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Plastic films have a wide range of uses, be it for roof sealing, as food packaging or as decorative and functional films in vehicle interiors. These films are refined using various processes such as painting, printing, embossing, laminating or covering. All of these processes benefit considerably from advanced infrared heat. Excelita's Noblelight offers for this Infrared Heaters, which are specifically tailored to the needs of Film processing are tailored.

Excelitas Noblelight film processing

 

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Processing of very thin plastic films

The processing of very thin plastic films places special demands on the heat processes. Infrared heater have proven to be extremely effective in this regard, as plastics optimally absorb medium wavelengths and quickly convert them into heat. This enables precise temperature control, which is crucial for the quality and durability of the films.

At the trade fair Fakuma 2024 Excelitas Technologies Noblelight presents infrared emitters and systems. These technologies are precisely tailored to different Plasticmaterials and processes. This significantly increases the efficiency of heat treatment in film processing and at the same time saves energy and costs.

More efficient film processing with IR technology

Excelitas Noblelight infrared heaterThe Increasing process speed Conventional heating methods quickly reach their limits when processing film. Large, heavy rollers take a long time to heat up and cool down slowly in the event of unexpected production interruptions, which can lead to problems.

Hot air systems cause film fluttering and provide inefficient heat transfer. Therefore, they must be very large at high belt speeds.

In contrast, infrared radiation enables contactless and efficient Energy transferCarbon infrared emitters emit medium wavelengths that quickly heat up the surface of the foils. These emitters can be controlled with extreme precision and react within seconds. This minimizes the risk of damage if the belt suddenly stops.

Drying and heating of films

Hot air ovens often prove unsuitable for drying coatings or printing on thin films. Infrared drying with medium-wave radiators is an effective solution. While short-wave radiation penetrates the film, medium-wave radiation heats the film surface efficiently. Carbon infrared radiators combine this medium-wave radiation with short reaction times. This reduces the risk of damage in the event of unexpected production stops.

Applications in the automotive industry

At the nuclear Automotive industry Doors, center consoles and instrument panels are often covered with films that are applied using laminating technology. adhesivesystem is applied to the film or carrier material in advance. When heating TPO and PVC films, Noblelight's infrared heaters offer significant advantages over conventional quartz heaters. They heat the films faster, shorten cycle times and save energy because they are only activated when needed and do not have to run constantly in standby mode.

Optimized film back-injection through in-mold decoration

Decorative elements in the car such as trim strips, switches with a metallic look and high-gloss fittings are manufactured using plastic injection molding and then coated. A common process for this is In-mold decoration (IMD) or film back injection. A carrier film with decorative paint is placed in the injection mold. During the injection molding process, the paint adheres to the surface of the plastic parts, which can be removed when the mold is opened.

The entire process of Film back-injection benefits significantly from infrared technology. The IR radiation heats the coated transfer product, making it malleable and easier to process. Excelitas offers customized infrared systems that are optimally adapted to the specific requirements of the product and process. This leads to space-saving, cost-efficient and less complex production.

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Author information
Dr. Marie Luise Bopp

Dr. Marie-Luise Bopp is Head of Marketing at Excelitas Noblelight GmbH in Hanau.

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