FAQs
A key component of the manufacturing process, custom converting entails materials selection, die cutting, laminating, slitting, and a variety of other services for various industries and applications. Understand the basics of what we do at Advantage Converting and how we do it better.
Q: When do I need a clean room?
Clean room manufacturing is primarily used when manufacturing sensitive materials that can be easily contaminated or affected by particles in the air. For example, at Advantage Converting, we have used our clean rooms to manufacture advanced wound care products, solar panel components, and vibration dampeners for the aerospace industry. However, a clean room can be used for any converted good. Our experts can work with you to determine clean room requirements for your project.
Q: What manufacturing processes does Advantage Converting perform in their clean rooms?
We can perform any manufacturing process in our clean rooms, including custom die cutting, laminating, slitting and rewinding, and roll-to-roll manufacturing.
Q: What is clean room manufacturing?
Clean room manufacturing is the use of an enclosed area with strict environmental controls to manufacture sensitive components. The controlled environment – or clean room – limits the presence of dust, airborne microbes, aerosol, and chemical vapors to prevent environmental contamination of sensitive components, such as those for medical, electronic, and aerospace applications.
Advantage Converting has multiple clean rooms that are available for all converted goods. Our clean rooms are certified as ISO 8 / Class 100,000 and ISO 7 / Class 10,000.
Q: Can Advantage Converting meet ultra-narrow slitting width requirements?
While slitting specifications are very dependant on the raw material input, Advantage Converting has slit down to .020″ width on single-sided pressure-sensitive adhesives and films.
Q: What materials can be slit?
A variety of materials can be slit. These materials include papers, films, foils, foams, adhesives, and nonwoven materials.
Advantage Converting leverages years of experience and expertise to evaluate the material and best match the slitting technique and process for the highest quality results.
Q: What is precision slitting?
Precision slitting is the process of cutting a roll of material into specified lengths and widths.
Advantage Converting uses a variety of advanced precision slitting equipment and techniques that allow us to meet a wide range of specifications for size, shape, application, and volume needs. For example, we have precision slit ultra-thin copper (4-10 microns) for advanced lithium batteries as well as large master rolls of proprietary polymers — and everything in between.
Q: What is multi-layer laminating?
Multi-layer laminating is the process of bonding multiple layers of material together. This manufacturing process is used to improve the strength, stability, insulation, appearance, or other properties of the composite material.
Advantage Converting uses a variety of advanced laminating equipment and techniques that allows us to meet a wide range of specifications for size, shape, application, and volume needs. We can provide laminated parts in individual or multi-layer sheet form, or in rolls up to 76” wide.
Q: What materials can be laminated?
A variety of materials can be laminated. These materials include papers, films, foils, foams, adhesives, and nonwoven materials.
Advantage Converting can source the materials required for lamination through our extensive network of partners or laminate materials provided by the customer.
Q: When do I need multi-layer lamination?
Multi-layer lamination is used when a single layer of material lacks the physical performance properties required for an application. For example, plastic layers may be added to a composite material to achieve abrasion resistance and/or improve rigidity. Advantage Converting utilizes advanced equipment and techniques to perform heat assisted lamination and cold roll lamination, allowing us to meet all your multilayer lamination needs. Our experts can work with you to determine when multilayer lamination is beneficial to your application and recommend the best materials to meet your requirements.
Q: What materials can be die cut?
A variety of materials can be die cut. These materials include papers, fabrics, rubbers, foils, foams, non-wovens, films, and plastics.
Advantage Converting can source the materials required for die cutting through our extensive network of partners or use those provided by the customer.
Q: How can die cutting make production more efficient?
Die cutting is a great option for scaling production and increasing production efficiency. Die cutting can hold very tight tolerances at high output volumes. Tooling can be built to cut multiple parts simultaneously to best yield material, not only increasing efficiency but reducing scrap rate.
Q: What is custom die cutting?
Custom die cutting is the process of shearing materials using specialized tooling (a die) to mass produce a shape. The die has sharp edges that pierce the material, similar to how a cookie cutter is used to make shapes out of dough. Custom die cutting involves creating custom dies to obtain a unique, flat shape.
Advantage Converting uses a variety of advanced die cutting equipment and techniques that allows us to meet various specifications for size, shape, application, and volume needs. We have the capability to die cut up to 78 inches wide, die cut parts in a roll-to-roll process, and can process a wide variety of materials on our existing tooling and equipment.