PS&ChE Coating & Laminating in Packaging Applications

Coating and Lamination in Packaging Applications

This course is designed for those working in paper converting, coating, printing and flexible packaging.

The content will be particularly beneficial to engineers, technicians, chemists, scientists, sales representatives, and customer service representatives. Representatives of companies that supply adhesives, inks, silicones, papers, plastic films and aluminum foils will also find this curriculum very useful.

Participants will spend the morning in lecture and the afternoon in a hands-on lab experience on state-of-the-art equipment. Lunch and morning refreshments will be included on both days.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand coating and lamination fundamentals and their applications
• Recognize the various types of coaters and laminators and their applications
• Understand workflow and unit operations
• Recognize the raw materials and their properties, and learn their influences on the final products
• Understand test basics
• Apply the knowledge in operation and quality control

Course Topics

• Multiple layer strategies
• Raw materials: paper, plastic, bio-based and petrol-based plastic film, aluminum, adhesive
• Substrates surface properties and modification
• Liquid coating formulation and rheology
• Adhesion science
• Facilities: coater and laminator, unit operations, surface treatment
• Defects identification and troubleshooting
• Test and evaluation

Course Outline

Materials and Properties

• Package type
• Monolayer and multilayer packaging materials
• Function of each layer, such as strength layer, ink carrier layers, barrier layers, sealant layers, adhesive layers
• Surface properties, contact angle, lab test method, surface tension, surface modification
• Corona treatment (air or non-air), flame treatment
• Adhesion theory including electrostatic forces and wettability diffusion, mechanical interlock, acid-base attractions, covalent bonding
• Adhesive materials, polyurethanes, acrylics, EVA, LDPE
• Liquid coating formulation (components and their function, formula) and rheology

Coating and Lamination Methods

• Process for multilayer packaging materials including extrusion, coating and lamination; coextrusion will be mentioned
• Extrusion: extruder, die for cast film and blown film
• Roll liquid coating: mechanism of extrusion coating, liquid coating
• Vacuum deposition
• Lamination: method, dry and wet laminating

Unit Operation

• Winding and unwinding, sheet-fed and web-fed
• Extruder part
• Liquid coating schematics, roll (gravure/flexo) coating, Mayer bar, air knife, curtain coating
• Drying
• Curing, heating, cooling
• Slitting

Defects and Troubleshooting

• Test viscosity, thickness, coating weight, odor test
• Adhesive bond test, delamination, tensile, green tack (right after lamination test), curing test curve, peelable bond test vs destruct test
• Un-laminated, delamination, decal, air/gas bubble
• Screening (gravure pattern), tunneling (cross-direction wrinkle)
• Low bond, wrinkle in lamination, curl, pleating, starring
• Soft edge vs hard edge
• Telescope roll

Hands-On Trial

• Multiple coating
• Lamination
• Surface treatment
• Test on-site practice ​

What Previous Participants Said

"Overall, this is a good introduction of lamination and coating for people in the papermaking industry working on converting/packaging. I am a research scientist in product development. My background is chemical engineering and paper making. I found this course useful and helpful for my project and helps to generate new ideas in product development."

— L. Xiao, Georgia-Pacific

"Dr. Roland Gong comprehensively covered the materials and processes of packaging coatings and laminations. This was done in a successful manner which has appropriately increased my value to my customers and my knowledge of their operation and end use needs."

— K. Helein, Daikin-America

2023 Course Schedule will Include this Course as well: 

Hands On Paper Making Course
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
August 24-25, 2023

The Instructor:

Expert instruction is offered by Dr. Roland Gong, associate professor of paper science and engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Gong earned his doctorate in paper and imaging science and engineering from Western Michigan University, where he researched paper coating using new materials and cutting-edge facilities.

Gong's research focused on the paper pigment coating process. He has worked on coating and lamination since 1998 as a printing and packaging engineer. His work has included product packaging and liquid packaging.

Course Registration 

Registration Cancellation Policy

If you have to cancel your training course registration, you must notify TAPPI in writing via email memberconnection@tappi.org prior to the class start date. Refunds will be provided according to the following scale:

• 100% refund if notice is received at least 28 days prior to class start date;
• 50% refund if notice is received between 27 and 11 days prior to class start date;
• No refund will be issued for notice received 10 business days or less prior to class start date.

There is no refund of fees due to failure to attend without notice.

Substitutions will be accepted at any time without penalty.

Course Cancellation Policy
It is UWSP’s intent to avoid cancelling or rescheduling any training course. However, we reserve the right to cancel or change a training course at any time, for reasons including, but not limited to, insufficient registration, instructor emergencies, or other issues beyond our control.

If UWSP cancels a training course, registered students will be notified no less than 10 business days before the scheduled start day of the course. In the case of a cancellation by UWSP, 100 percent of registration fees will be refunded to students, or the students may elect to substitute the fees for another UWSP training course. 

General Disclaimer
UWSP shall not be liable for damages of any kind resulting from errors or omissions in the training materials, nor shall UWSP be liable for any damages resulting from the use of the training materials or other information conveyed at a UWSP training course.

Dietary Restrictions
As you are registering, please notify the Department Administrative Specialist, Angie Hauer [angie.hauer@uwsp.edu] if you have any dietary restrictions that should be considered for foods or refreshments offered during the training sessions at UWSP.

Travel Information for Coating & Lamination Course

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is conveniently located a 25-minute drive from the Central Wisconsin Airport. 

The Stevens Point Area Convention and Visitors Bureau website has lodging information and other area information. 

If you're traveling from a distance or internationally and are interested in extending your stay for tourism, visit the Travel Wisconsin website for ideas and detailed information.

Choices near the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point are:

Baymont Inn & Suites
(715) 341-8888
247 Division Street, Stevens Point, WI 54481
www.wyndhamhotels.com/baymont

Cobblestone Hotel & Suites
(715) 343-0522
1117 Centerpoint Drive Stevens Point, WI 54481
https://www.staycobblestone.com/wi/stevens-point/

Country Inn & Suites
(715) 345-7000
301 Division St N, Stevens Point, WI 54481
https://www.radissonhotelsamericas.com/en-us/hotels/country-inn-stevens-point-wi

Days Inn & Suites
(715) 254-8685
159 N Division Street, Stevens Point, WI 54481
https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/days-inn/stevens-point-wisconsin/days-inn-stevens-point/overview