Vacuum processing system and method for mounting a processing system

A vacuum processing system for a flexible substrate, the vacuum processing system comprising:

• a first chamber adapted for housing one of a supply roll for providing the flexible substrate and a take-up roll for storing the flexible substrate;
• a second chamber adapted for housing one of the supply roll for providing the flexible substrate and the take-up roll for storing the flexible substrate;
• a maintenance zone located entirely between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the maintenance zone is configured to operate at atmospheric pressure during vacuum processing of the flexible substrate;
• a first process chamber for depositing material on the flexible substrate, wherein
• the second chamber is provided between the maintenance zone and the first process chamber,
• the first chamber and the second chamber are separate chambers,
• the maintenance zone allows for maintenance access inside the first chamber and the second chamber, and
• the maintenance zone is configured for insertion and removal of the supply roll and the take-up roll to and from the corresponding first chamber and second chamber through the maintenance zone;
• and
• a loading/unloading system in the maintenance zone configured to
• provide and remove the supply roll to and from at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber through the maintenance zone, and
• provide and remove the take-up roll to and from at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber through the maintenance zone.