Gleicher Manufacturing Corporation supplies precision perforating & scoring services for adhesive tapes, films, foams and specialty converting materials. With over 75 years of experience and with our status as a 3M Preferred Converter, we develop clean tear lines, fold creases & separation points. All of which reliably function through high production volumes & applications.
What is perforating and scoring?
Perforating and scoring are two different converting steps that control how a material tears and bends during use. Perforating creates rows of small holes that define tear lines which allows the materials to be separated cleanly at specific points. This scoring creates a controlled V or U shaped crease that allows the material to fold correctly without damaging the surrounding area. Scoring is often seen with heavy substrates that would be difficult to tear otherwise.
These processes give flat stock additional capabilities as they provide a tear point like perforating or a bend point that makes them easier to handle, assemble and use in final application.
Our perforating & scoring capabilities:
Gleicher perforates and scores inline to our converting operation. That means we can perforate or score as part of a slit, die cut or laminate production run which removes additional handling and keeps your costs down.
Perforating Capabilities
Our perforating capabilities include fine micro-perforations for discreet and almost invisible tear lines, as well as general purpose perforations. We also specialize in pin perforation, which creates vents or breathable areas within a product when required.
Scoring Capabilities
We provide rotary and flatbed scoring depending on the requirements of the material and application. Rotary scoring works well for continuous production at higher speeds, making it suitable for longer runs. Flatbed scoring offers more precise control over pressure and depth which is vital when it comes to working with materials that are prone to delamination or cracking.
Perforation Control
We carefully control the perforation patterns, including tie-to-cut ratio and hole size, to achieve the proper tear strength for your application. Having too many ties can actually make tearing slower and more difficult, while too few can cause separation in shipping and handling. Finding this balance is vital to performance and is what differentiates high-quality converting from the others.
Perforating VS. Scoring
There is a significant difference between perforating and scoring and choosing the right method is essential.
In general, perforating is used when you want the end user to be able to tear the parts apart, thereby providing a dedicated break point in the material. Upon tearing, the material separates into two or more parts along the perforation line.
Scoring is mostly useful when you want the end user to fold the parts, creating a weak point in the substrate without actual separation occurring. The material remains one piece after folding along a fold line created by scoring.
Application Example
In this example, a die-cut adhesive gasket includes a peel tab that is attached by a perforation line so that it can be torn during use. If that same gasket is required to wrap around a corner, a score line can be added at the point of bend in order to allow for folding without damaging the material.
Materials used to Perforate Score
We work across a wide range of materials including:
- Pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes, both single- coated and double-coated
- Release liners such as paper and film based
- Multi-layer laminates and proprietary constructions
- Hook and loop fastener
- Self-adhesive transfer adhesives/laminating films
- Specialty films that include polyester, polypropylene, and other polymers.
The choice of scoring and perforation methods depends upon the film type and thickness. Microscopic perforating is ideal for very thin films, while certain thicker foam and laminate constructions cannot be perforated without producing unsatisfactory separation and will need an alternative perforation pattern.
Applications
Perforated and scored material can be used through multiple industries including:
Transportation suppliers: Films and tapes can be converted into peel-open components for assembly while scored gasket materials make way for parts to conform to any shape without cracking.
Electronics manufacturers: Micro perforated materials can support clean separation in pick-and-place processes while scored components are used in folded shields, insulating barriers and brackets.
Medical device companies: Perforated films are used for sterile peel apart packaging and diagnostic products while scored materials support single use medical products.
