Laminating arrangement and method for manufacturing top-coated laminate

Abstract

A laminating arrangement (1) for manufacturing a top-coated laminate (7), comprises a first unwinder (2) for unwinding a first material layer (3), a second unwinder (11) for unwinding a second material layer (12), a laminating nip (4) for laminating the first material layer (3) to the second material layer (12), and 5 a rewinder (8) for winding the laminate (7). The laminating arrangement (1) further comprises a first coating unit (5, 6) for providing a top coating layer (17) onto a surface of the first material layer (3) facing away from the second material layer (12). The first coating unit (5, 6) is provided in-line in the laminating arrangement (1) downstream from the laminating nip (4) and 10 upstream from the rewinder (8).

Description

[0001] LAMINATING ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING

[0002] TOP-COATED LAMINATE

[0003] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0004] The present disclosure relates to laminating machines, and particularly to a laminating arrangement. The present disclosure further concerns a method for manufacturing a top-coated laminate.

[0005] BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0006] Laminating machines may be used for applying coatings and laminates on to different kinds of base materials. When large volumes of materials are laminated, continuous rolls of materials are typically used. Laminating machines may be used for instance for producing pressure-sensitive labels and flexible packaging, where top-coated face material is laminated to a base material. Such machines enable uniform application of coatings and laminates at high speeds. Top coating of especially thin filmic materials is very delicate process, which typically causes runnability challenges and risk of coating defects. To reduce these problems, top coating, such as varnishing, especially top coating of pressure sensitive label materials, may be done for instance by coating the face material off-line in a separate coating machine before lamination process. This, however, does not completely remove the challenges of top coating thin filmic materials, and it adds an additional step to the process.

[0007] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0008] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a new laminating arrangement and a new method for manufacturing top-coated laminate.

[0009] The object of the disclosure is achieved by a laminating arrangement and a method for manufacturing top-coated laminate, which are characterized by what is stated in the independent claims. Some embodiments of the disclosure are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0010] The disclosure is based on the idea of top coating the face material in line after laminating the face material to a base material, such as a release material. An advantage of the machine and the method of the disclosure is that runnability of thick and stiff laminate in coating process is much better compared to thin films and risk of coating defects is lower.

[0011] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] In the following the disclosure will be described in greater detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013] Figure 1 illustrates schematically a laminating arrangement according to a first embodiment;

[0014] Figure 2 illustrates schematically a laminating arrangement according to a second embodiment;

[0015] Figure 3 illustrates schematically an embodiment of a structure of a top-coated laminate produced by a laminating arrangement;

[0016] Figure 4 illustrates schematically another embodiment of a structure of a topcoated laminate produced by a laminating arrangement;

[0017] Figure 5 illustrates schematically a method for manufacturing a top-coated laminate according to an embodiment; and

[0018] Figure 6 illustrates schematically a method for manufacturing a top-coated laminate according to another embodiment.

[0019] The figures are for illustrative purposes only and are not shown in scale.

[0020] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0021] The disclosure relates to laminating. More particularly, the disclosure relates to laminating continuous lengths, such as rolls, of at least two materials to each other.

[0022] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate schematically different embodiments of a structure of a top-coated laminate produced by a laminating arrangement. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate schematically laminating arrangements according to different embodiments.

[0023] A laminating arrangement 1 for manufacturing a top-coated laminate 7, such as the laminating arrangement 1 of Figure 1 or Figure 2, comprises a first unwinder 2 for unwinding a first material layer 3, and a second unwinder 11 for unwinding a second material layer 12. The top-coated laminate 7 may comprise for instance the top-coated laminate 7 of Figure 3 or Figure 4. The first unwinder 2 may be arranged to unwind the first material layer 3, such as to unwind the first material layer 3 from a first roll 20. The second unwinder 11 may be arranged to unwind the second material layer 12, such as to unwind the second material layer 12 from a second roll 21.

[0024] According to an embodiment, the first material layer 3 may comprise a face material. In other words, the first material layer 3 may comprise the material intended to form the layer of the laminate designed to receive the top coating. The face material may also be designed to receive printing and / or other decorative features.

[0025] According to an embodiment, the second material layer 12 may comprise a release material and / or a base material. In other words, the second material layer 12 may comprise the material intended to form the layer of the laminate designed support the face material and any additional layers, such as adhesives or coatings. The second material layer 12 may comprise a foundational layer that may also be called a backing layer. According to an embodiment, the second material layer 12 may comprise at least one of paper, polypropylene (PP), or polyester (PET). Thus, according to an embodiment, the second material layer 12 may also comprise a combination of at least two of paper, polypropylene (PP), and polyester (PET).

