Brussels bonanza – part 2

UK-based AB Graphic International will feature the latest developments in its Omega and Vectra ranges of label converting and finishing machines, with the focus on fast job changes, reduced waste and non-stop production. Two versions of the Omega Digicon 2, label converting line will run live demonstrations featuring non-stop operation with semi-automatic turret rewinders to eliminate additional finishing. The new Omega ATR inspection rewinder will also be featured. This has a turret rewinder to allow the operator to visually inspect the web while maintaining non-stop finishing. Featuring new software upgrades, the Digicon Sabre Xtreme laser cutter will be demonstrated running three jobs with non-stop digital die changes and Tidland automatic slit pattern changeover. Hall 6, stand H70.

Ashe Converting Equipment will be exhibiting the Solitaire duplex slitter rewinder. Capable of running labels and flexible packaging, it is available in two widths – 600mm and 800mm – complete with a separate unwind stand allowing for large reels up to 1m diameter to be loaded with a reel lift incorporated into the unwind. The Solitaire has duplex rewinding, and differential tension control on the rewind can handle product with gauge variation. A vacuum drum in the centre of the machine is said to ensure ‘perfect’ tension isolation between the unwind and the rewind. Hall 7, stand L113.

From Avery Dennison, the Curve Appeal system, featuring Fasson Curvy film, provides labels that can be applied to curved surfaces ‘far beyond what is currently possible’, to maximize shelf appeal for bottles and containers. With Gallus, the company will launch a technology claimed to cut liner caliper into 12 micron/0.48 mil – half of the present market minimum limit. The patent-pending Shrink PS label will also be presented. Pre-applied on a shrinkable bag, it ‘does not wrinkle during the shrinking process, allows superior definition graphics and is water resistant’. Avery Dennison will also introduce a Global MDO film label with a ‘next generation’ adhesive for a no-label look and high speed manufacturing applications. It is said to combine clarity, conformability, rigidity, sustainability and productivity. Hall 5, stand A40.

New products to be presented by AVT include the I?eal inline DeltaE colour measurement tool to ensure colour consistency, and a barcode and variable data module targeting both the conventional and the rapidly growing digital printing segments of the label market. Also new is Braille automatic inline detection that works in parallel to print inspection, detecting every fault in the Braille dots on pharmaceutical labels. Hall 6, stand H60.

Products for web guiding, video web inspection, 100% print defect detection, register control and colour measurement will be demonstrated by BST International. These will include the Shark 4000 Lex and 1000 Lex (100% print defect detection); CompactGuide and CLS Pro 600 (web guiding); PowerScope 4000 and Super HandyScan 4000 (video web inspection); AR 4000 (register control); and IDM 4000 (colour measurement). Hall 11, stands Q100, R105.

An innovation for short run foil printing with offset will be revealed by DG press Services. The Vi-SOP DG, based on the Drent Vision, is a narrow web offset press with a 520mm width that enables printing on paper and foil with short changeover times “while maintaining all the abilities of a high speed press – with offset quality. It uses conventional offset plates and print quality is said to be comparable to sheet-fed offset. The press employs servomotor-driven impression cylinders that are driven separately from the plate and blanket cylinders. Web tension between the printing units is said to be arranged in such a way that even print on thinner foils results in 100% register. Hall11, stand P132.

Exhibiting for the first time in the digital press area, Domino will display two key technologies for fast and efficient digital label personalisation and short to medium run printing. The K600i single colour, high resolution modular print bar can be integrated into an existing press or finishing line, or supplied as a stand-alone roll to roll system. It is the first Domino product that covers the full web with a single digital inkjet module. Said to deliver quality comparable to preprint and operate at twice the speed of most digital systems, it can accommodate different print widths by stitching printheads together across the web. The piezo inkjet N600i digital label press, operates at up to 75m/min with both 600dpi native print resolution and up to four greyscale levels. It offers the fast change-over and short run length options associated with digital technology, while printing up to 1.500m²/hour also makes long production runs cost-effective. Hall 9, stand H10.

The highlight of EskoArtwork’s live demonstrations will be the latest HD Flexo imaging technology version. While the first release enabled label printers to obtain significantly sharper images, smoother tints and a greater colour gamut, HD Flexo 2.0 is said to improve the screening even further. Promised is exceptional printing quality throughout the entire tonal range, including highlights with gradients down to zero, with stable mid-tones and higher ink density solids. Visitors will also see new features in the latest release (version 10.1) of EskoArtwork’s software suite for the label industry, such as Studio Toolkit for Labels. Stand B30 in Hall 5.

