Rayven History
Rayven was founded by Mr. Gerry Ingalls in 1954. Mr. Ingalls background was in the caulking and mastic business, and he was intrigued with the new (at the time) pressure sensitive adhesives. At this time DuPont had developed Mylar (polyester) film and Mr. Ingalls had an idea to create a printable label from this film. Over a 2 year period he built a coating line in St. Paul and started to produce polyester label stock.
In the 1960's architects and engineers used appliqué film to apply title blocks and repetitive to their drawings. This appliqué film was a thin matte acetate film with adhesive and a paper release liner. The most common imaging methods were screen printing, offset printing, and letter press printing. The market leader at that time was Stanpat Products of New York which is now a Rayven brand.
With Xerox’s invention of the toner based plain paper copier in the 1960's a new quick and inexpensive imaging method was created. An engineer that knew Mr. Ingalls had tried the Stanpat appliqué product in the Xerox machine with disastrous results. The acetate film was not capable of handling the fusing temperature of the copier and melted inside the machine. He said that if someone could develop an appliqué film that could withstand the heat of the copier it would be a great product.
Using his experience with polyester films and research into the toner chemistry and fusing temperature of the new copier, Mr. Ingalls created the ReproFilm product. This was the first appliqué or clear label film for copiers and laser printers. The initial offering was a matte coated 1 Mil polyester sheet, with solvent based adhesive and a paper release liner (Type 310).
Due to stability and curl issues, ReproFilm with polyester release liners were later introduced. Market needs also pointed to clear glossy and opaque white film versions of the product. Various sizes were made to accommodate American as well as metr ic copiers. Large sizes were also made.
In the 1980's Rayven expanded it’s manufacturing plant with larger warehouse addition and a new R & D Lab. The company began selling release liners as a separate product line and production of protective over-laminating films were started.
In the 1990's Rayven began an expansion of it’s coating capacity and capabilities. New coating chemistries were developed in both the imaging, adhesive and release coating markets. Coating lines were widened to address volume needs, and new slitting and sheeting upgrades were made.
In the 2000s’ the company added a wide web (72") high speed coating line with UV curing capabilities.. Coating technology improved as well with the addition of a slot die coating head for surface coatings and adhesives.