[0026] The laminating arrangement 1, such as the laminating arrangement 1 of Figure 1 or Figure 2, further comprises a laminating nip 4 for laminating the first material layer 3 to the second material layer 12, and a rewinder 8 for winding the laminate 7, namely the top-coated laminate 7. In other words, the laminating nip 4 may be arranged to laminate, in other words to bond, the first material layer 3 to the second material layer 12. The rewinder 8 may be arranged to rewind the laminate 7, for instance to rewind it to a third roll 22. The laminating arrangement 1, such as the laminating arrangement 1 of Figure 1 or 2, further comprises a first coating unit 5, 6 for providing a top coating layer 17 onto a surface of the first material layer 3 facing away from the second material layer 12.

[0027] In different embodiments, there may be one or more further layers provided between the first material layer 3 and the second material layer 12, such as in the embodiment of Figure 4, or the first material layer 3 may be provided directly on top of the second material layer 12, such as in the embodiment of Figure 3. In each case, however, the first material layer 3 has two surfaces: the surface facing the second material layer 12 and the surface facing away from the second material layer 12, on which the top coating layer 17 is provided. Two different embodiments of a top-coated laminate 7 with a top coating layer 17, a first material layer 3, and a second material layer 12 are, thus, shown in Figures 3 and 4, but it is clear for a person skilled in the art that top-coated laminates 7 of other embodiments may also have further layers not shown in these figures. Such further layers, if any, may comprise, depending on the embodiment, for instance a primer and / or a barrier coating.

[0028] In this disclosure, surfaces of materials and layers may be defined to be facing towards or away from other materials or layers, to be designed to face towards or away from other materials or layers, or to be arranged to face towards or away from other materials or layers. In this disclosure, these expressions refer, unless otherwise defined, to these surfaces of materials or layers being designed to face towards or away from each other, respectively, when the first material layer 3 and the second material layer 12 are, possibly later in the process, laminated together. In other words, these expressions refer to the surfaces of material and layers facing towards or away from each other in the final product, and, depending on the embodiment, they may be in direct contact with each other or there may be one or more additional materials and / or layers provided between them.

[0029] In the laminating arrangements 1 of Figures 1 or 2, the first coating unit 5, 6 is provided in-line in the laminating arrangement 1 downstream from the laminating nip 4 and upstream from the rewinder 8. The first coating unit 5, 6 being provided in-line in the laminating arrangement 1 refers to the first coating unit 5, 6 being provided as a part of the laminating arrangement 1 and not as a separate coating machine, in which the first material layer 3 would be top-coated and rewound before being provided to the laminating arrangement 1 to be unwound again. The first coating unit 5, 6 being provided in-line downstream from the laminating nip 4 and upstream from the rewinder 8 refers to the first coating unit 5, 6 being provided between the laminating nip 4 and the rewinder 8 in the laminating arrangement 1. Thereby, when the laminating arrangement 1 is used, the first material layer 3 and the second material layer 12 are first laminated together at the laminating nip 4, after that the top coating layer 17 is provided onto the first material layer 3 by the first coating unit 5, 6, and after that the top-coated laminate 7 formed is rewound in the rewinder 8.

[0030] In this disclosure, expressions upstream and downstream are used to refer to the direction of the process. A second feature being provided downstream from a first feature refers to the second feature being provided later in the process. The first feature being provided upstream from the second feature refers to the first feature being provided earlier in the process. These features do not necessarily need to be directly adjacent to each other in the process, unless defined otherwise.

[0031] According to an embodiment, the first coating unit 5, 6 may comprise a top coating apparatus 5. A top coating apparatus 5 is an apparatus that can be arranged to apply a top coating, which in this case may form the top coating layer 17 or a part of the top coating layer 17, onto a material, such as onto the first material layer 3, for instance onto the face material.

[0032] A top coating may comprise a protective coating material, which may provide protection from such factors as wear, tear, moisture, and / or UV light. In addition to or instead of protective effect, top coating may be used for instance to improve printability, durability, visual appearance, and / or other characteristics of the material, such as the first material layer 3. According to an embodiment, the top coating may comprise for instance a varnish and / or a pigment coating. A varnish may typically be clear and provide a shiny or matte finish, whereas a pigment coating may comprise pigments providing color and / or opacity.

