Packaging presents many faces and has many masters. Packaging is looked at in different ways and according to the varying priorities of the viewer. The designer and marketer focus, some would say almost exclusively on looks. Looking good sells. The product purchaser looks for ease of handling and ease of opening – convenience is important. Given the concern for the environment, consumers are becoming more attentive to what the package or labelling is made from. Print and other value-added enhancements encourage pick up and hopefully make for sales. Colour builds brand image and enables the hurried shopper to quickly find the product that they seek.
The packaging technologists, brand owner also have to consider looks but their focus is also on the practicalities. Should it be of glass, film, of paperboard or of another material or combination of material? Will it protect and preserve the product contained within? Will it keep the product in peak condition for as long as possible? Will the material be safe to use, safe to dispose of? Will the pack prevent the ingress of gases, microorganisms, light and other spoilers? In short, will it provide barrier resistance? Â Will consumables such as inks and coatings migrate into the product and potentially cause 
harm to the consumer or affect the environment over a period of time. There is of course a need to determine printability, for example, rub resistance, chemical resistance, gloss, durability, flexibility and much more besides. Adhesion is another consideration, after all know one wants the pack flaps become unsealed and for the contents to fall out.
Prior to process commitment most products and most consumables are at some point formulated, trialled and tested in a laboratory or research centre or in a pre-press environment and then at varying processing points thereafter.
Precision defines most coating, printing and adhesive related applications and with that in mind RK Print Coat Instruments Ltd have bought out the K303S Multicoater with fully integrated servo drive and touch screen control.
The K303S is a bench top unit offering variable speeds of from 1 to 40 metres per minute and is supplied with interchangeable gravure and flexographic heads. The K303S also offers meter bar (Mayer or wire 
bound) coating capability.
The meter bar coating head expands processing and quality control capabilities. Bars are available for wet coatings ranging from 4 to 500 microns. The samples obtained can be used for computer and visual acuity purposes and for the evaluation of adhesion, gloss and other quality and performance related requirements. Multiple coatings can be made for comparison purposes and the maximum coating area with the meter bar coating head is 350 x 440mm. Vacuum beds are available.
The motor is a servo driven high-end unit with speeds set by an HMI with a 2-button mode switch for safety. A print counter is included. Essentially, the servomotor produces torque and velocity based on supplied current and voltage. The servo motor functions as a closed loop system and, citing the k303S as an example are extremely accurate with each proof or sample taken within set point.
