Kama’s FlexFold 521 folder-gluer
Kama has added plasma treatment as an option to its folder-gluer, the FlexFold 52i, allowing it to glue sealed, smooth surfaces, including as UV-coated, metallised or laminated cartonboard.
The challenge when using UV-coated material is that the smooth surface offers no hold for the glue. This means that for UV and similar kinds of coating the glue flaps have to be left out. This, in turn, means an extra flexo plate for the coating process and extra set-up time. The corresponding costs of this can be significant when working with short runs. This system cuts out those costs as the printed sheets can be flood coated.
The plasma treatment system consists of a plasma generator and a plasma nozzle with a transformer. When using the treatment, the coated surface is opened up by passing it over the nozzle, which gives off energised, ionised air to make the surface responsive. ‘The plasma is like an energy shower of air, it increases surface tension and activates molecules that the glue can hook onto,’ explained said CEO, Marcus Tralau.
However, the treatment only changes the surface temporarily. Surfaces without glue applied to them return to their original state. This makes the solution optimal for straight-line boxes (often used for pharmaceuticals), but also for crash-lock bottom boxes, such as for healthcare and beauty products, which have several bonding surfaces.
