Industrial drying systems for web-based processes
With 1,400 drying systems installed worldwide, Contiweb has decades of experience in controlling heat, airflow and web temperature in high-speed web production. We pioneered hot air flotation drying in the 1990s and have since continued to develop drying technologies for demanding web-based production processes.
Building on this experience, our expertise extends from traditional solvent-based inks and coatings to water-based coatings, adhesives and other functional liquids. Depending on the application, Contiweb can combine technologies such as hot air, infrared (IR), near infrared (NIR) and ultraviolet (UV) to create an effective drying process. The web can be transported through the dryer using non-contact air flotation or over rollers, for example when only one side of the web is coated.
Water-based and solvent-based formulations can place very different demands on the drying process. Web width, production speed, application weight and solids content determine the evaporation load, while formulation, substrate and required final properties influence how the product should be dried.
Some bio-based formulations can be particularly challenging because of their water content and sensitivity to how that water is removed. At industrial production speeds, achieving the right balance between evaporation capacity, dwell time, airflow, coating and web temperature can therefore be critical to throughput, process stability and product quality.
Contiweb's drying expertise can be applied to roll-to-roll, roll-to-sheet and roll-to-finishing processes involving a wide range of liquids and functional treatments, including:
- water-based and solvent-based coatings;
- water-based adhesives;
- barrier and functional coatings;
- primers and topcoats;
- impregnation and saturation;
- surface treatments;
- inks and varnishes;
- bio-based coatings and other bio-based formulations.
Whether the objective is to optimize an established process, increase production capacity or industrialize a new application, the drying process needs to match the specific production requirements.
Removing water or solvents from a moving web requires energy. An efficient drying process needs to provide sufficient evaporation capacity while carefully controlling airflow, exhaust, recirculation and web temperature.
Contiweb combines extensive experience in high-volume air handling with precise process control. Airflow and energy input can be matched to the requirements of the application, helping manufacturers achieve the required drying performance while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption.
For solvent-based applications, Contiweb also has extensive experience with integrated afterburning and heat recovery. In heatset web offset production, solvents evaporated from the ink during drying are incinerated, and the energy released in this process is recovered to support the drying process, significantly reducing the need for external energy.
Drying is part of a complete web process. Its performance is influenced by what happens before, inside and after the dryer. Contiweb combines drying expertise with extensive knowledge of fluid application, coating, web handling, tension control, remoistening and chilling.
Depending on the application, these technologies can be integrated to control the web throughout the production process:
- Fluid application and coating for the controlled application of functional liquids;
- Chilling to control web temperature after drying;
- Remoistening to restore moisture where required;
- Web guiding and tension control to maintain web stability throughout the process.
By looking at application, drying and web handling as an integrated process, Contiweb can help manufacturers develop reliable and efficient web-based production solutions.
Whether you are improving an established process, increasing production capacity or scaling up a new formulation, factors such as web speed, application weight, solids content, substrate and formulation all influence your drying requirements.
Talk to our experts about your application, production requirements and drying challenges.
Your contact
Rob Bosman
Sales Director
+31 6 51 20 27 55
sales@contiweb.com
