Nu-Coat, a Wales-based company that plays in the sign, wide format, and label markets has turned to Vetaphone to assist with UV polyacrylate adhesives. This dedicated coating line uses solvent-free, non-aqueous adhesives cured by UV-C light, which will help Nu-Coat with its broad field of applications.

Established in 2018, Nu-Coat’s business has been three years in the making at the hands of its two directors, Chris Martin and Rob Musto, who saw the benefits of creating a flexible and agile production facility that could respond quickly to changes in market demand and also handle short-run jobs profitably. “We have developed an extensive range of adhesives, specifically for the requirements of our industry. They can be coated onto a wide range of films such as PVC-based, PET, and other non-PVC films,” explains Musto.

Production is carried out on a compact 1.7m wide coating line capable of speeds up to 100 m/m, depending on the coating level required for each job, with converting handled by two slitter rewinders. Work can be supplied in standard or custom size rolls in runs as short as 1,000 linear meters, which is where Martin sees niche market opportunities. 

“We are adept at developing new and bespoke products that we test thoroughly before putting into commercial production,” he says. “Our flexibility allows us to respond easily to rapid campaign changes, and our compact line is ideal for fast turnarounds.” 

Currently working a single shift, output stands at around 30% of the capacity of the 64,000 square-foot plant, which employs a team of nine experts, according to Martin.

When researching the market for the best equipment to fulfill its production criteria, Nu-Coat turned to Vetaphone for surface treatment advice and assistance.  Kevin McKell, VP of technical sales at the Danish manufacturer was instrumental in the collaboration. “As the inventors of corona treatment, we have a vast knowledge base that we like to share with existing and potential customers. So, when Nu-Coat approached us we were keen to be involved in what is an exciting new venture in this field.  We advised on the best technology for their pilot line, and subsequently supplied and installed one of our 4kw VE1C-C 1920mm corona units on the coating line when it went into commercial production.”

One of the key advantages of Vetaphone corona systems is the precision control. The iCorona generators provide a degree of adjustment to the treatment level that has benefited Nu-Coat, as well as accuracy and reliability. “I chose Vetaphone because of my previous experience with the company and the fact that they are acknowledged as the market leader in surface treatment. Not surprisingly, we’ve had no issues with their corona system, and this gives us peace of mind as well as production efficiency,” comments Musto, who adds that the ease with which Vetaphone technology can be upgraded to meet the challenges of constantly changing market demands was another deciding factor.