Running for the ninth year, ICE Europe opened with a floor space 10% larger than its last outing and received a total of 7,040 visitors from 71 countries looking for the latest in converting solutions. Michal Lodej reports.
According to the official figures, the organisers of ICE have plenty to be happy about, filing a larger floor space despite fierce competition from other trade events. On top of this many suppliers are choosing to hold their own open houses with fewer overheads and more attentive audiences to sell to. However, the exhibitors were there in larger numbers than before, and it certainly helped that the CCE show was co-located with ICE for the second time, allowing visitors to hit two birds with one stone.
Nicola Hamann, managing director of Mack Brooks Exhibitions, was more than pleased with the numbers. ‘The participating companies were highly satisfied with the outcome of the show. Exhibitors told us about a large number of new business contacts and positive sales figures. We would like to thank all participants for once again making ICE Europe the most successful international marketplace for the converting community.’
She added, ‘The further growth of the converting industry’s leading exhibition reflects the positive economic outlook for the sector. With a strong focus on future trends, such as value-added products, processing of new materials and energy saving manufacturing processes, and by expanding worldwide business networks, there are currently great business opportunities for the converting industry.’
On show
A total of 439 suppliers to the industry were showing their wares at the Munich Trade Fair Centre, and a number of them chose the event to make new announcements. New developments came from companies such as TKM Meyer, which toldFlexoTechthat it plans to introduce its first coated doctor blade, CeraPrint, to the German market next month. After the launch in Germany, the company will look to releasing it into the UK later this year.
Comexi Group showed its range of finishing solutions for the flexible packaging market, including a new special laminate which can create a 3D effect. David Centelles, corporate marketing director, said, ‘We are focusing on showing visitors to this show how they can add value to the packaging they print with the right type of finishing solution.’
Atlas Converting showcased its new generation Titan SR9 Series slitter rewinders. The company ran two daily demos displaying new features including reduced power consumption and faster set-up times. A Linear Tracking Slitter section (LTS) ensures a short and constant web length between the knives and rewind shafts to deliver the highest quality rewind reels at speeds of up to 1000 m/min at widths of 1650 and 2250 mm for high volume production printers and converters.
GEW launched a new, faster version of its UV LED curing lab system. The new Magic Carpet lab system is designed to make the task of developing and testing new UV LED ink formulations easy, accurate and ergonomic. It incorporates GEW’s high performance LED curing module designed for full production printing and coating applications, so testing with this unit reflects genuine production scenarios.
The new version is now capable of a maximum curing power of 18 W/cm² and speeds of up to 100 m/min. A sample tray is passed under the UV array in a precise, controlled and repeatable manner. UV output and sample tray speed can be separately adjusted by set increments as required. In addition to having a simple magnetic hinged sample tray, the unit can also accommodate an EIT radiometer for precise UV power measurement. The LED array is height adjustable between 5-25 mm to suit specific test items and scenarios.
Fraser Anti-Static launched its new static control units, the NEOS range, which the company describes as a compact ‘set and forget’ static control solution. Davin Broadbent, marketing manager said, ‘The company has spent time making the units less bulky and easy to use. Its positively the most powerful on the market, it can be a long range system but is also adjustable to be used in different applications.’
Katia Shingle, ETI’s vice president of Eastern European sale, was talking to customers about the company’s new gluing line aimed at label converters who want less waste. She said, ‘The show is perfect, we’ve had a good response and we have found it to be good opportunity to meet customers, both new and existing.’
