Liniar & WPR-TAKA: Collaborating to Raise the Bar in Lamination Excellence

John Stark, Liniar Lamination Production Manager, works closely with profile wrapping technology and adhesive specialist WPR-TAKA and is currently coordinating a bespoke training programme as part of Liniar’s continuous improvement culture.

John discusses how environmental conditions at Liniar’s Lamination Hall are meticulously controlled to help ensure every foiled product meets exacting British Standards Institute (BSI) standards, and how he is excited to work with members of the WPR-TAKA team for their upcoming collaboration – the Academy sessions.

Leveraging the financial strength of parent company, Quanex, Liniar consistently invests in its facilities. This commitment ensures their manufacturing equipment remains at the forefront of technological advancements.

John explains, “Two crucial factors in creating optimal conditions for laminating are humidity and temperature. After consulting with Humidity Solutions back in 2022 we invested in a high-end system which allows precision control of humidity. To my knowledge, Liniar was the first systems house in the UK to install this technology.

“Our humidity and temperature-controlled environment means we can guarantee consistent adhesive application and bonding quality all year round,” explains John. 

“It’s this investment in process stability that underpins our 99.94% conformity rate. But we’re not stopping there — we’re always looking for incremental improvements, which is why we signed up for WPR-TAKA’s Academy sessions.”

Discussing the WPR-TAKA Academy, Area Manager Davide Viero says, “The programme offers structured modules including plant audits, operator training, and advanced sessions for supervisors and quality engineers. 

“It’s not just about showing teams how best to run a foiling line, it’s about empowering team members to understand the ‘why’ behind each step. 

“In our experience, when people have a better understanding of the science behind our specifications for applying and curing adhesives, best practices become easier to follow,” he adds. 

John explains, “The initial intake of Liniar team members is already underway, with plans for a 2026 intake too. I have over 35 years’ experience of managing wrapping processes, however, passing on this knowledge to the next wave of lamination operatives is a crucial part of Liniar’s futureproofing strategy for ensuring expertise stays within the business for the long term.” 

Davide adds, “John and his team have a huge amount of expertise, and still tell us they learn from our collaborations. It’s great to see Liniar has a plan for protecting the continuity of collective industry knowledge and experience present in its current team.”

Lamination Manager John concludes, “We’re extremely proud of the standards we’re upholding in our Lamination Hall, but never rest on our laurels. We test to BSI 7722 for adhesive bond strength, and by continuing to seek out incremental gains our goal is always to improve consistency and eliminate any potential for quality concerns.

“This enables us deliver products that perform perfectly from fabrication and installation, to standing the test of time as stylish finished products in buildings - providing customer satisfaction along the entire supply chain.”

To find out more about Liniar’s full range visit: https://www.liniar.co.uk/