Issue No. 23
November 2009

PCT and Efsen Engineering Sign Rep Agreement

In August 2009, PCT Engineered Systems, LLC appointed Efsen Engineering A/S of Denmark as our new manufacturer's representative for BroadBeam serving the Nordic countries. Efsen Engineering will also exclusively serve the European Union for EB curing applications on wood substrates.

Efsen Engineering A/S was founded in 1986, by Karin Efsen with the principle intent of marketing electron beam curing to the Nordic countries. Since then, the company has evolved into a full service engineering firm including UV curing technology used in a wide variety of industries.

PCT has been delivering automation and custom equipment solutions since 1986 and acquired the BroadBeam EB technology in 2003. Together, PCT and Efsen Engineering provide process equipment expertise for radiation curing unique to the industry. Both companies have a history of delivering complete customer satisfaction by offering superior customer service and better quality solutions. PCT Engineered Systems LLC welcomes Efsen Engineering in joining our network of reps located in North America, Brazil and Europe.



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Lapin's Lab is Complete

PCT's lead Electron Beam Application Specialist, Dr. Steve Lapin is the holder of 22 U.S. patents on UV/EB curing technology and has over 24 years of industry experience. Recently, PCT completed construction of a chemistry lab specifically designed to support Dr. Lapin in the development and study of UV/EB curing technologies.

The new lab helps Steve support our customer's feasibility testing as well as prepare materials for testing on PCT's pilot line. With the lab complete, Steve can also focus on developing new technologies that will help grow the electron beam market. Current lab activities include dual UV-EB curing, EB chemistry that cures without nitrogen inerting, EB coating gloss control and metal coil coatings.

Steve has been conducting curing trials on many different substrates including metal, wood, film and paper. In addition PCT has added EB laminating capability to our pilot line. Dual UV-EB cure development is being facilitated by the loan of UV equipment for our lab.

In addition to customer support and technology development, Dr. Lapin and the lab are available to support UV/EB consulting projects. Feel free to contact Steve at SCLapin@TeamPCT.com for more information.



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BroadBeam LE Series Diversification

Recently, PCT Engineered Systems sold three BroadBeam LE Series with our patent pending fully integrated chill roll in three diversified applications, crosslinking, coil coating and web offset printing. All LE Series come standard with lower power consumption, lower nitrogen utilization, higher throughput, dependable operation, ease of maintenance, remote diagnostics and professional customer service. The LE Series uses up to 40% less energy and up to 25% less nitrogen for inerting applications than competitive systems. The LE Series has the widest voltage range in the market from 70kV to 150kV. This significantly opens up more applications in a more cost effective size.

Our crosslinking customer needed a system rated for 150kV and had a desire for an ultra low profile. The LE Series with the fully integrated chill roll fit the bill for crosslinking our customer's film structure. This existing BroadBeam customer is confident that the LE Series will be just as operationally reliable as the other EP Series machines they have.



Our coil coating customer is sure to profit from reduced operating costs and a dramatically improved environmental footprint. The design for our 150kV rated LE Series coil coating system is built to withstand high strip tensions and includes an automated open function that allows stitches/welds to pass. Plus, we've also ensured that the roll diameters are large enough to avoid coil set in the metal.



Our LE OSD (Off Set Dryer) Series 110kV system with the standard integrated chill roll design provides an even higher level of temperature control which allows EB curing on the most sensitive substrates used in web offset printing applications. It will also handle the heat associated with curing heavy solid ink layers. PCT's BroadBeam OSD (Off Set Dryer) delivers breakthrough advantages in web stability, uniform dose, lower power and nitrogen consumption that you can't get from any other competitive system.

Three diversified applications but all utilize the LE Series standard technical and economical features. All our customers recognize the technical advantages of significantly lower power and nitrogen consumption, higher throughput, ease of maintenance and proven, dependable operation. The BroadBeam LE Series is also the smallest web system on the market. Those qualities translate into a quick return on investment unmatched in the industry. Contact us to learn how your company can start saving energy and making more money today!

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Papers, Presentations and Participation

This fall Dr. Steve Lapin has attended numerous conferences and has given papers and presentations at the National Coil Coating Association (NCCA) Fall Meeting in St. Louis, the RadTech Europe 2009 Conference & Exhibition in Nice, France and RadTech uv.eb East in Niagara Falls, NY. The four topics presented ranged from UV/EB equipment, developments in electron beam equipment, converting applications and coil coatings. Links to the presentations are listed below.

NCCA 2009 EB for Coil
RadTech Europe 2009 New Equipment
RadTech East 2009 UV-EB Equipment
RadTech Europe 2009 EB Converting

Terry Thompson, President of PCT Engineered Systems LLC participated in the "Accelerators for America's Future" symposium offered by the US Department of Energy's Office of Science and Office of High Energy Physics this fall. This meeting focused on determining the nation's future needs for accelerators and how those needs can be met. The symposium looked not only at industry requirements, but those of basic science, medicine, energy, environment, and national security.

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Wayne's World

This month Wayne tells us how to check a foil for vacuum leaks

What are the symptoms of a vacuum leak? If the vacuum has been operating in the 2 x 10-7 range and starts to degrade gradually, you could have an issue with the foil or o-ring.

How can you check for a vacuum leak? Using isopropanol, spray around the outer edge of the foil clamp and watch for any change in the vacuum reading. It may improve or get worse. Any change is an indication of a vacuum leak. If you would like to pinpoint the approximate location of the leak in the foil, try this: starting at one end, spray isopropanol in a 2-inch wide pattern from the lower part of the foil to the center. Do this all the way across and watch the vacuum reading. Then start at the other end of the foil and again spray from the center to the remaining half, all the way across. Watch the vacuum reading as this is being done. Any change indicates a leak.

Why do you need to pinpoint the location of a leak? One reason you should pinpoint the approximate location of a leak is so you can record it and compare it with future foil failures to see if the leak is occurring in the same place. If it is, there could be something wrong on the copper (window) or a problem in the chamber (such as filament misalignment).

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Upcoming Events

If you missed us at the fall events, we'd enjoy meeting with you this spring! PCT will be exhibiting at the RadTech North America Conference this May 24-26 in Baltimore MD. Look for PCT technical presentations at the conference as well. For further information on the conference go to www.radtech.org.

Just prior to RadTech is the TAPPI PLACE conference for polymers, laminations, adhesives, coatings and extrusions. The event will be held in Albuquerque, NM from April 19-21. Dr. Lapin will be presenting UV/EB Equipment for Printing and Packaging Applications. Both presentations will be available thru PCT after the events. For additional information about the conference go to www.tappi.org.

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Holiday Greetings

With the holidays quickly approaching, PCT would like to let all of our valued customers and vendors know that we will be shut down for the holidays from December 24, 2009 through January 3, 2010. We will reopen Monday, January 4th at 7:30 a.m. However, our BroadBeam Technicians will be on call 24/7 to service your needs. Just call 866-99E-BEAM for quick and courteous service. PCT wishes all of you and your families a joyous holiday season.



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Questions? Comments?

If you have any questions about BroadBeam Equipment, applications or process energy savings, feel free to contact us for more information!

Terry Thompson: TWThompson@TeamPCT.com
Karl Swanson:    KESwanson@TeamPCT.com
Dr. Steve Lapin:  SCLapin@TeamPCT.com

Need assistance with unwind, rewind or web handling technology for your specific application? PCT Engineered Systems also specializes in custom machinery to meet your production specifications. Contact us for more information.

Mark Bennett:  MSBennett@TeamPCT.com
Dave Barnhart: DWBarnhart@TeamPCT.com


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