Why Has SL Solvent-free Single-station Laminated Machine Become a New Choice in the Packaging Industry?

What is an SL Solvent-free Single-station Laminated Machine?

The SL solvent-free single-station laminated machine is a packaging processing equipment used to composite two or more substrates together using solvent-free adhesives. Its “single-station” design means that all lamination processes are completed within one working unit, with a continuous and centralized flow from substrate unwinding, gluing, laminating to winding, eliminating the need for inter-process transfer unlike multi-station equipment. The most distinctive feature, however, is its “solvent-free” nature—it uses adhesives without volatile organic solvents, applying them evenly to the substrate surface through mechanical coating, then pressing to firmly bond multiple layers of materials. This equipment is widely used in the composite processing of packaging materials, such as combining films with aluminum foils, paper with films, etc., to form composite packaging materials with barrier properties, strength, or aesthetics, providing high-performance packaging solutions for industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, and daily necessities.

Core Advantages of SL Solvent-free Single-station Laminated Machine

The core advantage of the SL solvent-free single-station laminated machine first lies in its environmental performance. By using solvent-free adhesives, the entire production process generates almost no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which not only avoids harm to the health of operators but also reduces the cost and equipment investment in waste gas treatment, complying with the strict requirements of current environmental policies on industrial production. Meanwhile, the solvent-free process eliminates the drying step required by traditional solvent-based laminating machines, significantly reducing energy consumption. Especially for enterprises with mass production, long-term use can remarkably cut down electricity expenses.

In terms of production efficiency, the single-station design makes the equipment structure more compact, with an occupied area usually 30% smaller than multi-station equipment, making it suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises with limited workshop space. Its continuous operation process reduces time loss in process connection. Equipped with an automatic tension control system, it can stably maintain the flatness of substrates, with a lamination speed of 150-300 meters per minute. Moreover, the laminated materials do not need to wait for solvent evaporation and can directly enter the next processing step, shortening the overall production cycle. In addition, the coating amount of solvent-free adhesives can be precisely controlled at 1.5-3 grams per square meter through accurate adjustment, which is more economical than traditional solvent-based adhesives, reducing raw material costs in long-term use.

Differences Between SL Solvent-free Single-station Laminated Machine and Traditional Laminating Equipment

To clearly demonstrate the characteristics of the SL solvent-free single-station laminated machine, the following is a comparison with traditional solvent-based laminating machines from multiple dimensions:

It can be seen from the table that the SL solvent-free single-station laminated machine has obvious advantages in environmental protection, energy consumption, and space utilization, especially suitable for enterprises with high environmental requirements and limited production space. Although traditional solvent-based laminating machines still have applications in the lamination of certain special substrates, they have gradually been replaced by solvent-free equipment overall.

Applicable Scenarios of SL Solvent-free Single-station Laminated Machine

In the field of food packaging, the SL solvent-free single-station laminated machine is most widely used. It can composite PET films with CPP films to produce food packaging bags with good sealing and temperature resistance, suitable for packaging snacks, baked goods, etc. It can also composite aluminum foils with PE films to produce vacuum packaging bags with oxygen and light barrier functions, extending the shelf life of products such as meat and sauces. Since solvent-free adhesives contain no harmful substances, they meet the safety standards for food contact materials, avoiding food safety risks that may be caused by residual solvents in traditional methods.

In the pharmaceutical packaging field, this equipment can be used to composite substrates for medicinal aluminum-plastic blisters, combining polyvinyl chloride (PVC) hard sheets with aluminum foils to produce packaging materials with moisture-proof and anti-pollution properties, ensuring the stability of medicines during storage and transportation. In addition, in daily necessities packaging, such as hoses for cosmetics and composite materials for detergent labels, efficient production can be achieved through the SL solvent-free single-station laminated machine, meeting the product requirements for appearance texture and durability.

Operation and Maintenance Points of SL Solvent-free Single-station Laminated Machine

When operating the SL solvent-free single-station laminated machine, it is necessary to first adjust the unwinding tension according to the type and thickness of the substrate to ensure the substrate is flat and free of wrinkles. The coating amount of the adhesive needs to be accurately set according to the lamination requirements, usually controlled by adjusting the rotation speed and pressure of the coating roller. After coating, check whether the adhesive layer is uniform to avoid missing coating or accumulation. The setting of lamination pressure and temperature is also crucial, with the temperature generally controlled at 40-60℃ and the pressure adjusted according to the substrate hardness to ensure the adhesive is fully activated and tightly bonded to the substrate.

In daily maintenance, it is necessary to regularly clean the coating roller and pressing roller to prevent residual adhesive from curing and affecting lamination quality. The transmission system of the equipment should be inspected weekly, and lubricating oil should be added to ensure smooth operation; the sensitivity of the tension control system should be checked monthly to avoid substrate stretching or wrinkling due to unstable tension. If the peel strength of the laminated material is insufficient, check whether the adhesive ratio is correct, the coating amount is appropriate, or whether the pressing temperature meets the standard; if the laminated film is wrinkled, it may be due to uneven substrate tension or deviation in the parallelism of the guide rollers, which needs to be adjusted in time.