Economic surface treatment by means of roller coating technique and UV curing

Rolling is an extremely efficient coating method by which (relatively) thin, uniform layers can be
applied with an application efficiency of around 95% and economical use of the material. This
method is consequently used in a whole variety of surface treatments. It is used, for example, for
coating endless metal coils — the so-called coil coating — as well as for coating metal sheets,
printing plates and also cylinder head gaskets. It is used to coat circuit boards in the plastics
processing sector, as well as for brochures, catalogues and packagings in the paper and board
sector. The woodworking industry which is of primary interest here uses this technique
(photograph, Fig. 1) to produce parquetry, doors, chipboard, MDF and HDF board, hardboard and
even suitably shaped — flat — furniture elements.
Traditionally used in the woodworking sector, rolling has become a particularly advantageous
method since it can be combined with UV curing. Advances made with regard to both the coating
materials and the curing technology now permit both ecologically and economically advantageous
solutions. It is therefore worthwhile taking a closer look at the corresponding technical details.