AGB’s high speed slitter inspection rewider here with die-cutting option
Keeping up to speed with the printing press is a challenge for the finishing equipment. With so many options on offer, we look at some of the machinery currently on the market for slitting/rewinding and web handling. By Neel Madsen
Demand from Eastern Europe
AB Graphic International has seen demand for its Omega HSR servo driven slitter rewinder for film converting increase significantly, particularly in Eastern Europe with several installation in Russia and orders received for a number of machines in Poland. ‘We currently have five HSR machines with twin rewind systems being built on the shop floor,’ said sales director, Tony Bell. ‘The demand for the HSR equipped with 100% print face inspection is also increasing and our new entry level, low cost system is proving very popular.’ He went on to say that in ABG’s experience, printers in Eastern Europe, and in general, are demanding a higher level of sophistication from their inspection equipment to meet today’s challenges. Their customers are getting much stricter with regards to non-read bar codes and print errors as these can result in expensive fines. The HSR is a high speed slitter inspection rewinder that benefits from larger unwind/rewind diameters and runs at speeds up to 300 m/min. The system is equipped with a high specification as standard and can be further enhanced through the addition of a wide range of options including converting modules. The machine is available in web widths of 330, 430 and 530 mm and is equipped for 800 mm unwind and 600 mm rewind diameters. Standard features include electronic web guide with ultrasonic sensor for opaque and clear substrates, scissor knife slitting, auto knife throw off, taper tension, choice of rewind mandrels from 25 mm to 75 mm touch screen for easy job set up with error display, label or length count with programmable slow down and stop feature, plus total batch count. Options for the HSR include Flytec 100% print face camera inspection, missing label detection, flag and splicedetection, crush or razor knife slitting, rotary die-cutting, bulk waste rewinder and motorised reel lifting.
Even further a field
Rotocontrol has installed several of its RSC series of slitter rewinders recently. An economical, compact machine, it can be customised to fit with the customer’s exact requirements, something specialist label manufacturer Panprint in New Zealand appreciated when it put in an order recently. Built with multiple web paths to manage different materials and processes as well as special consideration given to reducing wasted material, the new RSC includes features such as a vacuum splice table, multiple slitting cartridges, die-cutting station, separate high capacity unwind, Nikka Research vision inspection system and integrated with the Rotocontrol DRM semi-automatic turret capable of operating in dual rewind mode as well as turret. General manager, John Lowther, said, ‘Our company produces quality products, especially in the wine sector. The installation of the Rotocontrol machine has enabled us to process work in a different manner to help meet an ever changing and competitive market. It met our design goals and the machine has already proved its worth on our production floor.’ In Cape Town, South Africa, Noelex Labels chose an RSC slitter/rewinder 340 mm web width finishing machine equipped with die station and the Nikka Research automatic label inspection system (ALIS). The ALIS detects printing defects like colour change, broken or missing print, ink spots and streaks, register change, matrix, splices and missing labels. The RSC offers features such as cartridge slitting system, vertical inspection zone, automatic tension control, S-Drive servo driven operation, job save and simple, functional controls. It is available in 340, 440 or 540 mm web widths and running speeds of up to 320 m/min depending on the material.
Marco Aengenvoort, owner, Rotocontrol, with Abdia Haricombe, operator, and John Lowther, general manager, Panprint
Turkish delight
Atlas Converting launched the ‘next generation’ of its Titan SR9-DT (dual turret) slitter rewinder in November 2011 at the ICE Europe exhibition in Munich. The Titan SR9 series technology platform features a special design using three separate machine modules of unwind, slitter and rewind sections which enables the converter to upgrade the machine specification to meet future production requirements. Turkish converters Bak Ambalaj AS was amongst the first customers to place an order, and the new turret rewinder was installed during the summer of 2012 at the company’s production facilities in Izmir, some 350 km southwest of Istanbul. The company was established in 1973 and has become one of the largest converters of flexible packaging materials in Turkey. With three production sites in Izmir, the company employs over 400 personnel and generated a turnover of more than $100 million in 2011. ‘We are investing heavily in additional premises and the latest technologies in converting equipment,’ explained chairman, Enver Bakioglu. ‘Our high volume production runs need a fast, high performance slitter rewinder and the new Titan SR9-DT turret rewinder was perfect for our requirements. It has far exceeded our expectations and we will be installing two more of these machines this year.’ The Titan SR9-DT already in production is a 1650 mm wide machine with automatic knife positioning, servo core positioning and an automatic electronic slit reel unloading system. ‘The Titan technology is very reliable and performs so well that we knew the latest SR9 series slitters would be the best solution for the high quality production our customers expect,’ Mr Bakioglu concluded.