[0033] According to an embodiment, the first coating unit 5, 6 may further comprise a top coating drying apparatus 6. The top coating drying apparatus 6 may be provided downstream from the top coating apparatus 5. Therefore, the top coating drying apparatus 6 may be arranged to dry the top coating applied by the top coating apparatus 5.

[0034] It should also be understood that in this disclosure, drying may refer to drying and / or curing. Thus, the top coating drying apparatus 6 may be arranged to dry the top coating, such as in the case of for instance water-based top coatings, or to cure the top coating, such as in the case of top coatings comprising silicone.

[0035] The laminating arrangement 1 may further comprise a second coating unit 10 for providing a second coating 9 onto at least one surface of the second material layer 12, typically on the side of the second material layer 12 facing towards the first material layer 3, when the first material layer 3 and the second material layer 12 have been laminated together. The second coating unit 10 may be provided upstream from the laminating nip 4. In other words, the second coating unit 10 may be provided to provide the second material layer 12 with a coating, the second coating 9 before the second material layer 12 is laminated with the first material layer 3 at the laminating nip 4.

[0036] According to an embodiment, the top-coated laminate 7 may comprise a self- adhesive top-coated laminate. Thereby, the laminating arrangement 1 may comprise a laminating arrangement 1 for manufacturing a self-adhesive topcoated laminate 7. According to an embodiment, the self-adhesive top-coated laminate 7 may comprise a pressure sensitive laminate, such as a pressure sensitive label material.

[0037] According to an embodiment, such as an embodiment, where the laminating arrangement 1 comprises the laminating arrangement for manufacturing the self-adhesive top-coated laminate 7, the second coating unit 10 may comprise an adhesive unit 15, 16 for providing an adhesive layer 19 on a surface of the second material layer 12. In other words, the second coating 9 may comprise the adhesive layer 19. According to an embodiment, the adhesive unit 15, 16 may be arranged to provide an adhesive layer 19 on the surface of the second material layer 12 facing towards the first material layer 3, when the first material layer 3 and the second material layer 12 have been laminated together. In other words, the adhesive layer 19 may be provided on the surface of the second material layer 12 that will be facing towards the first material layer 3, when the first material layer 3 and the second material layer 12 have later been laminated together.

[0038] Adhesive layers 19 may be used in laminates for instance to adhere layers permanently or releasably to each other, or to provide the end product with an adhesive surface, such as in labels, stickers, adhesive tapes, and the like from small self-adhesive pieces to full-body labels used for instance in packaging. Depending on the embodiment, the adhesive layer 19 may comprise for instance at least one of hot melt adhesive, pressure-sensitive adhesive, waterbased adhesive, UV-curable adhesive, or polyurethane adhesive. The use of adhesive layers 19 in laminates is widely known and is, therefore, not described here in more detail.

[0039] According to an embodiment, the adhesive unit 15, 16 may comprise an adhesive coating apparatus 15. The adhesive coating apparatus 15 may be arranged to provide adhesive coating on the surface of the second material layer 12 as described.

[0040] According to an embodiment, the adhesive unit 15, 16 may further comprise an adhesive drying apparatus 16. The adhesive drying apparatus 16 may be arranged to dry the adhesive coating provided on the surface of the second material layer 12 by the adhesive coating apparatus 15. The adhesive drying apparatus 16 may, thus, be provided downstream from the adhesive coating apparatus 15 and upstream from the laminating nip 4. However, according to other embodiments, such as for instance embodiments, where the adhesive layer 19 comprises a hot melt adhesive or another type of adhesive not requiring drying, the adhesive unit 15, 16 may, thus, only comprise the adhesive coating apparatus 15 and no adhesive drying apparatus 16.

[0041] According to an embodiment, the second coating unit 10 may comprise, instead of the adhesive unit 15, 16 or in addition to the adhesive unit 15, 16, a release coating unit 13, 14 for providing a release coating layer 18 on a surface of the second material layer 12. In other words, the second coating 9 may comprise the release coating layer 18 instead of or in addition to the adhesive layer 19. According to an embodiment, the release coating unit 13, 14 may be arranged to provide the release coating layer 18 on a surface of the second material layer 12 facing towards the first material layer 3, when the first material layer 3 and the second material layer 12 have later been laminated together.

[0042] Release coating layers 18 may be used in laminates for instance to allow easy removal of one or more material layers, such as a first material layer 3 and / or adhesive layer 19, from a second material layer 12, such as a release layer to prepare the top-coated laminate 7 to be applied to an external surface. According to an embodiment, the release coating layer 18 may comprise at least one of silicone, fluoropolymer, polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Release layers and release coating layers 19 are used for instance in labels, stickers, and the like. The use of release coating layers 18 in laminates is widely known and is, therefore, not described here in more detail.

