Rising energy costs significantly have impacted industrial coatings companies. The emergence of strong global competition has createdadditional pricing and competitive pressures within the market. Additionally, more stringent environmental regulations are shrinking the already tight margins of industrial coaters, making production expansion difficult. The choice of curing technology, therefore, has a significant impact on all of key factors, including product quality, operating costs, and efficiency of the production line.

Traditional solvent based curing technologies emit VOC pollutants.  These pollutants must must be abated, requiring large, capital intensive thermal drying systems and exposing coaters to volatile energy prices. And while UV based curing technologies address the issue of VOCs, they also can limit production speeds and prove ineffective in reaching the penetration depths of thicker coatings.

Electron beam curing is energy efficient and delivers a complete, consistent, high quality cure that penetrates through the thickest of coating layers. Furthermore, electron beam curing uses 100% solid coating formulations, which do not emit VOCs as part of the curing process. However, the electron beam curing approach traditionally has not been a viable alternative due to its large size, complex integration and maintenance, and high capital expense.

Advanced Electron Beams' (AEB) compact, modular electron beam technology enables electron beam curing systems that offer distinct advantages over traditional curing technologies, including:

• Complete cure: achieves a complete and through cure, enabling instant coil rolling without chill rollers or extra dwell time.
• Compact form factor: proprietary design minimizes the amount of in-line space consumed, allowing easy integration of electron beam curing into new or existing coating lines.
• High Efficiency: ultra-efficient emitter generates a curing power equivalent to traditional electron beam systems while operating at a lower voltage.
• Scalability: modular approach enables electron beam curing systems that economically scale up or down to meet the specific dimensions of any coating line.
• Ease of use: instant on - instant off capability with advanced software control system allows easy integration into line.
• High system reliability; self-service maintenance: emitters can be replaced on site by a press operator, eliminating the need for complicated service calls and minimizing system downtime.

With the ability to ready integrate into new or existing printing or coating lines, Advanced Electron Beams' compact, cost-effective electron beams provide an environmentally-friendly solution that enables both competitive differentiation and operating advantages, including:

Higher quality end products

• Significant energy cost savings compared to thermal drying ovens
• Dramatic floor space savings over thermal ovens
• No need for VOC remediation systems
• Ability to penetrate thick coatings
• Fast, complete, consistent curing of coatings on metal, wood, and plastic
• Higher quality products on existing printing lines
• More flexible curing system that expands options for eye-catching printing effects