Coater/laminator maker Polytech Spa, based in Novara, Italy, unveils an aggressive R&D and marketing strategy aimed to further consolidate and expand its position with converters in the global flexible-packaging industry.

The cornerstone of the project is a web-converting unit, nicknamed Octopus One, which complements two existing film-extrusion systems at the company's research center.

Designed as a multipurpose coater/ laminator, the line features a web width of 1,000 mm with a 500-mpm running speed. Web handling and tension controls accommodate a variety of substrates to be coated, varnished or laminated by different deposition technologies. An electron-beam curing unit was installed by Boston-based Energy Sciences, Inc.

Setup of the complete industrial-scale facility was intended for internal testing and demonstration of all new coating, laminating and curing systems, including breakthrough development of film crosslinking.