Carestream continually stays ahead of industry trends -- whether you are seeking advice on precision coating and manufacturing partnerships or information about the latest multilayer coating techniques. Partners leverage our aqueous and solvent coating proficiency at bench, pilot and production scale for optimal product design, technology integration and manufacturability. We actively seek growth partnerships combining customer product IP and market channels with our high-speed roll-to-roll processing, quality systems and worldwide presence to bring new products through commercialization quickly and efficiently at reduced manufacturing cost. Partnership agreements include joint development, manufacturing partnership or full joint venture.
Read our Industry Insights blogs to learn more about our multilayer coating capabilities and growth partnership opportunities.
Precision multi-layer coating consists of many sub-processes, each of which must perform optimally to create and bring a high-quality product to market in the shortest possible time, at the lowest possible cost. To optimize the coating process as a whole, while minimizing cost and development time, it is critical to work with a contract-coating partner that can effectively employ and interpret relevant coating process models.
Read MoreContract-coating manufacturers possess a wide range of expertise and tools to conduct the complex processes required for roll-to-roll coating. Among the specialties involved in roll-to-roll coating, solvent screening studies require a skill set and enhancement by experience across a number of markets and solvents, plus a deep knowledge about its impact on coating and drying.
Read MoreThe majority of roll-to-roll coating projects use “blanket” or uniform continuous high precision coatings. Products ranging from imaging films to battery membranes to optical display device components typically employ blanket coatings where exceptional thickness control is required and there are no intended patterns. There are an increasing amount of applications that utilize patterning of coatings, including printed electronics components, displays, touchscreen input devices, photovoltaics, battery structures, RFIDs and sensors.
Read MorePrecision coating is an advanced operation that encompasses sophisticated and highly controlled functions. Coatings with the greatest uniformity are generally executed with precise fluid metering, precision coating heads and tight conveyance tension controls rather than with thickness feedback controls. An operation’s capabilities are thus partially defined by the quality and accuracy of solution delivery systems, so to maximize product quality, an advanced solution delivery system is required.
Read MoreLean manufacturing refers to developing the right processes to achieve high quality results. For contract manufacturing involving coating and converting, the techniques are essential to high quality product and relationships. Derived from the Toyota Production System (TPS), the goal of lean manufacturing is to achieve “more value with less work” by eliminating waste anywhere in the process. Lean defines waste as activity that does not create value for the customer.
Read MoreChoosing a specific precision coating method depends on a variety of factors, including the desired final product characteristics, anticipated processing steps, and the nature of the material being coated. There is a highly interdependent relationship between coating techniques and fluids, making consideration of both at the same time very important. “Fluid design” is influenced by the desired optimal final coating thickness, the number of layers, the expected curing and handling of the material post coating, the degree of accuracy required, and many other physical, chemical and optical properties.
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