drupa 2004

Another super drupa

15 June 2004



One in four visitors interested in packaging production


Leading envelope making machine manufacturer Winkler+Dünnebier revealed a venture into new territory – paper label manufacture. The W+D 400 rotary label die cutting machine is the result of co-operation with various label printing companies and established supplier of label production systems Blumer, whose banding system is offered with it. A production output of up to 20,000 labels/min is claimed for the new die cutter, with non stop operation provided by an automatic roll changing facility. It is also said to boost production efficiency significantly, by combining several process steps in one in-line operation. Further processing is also improved considerably, the company states, by the precision of the rotary cutting technology which, combined with vacuum technology, makes it possible to create windows and perforations for applications such as tear-off or deposit coupons - in addition to demanding label shapes. Add-on modules for the W+D 400 will include in-line flexo printing, partial embossing, perforating and banding. Chairman Dietmar Kurz boasted: "This system opens up completely new opportunities for product designers." He revealed that the company is also developing the new machine for processing of plastics and other materials.

Nordson introduced the MC 20 series of melters to process moisture curing polyurethane hot melts from environmentally friendly 20 litre foil bags. The MC 20 only melts the adhesive on the bottom surface of the bag, leaving the remaining material cool. This reduces thermal stress on temperature sensitive materials and protects the bonding characteristics. For processing of moisture curing PUR hot melt adhesives, a smooth surface platen is used. The adhesive is pressed out of the bag, leaving minimal residue. The empty bag requires little space, keeps the applicator clean and can be disposed of more easily, says Nordson. The melters can be customized to meet individual applications and adhesive properties. Another innovation was the company's high precision curtain coating technology for non contact application of pressure sensitive and non reactive hot melt adhesives (EVA, PSA, UV PSA). This is being developed to apply full surface coating at application grammages from 1-80 g/m2. Said to be ideal for bonding very contact sensitive materials or to apply minimum lay-on weights as closed adhesive film, it allows non contact applications with very low add-on weights. Exceptional edge control at high production speeds extends the range of possible applications, says Nordson.

Enfocus Software unveilled Instant PDF 3.0, a major upgrade of its PDF preflight application. It is claimed to enable transparent creation and delivery of flawless PDFs from document creators and to include powerful tools allowing critical downstream definition of creation parameters. "Creators will, without any additional steps, produce PDF documents that match printers' workflow specifications through the new PDF Queue," says Enfocus. Queue is said to contain all settings, including print styles, job options, PDF profiles and action lists needed to create error-free PDFs. At drupa, the company presented a technology preview of how full job ticket and JDF support will be incorporated into its entire product line.

Sun Chemical's SmartColour system promises colour accuracy and consistency in package printing. Based on building a colour library with specific measurable attributes said to allow exact colour choice and control, it uses an "exclusive system of computerized tools" to measure and visualize colour choices. A key element is the PreView software, which places a digitally defined colour into separated designs to demonstrate its appearance on a given substrate "easily and dramatically". Also making its debut was M-Cure, a UV photoinitiator package primarily for use when printing sensitive food and drug packaging. It is said to reduce odours and off tastes sometimes associated with UV dramatically.

Siegwerk was celebrating its new position as "the number two supplier of high quality packaging inks in Europe and North America", following the acquisition of US manufacturer Color Converting. New products from the company included MR 133-4, a universally applicable, nitrocellulose based ink series for lamination work, the Z-UV 42 SR low odour UV range, and ZWPT 76 for paper and tissue applications.

MetalFX reported "a flood of interest" following wide coverage at the show for its technology that enables "millions of metallic colours" to be reproduced accurately using only the MFX base silver ink plus CMYK, and the MFX software. The product was endorsed heavily by Eckart, Huber and Wolstenholme International, and used in live print trials for Heidelberg, Komori, MAN Roland, and Rotatek. MetalFX says it took hundreds of orders for licenses in the first few days, from places as diverse as Argentina and Bulgaria, Canada, India and the USA.

