The British Group at drupa 2004

Picon assists British exporters at drupa

It is my pleasure to introduce this Picon sponsored preview of some of the British companies exhibiting at drupa 2004. Picon is an Accredited Group Organiser appointed by UK Trade and Investment, an official government body, to encourage and support companies new to, or inexperienced in, exporting. This support takes many forms. Facilitating more than 40 small to medium British companies' presence at the show is just one of the more high profile activities we undertake on behalf of our members.

The Picon British Group of companies will be arranged in clusters relevant to industry sectors in which they operate. Those in prepress will be located in Hall 9, suppliers to the finishing sector will be in Hall 10 and those answering the needs of printers will be in Hall 16. On-stand facilities include market information, business centre, meeting rooms and refreshments.

While taking a group of British businesses to drupa is high profile, much of what we do is only evident to the individual members directly affected. Picon is constantly seeking opportunities to help members improve profitability and develop their business. Regular surveys and feedback allow Picon to understand members' requirements and deliver assistance with promotion and publicity, export and technical support, statistical information and focused networking events.

From digital imaging to paper machine drying cylinders, Picon's members supply equipment, services and expertise to companies around the world, and range from multinationals with diversified interests, to smaller businesses with highly specialized areas of expertise. The assortment of solutions available from Picon members makes drupa the ideal international showcase for their products and services.

Picon's ownership of Ipex, (April 4-11, 2006) and our close dialogue with all the premier sectoral and representative organisations ensure that we are well placed to keep members at the forefront of industry development. Many use us as a source of information about issues and activities which may affect their business, as a facilitator to introduce them to potential strategic partners, or simply as a 'sounding board' to test out ideas. It is not uncommon for our input to be sought purely because of the breadth and level of contact we have with senior executives industry-wide. Picon also represents members' interests through contact with government departments, the EU, CBI, and commercial consulates overseas.

At drupa I hope you will see for yourself not only the new products being launched at the show, but the commitment of British equipment manufacturers to the markets of the future.

Paul Evans, Picon business development manager

Putting a cutting edge on things

Capable of being applied automatically to kitchen film, foil and paper dispensing cartons at speeds up to 15,000/hour, a new metal cutting edge will feature on Carton Edge Systems' stand. Secret of such high speed application is that, unlike most metal cutters, which are riveted to the carton body, the new Eco-Edge blades are coated with pressure sensitive adhesive and glued firmly in place.

Cutters are produced in plastics and paper as well as metal in reels up to 450mm wide. They are applied in within 1mm register to cartonboard or fine flute corrugated blanks by carton printers on machines supplied by the company. In addition to the automatic, hand-fed and semi automatic models cater for entry level or medium throughputs.

Recently developed for the USA, but now marketed worldwide, is an edge with 240 tiny teeth across a standard domestic 30mm carton. Angled outwards at each end for left or right handed use, they are claimed to give a quick and clean cut, particularly effective with very thin PE cling films. Hall 10, stand E62/3.

Digital converting

An Omega converting system for web widths 270, 330 and 410mm can be seen on the AB Graphic stand. It will be shown with a Vectra turret rewinder, designed to rewind from a completely glueless start and available in widths of 330, 410 and 510mm.

The company's Digicon Converter for digitally printed webs will feature with Indigo presses on the Hewlett-Packard stands. The Digicon has servo driven web tension control and converts a wide range of substrates, from self adhesive labels to folding cartons, shrink films. It can be supplied with hot foil stamping, varnishing, die cutting, and slitting and rewinding capabilities.

An optional UV flexo station permits varnishing, wet laminating or cold foiling. Other options include self wound over laminating and over laminating with carrier, super varnishing, in-feed nip modules, unwind for off-line use, a daylight correction system, hot foil stamping and a guillotine sheeter. Hall 10, stand D60-3

Shrink sleeves on the Sigma

The Sigma, Edale's dedicated narrow web 'shaftless' flexo packaging press, will be producing a UV flexo shrink sleeve application developed for high impact container decoration. Making extensive use of independent servo drives for accuracy and flexibility, the Sigma will convert a wide range of substrates up to 600 micron.