[0043] According to an embodiment, the second coating unit 10 may comprise both the adhesive coating unit 15, 16 and the release coating unit 13, 14. According to an embodiment, the adhesive coating unit 15, 16 may be provided downstream from the release coating unit 13, 15 and upstream from the laminating nip 4. Such a second coating unit 10 may be arranged to first provide a release coating layer 18 on the surface of the second material layer 12, for instance the surface designed to face towards the first material layer 3, and then to provide an adhesive layer 19 on the surface of the second material layer 12 designed to face towards the first material layer 3, more particularly on top of the release coating layer 18. Such a laminating arrangement 1 and second coating unit 10 may be designed to manufacture a top-coated laminate 7, for instance a self-adhesive top-coated laminate 7, wherein the second coating 9 comprises the release coating layer 18 and the adhesive layer 19, wherein the release coating layer 18 is provided onto the second material layer 12, the adhesive layer 19 is provided onto the second material layer 12 on top of the release coating layer 18, and wherein the surface of the second material layer 12, onto which the second coating 9 is provided, is the surface of the second material layer 12 that is designed to face towards the first material layer 3, such as in the top-coated laminate 7 of Figure 4. In other words, the adhesive layer 19 may be designed to be provided towards the first material layer 3.

[0044] According to an embodiment, the release coating unit 13, 14 may comprise a release coating apparatus 13. The release coating apparatus 13 may be arranged to provide the release coating layer 18 on the surface of the second material layer 12. According to an embodiment, the release coating unit 13, 14 may further comprise a release drying apparatus 14. The release drying apparatus 14 may be arranged to dry the release coating provided on the second material layer 12 by the release coating apparatus 13. The release drying apparatus 14 may, thus, be provided downstream from the release coating apparatus 13 and upstream from the laminating nip 4. According to an embodiment, wherein the laminating arrangement 1 comprises the laminating arrangement 1 for manufacturing a self-adhesive top-coated laminate 7, the second coating unit 10 may, thus, comprise both the adhesive unit 15, 16 and the release coating unit 13, 14. The release coating unit 13, 14 may be provided upstream from the adhesive unit 15, 16. Thereby, the release coating layer 18 may be provided between the second material layer 12 and the adhesive layer 19.

[0045] According to an embodiment, a release coating layer 18 may already be provided on the surface of the second material layer 12, when the second material layer 12 is provided on the second roll 21, before it is unwound by the second unwinder 11.

[0046] According to an embodiment, in the first coating unit 5, 6, the second material layer 12 may be provided on top side of the laminate 7 and the first material layer 3 may be provided on the bottom side of the laminate 7. In other words, in the first coating unit 5, 6, which first coating unit 5, 6 is provided downstream from the laminating nip 4, the laminated material may be provided in such a manner that the second material layer 12 is facing upwards and the first material layer 3 is facing downwards. This does not, thus, refer to the intended use of the end product, but to the direction of the material during this part of the process. In such an embodiment, the top coating layer 17 may, then, be provided onto the surface of the first material layer 3 facing away from the second material layer 12, in this case facing downwards when entering the first coating unit 5, 6, from below the laminate 7. However, in other embodiments, the laminating arrangement 1 may be constructed in such a way that, downstream from the laminating nip 4, the laminated material may be provided in such a manner that the first material layer 3 is facing upwards and the second material layer 12 is facing downwards.

[0047] According to an embodiment, at least the first material layer 3 comprises at least one of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or metal foil. Thus, according to an embodiment, the first material layer 3 may comprise a combination of at least two of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and metal foil. According to an embodiment, at least the first material layer 3 comprises paper. Such a paper may comprise any paper material suitable for being used in top-coated laminates 7.

[0048] According to an embodiment, the first material layer 3 may comprise a filmic material. The filmic material may comprise a film or a thin layered material. Figure 5 illustrates schematically a method for manufacturing a top-coated laminate according to an embodiment, and Figure 6 illustrates schematically a method for manufacturing a top-coated laminate according to another embodiment.

[0049] According to an aspect, a method for manufacturing a top-coated laminate 7, such as the method of Figure 5 or 6, comprises manufacturing 51 the topcoated laminate 7 by a laminating arrangement 1 according to an embodiment or a combination of embodiments disclosed in this disclosure, accompanying claims and / or accompanying figures.

