Evonik upgrades UV label and release liner coating capabilities in Shanghai

Evonik has announced it is strengthening innovation, sustainability, and customer collaboration in the label and release liner industry through an upgrade of its UV-curable coating equipment at the Evonik Shanghai Innovation Park. The system has been upgraded from a 3-roll coater to an advanced 5-roll coating platform, enabling laboratory testing under conditions closer to modern real-life production environments.

The new 5-roll coating system enables more precise formulation testing and process optimization by more closely reflecting customer production line configurations and performance. It also enhances flexibility for customized project development and supports smoother scale-up from lab development to commercial production.

“This investment reflects our commitment to customer-centric innovation,” says Jared Bender, head of Product Line Agriculture & Specialties at Evonik Interface & Polyurethane Additives. “This advancement allows us to better support customer-specific projects, from early-stage feasibility studies to full production validation.”

In addition, the system is equipped with a state-of-the-art UV/LED inert curing unit, allowing seamless switching between UV and LED curing modes. This capability supports the industry’s increasing adoption of LED curing technologies, which offer lower energy consumption, reduced emissions, and improved operational efficiency compared to conventional systems.

“It’s not just a technology upgrade, we are boosting our platform for deeper collaboration and innovation in the region,” says Hang Xu, head of Evonik Interface & Polyurethane Additives in Asia Pacific. “With the enhanced capabilities in Shanghai, we are strengthening our ability to respond quickly to local market needs, while collaborating with our global teams for further advancements in efficient and sustainable release coating technologies.”