R&D

The driving force behind process improvement and product innovation

Upco®’s centre of research and development is located within its headquarters in Heroldstatt, Germany. This research center focuses mainly on the development of new coatings  and constantly collaborates with the two research and development centers of the Coveme Group located in Italy and China.

The aim of Upco®’s R&D activities is to constantly improve processes and materials, to anticipate the demands of our clients and trends of the industry, and to turn product innovations into industrial solutions. To test and analyze the properties of a lacquered surface the most advanced analytical instruments are used. The result are continuous new features of our products and their optimization, with a particular focus on the development of new coatings that confer high mechanical and chemical resistance to the surfaces they are applied to. The R&D lab has a pilot line installed where production processes are simulated. In the Upco® laboratories the coatings are applied on a wide range of flexible substrates, then analysed and tested with the focus on the final application in an industrial roll to roll process. Besides the optimization of the coating material for matt and gloss effects, another important target are the funcional aspects of the surface such as:

  • Hydrolysis resistance
  • Release properties
  • UV resistance
  • Printability
  • Scratch resistance
  • Anti-microbial properties
  • Anti-finger print properties
The importance of the pilot line

The importance of the pilot line

A fully functional pilot line is installed where all industrial processes - including 3D structuring - of the company’s production can be simulated.

Scratch resistance testing

Scratch resistance testing

The results of this measurement tell us a lot about the mechanical resistance of the surface, which is also important for our customers, who have to classify the surface of their products according to existing standards.

Study of matt, gloss and 3D effects

Study of matt, gloss and 3D effects

Gloss or matt effects are one of the main aesthetical aspects in surface finishing, including anti-fingerprint features in ultra matt versions. In addition, ultra-HD textures in both standard and customized versions are developed and analysed.

Rheometer: Examination of fluid properties of coatings

Rheometer: Examination of fluid properties of coatings

Knowledge of the rheological properties of coating materials is an important information for their application on our industrial coater.