[0050] According to an aspect, a method for manufacturing a top-coated laminate 7 comprises manufacturing a top-coated laminate 7 of an embodiment or a combination of embodiments disclosed in this disclosure, accompanying claims and / or accompanying figures.

[0051] According to an embodiment, the method for manufacturing the top-coated laminate 7, such as the method of Figure 6, comprises unwinding 61 the first material layer 3 from the first unwinder 2, unwinding 63 the second material layer 12 from the second unwinder 11, providing 65 the second coating 9 onto at least one surface of the second material layer 12 by the second coating unit 10, which second coating unit 10 is provided upstream from the laminating nip 4, and laminating 67 the first material layer 3 to the second material layer 12 by the laminating nip 4. The method may further comprise providing 69 the top coating layer 17 onto the surface of the first material layer 3 facing away from the second material layer 12 by the first coating unit 5, 6, and winding 71 the laminate 7 by the rewinder 8. The first coating unit 5, 6 is provided inline in the laminating arrangement 1 downstream from the laminating nip 4 and upstream from the rewinder 8, whereby the laminate 7 is in-line top-coated between the laminating nip 4 and the rewinder 8.

[0052] According to an embodiment, providing 67 the top coating layer 17 onto the surface of the first material layer 3 may comprise providing a top coating onto the surface of the first material layer 3 by the top coating apparatus 5, and drying the top coating by the top coating drying apparatus 6 provided downstream from the top coating apparatus 5.

[0053] According to an embodiment, the method comprises a method for manufacturing a self-adhesive top-coated laminate 7, wherein the second coating unit 10 comprises the adhesive unit 15, 16. According to an embodiment, such as an embodiment, wherein the method comprises manufacturing of the self-adhesive top-coated laminate 7, providing the second coating 9 onto at least one surface of the second material layer 12 may comprise providing the adhesive layer 19 on the surface of the second material layer 12 facing towards the first material layer 3 after laminating the first material layer 3 and the second material layer (12) together by the adhesive coating apparatus 15. According to an embodiment, such as an embodiment, wherein the method comprises manufacturing of the self-adhesive top-coated laminate 7, providing the second coating 9 onto at least one surface of the second material layer 12 may further comprise drying the adhesive layer 19 by the adhesive drying apparatus 16.

[0054] According to an embodiment, such as an embodiment, wherein the method comprises manufacturing of the self-adhesive top-coated laminate 7, the method may further comprise providing the release coating layer 18 on the surface of the second material layer 12, for instance on the surface facing towards the first material layer 3 after laminating the first material layer 3 and the second material layer 12 together, by the release coating apparatus 13 of the release coating unit 13, 14 of the second coating unit 10. According to an embodiment, the method may further comprise drying the release coating layer 18 by the release drying apparatus 14 of the release coating unit 13, 14 of the second coating unit 10.

[0055] According to an embodiment, the method may comprise a method for manufacturing a self-adhesive top-coated laminate 7, wherein the second coating unit 10 comprises both the adhesive unit 15, 16 and the release coating unit 13, 14. According to such an embodiment, the release coating unit 13, 14 may be provided upstream from the adhesive unit 15, 16, whereby the method may comprise providing the release coating layer 18 between the second material layer 12 and the adhesive layer 19. According to an embodiment the method may comprise providing, in the first coating unit 5, 6, the second material layer 12 on the top side of the laminate 7 and the first material layer 3 on the bottom side of the laminate 7. According to an embodiment, the method may further comprise providing the first coating layer 17 onto the surface of the first material layer 3 facing away from the second material layer 12 from below the laminate 7.

[0056] According to an embodiment, at least the first material layer 3 may comprise at least one of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). According to an embodiment, at least the first material layer 3 may comprise paper.

[0057] It is obvious for a person skilled in the art that a top-coated laminate 7, such as a top-coated laminate 7 of Figure 3 or 4, may comprise further layers and / or materials on the outer surface and / or between disclosed materials or layers that are not disclosed in this disclosure.

[0058] It is also obvious for a person skilled in the art that the disclosed aspects and embodiments may be combined and that, as the technology advances, the concept of this disclosure may be implemented in various ways. The disclosed solution and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described in this description but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A laminating arrangement for manufacturing a top-coated laminate, wherein the laminating arrangement comprises a first unwinder for unwinding a first material layer, a second unwinder for unwinding a second material layer, a laminating nip for laminating the first material layer to the second material layer, and a rewinder for winding the laminate, wherein the laminating arrangement further comprises a first coating unit for providing a top coating layer onto a surface of the first material layer facing away from the second material layer, which first coating unit is provided in-line in the laminating arrangement downstream from the laminating nip and upstream from the rewinder, and a second coating unit for providing a second coating onto at least a surface of the second material layer facing towards the first material layer, which second coating unit is provided upstream from the laminating nip.