Martin Automatic LRD winder with articulating arm
ICE introductions
Laem System produces high tech slitter rewinders for the packaging, label, tobacco and paper industries as well as core cutters, embossing machines, centre folders and finished reel unloading and packaging systems. Its latest models, the TR2 and TR4, will be introduced at ICE Europe this month. The Italian company explained that it has recently focused its research and development department on the TR4 (turret rewinding) and TR2 (dual shaft rewinding) models, which have experienced great success especially in North America. The robust build of the TR series has been designed to work at high speeds 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is the company’s response to the modern converter’s need to improve quality of finished rolls while increasing drastically the productivity and efficiency of the slitting operation. This is achieved by the fully automatic set up of the machine and the extremely short web path from the slitting to the rewinding group, where a movable trolley moves back while the rewinding diameter increases. In this way the vertical contact of the lay on rollers with the finished reels, grant perfect tensions and rewind.
Handling the web
Martin Automatic has refreshed its offering to the label, flexible packaging and folding carton markets which need automatic transfer rewinders for continuous production. The company’s LRD line, designed for narrow and mid web presses, is used in a variety of applications including paper, film, label stock, light paperboard and tube laminates. The latest LRD model accommodates roll diameters up to 800 mm as standard, with larger diameter models available on request. Operator control is via a touch screen display, which in addition to high visibility and expanded diagnostics, includes recipe functions that allow operators to store and recall the winding parameters of repeat jobs. The optional inline slitter package has been enhanced to offer lateral adjustment of the slitter and anvil roller assembly for quicker set up, fine tuning and changeover between jobs, and the latest LRD offloads finished rolls automatically via one of several standard doffing ramp designs for full width, multiple ribbon or loosely wound rolls. If the product rolls are small, or require special handling, an optional articulating arm automatically delivers finished rolls through the front of the unit for easy removal. Vice president of sales and marketing, Gavin Rittmeyer, said, ‘As the industry leader in roll change and web handling automation, we’re known for designing simplicity, reliability and the most appropriate advanced technology into our equipment. The latest LRD model highlights how Martin Automatic continues to develop and enhance products that give converters and printers the greatest versatility and value for their investment.’
Painless finishing
California-based Converting Equipment International specialises in finishing equipment in the narrow and mid web market. One of its best sellers is the CEI 2000ex slitter rewinder, which is servo driven for precise tensions and control. Running at speeds up to 550 m/min, it has a 40 inch unwind and single or dual 24 inch rewinds with automatic tension control, lay on rollers, slip differential rewinds, electronic web guide with ultrasonic sensor, trim extraction, bulk waste take up and end inspection. Speaking on the issue of running multiple lanes on a single shaft, Simon Gross, CEO, commented, ‘This is when you will discover that our slip differential rewind shafts and software really shine. Running these shafts is no easy task, there is a lot of electronic and pneumatic interface that needs to happen. Our customers boast that with these shafts, they save a great deal of time and avoid production gauge band problems as well.’ The machine’s interface has a touch screen design, setting up a job is done with a push of a button. Job recall is also a standard feature and comes with integrated bar code scanner. By scanning barcodes, which is on most internal paperwork, the machine stores it and can then recall the information for individual jobs, such as last run speeds, tensions, etc, when needed. There are also a host of defect detection options, from simple missing label, flag and splice detection, to 100% defect detection. Commenting on the daily pressures that still are a reality for companies, Mr Gross added, ‘In today’s extremely competitive markets, with material prices on the rise, how do you maintain a competitive and innovative edge? A lot of times, when I place a machine on the floor or do an assessment of a plant, there is a large stack of rolls printed from the press waiting to be finished. This is where the CEI product lines really shine. You will get more production out the door on an hourly basis and minimising the work in process, maximising billable product, thus increasing daily profits.’
