RK Print Coat Instruments

What RK Print Coat Instruments does

RK Print Coat Instruments Ltd is a UK-based, family-owned manufacturer of sample preparation and pilot coating equipment for the surface coatings industry, founded in 1962 by Roman Kerchiss and now led by his son Tom Kerchiss (Chairman) with David Pooley as Managing Director. Operating from a purpose-built factory in Litlington, Royston (Hertfordshire) with approximately 30 staff, the company designs and builds a portfolio spanning bench-top coaters (K Hand Coater, K Control Coater, K Paint Applicator, K Lox Proofer, K Printing Proofer, Esiproof, Paste Ink Proofer), higher-speed proofers (FlexiProof 100/UV with optional 385/395nm LED UV curing compliant with ISO 2834-2, GP100 high-speed gravure proofer up to 100 m/min, K303S Multi Coater with integrated servo drive and touch screen), and the flagship VCML Lab/Pilot Coater, a reel-to-reel system with servo drive (1–50 m/min), closed-loop load cell web tension control, touch screen setup, and interchangeable heads for flexo, gravure, slot die, knife-over-roll, meter bar, rotary screen, and lamination applications.

The equipment serves printing ink and paint manufacturers, resin and dyestuff suppliers, flexible packaging developers, flexible electronics researchers, and academic and medical/pharmaceutical customers, producing repeatable samples for quality control, R&D, computer colour matching, and small-scale production. The business monetizes through quote-based hardware sales with multi-year contract cadence on higher-end systems, supplemented by demonstration and trial services at the UK facility and distributor demo rooms (notably Matsuo Sangyo in Japan). Go-to-market is primarily a channel model through a curated global distributor network spanning 40+ countries, with key relationships including Matsuo Sangyo (Japan, 55+ years), Urai (Italy, 40+ years), and recently refreshed partners Cromocol (Scandinavia) and Poli Instrumentos (Brazil), supplemented by direct sales via the company website.

The company operates with no external investors, no parent, and no disclosed revenue, having compounded capabilities and customer relationships over six decades. Notable enterprise customers include Archroma Packaging Technologies (3 VCML units ordered January 2026 for Centers of Innovation in Mumbai, Prat, and Charlotte), DSM Resins & Coatings (Netherlands), Toyo Inks (5th FlexiProof repeat order), Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals, Maruto Sangyo, Tokyo Cellolabel, RISE PFI, Witec Pharm, and academic customers including IIT Kanpur's FlexE Centre for printed/flexible electronics, Brobygrafiska, and University of Cork.

Name

RK Print Coat Instruments

Legal name

RK Print Coat Instruments Limited

Website

https://www.rkprint.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RK Print Coat Instruments designs and manufactures equipment for the ink manufactures and surface coating industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Surface Coating Equipment

SIC

Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555)

akta.pro primary industry

Surface Treatment & Finishing Equipment (Coating, Plating, Deburring, Shot Blasting) (IMAHADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Application Equipment & Coating Services (Contract Coating, Surface Prep) (IMAEAGAL)

Keywords

• Surface coating equipment
• Sample preparation instruments
• Print testing equipment
• Pilot coating machines
• Flexographic proofing systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Royston

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: RK Print Coat Instruments manufactures and sells sample preparation equipment, print testing equipment, and pilot coating systems. Products range from simple K Hand Coaters to sophisticated VCML Pilot Coaters. Equipment is used for R&D, quality control, and small-scale production of specialist products.
2. Pilot Scale Coating Services: The company offers demonstration facilities and trials at their UK facility and through distributor demo rooms (e.g., Matsuo in Japan) where customers can trial equipment with their own materials and formulations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RK Print Coat Instruments designs and manufactures sample preparation, print testing, and pilot coating equipment for surface coatings used in R&D, quality control, and small-scale production. The portfolio spans simple hand-operated coaters (K Hand Coater), automated bench-top coaters and proofers (K Control Coater, K303S Multi Coater, K Printing Proofer, Esiproof, GP100, Paste Ink Proofer, FlexiProof 100/UV), and sophisticated reel-to-reel pilot coating systems (VCML Lab/Pilot Coater). Equipment supports multiple application methods (flexo, gravure, slot die, knife-over-roll, meter bar, rotary screen, lamination) and is sold primarily to industrial users including ink and paint manufacturers, resin/dyestuff suppliers, packaging producers, and research institutions.

