In the world of printing, it's common to come across color boxes, tags, and cards that are utilized for packaging purposes. Such prints are especially popular in the packaging industry, particularly when it comes to high-end boutique boxes and gift boxes. Have you ever noticed a thin, transparent film surface on these items? That is known as a "film covering," which is a technique used in post-press processing to give these boxes a refined, polished look.
Laminating, also referred to as "pasting", "superplastic", and "pasting", involves the application of a clear plastic film using heat pressure to safeguard and enhance the shine of printed materials. The laminating film typically comes in three categories: "glossy film", "matte film", and "textured film".
In today's market, surface-treated packaging color boxes are becoming increasingly popular. This is primarily due to their ability to enhance product quality and offer excellent color expression. Additionally, these surface treatments play a vital role in protecting the products from water and moisture damage. Therefore, it becomes imperative for packaging color boxes to undergo surface treatment. By implementing this process, manufacturers can ensure that their products are of superior quality, visually appealing, and well-protected against external elements such as water and moisture. Consequently, surface treatment has emerged as an essential step in the production of packaging color boxes.
As experts in the printing industry are well aware, untreated surfaces of high-quality packaging boxes are susceptible to various types of damage, such as scratching, fading, and staining. This can significantly reduce the lifespan of the product. Thankfully, one effective solution involves a surface treatment process known as "film covering." Essentially, this technique involves heating a plastic film over the printed content and then pressurizing it to create a paper plastic integrated packaging box. This transparent film layer not only enhances the brightness and smoothness of the color box printing, but also offers valuable benefits such as moisture resistance, waterproofing, stain resistance, and wear resistance. Ultimately, this extends the lifespan of the color box prints, making it a worthwhile investment for businesses looking to create durable, high-quality packaging for their products.
Apart from using film coating, another method to protect the surface of the color box is by applying a layer of "grease". This additional treatment aids in preventing scratches, fading, and dirt accumulation, ultimately extending the longevity of the color box prints.
The main reason for this effect is the presence of a film during the color box face paper printing process. During production, many manufacturers experience issues such as the formation of bubbles and dullness. These problems primarily arise from this particular stage in the process. To address these issues, manufacturers need to focus on improving the film covering process in order to achieve a high-quality final product.
Different temperatures are required for coating different substrates. When coating gold cardboard, the steel clad drum should be controlled at a temperature of 70-80 ℃. However, when coating 250 g/m2 or 300 g/m2 gray white paper, the temperature needs to be adjusted to 80-90 ℃. It is important to note that white board paper absorbs more water than gold card paper during the placement process. Therefore, during rainy days and winter, it becomes crucial to carefully adjust the temperature to ensure that the coated products have a bright finish.
During the process of film covering, it is essential to adjust the pressure between the silicone drum and the steel drum based on the thickness of the substrate paper. Inconsistent thickness of the product substrate material can lead to issues. If the pressure applied is insufficient, the coated product's film may not be secure, bright, and wrinkles may form easily. On the other hand, excessive pressure can cause wrinkles in the film and deform the paper. Thus, it is crucial to find the right balance in pressure to ensure optimal results during the film covering process.
In order to use stretched polypropylene film covering effectively, it is necessary to coat the film with glue. This process involves using a driving steel roller installed in a plastic box to evenly apply glue onto the moving film via a rotating belt. The amount of glue is regulated through a steel blade that falls onto the steel roller with varying amounts of pressure. Lighter pressure results in a larger amount of glue, while heavier pressure results in a smaller amount of glue. It is important to carefully control the amount of glue that is applied, as too much will result in the covered product losing its luster and potentially developing crystal points. Even coverage and precise glue application are key to a successful result.
In the event of color box packaging and printing issues, it is essential to address them through surface treatment. This step becomes necessary to effectively resolve any problems that may arise in this area. To ensure the optimum quality of color box packaging and printing, it is imperative to carry out surface treatment.