Available for web widths of 330-620mm, each machine is built to a customer's exact requirements. The many options include high powered air dryers and explosion-proof set-up for use with solvent inks, water cooled UV lampheads, a chill roller system and a combination of UV, infra red, air and gas dryer solutions

  "The Sigma's innovative design has universal appeal," claims Bernhard Grob, Edale's joint managing director. "Wide web packaging printers are increasing their production output through shorter runs while sheet-fed carton printers are beginning to recognize the benefits of printing and finishing cartons in one operation on one machine. Web offset printers are moving towards narrow web flexo due to the lower investment costs, and label printers are diversifying into packaging printing in order to maximize profits." Hall 16, stand A46-8.

Away with blanks

An Corp (UK) will demonstrate the Kawahara TXR blank separator. This is an off-line machine using a pin system that is configured to push down with equal pressure on a stack of sheets and to separate the die cut shapes from the waste material.

A plastics template that requires no expensive tooling or die is used. Set-up time is said to be less than 10min. The process is also claimed to be noise and paper-dust free, speeding productivity and greatly reducing the need for manual labour. Die cutting output can also be increased by up to 30 per cent, the company promises.

An (UK) is working with Kawahara Packaging, of Japan, to market the TXR machine to the sheet-fed print and die cut packaging and labelling sector throughout Europe. There are five models in the range, to handle different sheet sizes.

Following drupa, the TXR on show will be installed in a UK demonstration facility. Hall 10, stand D60-1

Covert technology added to overt holograms

Whilst holography will continue to offer immediate overt authentication, it is now possible to combine the overt nature of the hologram with different covert technologies to give machine readable authentication and unique identities for track and trace, reports Light Impressions.

The company is launching a range of machine readable holograms that builds on its 20 years of optical expertise united with three developing technologies. These hybrid product offerings are: Optocode pressure sensitive holographic labels, incorporating Flying Null technology for authentication and track and trace requirements; Magdot, a new USA technology that uses the characteristics of magnetic ink to provide unique identities to holographic labels or hot stamping foil; and Smartmark holographic hot stamping foil and labels incorporating TSSI's Structured Magnetics technology for both unique identity track and trace and authentication. Hall 10, stand 10 E62-2

New in interactive gluing

Specialists in glue application and detection equipment for carton converting, print finishing and general packaging Pafra and Leary will introduce their patented PafraTrak technology together with an extensive range of ancillary and stand-alone products. PafraTrak is said to be the only interactive gluing and detection solution available to the carton industry. It is claimed to have the ability to reduce product waste, increase production time and enhance throughput. Stand E64-3, hall 10.

Checking and recording everything

Tectonic will show the Jaguar 100 per cent web inspection system. It is operated using a 15in touchscreen with a 17in TFT screen for job set-up. A 19in monitor is installed on the press for print monitoring.

The Tectonics' industrial standard Windows NT based distributed processing system includes a multiprocessor to control and service events in real-time, performing different analysis on common images using only one progressive scan, digital camera as standard. Open system architecture allows the system to be upgraded with additional plug-and-play modules to provide "a cost effective, versatile quality control tool" for bar codes, pharmaceutical codes and print defect detection.

Colour monitoring ana-lyses regions of interest for RGB, hue, saturation and intensity variance from a 'golden colour template' with an external alarm for threshold violation. The Jaguar provides a history of the job, downloads required statistics taken on-the-fly and stores the information on or off-line.

Also on show is the latest Flexico V5 photopolymer plate mounting machine, as well as the V5 MP, designed to manage plates for more than one make and model of press. Hall 10, stand D73.

Fresh focus on flexo

The new Proflex 250/330 model will head Focus Label Machinery's demonstration of its latest flexo printing and converting presses. This compact in-line six colour press, featuring both infra red and full UV drying options, will be converting synthetic and paper products during the show.

Focus will also show what is said to be the most compact six colour machine in its class, the Centraflex 250 CI press. This model is claimed to be popular for many packaging and labelling applications due to its high productivity, quality print and the ability to handle many 'difficult' synthetic substrates.