Product overview

RK Print Coat Instruments is a UK-based manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of proofing and testing equipment for surface coatings. The product range spans from simple hand-operated coaters (K Hand Coater) to sophisticated reel-to-reel pilot coating systems (VCML Lab/Pilot Coater). Core products include the K Control Coater series for precise coating applications, the FlexiProof 100/UV for flexographic ink testing with LED UV curing capabilities, the GP100 high-speed gravure proofer operating at up to 100m/min, and the K303S Multi Coater with interchangeable heads for Gravure, Flexo, and surface coatings. The VCML and VCM (Versatile Converting Machine) represent the high-end reel-to-reel systems designed for product development, quality control, and small-scale production. All equipment shares a common purpose: production of repeatable samples for R&D, quality control, and customer presentation samples across industries including printing inks, paints, adhesives, textiles, and flexible packaging.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K Hand Coater Simple and economical hand coater providing an effective means of applying paints, printing inks, lacquers, and adhesives onto many substrates using K bars (metering bars). Can deposit 4 to 500 micron wet film thickness. Used by ink and paint manufacturers, resin and dyestuff suppliers for quality control, R&D, and sample production.
• K Control Coater Widely used for application of paints, varnishes, adhesives, liquid printing inks, and surface coatings to produce quick, accurate, and repeatable samples for quality control, R&D, and computer colour matching. Used by industrial laboratories in ink, paint, and coatings manufacturing.
• K Paint Applicator Custom version of K101 designed especially for paints, using gap applicators to coat onto paint test charts, steel panels, and other substrates. Accommodates most applicators including Bird, cube, 4-sided, and micrometer adjustable types. Used in paint testing laboratories.
• K303S Multi Coater Re-designed in 2022 with integrated servo drive and touch screen control. Enables accurate, reproducible prints and coatings using interchangeable heads for Gravure, Flexo, and surface coatings. Maximum coating area 350 x 440mm, speed 1-40m/min. Used for R&D and quality control in printing ink and coating laboratories.
• K Lox Proofer Simplest method of applying flexo inks and fluid coatings onto substrates to produce accurate, repeatable proofs resembling conventional flexo printing. Available in hand and automatic versions with interchangeable rollers up to 500 screen. Used by flexo ink manufacturers and printers.
• K Printing Proofer High quality proofs using gravure, gravure-offset or flexo inks with electronically engraved printing plates and variable printing speeds up to 40m/min. Essential tool for manufacturing and use of liquid inks with easy cleaning and solvent resistant parts. Used by liquid ink manufacturers.
• Esiproof Precision manually operated instrument for producing realistic, high quality flexographic proofs. Features interchangeable steel and ceramic anilox rollers, spring loaded pressure control for ease of use and repeatability. Recommended for visual colour matching. Used by flexo ink manufacturers for colour matching and quality control.
• FlexiProof 100/UV High speed, operator-friendly machine for production of proofs using water, solvent or UV flexographic inks. Scaled down version of full sized flexo press that eliminates need for production line printing press for pilot runs. Available with LED UV curing capabilities. Complies with ISO 2834-2. Used by flexo ink manufacturers and printers for printability testing.
• GP100 High Speed Gravure Proofer High quality proofs using gravure inks of press viscosity produced instantly. Features microprocessor controlled servo drive, pneumatic operation, electronically engraved printing plates, and variable printing speeds of 1 to 100m/min. Essential tool for manufacturing or use of liquid inks. Used by gravure ink manufacturers and printers.
• Paste Ink Proofer Accurate proofs produced in single operation without messy weighing or measuring of inks. Two inks may be proofed simultaneously for comparison. Complete inking/proofing/cleaning cycle only 2-3 minutes. Results ideal for computer colour matching or spectrophotometer readings. Used by paste ink manufacturers.
• VCML Lab/Pilot Coater Precision engineered coating machine designed to print, coat, and laminate all types of flexible webs (papers, films, metallic foils) on a reel-to-reel basis. Applies inks, paints, varnishes, adhesives (solvent and water based) by various application methods. Touch screen control with servo drive speed range of 1-50m/min. Used by flexible packaging manufacturers, resin/coatings suppliers, and research institutions for pilot-scale development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Material usage reduced to 1/20th compared to production machines
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and strategic.

• CromocolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 March 2026Appointed as new distributor for Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway in March 2026. Cromocol specialises in supplying equipment and solutions for colour management, testing, and quality control, supporting a wide range of industries across the region.
• Poli InstrumentoscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 March 2026Appointed as new distributor in Brazil in March 2026. Poli Instrumentos provides equipment and solutions for laboratory testing, quality control, and industrial applications, supporting customers across a wide range of sectors.
• Archroma Packaging TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2026Archroma Packaging Technologies ordered three VCML pilot coaters for their global Centers of Innovation (COI) in Mumbai, Prat (Spain), and Charlotte (USA). The coaters support development of sustainable packaging materials across sectors including fibre & board, flexible packaging, tapes, labels and biobased materials. The identical VCML systems allow results to be replicated across sites.
• Applied BusinessminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 6 March 2025Implementation partner for RK Print's transition to Acumatica Cloud ERP. Applied Business provided expert guidance ensuring smooth transition with phased approach, process champions, and parallel system usage. The transition improved inventory management, procurement efficiency, customer service, and provided real-time business insights.
• The Printing CharityminorOthers · 27 February 2025Partnership with The Printing Charity provides employees access to valuable support services including financial assistance, mental health resources, and career development opportunities. The Printing Charity has over 200 years of experience supporting professionals in printing, packaging, and publishing sectors.
• GEW LtdstrategicTechnology or Integration · 9 September 2020GEW, world leaders in UV systems for labelling and narrow web printing industries, conducted trials on their new Excimer System using RK's VCML Pilot Coater. The Excimer system produces quasi-monochromatic vacuum radiation for mattification of surface coatings. RK Print's VCML is available for use for customer trials alongside GEW systems.
• National Centre for Flexible Electronics (FlexE) at IIT KanpurstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2018Collaboration to design, manufacture and supply a bespoke roll-to-roll (R-2-R) pilot line for R&D and prototyping projects in printed and flexible electronics. RK designed the FlexE Centre's line to be extremely versatile and modular with state-of-the-art printing and sintering technologies. The line is the first of its kind in India and possibly worldwide.
• Matsuo SangyocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1970Partnership began in 1970 when Matsuo Sangyo's founder responded to a newspaper article about RK's K Hand Coater with a handwritten letter. Over 55 years later, this relationship remains one of RK's longest-standing. Matsuo serves diverse industries through import, export and domestic supply of coating raw materials, high-performance functional materials, and industrial equipment. Established dedicated RK demonstration facility in Japan with VCML Pilot Coater. Currently approximately 300 RK Print instruments installed across Japan.
• UraicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1970Partnership established in the 1970s. Urai, founded in 1948, supports customers throughout Italy with high-quality equipment and local expertise across coatings, inks, printing, plastics, and materials testing. Approximately 300 RK Print instruments installed across Italy, demonstrating the strength and longevity of this partnership. Urai provides local demonstrations, servicing, and ongoing support.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rkprintcoat
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rkprintcoat-instruments-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RK Print Coat Instruments