ITASA (Industrias de Transformación de Andoain), an independent producer of siliconized release liner in Spain’s Basque country, is investing strongly in more capacity, optimal manufacturing and finishing quality, and better logistics.

Following the installation of a custom-built, high-speed 2.3 meter wide BMB coater in 2008, the company has just installed a second BMB coater, this one 1.65 meters in width, capable of running at 800 m/min. This brings ITASA’s coating capacity to four machines, supported by advanced automatic silicone mixing.

Complementing the coating capacity are a selection of slitters at 2.3 m and 165 mm widths, a new machine capable of slitting narrow width rolls down to 20 mm and, since around 20 percent of ITASA’s production requires a customer logo, two printing machines: one inline and one offline.

The company’s current capability allows for high-speed coating of all types of paper release base, from 30 gm2 up to 200 gm2 – kraft, PE coated, clay coated, C1S and C2S, with equal or differential release characteristics, to meet the needs of a variety of tape, labelstock, industrial, and composite applications as well as self-adhesive graphic arts (at the highest gram weights) and envelopes and hygiene (at the lowest gram weights).

Current production capacity is 450 million square meters per year, which, with the commissioning of the new coater, will be closer to 600 million square meters. Eighty percent of the company’s production is exported: 50 percent within Europe, the balance to the USA, Mexico, and Asia.

ITASA is also in the process of completing an extension to its building in Andoain to create a total of 6,500 square meters of dedicated raw material and finished goods storage – an increase in area of nearly 50 percent. Together with the new machinery, this represents a €20 million investment.

Founded in 1974 by two local families, ITASA has built a reputation as a relevant and reliable supplier in the paper-based release liner market.