Pantone unveiled its revised Matching System. Colours in the new formula guide and chip books have changed due to a shift to coated paper that is brighter and whiter. The coated paper is also in a heavier cover weight for improved durability and performance. The new matte guide has a flatter finish than previous editions for greater differentiation from the coated paper. The company also launched the SpyderPRO colour monitor calibrator to ensure consistent accuracy of the colours seen on a computer screen.

A gearless system for paper bag manufacture was launched by Curioni Sun. The Sun Master 350-541 employs brushless motors controlled and synchronized by a powerful PC, instead of gears and mechanical transmission. Bag size change-over is automatically set on the touchscreen. A novel feature is that bag bottom formation is achieved along a linear section of the machine, instead of by the usual drum. This is said to provide greater control of the machine operation.

Cito-System launched Cito Standard as "a cost effective creasing system" said to enable the blanking station to be used more effectively, especially for companies moving up to this technique. It comprises both the lower and upper tool components, accompanied by the appropriate CAD solution. A patented guide element is claimed to facilitate manufacture of blanking tools.

Futec Europe unveiled the Kaleido Eye colour navigation system. It provides colour reference information around the whole print pattern, in-line, and continually throughout the job for rapid verification on screen, and detects colour deviation in comparison with the pre-registered master image. Inspection methods are selectable, ranging from RGB to CIELab, and CMYK – with K at GCR setting. Colour deviation can be graded in three ranks for each inspection point and sampling interval can be set between two seconds and one hour.

Matan Digital Printers launched the Spring12 digital printing system for cost effective short run production of finished tags and labels in any size or shape. Capable of printing up to six colours in one pass at 270m/hour on a 12in web, it is said to achieve a resolution of 1,600 x 400dpi.

Shanghai based packaging printer Jielong ordered the first Asitrade MPC–III laminator for Asia. The multi purpose in-line system will expand the Chinese company's range of litho laminated fine flute packaging applications significantly.

Developer of digital grid storage access solutions Exanet announced that German prepress specialist Stark Digital is to install its ExaStore system to manage all of its critical data in a single namespace and improve access to digital files while also gaining significant operational cost savings. ExaStore will be integrated with the existing hardware and software applications at Stark Digital, allowing it to achieve much greater value from its existing equipment. Distributed by Kodak Polychrome Graphics, ExaStore is an automated, completely scalable grid storage system specifically tailored to premedia applications used by the printing and media markets. Michael Chazot, Exanet's European vp of sales, commented: "ExaStore will help Stark Digital face the challenges that every prepress house and printer has been dealing with - ever-increasing amounts of data that need to be managed and stored. The solution's full scalability lets Stark cope with the data volumes they have today and also adapt to future demands for higher capacities without requiring significant added investments."

A special safety system certified internationally to EN 954-1, Category 3 is integrated in Bosch Rexroth's new IndraDrive range of drives, launched at the show. The intelligent safety functions - both safe stopping and safe motion – are claimed to react extremely quickly and without making a detour through the control system. The company boasts that no competitive product has this feature. Another claimed "exclusive" feature of the new drives is a choice between frequency converter or AC servo functionality in the entire power spectrum from 1.5-120kW. Power parts, connection technology and the 'look-and-feel' of the drives are said to be identical in all operating modes, which is said to simplify commissioning and maintenance.

GMG launched the ProofControl 04 quality control system. It uses GretagMacbeth's Eye-One spectral photometer (supplied with the product), to measure colour bars in seconds and compare the resulting values with the target values stored in the system. For all proofs within tolerance, an integral printer, also part of the new system, prints a small adhesive label complete with all relevant production information which can be placed on the back of each calibrated proof. In addition to the Media Wedge, supplied with GMG ColorProof, any other colour chart or bar can be used with individual defaults, enabling the printer to define a specific customized quality standard. No previous product or software knowledge is required, as an electronic assistant guides the ProofControl user through the procedure. Also launched was FlexoProof 04, featuring an out-of-register and printing substrate simulation. Furthermore, GMG announced a worldwide licensing agreement with Pantone, to include the official Pantone Lab values in its products. "This agreement is primarily due to our success in packaging," GMG ceo Robert Weihing claimed.