ETI Converting Equipment will introduce the patent-pending Miniliner technology that offers a solution to release liner wastage. This ultra-thin (12 micron) clear PET or BOPP liner is claimed to reduce the waste factor substantially and increase productivity. The Miniliner uses a conventional die and can be diecut at up to 150m/min. It is also adaptable to ETI`s Cohesio technologies. Hall 5, stand C30.

Flint Group claims to have “more new products to show than ever before”. Highlights will be: Flexocure Ancora – a high performance low migration UV flexo ink for the food packaging industry; Lithocure Premium – a ‘printer friendly’ UV offset ink with “outstanding” print and press performance, suitable for most label substrates and narrow web applications; and UvoScreen Elite – a press-ready UV screen ink for high end label applications using either Stork or Gallus screen systems. Hall 5, stand B45.

Adhesives manufacturer HB Fuller’s Fulltak water-based products will be on display, with a focus on the launch of the SE75 range of dispersions, which are free of APEO (Alkyl Phenol Ethoxylates) to minimise the impact on the environment. Also on show will be Lunatack and Lunamelt hotmelts suitable for applications such as permanent and peelable self-adhesive labels, tapes and reclosable food packaging. Hall 7, stand K100.

The new Converting Line 380 CL with two flexo units, diecutting and an automatic turret rewinder will be shown by Grafotronic. Each module is servo-driven and works independently, and extra units can be easily added, such as lamination, inkjet, labelling, 100% inspection, hotfoil and varnishing. The world premiere of a high speed slitter with a Nikka 100% inspection system will bring integrated vision inspection to “a new level of productivity and user friendliness”. The new Servo automatic turret rewinder with core and tail glue systems will be introduced at the show. It can be installed either after a printing press or inline with a converting line. Also being shown will be the 550 wide die-cutting machine, the 280 wide printing and die cutting machine with IR/UV dryers and semi-turret. Stand P70, Hall 11.

GSE Dispensing will show how its automated ink logistics systems offer ink yield increases of more than 30% and significant improvements in colour preparation and ink procurement – as well as spot colour accuracy. The company’s modular gravimetric ink dispensing systems are tailored to each printer's specific ink volume requirements, from label to corrugated board applications. The Colorsat Match dispenser for flexo, gravure and screen label printing, has nearly 60 installations worldwide. It is said to enable clean, fast and waste-free recipe preparation in batches of 1-5kg. Ink usage is reduced by dispensing the exact amount needed for each job. Any excess ink remaining after a print run can be easily reused, located and retrieved from stock. GSE is also to introduce software tools that bring further improvements in colour formulation efficiency, cost analysis and traceability. Stand U-68, Hall 12.

The Rapid Label system will be introduced by Impression Technology Europe (ITE). Rapid Label is an inkjet system featuring a Memjet in-line printhead that uses more than 70,000 nozzles to print in excess of 740,000,000 droplets of ink/sec – delivering labels at up to 18m/sec. Because the machines are driven from a standard PC, the cost of each label remains the same, so small orders can be accommodated as easily as large ones. Another spin-off to this is that, because the system is PC-driven, each label can be unique and could, therefore, be used for control situations such as tracking or stock control. ITE will also launch the Rapid Finishing line, which is expected to include a new varnishing and semi-rotary re-registering diecutting system. Hall 12, stand T75.

Visitors to Kodak’s stand will be able to see the company's entire range for the packaging world, ‘with a focus on the highly interdependent relationships between packaging production and the brand owner’. The Flexcel NX Plate system is said to achieve levels of print quality normally expected from gravure, offset or digital printing. The Flexcel Direct System simplifies the platemaking process, eliminates the variability associated with the traditional flexo processes, removes the need for chemical processing and is perfect for in the round applications, it is claimed. Kodak’s Packaging Layout Automation Software automate the time-intensive task of object layout, eliminating manual steps and reducing operator errors. The Insite Prepress Portal System will demonstrate its provision of secure web access for remote job submission, progress tracking and approval, automating some of the most critical time-consuming workflow steps. Stand 9F46, Hall 9.

