Nordson Corporation has developed a portfolio of fluid coating products, originating from the firm’s experience in slot die technologies.
The new range includes fluid delivery, slot-die application, and die positioning systems for applying hot melts, solvent- and water-based materials, inks, magnetic media, and many other materials. Viscosity capabilities range from 1 to 250,000 cps. Taken all together, these fluid coating systems have extensive application histories in markets such as automotive, construction, electronics, energy, food packaging, tapes and labels, and textiles.
The technologies now available from Nordson include well-established slot die systems originally developed by Nordson itself, as well as EDI, Premier Dies Corporation, and Liberty Coating Equipment. EDI, acquired by Nordson in 2012 and now known as Nordson Extrusion Dies Industries, had previously acquired the Premier and Liberty businesses. Nordson has expanded the international sales and technical service available for these acquired systems through its network of directly operated facilities in 30 countries. The company now manufactures slot dies in the U.S., Europe, and Asia and maintains trial laboratories at seven locations in China, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, and the U.S.
“Drawing on two hundred years of combined experience with high-precision coating systems and on our comprehensive global service capability, Nordson offers converters worldwide the opportunity to discover the many advantages of slot die technology over conventional fluid coating systems like roll coating,” said Keith Wheeler, Director of Nordson’s fluid coating business. “As pre-metered systems, slot dies apply to the substrate all of the coating fluid fed into the die, and as closed systems they do so with consistency and without contamination or emission of volatiles. The greater accuracy and uniformity of slot die application makes possible increased line speeds and improved finished product yields per given quantity of coating fluid.”
Slot die systems now available from Nordson include three types whose application mode is “contact/wipe,” in which the die lip is used to wipe the coating material directly onto the substrate, and one “non-contact/draw” system, in which the die exit is a small distance from the substrate and the motion of the backup roll or tension web draws the coating into a thin layer.
Along with these slot dies, Nordson manufactures a range of related equipment for fluid coating accuracy and productivity. Fluid delivery systems provide a non-pulsing, consistent feed of fluid to the die, ensuring consistent coating volumes. Die positioners or coating stations provide repeatability and adjustability. Vacuum boxes help to control the length of the coating bead and the processing window for developing surface properties. Also available are complete modular coating systems for lease or purchase by customers, as well as for on-site customer trials.