Extrusion International 5-2026

47 Extrusion International 5/2026 Surface Finish Determines Process Success T he plastics industry is facing ever-greater challenges due to rising quality requirements, new material combinations, the grow- ing use of recycled plastics, and ongoing cost pressures. Often, a material’s surface properties deter- mine the quality and reliability of subsequent processes. At Fakuma, 2026 Plasmatreat will demonstrate how modern plasma surface treat- ment can address these challenges in Hall A1, Booth 1320. In many applications, plastics' natural surface properties are in- suf cient to ensure stable produc - tion processes. Insuf cient ad - hesion can lead to quality issues during bonding, printing, painting, coating, or injection molding. At the same time, the demand for ef- cient, reliable, and exible manu - facturing processes is increasing. Plasma surface treatment en- ables the targeted activation, cleaning, or functional coating of plastic surfaces. This improves adhesion properties and reliably prepares materials for subsequent production steps. Plasma for Demanding Plastics Applications At Fakuma, Plasmatreat will pres- ent solutions for industrial applica- tions throughout the plastics value chain. Visitors will gain insights into current applications in plastics pro- cessing and learn how plasma sup- ports stable, reproducible process- es. Plasmatreat’s entire technology portfolio – from atmospheric-pres- sure plasma to low-pressure plas- ma – is designed to deliver process- controlled, reproducible results. The focus is not on the technology alone, but on the customer’s specif- ic needs and the right solution for each application. Fakuma Highlights: Openair- Plasma and AURORA-Plasma A key focus of the trade show pre- sentation will be Openair-Plasma technology. This technology is used for the automated, in-line treat- ment of surfaces directly within the production process. On display will be plasma activation to improve adhesion properties, as well as the new RD1004C plasma jet. This ro- tary jet applies coatings of envi- ronmentally friendly adhesion pro- moters to wide plastic surfaces or pro les − such as window pro les − to ensure better adhesion during bonding. Plasmatreat’s atmospheric pressure plasma portfolio includes a wide variety of jet heads, plasma jets, generators, and other system accessories. This enables precise ad- dressing of economic requirements and a broad range of industrial applications, from simple pretreat- ment tasks to demanding, fully au- tomated, 24/7 series production. Additionally, Plasmatreat will present a system from its new AU- RORA-Plasma product portfolio for the rst time at Fakuma. This sys - tem operates under low-pressure conditions with 2.45 GHz micro - wave excitation in a vacuum pro- cess chamber. This enables surface modi cation for complex 3D geom - etries. It is particularly suitable for applications in medical technology, lightweight construction, and elec- tronics. Different process gases and gas combinations can be used to tailor cleaning, plasma etching, and activation processes speci cally to the material, component geometry, and application. One example is the targeted, batch-process treatment of prod- ucts made from high-performance polymers such as PEEK, PTFE, FEP, and PEBA. Increasing the surface energy allows coatings, adhesives, and lubricant systems to adhere more effectively without subjecting sensitive component geometries to thermal or mechanical stress. At Plasmatreat, reliable process control is as important as having the RD1004C: Rotating nozzle for the environmentally friendly coating of wide plastic surfaces and pro les to improve adhesion during bonding (Pictures, Copyright: Plasmatreat GmbH)