Background on the Paper and Other Web Coating Category

The paper and other web coating industry includes the manufacture of a wide range of products, including, but not limited to, pressure sensitive tapes and labels, photographic film, flexible packaging, industrial and decorative laminates, sandpaper and other abrasives, and wall coverings. The industry includes facilities located throughout the country that range in size from one to over twenty coating lines.

Although the industry manufactures an extensive list of products, the coating process is very similar. The substrate (web) is unwound, coated, rewound and/or cut to size, and packaged. Alternatively, a web may be unwound, coated and then combined with another material by lamination (either before or instead of being rewound).

Emission sources are also similar throughout the industry. Coating application and drying/curing are the largest emission sources with typically much less emissions from cleaning, coating mixing, and coating and solvent storage. Some segments of the industry also manufacture the web substrate onsite, which may also be a significant source of emissions.

Control technologies vary little throughout the industry. Thermal oxidizers and carbon adsorbers are the primary control devices used by the industry, while pollution prevention options include waterborne and UV curable coatings.