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'''Plastic Converting Line''' refers to a set of machinery that converts plastic resin to a finished product. The most common output of the converting line is plastic packaging material, which is also called flexible packaging material. It is used by a wide range of industries like food processing, pharmaceutical, electronics and retail. Some of the typical forms of packaging material is bags, pouches, film (e.g. shrink film, or geo membrane film) air cushion bag.  

'''Plastic Converting Line''' refers to a set of machinery that converts plastic resin to a finished product. The most common output of the converting line is plastic packaging material, which is also called '''flexible packaging material'''. It is used by a wide range of industries like food processing, pharmaceutical, electronics and retail. Some of the typical forms of packaging material is bags, pouches, film (e.g. shrink film, or geo membrane film) air cushion bag.

 

A converting line has the following most common machinery units:

A converting line has the following most common machinery units:

The first unit is the machine that converts the resin to plastic film. The process is commonly referred to as extrusion. There are two main types of the extrusion machines. Cast film line, which is usually used for very large volumes, or blown film extruder, which is used for relatively smaller volumes and more frequent change-overs.  

 

The first unit is the machine that converts the resin to plastic film. The process is commonly referred to as extrusion. There are two main types of the [[Blown_film_extruder| extrusion machines]]. Cast film line, which is usually used for very large volumes, or blown film extruder, which is used for relatively smaller volumes and more frequent change-overs.

The next process step of the converting line is surface treatment performed by an equipment called corona treater. Most plastic films have nonporous surfaces with very low surface tensions making them to be non-receptive to bonding with printing inks and adhesives. The corona treater changes the microscopic surface structure of the film increasing the surface tension of it and making it capable to bond with printing.  

The next process step of the converting line is surface treatment performed by an equipment called corona treater. Most plastic films have nonporous surfaces with very low surface tensions making them to be non-receptive to bonding with printing inks and adhesives. The corona treater changes the microscopic surface structure of the film increasing the surface tension of it and making it capable to bond with printing.  

After the corona treatment, the printing takes place. Historically, the first high quality plastic printing technology was the flexographic printing. Later on, the rotogravure technology was introduced further improving the quality of the print. Most recently, certain types of flexographic technology can match or even surpass the quality of rotogravure printing and still cater for relatively low volume of runs and quick change-overs.

After the corona treatment, the printing takes place. Historically, the first high quality plastic printing technology was the flexographic printing. Later on, the rotogravure technology was introduced further improving the quality of the print. Most recently, certain types of flexographic technology can match or even surpass the quality of rotogravure printing and still cater for relatively low volume of runs and quick change-overs.

Once printed, the plastic film needs to be trimmed and cut into the exact appropriate size for final processing by the plastic film slitter rewinder. Most of the time, the printed film needs to be trimmed off of redundant margins alongside the length of the film. Also, the printed film needs to be cut up to stripes as the extrusion technology would produce film in multiple width of the final packaging material.

 

Once printed, the plastic film needs to be trimmed and cut into the exact appropriate size for final processing by the plastic film [[Plastic_film_slitter_rewinder | slitter rewinder]]. Most of the time, the printed film needs to be trimmed off of redundant margins alongside the length of the film. Also, the printed film needs to be cut up to stripes as the extrusion technology would produce film in multiple width of the final packaging material.

 

If the plastic film – e.g. shrink film -  is the final product,  there is no further process taking place within the converting line. The plastic film can be further processed to food pouches or a retail bags. In this case, the final product is created by the pouch bag machine or bag making machine: the film strips are cut up the into pieces, which are welded  together and if required, the gussets are created.  

If the plastic film – e.g. shrink film -  is the final product,  there is no further process taking place within the converting line. The plastic film can be further processed to food pouches or a retail bags. In this case, the final product is created by the pouch bag machine or bag making machine: the film strips are cut up the into pieces, which are welded  together and if required, the gussets are created.