New developments for cutting plastics labels, as well as a concept for efficient matrix removal for pressure-sensitive labels, will be presented by Kugler-Womako. The LabelCut 102 has been used throughout the world for more than 10 years to convert wet glue labels from reels into strip piles. Building upon this successful technology is a new cutting capability for plastics labels. The LabelCut cuts labels from 50-105 micron thick at a speed of up to 200m/min. Even at the highest speed, the cutting accuracy is said to be within 0.1mm, both longitudinally and transversely – “a performance that is even unmatched with paper” The innovation for efficient label matrix removal focuses especially on the thin ‘no-label look’ labels, where it is difficult to achieve significant precision, particularly at high speeds. Kugler-Womako’s new concept for converting thinner label webs is said to reach a speed of 200m/min and a width of 650mm, without damaging the substrate. Hall 7, stand K92.

Manufacturer of pressure-sensitive adhesive materials Lintec Europe will showcase its range of durable self-adhesive labelstock and printing equipment. ‘Must-see’ products on the stand include the company’s outer tyre label adhesive technology range and a new adhesive for siliconised surfaces. The outer tyre label range has an ultra-aggressive adhesion chemistry and offers advanced options for both standard and winter tyres. The newest addition to the silicone adhesive range offers excellent tack levels and adhesion to all siliconised and low energy surfaces. Hall 6, stand F90.

Mark Andy is to give debuts to the latest models in the Performance series of narrow web flexo presses – the P5 and P3 – along with the premier machine of the range, the P7. More than 100 Performance presses have been sold worldwide, including the P3, a conventional label press driven by a “precision-engineered” direct drive train; the P5, a servo-driven, productivity-focused machine; and the P7, the most advanced model with dual servo controls and a fully automated registration system. Live demonstrations will be held daily on the P5 and P7 machines, showing “dramatic waste savings”, quick setups and changeovers and ease of use. Hall 5, Stand C10.

Visitors to the Martin Automatic stand will be able to see an MBS butt splicer and an LRD rewinder. The MBS is said to have become “an industry standard” for non-stop splicing in narrow and midweb processes of a variety of substrates from labels to flexible packaging and cartonboard. Fitted with a built-in roll loading device, it has a top splicing speed of 305m/min on web widths up to 660mm. Maximum roll diameter is 1,270mm. The LRD rewinder features a moving cantilevered spindle arrangement that allows rewinding and automatic doffing of rolls as small as 203mm in diameter, with only two spindles. Hall 7, stand L110.

Muller Martini will be exhibiting a VSOP printing unit to showcase infinitely variable size web offset printing and its potential applications. The VSOP press features quick change sleeve technology. By using standard offset printing plates, considerable savings can be made in comparison to other printing processes, such as flexo or gravure, the company states. Hall 7, stand L110.

Pamarco Global Graphics will be promoting its latest generation of EFlo engraving technology, the HD precision laser engraved roll. EFlo-HD technology is a novel cell structure that has been developed using custom cell software. This produces a unique biap file that controls how the laser beams create not only the cell shape/profile but, more importantly, the inner cell geometry. The EFlo-HD cell geometry is claimed to be perfect for narrow web and label applications, and the world’s first anilox to be developed around digital plate technology. Pamarco says it allows printers to expand on their colour gamut and contrast range, making images “come to life”. Stand E55, Hall 5.

The FX1200e digital label finishing system is to be presented by Primera for the first time. The FX1200e performs all finishing steps for labels printed on Primera’s CX1200e and other narrow web presses, including diecutting, optional laminating, slitting and rewinding to finished rolls in a single, integrated and automated process. Finishing speeds of up to 6.1m/min are accomplished with Primera’s QuadraCut technology, using up to four knife blades at a time across the web. All kinds of shapes and forms can be cut. Hall 9, stand F72.

Recent developments from Pulse Roll Label Products include EL165 a UV flexo varnish for liner-less applications with minimal noise levels. Extensive blocking and ageing tests are said to have shown that the long term release is the same and in some cases better than the standard cationic product. A cost saving of 20% over cationic varnishes is also promised, as well as elimination of the danger of free radical contamination. From an environmental standpoint, the amount of label waste is said to be reduced significantly, as are paper consumption, freight, and storage costs, and the cost of waste disposal. EL088 is a UV flexo, semi-gloss release varnish for peel and read applications. Both products offer good adhesion and resistance properties and are suitable for use on coated paper, board and treated PE and PP substrates. Stand L117, Hall 7.

The SVS (Sensing and Verification System) option will be introduced by Rotocontrol. The SVS features powerful algorithms to detect repeated printed images on most materials, including clear on clear, IML and butt-cut labels to provide missing label and matrix detection feedback to the company’s machine. Rotocontrol will also demonstrate the RSC vertical inspection slitter rewinder, RSD die-cutting, and the RSP single-pass 100% security inspection system. Also featured will be the recently announced vacuum splice table option. Hall 7, stand M105.

