The M5 press on the Gidue stand at Labelexpo
Gidue, in particular Federico d’Annunzio, managing director, took great pride in its main feature at Labelexpo the M3 Digital Flexo press, which takes many steps to automate the flexographic print production line.
At the show the press was shown on the company’s stand as well as in the Package Printing workshop, where it demonstrated how many different technologies combine to create this innovative press.
Mr d’Annunzio said, ‘When printing on flexible substrates it is critical to be able to control the temperature of the substrate to within one degree. The tension must also be controlled, this must be smooth and so it is better to have servo driven rollers.’
High definition cameras control the printing pressure. This is ‘digitalising’ the flexo process. The system inspects both sides just as an operator would do. It is then die cut, this process is also controlled by digital cameras.
Mr d’Annunzio presenting in the Package Printing workshop
‘Most of the adjustments on the press are digitally operated: pre-register, register, print pressure. It’s like having one ‘digital’ operator constantly standing in front of each print unit,’ said Mr d’Annunzio.
The press is fully automated to the point that when a new job comes in, the operator does not need to touch the machine. The job can even be changed using the same roll of substrate whilst the press is running. This allows a third job to be prepared whilst the machine is running the changes, all without operator intervention.
The company is working with Esko to try to achieve printing any design by using just seven colours, the same anilox and same rollers, Mr d’Annunzio said that by simply changing the cylinder for a more narrow one, the press could print labels as well as flexible packaging at 70 m/min.
Mr d’Annunzio described the M3 digital flexo press as a revolution in packaging printing. At the very least this machine is a real statement of intent that flexographic printing is far from running out of ideas when it comes to modernisation.
