651/777-5192; E-mail: glcl@bitstream.net; Web: www.greatlakescoatingandlaminating.com

Markets: Industrial

Services: Coating (adhesive, 100% solids, UV), laminating, all 14-60 in.

Substrates: Film (1.5 mil+), paper (40#-14-pt board), fabric

Coating processes: Slot die

Coating techniques: Slot die
Annual sales: Below $20 million
Holyoke Machine Co.

522 Main St., Holyoke, MA 01040-0988; Ph: 413/534-5612; Fax: 413/532-9244; Web: www.holyokemachine.com

Markets: Health/beauty, magnetic media, medical/pharmaceutical, photographic/graphic arts, sanitary/disposables, industrial

Services: Laminating, embossing, calendering

Substrates: Film, foil, foam, paper, paperboard, nonwoven, tissue

Annual sales: Below $20 million

No. of lab employees: 4

Lab calender/embosser operates to widths of 13 in.; varying speed, loading, temperature.

KAPCO (Kent Adhesive Products Co.)
1000 Cherry St., Kent, OH 44240; Ph: 800/791-8964; Fax: 800/451-3724; E-mail: converting@kapco.com; Web: www.kapcoconverting.com
Markets: Health/beauty, magnetic media, medical/pharmaceutical, photographic/graphic arts, sanitary/disposables, industrial
Services: Coating (adhesive, water-based, UV), laminating
Substrates: Film (0.0005-0.030 in.), foil (0.0005-0.005 in.), foam (0.015-0.250 in.), paper, paperboard (to 0.062 in.), nonwoven, tissue
Coating processes: Roll coating
Coating techniques: Meyer rod, reverse roll
Annual sales: Between $20 and $35 million
No. of employees: 125
ISO certified
Kroenert

2615 11th St. S.W., Cedar Rapids, IA 52404; Ph: 319/366-6200; Fax: 319/366-5230; E-mail: sales@kroenert.com; Web: www.kroenert.com

Markets: Beverages, frozen foods, health/beauty, magnetic media, meat/poultry, medical/pharmaceutical, photographic/graphic arts, sanitary/disposables, snacks, industrial, furniture, tapes, tags and labels, special structures

Services: Coating (adhesive, 100% solvents, solvent- and water-based, UV), laminating, priming, all to 51 in.

Substrates: Film, foil, foam, paper, paperboard, nonwoven, tissue, board (3 micron to 300 pt)

Coating processes: offset gravure, roll coating, slot die

Coating techniques: Doctor blade, meyer rod
Annual sales: Over $75 million
No. of employees: 400
Lamart Corp.

16 Richmond St., Clifton, NJ 07015; Ph: 973/772-6262; Fax: 973/772-3673; E-mail: lamart@lamartcorp.com; Web: www.lamartcorp.com

Markets: Medical/pharmaceutical, photographic/graphic arts, industrial

Services: Coating (adhesive, 100% solids, solvent- and water-based, UV), laminating, priming, all to 13 in.

Substrates: Film (0.00014-0.030 in.), foil (0.00025-0.010 in.), foam (0.010-0.0625), paper (20#-20 pt), paperboard (to 20 pt), nonwoven (to 0.030 in.), tissue (to 12 pt), woven fabrics and scrims

Coating processes: Roll coating, rotogravure, knife over roll, meyer rod

Coating techniques: Meyer rod, reverse roll, knife over roll
Annual sales: $20 million to $35 million
No. of lab employees: 4
ISO certification pending
Marshall and Williams Plastics, a div. of Parkinson Technologies Inc.

100 Goldstein Dr., Woonsocket, RI 02895; Ph: 401/765-7770; Fax: 401/762-2295; Web: www.mwplastics.com

Markets: Beverages, frozen foods, health/beauty, magnetic media, meat/poultry, medical/pharmaceutical, photographic/graphic arts, sanitary/disposables, snacks, industrial

Services: Extrusion and coextrusion, casting, orientation, corona treating, winding, unwinding
Substrates: Film, foam, nonwoven, plastic sheet

Annual sales: Below $20 million

No. of lab employees: 4

May Coating Technologies

1120 Red Fox Rd., St. Paul, MN 55112-6909; Ph: 651/765-9686; Fax: 651/765-9687; E-mail: info@maycoating.com; Web: www.maycoating.com

Markets: Medical/pharmaceutical, sanitary/disposables, industrial

Services: Coating (adhesive, 100% solids, UV), laminating, all to 20 in.

