Adhesive tape and label makers choose between hot melt and solvent (or water-based) coating. The right choice depends on your product, volumes and plant.
In solvent or water-based coating, the adhesive is dissolved or dispersed in a liquid, coated onto the substrate, and then passed through a drying oven to remove the liquid. In hot melt coating, solid adhesive is melted, applied at a controlled temperature and cooled. There is nothing to evaporate, so no drying oven is needed.
A hot melt line is typically shorter because it has no long drying tunnel. A solvent line, such as a BOPP tape coating plant, has drying tunnels of 60 ft to 150 ft depending on the model. Hot melt lines add a melter, an adhesive dispensing system and a slot die or similar applicator.
BOPP packaging tape is commonly produced on coating plants with drying ovens. Label stock, surgical tape and many industrial tapes are widely produced with hot melt. Goldmann builds both: adhesive coating plants and hot melt coating machines.
Consider the adhesive your product needs, your coat weight and speed targets, the space you have, and your attitude to solvent handling. If you are unsure, talk to Goldmann; we build both technologies and can advise on which fits.
Tell us your substrate, working width and target output. Our engineers will recommend a configuration.
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