Productivity versus Profitability in Vacuum Web Coating

Presented by Liz Josephson, Applied Films Corp.

Production equipment for vacuum web coating is designed for >90% availability and this must include scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. As the next generation of vacuum web coaters is designed for increased profitability, it is important to implement changes that assist operators with minimizing downtime and increasing the productivity of the machine. The can be done by the incorporation of more operator friendly devices, giving easier access to areas that require maintenance and providing tools that would allow ease in maintenance. Ergonomics and reliable components increasingly play a role in the uptime and availability of equipment since this is the focus of today’s production facilities.