Frequently Asked Questions

The following FAQ's are typical questions we are asked, and explain many of the processes we manufacture. If there are any processes or questions not included, please use our contact page and we will gladly answer your questions based on your specific requirement. We also have the technical ability to analyze any sample in our lab, and as well to develop a particular specification with you.

1. What substrates / materials do you convert?
2. How are materials converted and by what processes?
3. What printing and finishing processes do you use most?
4. How versatile is the range of substrates you convert?
5. What are some of the properties achieved by the coatings applied in the
    laminating and printing processes?
6. What is your primary expertise?
7. Why choose one lamination over another?
8. Why is slip needed?
9. When is heat resistance needed?
10. What is the difference between wet and dry bond?
11. What are some examples of your technical packaging development?
12. What technical support do you offer?

1. What substrates / materials do you convert?
Our business at FPC is manufacturing flexible packaging using a wide variety of substrates / materials including film, foil, and paper.

2. How are materials converted and by what processes?
Materials are combined by laminating processes using glue, polymeric resins (extrusions), or wax. The choice of laminating processes is generally governed by the requirements of the end use.

3. What printing and finishing processes do you use most?
Finished product is typically printed by rotogravure or flexography followed by slitting. Embossing is an additional option.

4. How versatile is the range of substrates you convert?
The choice of raw materials covers a wide range which includes cast and oriented polypropylenes, polyesters, polyamides, foils in various gauges and alloys and papers ranging from light tissues to board. Clay-coated papers are an option for artistic graphics.

5. What are some of the properties achieved by the coatings applied in the laminating and printing processes?
Coatings of various sorts can be incorporated to enhance and provide properties such as gloss, scuff resistance, slip, heat seal ability, cold seal, antiblocking, lubrication, and much more.

6. What is your primary expertise?
While our core expertise centers on foil, products without foil constitute a substantial portion of our product line.

7. Why choose one lamination over another?
An example would be wax or glue; choices are made based on price, heat resistance required, machinability, and dead fold.

8. Why is slip needed?
Slip facilitates performance on wrapping or packaging lines to ensure constant or smooth tracking.

9. When is heat resistance needed?
For contact surface to resist heat during sealing.

10. What is the difference between wet and dry bond?
Wet Bond is the laminating process used to laminate two substrates, one of which is porous, such as paper. A foil/paper lamination may be produced by wet bonding. The two substrates are combined prior to passing through the oven, in other words the two substrates are combined before the adhesive is dried.

Dry bonding is the laminating process used to laminate two substrates both of which are non-porous (impervious). Film/film and film/foil laminations are examples. The adhesive is applied to one of the substrates and dried in the oven prior to being combined with the second substrate. In other words, the two substrates are combined after the adhesive is dried.

11. What are some examples of your technical packaging development?
Product focus tends to be on high-demand applications having to meet strict technical requirements to achieve acceptable performance. Examples are cold forming laminations, retort pouches, child resistant pouches.

12. What technical support do you offer?
Customer support in areas of product development and machine trials is readily available. Product development is linked closely to tailoring products to the customer's needs.