Evaluation of Return on Investment for Vacuum Web Coating System and Process Changes

Presented by Mike Simmons, Intellivation LLC

Whether battling with process challenges or trying to keep up with demand, vacuum coating systems are often in a state of change. This paper presents case studies for several roll to roll vacuum coating system modifications, their relative costs and how one change can affect multiple systems. Understanding which components and subsystems add value is critical to maximizing return on investment. This analysis focuses on pretreatment options, substrate thermal management, film thickness uniformity, and reactive sputtering made possible by deposition zone isolation.