The company will also have its Letterflex range of equipment on show. These presses are used to print narrow fabrics for decorative ribbons and apparel labels. Hall 10, stand E660-1.

One stop shop for laser engraving

An extensive range of laser engraving machinery suitable for engraving rollers or sleeves from 0.6 – 6m face is being shown by Applied Laser Engineering (ALE). This includes the 0.6m Finesse suitable for narrow web application such as tag and label. It is also suitable for anilox engraving, and 3D embossing tool scanning and engraving.

The 1.2m Progressive covers all applications and can be supplied with one, two, three or four laser beams, reports the company. These beams can be from sealed C02 lasers, YAG lasers or a combination of each. Two, three or four metre Meridian 2000 systems cover wide web printing applications. They can also be supplied with a combination of C02 or YAG beams up to a current limit of four beams. Hercules and Atlas machines are dedicated to embossing and anilox, and can handle rollers up to 6m face width, roller diameter of around a metre and a roller weight of several thousand kilograms.

The company will also be exhibiting an extensive range of laser engravable materials compatible with its machines.

Also to be demonstrated is the MRT (Macro Roller Topography) system that measures the 3D profile of a roller or sleeve. Hall 9, stand B26-3.

Proofing system can provide savings

RK Print Coat will show a range of sample preparation systems, including the FlexiProof 100. A multi tasking tool, the precision bench-top system enables users to produce proofs with water, solvent or UV flexo inks. It is designed to undertake accurate quality control and printability testing; provide customers with presentation samples; perform computer colour matching and set standard test procedures, says the company. It can be used for r and d and to determine wear resistance, scratch resistance, flexibility and gloss.

A scaled down version of a full sized flexo press, the FlexiProof is said to provide significant operational savings. For example, pilot runs can be conducted, freeing production presses to generate income. Hall 16, stand A46-10.

Solving static problems

Meech International has extensive experience of developing static solutions for the printing sector and its systems are currently in use in a large number of printing facilities around the world, supported by a global network of specialist distributors.

For example, Watford, UK, based ASP Packaging, converter of flexible packaging films for the fresh produce, hot bread, bakery and prepared sandwich markets, uses Meech anti static solutions to keep production running smoothly. In addition to using the company's conventional AC static products during the slitter rewinder process, ASP has also installed its long range Pulsed DC anti static equipment on high speed wicketing machines. In this situation only long range devices can be used and the Meech Pulsed DC solution is said to increase the effective ionization range to provide a robust and effective solution. Hall 10, stand E64-1

Latest from across the pond

T S Converting Equipment and Deacro Industries will be launching their latest range of slitter rewinders. An automatic Deacro T18C turret winder, which is equipped with automatic core loading, reel removal and robot palletizing, will be running on the stand together with a reversible R30 rewinder. Deacro centre winders have become a popular choice of machines in North America, claim the companies. All new machines comply with European and CE standards and the company has worldwide support bases in Canada and the UK.

In addition there will be information on the full range of Elite Cameron products. Hall 10, stand D60-5

Dispensing reasonably

Rexson Systems will exhibit its Compact 18 ink dispenser for solvent based inks and the Aqua 18 ink dispenser for waterborne, UV and EB inks. It is worth noting, says the company that dispensing system prices have fallen by approximately 50 per cent in the last seven years. Not only are these dispense units cheaper, but they are also much more reliable, it reports. This opens up dispensing to ever smaller ink users who can gain the same benefits as the larger printers. In many ways the smaller user can be more disciplined and organized to gain even better savings.

In addition, the company will demonstrate Rexson Impress ink management software packages. Hall 16, stand A47-7

Move to clean up prepress

Technotrans will unveil new filtration systems, a new generation of the ink.line cartridge system and developments in sheet-fed dampening and inking technology. Although most products are for the pressroom, the traditional focus of technotrans, it now has its first prepress product for keeping ctp processing clean and cost efficient. In addition, the company will have many dampening, inking and temperature control products in use on at least another dozen stands, including those of all main press manufacturers.

Its new filtration systems - spinclean.ctp, a cleaning system for CtP developer solution, and spinclean.d for eliminating contaminated waste from web dampening systems - will both make their debut. Spinclean.ctp will reduce the dosage of fresh developer used and the time spent cleaning the processor, claims the company. Using centrifugal force rather than consumables, the system works alongside the processor, filtering out foreign matter and recycling clean chemistry so that the quality of plate remains high and output unaffected. Spinclean.d operates using a similar bypass method alongside the dampening units of a web press.

With the new generation ink.line launched at drupa, cartridge containers will open automatically. The operator removes the old cartridge and inserts a new one. And an automatic cartridge exchange system that enables up to six cartridges to be housed in one ink.line unit is also offered, giving the press up to 12kg of ink at a time. Hall 16, stand A45.

Fast change on flexo

Innovations to maximize productivity and efficiency in flexo printing for flexible packaging will be emphasized on the Timsons stand. The company will demonstrate the quick change capability of its T-Flex 600 flexo press for short run printing of packaging film, paper or board. Heat management throughout the press is claimed to meet the growing demand for shrink sleeves.

The press is based around a newly developed enclosed chamber system. Accurate temperature control is said to optimize ink transfer and maximize quality performance on text, fine half tones and heavy solids. Using the company's 'lift-and-slide' system, print cylinders can be changed easily without the use of tools, it is claimed – one man can change eight cylinders in around 15min.

The T-Flex 600 can be supplied with up to 10 units, printing in eight colours, with options for laying down a primer, varnishing and laminating. Capable of printing 150 line screen at speeds up to 260m/min, it has a 600m web width and an infinitely variable repeat range from 300-600mm. It can be used with sleeves or conventional print cylinders, and print with environmentally friendly water based or free radical and cationic UV inks. UV versions can be fitted with Hönle UV dryers to enable printing on to heat sensitive films. Hall 16, stand A44-2.

100 per cent right to the edge

Futec will demonstrate its latest 100 per cent automatic defect detection systems for the first time at drupa. The EasyMax for printed web inspection "enables the printer and converter to enhance their competitive advantage by improving quality output while simultaneously reducing production costs such as those associated with material waste and customer returns," claims the company.

Both this system and the MaxEye for surface inspection also enable web based processing machines to operate to full potential with faster error-free throughput, it adds. In printed applications the EasyMax in-line automated defect detection system inspects the entire web in real time. It inspects the entire repeat – on every repeat, unlike sampling systems, which may cover the entire repeat, but check only part of the repeat each time.

The new system provides the capability for the operator to set specific tolerances. In this way if a job is being run where even the slightest hickey or discoloration is unacceptable, Futec's independent flaw detection algorithms can be set to look for flaws of a particular size and contrast. Hall 15, stand BO4.

Servo driven proofer technology

New to drupa for JM Heaford will be the 'In the round' corrugated mounter proofer utilizing touchscreen interface technology and a much improved open fronted rotogravure proof press designed for fast and accurate cylinder proofing at cylinder engraving houses or printing companies.

Following an extremely successful drupa 2000 and growth leading up to this exhibition claimed by the Manchester based specialist engineer, it has increased its stand space to 156m². This has enabled the company to exhibit and demonstrate an updated and expanded range of flexographic plate mounting and proofing machines, including the latest in servo drive flexo proofing technology. Hall 10, stand B47

New rules laid down by Sandvik

Sandvik is launching several cutting rules. For cutting PET, used in cosmetics and stationery packaging, the new DieHard Xtreme cutting rules have a hard, but bendable body and a deep, hardened cutting edge. Dieflex Brite has been produced to process fine cartons and polymers needing an extremely clean edge. It is very fine ground on the cutting edge for sharp, clean cutting. Sandvik has co-operated with US rules producer Zimmer Industries to develop Dieflex MikroNik. Nicking of cutting rule is a standard diemaking industry technique for ensuring that carton and board does not move during cutting. MikroNik has made obsolete conventional methods of edge nicking with a rule that has a defined series of virtually invisible micro-nicks, claims Sandvik. Hall 12, stand E31