The new EF 4060 flexo press for flexible materials was put through its paces for 150 international visitors to the Schiavi Open House, held recently in Piacenza. A “completely new design”, this eight colour CI press has been developed to improve the ergonomics of the makeready, job change-overs, cleaning and maintenance.
The machine demonstrated at the open house, (1,450mm web width and 370-860mm repeat range) was equipped with pneumatic self adapting doctor blades, carbon fibre mandrels for plates and anilox rolls, and automatic unwind/rewind units. It also featured the latest press management system jointly developed by Schiavi and Registron Integrated, the insetting function for in register 8+8 printing or special application coatings, automatic washing, and the new KCR 300 automatic impression setting system – claimed to minimize the waste of material and unproductive time at the start of every new job.
The KCR 300’s linear camera reads the printed image across the whole web width and automatically adjusts the position of each plate cylinder and anilox roller to achieve, very quickly, the most accurate printing impression setting. One of the distinctive features of the KCR 300 is that it can be used in conjunction with any type of web inspection system installed on the press.
The EF 4060 demonstration started with a seven colour job printed on 35 micron white BOPP film at a speed of 400m/min with the automatic reel splicing on both rewind/unwind performed at 350m/min. A feature immediately noticeable as the machine was printing at high speed was the low noise level around the press, owing to the new insulation system on the upper bridge, where the main tunnel, ventilation system and electrical cabinets are located.
The design of the drying system is said to provide efficient and consistent air flow along the whole web length, both in the overhead tunnel and the inter colour dryers. The integrated dryer air recirculation system is said to reduce press operating costs considerably, and the overall system increases the efficiency of evaporation at any speed, allowing for minimal solvent retention on the printed substrate.
The operations for the press makeready of the second job, an 11 colour production, were carried out very quickly. The operator changed the plate and anilox sleeve using the sleeve handling system – the latest version with improved design and ergonomics.
The second job showed visitors the EF 4060’s insetting capability. Based on the latest Registron Integrated S 5100 scanning head technology, this feature is used for in-register special applications such as. additional colour printing or coating of coldseal, lacquer or varnishes. During the open house demonstration, the insetting was used for printing eight additional colours on a three colour preprinted web. This job was also printed at 400m/min, with a flying splice on the rewinder.
| Contact |
| Schiavi |
