German company Coatema Coating Machinery GmbH has been awarded the JEC Composites Innovation Award for 2010 for Impregnating, Laminating and Calendaring for maximum flexibility and process versatility in its patented Coatema Click&Coat machinery concept.

The prestigious prize was presented by Prof. Klaus Drechsler, of the University of Stuttgart, to Mrs. Andrea Glawe, Deputy Sales Director of Coatema, during the annual JEC Composites 2010 event in Singapore.

When asked about the differences between the Click&Coat concept and conventional technologies Mrs. Glawe said, "The innovation in this concept is our modular approach designed for flexibility and future expansion."  Glawe explained that this not only includes quick change coating heads but also many critical process components which can be moved into position by a simple click and connected to a recently developed master control system.

Combinations of 40 different modules for various processes are possible without expensive and time consuming mechanical and electronic alternations. Adjustable floor rollers on each module, the unique Click&Coat connector system and minimum cabling requirements make changes and expansions very user friendly, says Coatema.

This versatility is said to provide for a maximum of process variants for coating, drying, curing, cleaning, calendaring and other critical process technologies. According to Coatema, combined with its well-known changeable modular coating and printing systems the Click&Coat technology cannot be matched for flexibility and as such is well-deserved of the JEC Innovation Award 2010 in the Process category.

"It makes it possible to react to technology change requirement in a time, cost and space saving way," concluded Glawe.

Coatema reports that the first Click&Coat prepreg line, with a working width of 800 mm, is currently being installed. It will be capable of implementing five different coating methods for direct or indirect coating on paper, rovings and other typical composite substrates.