Lamination is where you bond together two layers of material or more to generate one composite product. It can provide fantastic results and also gives people the chance to be creative with things like flexible packaging. As a top provider of laminating services, let’s have a closer look.
How does it work?
The laminating process consists of applying adhesive, usually in liquid or solid form, between the layers. Then, you apply pressure and/or heat to produce a robust bond. The layers could be comprised of materials like fabrics, foils, papers, or films. It depends on your preferred properties for the final product. For laminated packaging, films are very popular because of the flexibility.
Another fact is that lamination pops up in all kinds of industries. Apart from packaging, there’s electronics, automotive, construction, and graphic arts. It enhances the functionality, appearance, durability, and strength of materials. The process also comes with multiple advantages too. They are customisation options, wear and tear protection, and moisture resistance. Others include increased stiffness and improved barrier properties.
The lamination process is something you can do using individual techniques as well. These include flame, extrusion, thermal, dry, and wet. Your choice here will depend on the specific requirements, such as production speed, and the materials. Other factors would be the intended application of your laminated product and desired bond strength.
With flexible packaging, you can use a multitude of lamination processes. Therefore, they allow you to achieve certain characteristics and functionalities. The favourite methods are solventless, extrusion, wet, and dry lamination. If you’re after top quality laminating services, come to us.
Dry lamination
Also known as bond lamination, this method uses heat and pressure to bond layers together with a pre-applied adhesive. You apply a thermally activated adhesive to one of the layers. Normally, this appears in the form of powder or a film. Next, the layers pass through hot rollers. These activate the adhesive so the layers bond together. Dry lamination is popular for plastic film-to-film or film-to-paper projects.
Wet lamination
Also called wet adhesive lamination, it consists of the use of a liquid adhesive that bonds two or more layers together. You apply the adhesive to one of the layers. From there, you press them together under pressure to generate a bond. Wet lamination comes in handy for paper-to-paper or paper-to-film projects. As a result, it is great for labels, brochures, and book covers.
Solventless lamination
Next is a procedure where you apply the adhesive to the exterior of one substrate. Afterwards, you bond it to another substrate under pressure. As opposed to wet lamination, this method does not use solvents. It has become immensely popular for flexible packaging applications. It guarantees high bond strength and also increases sustainability as there aren’t any solvents.
Extrusion lamination
Finally, we have a process that involves bonding two layers or more together with a molten polymer. In this practice, you extrude a molten polymer between two substrates. Usually, these are flexible films. Then, you cool the film to create a strong bond. Extrusion lamination has some great uses for packaging projects. Specific examples are stand-up pouches and snack food bags.
You can count on our laminating services
At Foiling Services, we’re well aware of the potential lamination offers. That’s why we strive to provide the finest service for every client. With them, your items receive a high level of protection as well as aesthetic benefits.
So, if you’re interested in working with us and getting expert laminating services, feel free to get in touch. We can add various laminates to a massive array of substrates.