Film slitting (longitudinal slitting) is an industrial process of converting a master roll of film into multiple narrower rolls of specified widths. This is a critical step in the packaging supply chain, as extruders produce wide webs for economy of scale, while downstream packaging, printing, and laminating machinery require precise roll dimensions to operate efficiently.
LamPack provides high-precision slitting services, ensuring clean edges, consistent geometry, and uniform tension across all produced rolls.
📦 Key Applications of Film Slitting
Slitting is a fundamental process in converting and packaging industries:
- 🏭 Flexible Packaging: Producing narrow rolls for form-fill-seal (FFS) machines, pouch making, and flow-wrap packaging.
- 🖨️ Printing & Converting: Formatting rolls after flexographic or rotogravure printing, coating, or laminating.
- 🎨 Specialty Films: Converting master rolls of metallized, barrier, or protective films for end-use applications.
- ⚙️ Laminates & Composites: Slitting multi-layer structures after combining films like BOPP/PE, PET/PE, or other composite materials.
⚙️ Industrial Slitting Methods
The choice of slitting method is determined by film composition, thickness, and sensitivity.
- ✂️ Razor Slitting (Crush Cutting)
- Mechanism: A sharp, stationary razor blade is pressed against the moving web.
- Best For: Low-cost, single-layer films like LDPE, PP, and some non-wovens.
- Limitations: Not suitable for abrasive or multi-layer laminated films; causes rapid blade wear.
- 🔄 Shear Slitting (Tandem)
- Mechanism: Uses two precisely angled circular knives (male/female) working in a scissor-like action.
- Best For: The industry standard for most laminated, coated, and printed films. Provides a clean, burr-free edge.
- Advantages: High precision, long blade life, minimal dust generation.
- 🔥 Hot Knife Slitting
- Mechanism: A heated blade melts through the film, sealing the edge as it cuts.
- Best For: Polyolefin-based films (PE, PP) to prevent delamination of multi-layer structures.
- Advantages: Seals the edge, preventing fraying and layer separation.
🧠 Slitting Equipment & Core Components
Precision slitting is performed on slitter-rewinder machines, which consist of several critical subsystems:
- Unwind Station: Controls the master roll with precise tension braking.
- Web Guide System: Automatically corrects lateral web alignment to maintain slit accuracy (±0.1 mm).
- Slitting Section: Houses the chosen slitting tools (razors, shear knives).
- Tension Control System: Maintains consistent web tension throughout the process to prevent wrinkles and distortion.
- Rewind Station: Winds the slit rolls onto cores with controlled hardness and tension.
LamPack Technical Capabilities:
- Max. Unwind Width: 1600 mm
- Max. Roll Diameter: 1000 mm
- Film Thickness Range: 20 – 200 µm
- Slitting Tolerance: ± 0.5 mm (standard), ± 0.1 mm (on request)
🧩 Why Slitting Precision is Critical for Your Production
The quality of the slit roll directly impacts the performance on your packaging line:
- Poor Edge Quality: Burrs or “angel hair” can cause web breaks, dust contamination, and sealing issues.
- Width Variation: Inconsistent slit widths cause misalignment in automated machinery, leading to jams and production stoppages.
- Poor Roll Hardness: Incorrect tension during rewinding creates soft or cinched rolls, causing problems during high-speed unwinding.
💰 Service Overview
The cost of slitting is determined by material specifications (type, width, thickness), required tolerances, and order volume. LamPack provides a technical consultation to select the optimal slitting method and calculate an efficient production plan for your project.
🧾 Summary
Precision slitting is not merely about dividing a web; it is a value-adding process that ensures the reliability and efficiency of your downstream packaging operations. LamPack delivers the clean, precise, and consistent slitting quality that modern high-speed packaging demands.
🏭 LamPack — Industrial Packaging Solutions
Production, Lamination, Printing, Slitting & Converting of Roll Materials.
📍 Saint Petersburg, Russia | 🌐 lampack.ru