Spanish label converter Navarra de Etiquetajes has installed a Martin Automatic MBS butt splicer on its Mark Andy P5E flexo press to reduce substrate waste at its facility in Villatuerta.
Over the past few years, the company has also invested in a Screen Truepress with Rotocon finishing, new ERP and CRM software and a Mark Andy Performance Series P5W eight-colour flexo line with an ABG turret rewinder.
The new Mark Andy press replaced two older machines, and manager Ricardo Jose Gonzalez soon realised that he could improve production efficiency further by using non-stop automation.
The MBC splicer was installed early in 2022 and was mounted at right-angles to the press. All controls are integrated to allow for automatic roll unwinding, splicing and tension control. Capable of splicing up to a 430mm web width at 150m/min, the MBS has a maximum roll diameter of 1016mm and a standard operating tension range of 80 -244Nm making it suitable for a variety of substrates from PS label stock up to 300gsm board. It has a splice prep fault system that monitors all key parameters, including a web break, and a laser that assists with tape alignment on second side tape rollers.
Mr Gonzalez said, ‘The Martin is easy to learn and use and has given the company a greater facility to handle short run flexo work than before. We are very happy with it. It saves us time on roll changes and has reduced substrate waste, which is especially important in the current market where we need to manage consumption carefully. I’m looking at a 20-25% improvement in efficiency over the whole year.’
Edward Pittman, Martin’s current sales manager for Southern Europe, said, ‘The MBS splicer easily handles the wide variety of substrates we use to serve our 700 customers, and I’m looking for it to help us improve on the 3.5m tons of raw materials we processed last year – I want to lift annual sales from €5m to €8m, and the Martin is a key part of that.’
In addition to allowing non-stop running, the splicer allows the operator to prepare the next job while production continues and maximises material usage of each roll. With higher output per shift, the company claims the Mark Andy fitted with the Martin has more than replaced the capacity of two previous flexo presses.
The company, founded in 1971, became part of the Benito family-owned Docuworld Group in 2000 and is now one of six companies presided over by Jose Ramon Benito. The label plant in Navarra employs 30 people on its 3000sqm site and generated sales of €5 million in 2021 working a double-day shift.
The group focuses on pharmaceutical and security clients, but also looks after the food, industrial, automotive, cosmetics and healthcare sectors.