2. A laminating arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first coating unit comprises a top coating apparatus.

3. A laminating arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the first coating unit further comprises a top coating drying apparatus provided downstream from the top coating apparatus.

4. A laminating arrangement according to any one of claims 1 - 3, wherein the laminating arrangement comprises a laminating arrangement for manufacturing a self-adhesive top-coated laminate, wherein the second coating unit comprises an adhesive unit for providing an adhesive layer on a surface of the second material layer facing towards the first material layer after laminating the first material layer and the second material layer together, wherein the adhesive unit comprises an adhesive coating apparatus.

5. A laminating arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the adhesive unit further comprises an adhesive drying apparatus.

6. A laminating arrangement according to any one of claims 1 - 5, wherein the second coating unit comprises a release coating unit for providing arelease coating layer on a surface of the second material layer, wherein the release coating unit comprises at least a release coating apparatus.

7. A laminating arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the laminating arrangement comprises the laminating arrangement for manufacturing a self-adhesive top-coated laminate, wherein the second coating unit comprises both the adhesive unit and the release coating unit, and wherein the release coating unit is provided upstream from the adhesive unit, whereby the release coating layer is provided between the second material layer and the adhesive layer.

8. A laminating arrangement according to any one of the claims 1 - 7, wherein in the first coating unit, the second material layer is provided on top side of the laminate and the first material layer is on the bottom side of the laminate, and wherein the top coating layer is provided onto the surface of the first material layer facing away from the second material layer from below the laminate.

9. A laminating arrangement according to any one of claims 1 - 8, wherein at least the first material layer comprises at least one of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), or polyester (PET).

10. A laminating arrangement according to any one of claims 1 - 9, wherein the top coating comprises at least one of a varnish or a pigment coating.

11. A laminating arrangement according to any one of claims 1 - 10, wherein at least the first material layer comprises paper.

12. A method for manufacturing a top-coated laminate, characterized in that the method comprises manufacturing the top-coated laminate by a laminating arrangement according to any one of claims 1 - 11.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the method comprises unwinding the first material layer from the first unwinder, unwinding the second material layer from the second unwinder, providing the second coating onto at least one surface of the secondmaterial layer by the second coating unit, which second coating unit is provided upstream from the laminating nip, laminating the first material layer to the second material layer by the laminating nip, providing the top coating layer onto the surface of the first material layer facing away from the second material layer by the first coating unit, and winding the laminate by the rewinder, wherein the first coating unit is provided in-line in the laminating arrangement downstream from the laminating nip and upstream from the rewinder, whereby the laminate is in-line top-coated between the laminating nip and the rewinder.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein providing the top coating layer onto the surface of the first material layer comprises providing a top coating onto the surface of the first material layer by the top coating apparatus and drying the top coating by the top coating drying apparatus provided downstream from the top coating apparatus.

15. A method according to any one of claims 12 - 14, wherein the method comprises a method for manufacturing a self-adhesive top-coated laminate; wherein the second coating unit comprises the adhesive unit; and wherein providing the second coating onto at least one surface of the second material layer comprises providing the adhesive layer on the surface of the second material layer facing towards the first material layer after laminating the first material layer and the second material layer together by the adhesive coating apparatus.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the method further comprises drying the adhesive layer by the adhesive drying apparatus.

17. A method according to any one of claims 12 - 16, wherein the method further comprises providing the release coating layer on the surface of the second material layer.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the method comprises a method for manufacturing a self-adhesive topcoated laminate, wherein the second coating unit comprises both the adhesive unit and the release coating unit, and wherein the release coating unit is provided upstream from the adhesive unit, whereby the method comprises providing the release coating layer between the second material layer and the adhesive layer.

19. A method according to any one of the claims 12 - 18, wherein the method comprises providing, in the first coating unit, the second material layer on the top side of the laminate and the first material layer on the bottom side of the laminate, and wherein the method comprises providing the first coating layer onto the surface of the first material layer facing away from the second material layer from below the laminate.

20. A method according to any one of claims 12 - 20, wherein at least the first material layer comprises at least one of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

21. A method according to any one of claims 12 - 20, wherein at least the first material layer comprises paper.

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