A cast lamination machine, also known as a extrusion coating machine, extrusion laminator, casting machine, extrusion casting machine, cast coater, plastic coating machine, or coating laminator, is a type of extrusion molding equipment. It offers advantages such as a high degree of automation, simple operation, high production speed, uniform coating thickness, strong bonding strength, smooth winding, environmental friendliness with no pollution, and savings in labor and raw material costs. This technology has been well-established in Europe and America and has gradually begun to be adopted in China in recent years. It represents an inevitable trend to replace dry lamination and hot-melt adhesive coating lamination.

Classification:

By lamination speed:

Low-speed extrusion lamination machine

Medium-speed extrusion lamination machine

High-speed extrusion lamination machine

By material type:

Single-substrate coating machine

Multi-substrate coating laminator

Three-in-one substrate coating machine

Applications:

Cast lamination machines are generally used in the food industry, beverage industry, pharmaceutical industry, stationery and office supplies industry, flexible packaging manufacturing, and other related sectors. They are small-scale mechanical equipment used in daily life.

Process Principle:

Extrusion casting/coating process: Plastic pellets are plasticated by the screw extruder and extruded in a linear form through the flat die lip. The extrudate is then stretched and applied onto the surface of flexible substrates such as paper, film, non-woven fabric, or woven fabric. After cooling and solidification, it forms a composite material that combines the barrier and heat-sealing properties of the plastic film layer with the strength and functional characteristics of the substrate.

Structural Components:

The complete machine consists of a feeding unit, main extruder, die, unwinding unit, laminating unit, winding unit, edge guide control device, trimming device, heating and cooling system, and electrical measurement and control system. Depending on product requirements, additional components such as a second unwinding unit, printing equipment, oven, substrate surface treatment device (e.g., corona treater), and online thickness gauge can be added. Upstream equipment includes: pelletizers, printing presses, or other equipment. Downstream equipment includes: slitting machines or other equipment.

Key Advantages:

The cast lamination process has a relatively low cost. Currently, some advanced extrusion laminators are equipped with thin-edge mechanisms that eliminate the need for edge trimming, minimizing edge trim loss and further enhancing the cost advantage of the extrusion lamination process. In addition, the extrusion lamination process offers advantages such as high production speed, a wide range of selectable substrates, low residual solvent content in the laminated products, and minimal environmental pollution.