In today’s fast-moving manufacturing landscape, businesses in converting, packaging, composites, and printing face the same pressure: deliver more, deliver faster, and deliver with uncompromising quality. Whether it’s flexible packaging films, decorative papers, or composite layups, consistency is everything.
One of the most versatile technologies at the heart of this challenge is gravure coating. And with over four decades of engineering expertise, Delpro has refined the Gravure Coater into a solution that balances precision, flexibility, and efficiency.
Why Gravure Coating Matters
Gravure coating remains a preferred method across industries because of its ability to:
Apply coatings with accuracy: from ultra-thin films to heavier paper and board.
Work across multiple chemistries: aqueous, solvent-based, or 100% solids.
Adapt to different substrates: whether delicate 5 µm films or robust 250 gsm papers.
This versatility makes gravure a technology that bridges sectors: a packaging converter might use it for barrier layers, a printer for varnishes, and a composites manufacturer for adhesive laydowns.
The Delpro Difference in Gravure Coating
Delpro’s Gravure Coater isn’t just another coating unit. It’s been designed from the ground up to serve multiple industries with one machine.
Three modes in one head: direct, reverse, and offset gravure. This flexibility means one coater can serve multiple jobs without investing in separate machines.
Speed and accuracy: operating from 5 to 400 m/min, with coat weights from 1 to 80 gsm, while maintaining precision through backlash-free gap control.
Quick changeovers: sleeve systems and optional trolley-mounted gravure rolls allow operators to switch widths or jobs in minutes, keeping downtime to a minimum.
Cleaner, better coating: with carbon fibre chamber doctor blades that minimise waste and deliver sharp, consistent application.
Applications Across Industries
Converting & Packaging Industires
Flexible packaging converters demand short runs, fast changeovers, and impeccable consistency. Gravure coating supports applications like barrier coatings, adhesives for laminates, or surface treatments that extend shelf life, all delivered with the repeatability converters need.
Printing Industries
For printers, gravure coating allows for smooth application of varnishes, primers, or functional coatings that improve print quality or durability. The precision of Delpro’s system means fewer rejects and less wasted material.
Composites Industries
In composites manufacturing, gravure coating can apply adhesives or resins to fabrics, foils, or films. Delpro’s system handles viscosities from 10 to 2000 cPs, giving composites manufacturers the ability to coat consistently across varied materials.
Specialty Packaging
Sustainable packaging often involves new coatings, like biodegradable barriers or water-based adhesives. Gravure systems with easy changeovers and compatibility across chemistries make Delpro’s solution future-ready.
Beyond Gravure: Delpro’s Wider Capabilities
While gravure is a cornerstone of Delpro’s offering, we support the full spectrum of web converting technology:
Knife-over-roll coaters for heavy coatings on uneven surfaces such as textiles and nonwovens.
Chamber doctor blade systems for precision in flexo and gravure environments.
Custom laminating machines designed for packaging and composites.
Retrofit solutions to modernise existing lines without replacing entire systems.
This means customers aren’t limited to a single solution, Delpro can design a system around their entire production workflow, whether that’s a stand-alone gravure coater or a full laminating and coating line.
Investing in Gravure: What to Consider
What substrates will you be working with? Films, foils, or papers each have specific handling requirements.
What coat weights are required? Gravure is excellent for lightweight, precise coatings, but must be matched to your process goals.
Do you need multiple coating modes? A coater that switches between direct, reverse, and offset adds flexibility for diverse product runs.
How important is changeover speed? If you handle multiple short jobs, fast width or roll swaps can save hours every week.
What is your growth path? Consider whether a retrofit solution or a turnkey machine best fits your long-term strategy.
Gravure as a Future-Ready Solution
Gravure coating continues to prove its value as industries evolve. From flexible packaging films that require barrier coatings to composite fabrics needing adhesive layers, gravure delivers repeatable quality and process efficiency.
For businesses in converting, packaging, composites, and printing, Delpro’s Gravure Coater offers a balance of precision, speed, and flexibility, backed by our decades of custom engineering expertise. With Delpro’s ability to design entire systems, you’re not just investing in a machine; you’re investing in a tailored solution built for your industry.
Share this post: