Titan SR8 boosts Bemis slitting capacity

3 January 2007




Over 100 Titan SR8 cantilever slitter rewinders have been sold by Bobst around the world since the machine’s launch at drupa, three years ago. One was recently commissioned at Bemis Europe Flexible Packaging, in Monceau-sur-Sambre, Belgium.

“The choice of the versatile SR8 for the Bemis Monceau plant was a perfect fit not only to increase slitting capacity and flexibility, but also to maintain the high quality and specification of the wide range of flexible packaging materials produced at the plant,” comments Brian Stiff, Titan sales manager.

Pierre Walravens, manufacturing manager at Bemis Monceau, explains: “The machine features automatic knife positioning and automatic reel stripping systems which are in keeping with our company's on-going strategy to invest in the latest technology, providing improved flexibility and rapid job change-overs to minimize machine downtimes. This is important for improved productivity to meet our customers' requirements of shorter production runs and quicker deliveries.”

The fully programmable automatic knife positioning system is said to enable accurate positioning of 10 razor or rotary type knives in only 90s. According to Titan, the additional investment in this feature alone is recovered quickly through much reduced machine downtime and re-starts for frequent, short run production.

The Monceau operation was established almost 100 years ago as a family owned company, and began to focus on the production of flexible packaging materials in the 1950s. It invested in its first (Rotomec) gravure press in the early 60s, and was one of the first European plants to laminate in-line with gravure printing. In 1998, the company became part of Bemis and, under plant director Maurice Dangotte, has since become the group's 'centre of excellence' for gravure printed, high barrier packaging materials

A high performance, twin-shafted cantilever slitter, the Titan SR8 has been given a modular format to facilitate future machine improvements and up-grades to meet the demands of increasing production requirements. Titan claims this concept has also enabled it to remain competitively priced while, at the same time, providing a higher level of technology, with improved web guidance and web handling capabilities for an even broader range of sensitive, flexible materials. Tesa tape covered rollers and 'S' wrap centre drives also help to provide the highest quality finished reels on the machine at Bemis Monceau.

The SR8's improved ergonomic design incorporates a compact and moveable 'overhead' operator console, which is said to be more user friendly and saves considerable space for installation. The console has a robust, 'compact flash' embedded PC system that provides the operator with easy, visual machine diagnostics and “unparalleled levels” of access to stored data, for improved productivity and simple job repeatability.

Running speeds of up to 700m/min are now achievable for web widths of 1,050-1,350mm, with 600m/min for wider widths up to 1,850mm, depending on materials processed. The SR8 offers three web path configurations to suit converters' specific requirements, together with a range of both standard and optional features.

An operator friendly safety system, using a combination of photoelectric, laser beam and mechanical guarding, is said to ensure compliance with EU safety regulations and CE marking.

First century

Bobst Group (Business Area Flexible Materials) has sold the 100th Titan SR8 to Sarebo, in Son, The Netherlands. The machine will be installed in February. The SR8 has gained wide acceptance from both large, multi national manufacturers of packaging and other flexible materials, and smaller players such as Sarebo, whose converting operation has a total of five personnel, reports Bobst. Sarebo supplies a range of PP and laminated foils and wraps for producers of food products.

“The choice of the Titan SR8 was easy,” says Henk Bos, owner of Sarebo. “It will be a perfect fit not only to increase our slitting capacity and flexibility, but also to maintain the high quality processing we require for our wide range of flexible packaging materials. This is important for improved productivity to meet our customers' requirements of more shorter runs and quicker deliveries.”

The 1,650mm wide SR8 at Sarebo will feature a free standing unwind, vacuum splice table, manual positioning of razor knives, laser core positioning and edge trim extraction systems.


L-R: Pierre Walravens, manufacturing manager at Bemis Monceau, with Manuel ... L-R: Pierre Walravens, manufacturing manager at Bemis Monceau, with Manuel ...


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