Emerging markets: Asia

INDIA: Two gravure machines launched

Mumbai based Kohli Industries plans to introduce two new gravure presses: Kronos 509 (AR 900) ELS and Kronos 509 (AR 180-P).

To be launched in May, the AR 900 model has an individual servodrive system at each print station. One print station of this model will also be shown during drupa 2008.

The second press, designed for short runs and quick change-overs with pneumatic cylinder clamping system, will be launched this month.

Both presses come in 650mm and 1,300mm web widths with up to 12 print stations. The company will run open house events for the new presses in April and June 2008.

Kohli Industries Tel: +91 22 2778 2324 www.kohliindustries.com

INDIA: BOPP film manufacturing kicks off

Polyplex, one of the leading manufacturers of polyester films, is taking its first step into BOPP film manufacturing with an order for a high output line from Brückner Maschinenbau.

The 28.5ft wide line will reportedly be the world’s most powerful BOPP film system, with an output of 14,000lbs/hour, while running at 1,650ft/min. According to Polyplex, the high quality polypropylene film produced on the new line will contribute significantly to satisfying India’s growing demand for tapes and textile packaging, lamination films and metallizable films.

Polyplex has operations in India, Thailand, Turkey and the US.

Polyplex Corp Tel: +91 120 2443716 www.polyplex.com

SOUTH KOREA: New RFID label production line

One of South Korea’s leading chemical manufacturers, EXAX, is set to expand into RFID label production at its Cheonan plant by investing in a dedicated rotary screen printing line from Stork Prints.

When installed in summer 2008, the new line will be the first by Stork that can produce both HF and UHF antennae in a single pass. The configuration comprises three of Stork’s 600mm wide PD-IV/RSI (rotary screen integration) units, which are fully integrated rotary screen printing stacks with drying capabilities. Vertical hot air and infra-red drying systems integrated into the first and third print positions, and a UV-curing unit on the second, are said to allow easy job change-overs from one frequency format to the other.

The first printing position will apply the conductive silver solvent based ink, specially formulated by EXAX - either as a thick layer of HF coil, or a thinner UHF di-pole antenna. The second and third positions are exclusively for laying down the two extra components of the HF antenna: the dielectric insulator with a UV curable ink, followed by the conductive jumper.

Ger Roza, account manager at Stork Prints, says: “Rotary screen printing was preferred by EXAX because it is capable of achieving high definition and laying down heavy ink layers needed in HF antenna circuits.

“The challenge was to devise a concept that afforded the conductive ink a lengthy dwell time at a relatively fast production speed. This was achieved by devising an accumulator drying system, whereby the web passes up and down the dryer several times.”

Stork Prints Tel: +31 485 59 95 55 www.storkprints.com