Substrates: Film, foam, paper, nonwoven, tissue

Coating processes: Roll coating, slot die, pattern coating

No. of lab employees: 5

Three coating lines provide the widest possible range of capabilities for process development and methods testing. Provides complete secure facilities and experienced personnel for short- and long-range web coating developmental projects.

MEGTEC Systems

830 Prosper Rd., De Pere, WI 54115; Ph: 920/339-2787; Fax: 920/339-2793

Markets: Beverages, magnetic media, meat/poultry, medical/pharmaceutical, photographic/graphic arts, sanitary/disposables, snacks, industrial

Services: Coating (adhesive, 100% solids, solvent- and water-based), laminating, priming, all to 24 in.

Substrates: Film (0.25-15 mil), foil (1-6 mil), paper (40-244 gsm), paperboard (10-20 pt), nonwoven (1.2-3.0 oz/yd2 typack), metal coil

Coating processes: Offset gravure, rotogravure, saturators, meyer rod

Coating techniques: Meyer rod, gravure
Number of lab employees: 6
Microseal Industries Inc.

610 E. 36th St., Box 3054, Paterson, NJ 07509-3054; Ph: 973/523-0704; Fax: 973/279-6916; Web: www.microseal.com

Services: Coating (adhesive, 100% solids, solvent- and water-based), laminating, all to 62 in.

Substrates: Film, foil, foam, paper, paperboard, nonwoven, tissue, textiles

Coating processes: Extrusion, offset gravure, roll coating, rotogravure, saturators, slot die

Coating techniques: Doctor blade, meyer rod

No. of employees: 40
New Era Converting Machinery Inc.

Box 377, Hawthorne, NJ 07507-0377; Ph: 201/670-4848; Fax: 201/670-8867; E-mail: neweraconv@aol.com

Markets: Beverages, frozen foods, health/beauty, magnetic media, meat/poultry, medical/pharmaceutical, photographic/graphic arts, sanitary/disposables, snacks, industrial

Services: Coating (adhesive, 100% solids, solvent- and water-based, UV, all to 26 in), laminating, priming

Substrates: Film, foil, foam, paper, nonwoven, tissue

Coating processes: Offset gravure, roll coating, rotogravure, slot die

Coating techniques: Air knife, doctor blade, meyer rod

Annual sales: Below $20 million
Number of lab employees: 3
Pillar Technologies

475 Industrial Dr., Hartland, WI 53029; Ph: 262/367-3060; Fax: 262/367-3206; E-mail: sales@pillartech.com; Web: www.pillartech.com

Markets: Beverages, health/beauty, medical/pharmaceutical, photographic/graphic arts, sanitary/disposables, snacks, industrial

Services: Corona treating of all substrates

Substrates: Film, foil, foam, paper, paperboard, nonwoven, all to 1Ú8 in.

Coating processes: Electrostatic, corona treating
No. of employees: 50
Co. has upgraded lab with new equipment and increased overall floor space by over 20%. The equipment consists of a PSI single-position, 24-in.-dia unwind and rewind stand complete with 3- and 6-in. core assemblies; Montalvo brake and tension controller; dancer assembly; pneumatically operated lay-on roll; and a Rockwell Automation digital drive.
Sierra Coating Technologies

1820 Enterprise Drive, De Pere, WI 54115; Ph: 800/558-2829; Fax: 800/558-2831; E-mail: sales@sierraconverting.com

Markets: Frozen foods, health/beauty, snacks, industrial

Services: Coating (adhesive, 100% solids, water-based), laminating; priming (flexo and gravure)

Substrates: Film (from 0.42g PET), paper (18#-100#), paperboard (7-28 pt), nonwoven
Coating processes: Offset gravure, roll coating, rotogravure, saturators, hot melt
Annual sales: Below $20 million
No. of lab employees: 16

Facility includes three coaters in a clean room, to FDA and GMP standards.

Web Coating Technologies, Div. CMTC

5 Industrial Rd., Fairfield, NJ 07004; Ph: 973/808-8890; Fax: 973/808-8973; E-mail: info@uvcoatings.com

Markets: Frozen foods, health/beauty, magnetic media, sanitary/disposables, industrial, roofing, release liners

Services: Coating (100% solids, UV), laminating, all to 65 in.

Substrates: Film, foil, foam, paper, paperboard, all to 65 in.

Coating processes: Offset gravure, roll coating, rotogravure, meyer rod

Coating techniques: Meyer rod, offset gravure

Annual sales: Below $20 million
No. of lab employees: 12
ISO certification pending

Pilot and scale-up programs; toll coating services. All types of specialty coatings applied.