The Rotoflex stand will feature a wide variety of inspection, slitting, rewinding and die-cutting machines. On each of these, for the first time in Europe, will be the ‘operator-friendly’ Genesis advanced control system. With a simple HMI, operators can monitor all functions and clearly identify faults and issues from a single screen, the company states. Integration of the system into multiple machines on the production floor is said to allow operators to transfer easily from one machine to another without having to learn the intricacies of a new control system. Hall 5, Stand C10.

Supplier of management information systems Shuttleworth will be showing the latest label industry-specific developments to its powerful integrated MIS package. The company will demonstrate the new user interface, which is based on an Outlook ‘style, look and feel’, making the software easier and intuitive to use while providing a customisable view for each user. Visitors will also be able to see the new Supply Chain Management software, claimed a ‘first’ for the label industry. This is a web-based tool, hosted by Shuttleworth, designed to enable manufacturers to get prices from their suppliers quickly, so that they can respond immediately to customer needs. Hall 6, stand F147.

Exhibiting for the first time at Labelexpo Europe, Soma Engineering will demonstrate its new Pluto II slitter rewinder and Bulldog offline diecutter. The 1,350mm wide Pluto ll is said to offer greater efficiency and reduced waste and downtimes. With its larger unwind and rewind diameters and simplified job changeovers, it is billed as a high performance machine for long runs with in-built features for operator comfort. The Bulldog is a roll to stack, offline diecutter for producing aluminium and plastics foils, and laminate lids for in-mould labels, beverage labels, yoghurt cartons and similar applications. Print to die registration is said to ensure high precision cuts with optimum edge quality. Depending on the application, up to 75,000 lids/hour can be produced. Stand N05, Hall 7.

Sun Chemical will focus on its Solaris range of dedicated narrow web inks, with new developments and additions being launched at the show. The Solaris range is said to offer label printers more than just an ink series – “it’s a solution to innovation, differentiation and efficiency”. Sales director for narrow web Europe Jonathan Sexton emphasises: “We work very closely with key industry partners to fully understand the needs of the market. This allows us to continue innovating and delivering quality products and services.” Stand E 80, Hall 5.

Labelstock manufacturers Tenza Technologies, in the UK, and South East Asia’s SAScoat have entered a reciprocal agreement giving each party the rights to distribute the other’s products. SAScoat has appointed Tenza as its exclusive distributor in the UK and Eire for its extensive range of release and laminate products. Both companies will exhibit in Hall 12, on stand U72.

Webtech, supplier of used and pre-owned on-roll narrow web printing and converting equipment, provides a bespoke service to the print and packaging industry worldwide. It can locate equipment to suit any brief - from flexo and rotary letterpress machines to inspection slitter rewinders. The company offers a full ‘door-to-door’ service, from the removal of equipment to full installation anywhere in the world. Stand E40, Hall 5.

Zeller+Gmelin has updated its range of UV inks and varnishes. Exhibits will include Uvaflex Y71 ‘third generation’ low migration UV flexo inks for printing on paper and synthetic substrates for labels, unsupported film, folding cartons and flexible packaging. Hall 11, stand P100.

Web guiding by the CLS Pro 600 from BST BST Labels produced on Domino’s N600 system Domino ETI’s Cohesio emulsion acrylic system ETI The new Converting Line 380 CL will be shown by Grafotronic Grafotronic GSE’s Colorsat Match dispenser reduces ink usage GSE Muller Martini VSOP press promises considerable savings Muller Martini The FX1200e digital label finishing system will make its debut on Primera’s stand Primera From Pulse Roll Label - a UV flexo, semi-gloss release varnish for peel and read applications Pulse Roll Label Driven by a standard PC – the Rapid Label system from Impression Technology Europe (ITE) Impression Technology Europe

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AVT
BST
DG Press Services
Domino
EskoArtwork
ETI
Flint Group
HB Fuller
Grafotronic
GSE
Kodak
Kugler-Womako
Lintec
Mark Andy
Martin Automatic
Muller Martini
Parmarco Global
Primera
Pulse Roll Label
Rapid Label Systems
Rotocontrol
Rotoflex
Shuttleworth
Soma
Sun Chemical
Tenza Tapes
Webtech
Zeller & Gmelin