Three tiers, one control philosophy
IMC standard calenders share the same straight-through web path, closed-loop gap control, and recipe-driven controls architecture across all three tiers. Process parameters developed on the lab calender transfer to the pilot machine, and pilot recipes transfer to the production line.
01Precision Lab Calender →
A compact benchtop calender for formulation evaluation and small-sample densification. Narrow web widths configured to spec, line loads up to 40 US tons (60-ton option), straight-through web path, motorized gap, and optional heated rolls. Built for universities, R&D centers, and early-stage battery and materials development where a benchtop calender must still produce data you can trust at scale-up.
02Pilot Calender →
Production-representative densification at pilot scale: 300 mm+ web widths, line loads up to 136 metric tons, induction or oil-heated rolls, closed-loop gap control, and a recipe-driven HMI. This is the tier where specifications get written — pilot cell lines, process validation, and scale-up work with production-relevant forces.
03Production Calender Line →
Wide-web production calendering built standalone or integrated into multi-process systems — laminating, slitting, and inspection inline with the calender. 600 mm+ web widths, line loads up to 418 metric tons, deflection-compensated rolls for a uniform pressure profile across the full face, closed-loop gap control at 1 micron or better, and heated rolls holding ±1°C thermal uniformity.
Model comparison
| Precision Lab Calender | Pilot Calender | Production Calender Line | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max line load | 40 US tons (60-ton opt.) | 150 US tons (136 mt) | 460 US tons (418 mt) |
| Roll size | 203 × 300 mm (254 × 356 opt.) | 400–500 mm dia. | To 800 mm dia. |
| Web width | To 300 mm | 300–500 mm | 500 mm+, to spec |
| Roll precision | ±1.5 µm | ±1 µm | ±1 µm |
| Roll heating | Electric to 150°C+ | Induction or oil to 200°C+, ±1°C | Hot oil to 200°C+, ±1°C |
| Line speed | To 3 m/min | To 30 m/min | To 80 m/min |
| Gap control | Precision wedge (motorized opt.) | Motorized closed-loop, ±1 µm class; servo-hydraulic available | Servo-hydraulic live gap under full load, ±1 µm or better |
Specifications shown are representative platform capabilities; each machine is configured to the application.
Calender/Slitter combination lines
Every pilot and production calender platform accepts an integrated slitting section — cartridge heads, trim handling, and differential rewind built into the calender web path. One machine performs two process steps: densification and slitting to finished width in a single pass, with one control system and one footprint. For battery electrode programs that need both capabilities, the combination is consistently the strongest value in the lineup.
See it on the pilot calender →Applications
- Battery electrode calendering (anode and cathode densification, single and dual-pass)
- Fuel cell CCM and GDL calendering
- PTFE membrane and tape processing
- Filtration media densification
- Plastics and paper finishing
