How Specialist Coatings Keep High-Performance Print Lines Running Smoothly

specialist industrial coatings improve performance in the printing industry

In industrial printing, time is money, and unexpected downtime can derail even the best production schedule. When you’re running high-speed presses, finishing lines, or advanced converting equipment, small inefficiencies have big consequences. Adhesive build-up on rollers, ink residue on trays, or poor web tracking can all cause web breaks, poor print quality, and costly delays.

At Marcote, we specialise in industrial coating solutions that tackle these problems at the source. Trusted by leading print machine manufacturers and converters, our coatings are designed to help businesses like yours protect critical equipment, extend component life, and achieve more consistent output with less maintenance.

Why Coating Matters in Industrial Printing

Industrial printing isn’t just about putting ink on paper. Modern print lines are complex, multi-step systems involving delicate substrates, precise tension control, adhesives, laminates, drying ovens, and cutting stations. Any contamination or surface imperfection can create a weak link in the chain.

Rollers accumulate sticky adhesives, causing drag and web wander. Ink trays clog up, slowing colour changes and contaminating fresh ink. And everyday cleaning eats up valuable operator time.

Specialist coatings tackle these headaches directly, providing non-stick, low-friction surfaces that are tough enough to withstand continuous production.

Plasma-Coated Rollers: Keep the Web Steady, Reduce Downtime

Rollers are at the heart of every print and converting line. They guide the web, maintain tension, help dissipate static, and prevent lateral movement that leads to misalignment and wrinkles. But rollers can also become a magnet for adhesives, dust, and dried ink, turning them into a maintenance bottleneck.

Marcote’s plasma-coated rollers solve this by creating a hard, low-friction surface that resists sticking and wear. This makes a big difference for:

  • Film and flexible packaging lines, where light substrates easily lift or curl.

  • Label production, where edge stability is critical to clean die-cutting.

  • Tape and adhesive-backed webs, where tacky layers can transfer onto roller surfaces.

With plasma coatings, air is dissipated evenly and contact remains stable—keeping the web moving smoothly, even at top speeds.

Fluoropolymer Non-Stick Coatings: Faster Changeovers, Less Cleaning

Another common pain point for press operators is ink build-up on trays, pans, and some roller sections. When ink dries or clings to metal surfaces, it turns a simple colour change into a time-consuming task involving scraping, aggressive solvents, and sometimes complete disassembly.

Marcote’s fluoropolymer non-stick coatings tackle this at the surface level:

  • They create an ultra-slick barrier that prevents ink from sticking firmly.

  • Colour switches become quick wipe-downs instead of full clean-outs.

  • Less cleaning means faster job turnaround and fewer interruptions during long production runs.

This is particularly valuable for printers handling short-run jobs, custom packaging, or high-mix, low-volume orders, where flexibility is key and downtime is profit lost.

Where Our Coatings Fit In

We don’t just coat generic parts, we partner with leading industrial print machine manufacturers, machine builders, and converters to understand the role each component plays on the line. This means choosing the right coating for:

Air separation rollers and tension control rollers in unwinds and rewinds
Adhesive handling surfaces in label or tape production
Ink pans, trays, and splash guards that need quick clean-downs
Guide rails and dead plates where smooth transfer reduces substrate marking

We make sure your surfaces perform, shift after shift, by matching coating chemistry to real-world operating conditions, like heat, ink type, web speed.

Why Industrial Printers Trust Marcote

  • Real experience with top-tier machine manufacturers: Our coatings complement the high-tolerance engineering of modern presses and finishing lines.

  • Application expertise: We handle everything from surface prep to precise coating thickness, ensuring reliable, consistent results.

  • Long-term value: Fewer cleaning chemicals, less downtime, and extended part life all add up to a lower cost of ownership.

  • Responsive service: Fast turnaround for new builds, refurbishments, or maintenance cycles keeps your production schedule on track.

The Bottom Line: More Print, Less Fuss

When your rollers stay cleaner and your ink pans don’t clog up, your line runs smoother, simple as that. Operators spend less time on cleaning and more time producing sellable metres of labels, films, tapes or flexible packaging. It’s the kind of quiet, behind-the-scenes improvement that boosts productivity without needing a huge capital outlay.

Ready to Upgrade Your Print Line’s Performance?

If sticky rollers, stubborn ink residue, or frequent clean-downs are slowing you down, it’s time to consider a specialist coating solution that’s proven to work for industrial printers.

Contact the Marcote team today to discuss plasma coatings for your rollers or non-stick treatments for your ink systems. We’re here to help you run cleaner, faster, and more profitably, one surface at a time.