The Cobra wide web mounting machine, installed at the Printpack Europe facility in Bury, UK, was chosen for its accuracy, simplicity and ease of operation to complement the installation of a Windmöller and Hölscher Astraflex, claims the company.
Paul Jackson, pre-press manager, Printpack Europe, said: "With our rapidly expanding flexo portfolio and subsequent installations of new W&H Astraflex there was a further requirement for a high volume, reliable and consistently accurate plate mounting machine. After lengthy trials and much deliberation, the Heaford Cobra became the obvious choice."
The partnership between Heaford and Printpack began in 1994, when Printpack Atlanta installed the first wide web Viper mounting and proofing machine. The new machine is the seventh Cobra mount only machine in the group, with 14 Viper mounter proofers installed across the Americas.
As the UK distributor of Rotec sleeves, Heaford also secured the supply contract for the printing sleeves to service the press, after extensive discussions about the relative merits of sleeves over conventional print cylinders. The Cobra is fitted with sleeve mount/dismount facilities to enable easy handling of the printing sleeve system, an important factor in the efficiency of the process.