Fife-Tidland presented the InPrint 'all-in-one' web inspection system, claimed to be easily integrated in any press in a compact housing. The InPrint imager delivers a picture with an optimized resolution of 800 x 600 pixels at a refresh rate of 72Hz, with direct image transfer from camera to monitor ensuring an unmatched sharpness, according to the company. It is said to be ideal for early detection of the smallest variations in the print or register settings. Features include split screen, autoscroll, image rotation (within 90 and 180 degrees) and image mirroring functions. Also standard are a lens with motorized controls for iris, focus and zoom (with up to x75 enlargement on a 17in monitor), and a Xenon flash lamp for highest colour fidelity. Programmable track with memory for up to 32 positions and extended field of view are available as options.

A new treatment that grafts photoinitiator onto the surface of plastics film prior to printing is claimed to increase surface tension substantially and therefore the adhesion of UV curable inks, coatings and adhesives. The patent pending Prime IT technology launched by Ciba is said to deliver higher homogeneity and durability than conventional chemical treatments and reduce overall printing costs. Films do not go "out of date", said technical manager Rosanna Telesca. According to the company's research 50 micron metalized BOPP shows a surface tension value of 50mN/m when treated with Prime IT compared with 38mN/m if untreated. Basically, grafted photoinitiator forms a chemical bond between ink and polymer surface. "In practice the solvent or water based Prime IT is coated on press with an anilox at around 1g/m2, although we are working on a spray method," explained Rosanna Telesca. (At drupa a Gidue E-Combat flexo label press was used to demonstrate the technology). "Hot air or IR removes the carrier and a UV station grafts the photoinitiator." The treated web then passes directly to the first print unit. The technology is being used to treat PP carton material converted in Italy for a mentadent tooth whitening product marketed by Lever Fabergé in Switzerland.

As president and ceo Peter Koivula revealed the new name for Akzo Nobel Inks he stated that ANI Printing Ink was about to make "a decisive impact on the printing industry". He told Converting Today: "We will continue to build on our packaging inks. And we will grow overall by innovation and through acquisition. The company's new logo – a cross haired target – expresses ANI's mission statement to focus on its business areas and its customers.

Contacts

ANI Printing Ink Tel: +46 410 5 92 00 Asitrade Tel: +41 32 644 25 00 Bosch Rexroth Tel: +49 (0) 93 52 18 0 Ciba Tel: +39 051 6786 357 Cito-System Tel: +49 0 911 9 58 85 0 Creo Tel: +32 2 352 25 11 Curioni Sun Tel: +39 0371 402 1 Enfocus Tel: +32 9 269 1690 Esko-Graphics Tel: +32 9 216 95 79 Exanet Tel: +917 210 8290 Fife-Tidland Tel: +49 6195 7002 Futec Europe Tel: +44 (0)1442 241700 GMG Tel: + 49 (0) 7071 938 74-48 IST Tel: +44 (0) 1756 700741 KBA Tel: +49 931 9090 Matan Digital Printers Tel: +972 3 9039939 MetalFX Tel: +44 (0) 1943 884 888 Nordson Tel: +49 211 9205 137 Pantone Tel: +1 201 935 5500 Siegwerk Tel: +49 (0) 2241 304 732 Sun Chemical Tel: +1 201 2 24 46 00 Winkler+Dünnebier Tel: +49 (0) 26 31 84 0




External weblinks
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Enfocus
Esko-Graphics
Exanet
Futec Europe
GMG
KBA
Matan Digital Printers
Fife-Tidland
MetalFX
Nordson
Pantone
Siegwerk
Sun Chemical
IST
Winkler+Dünnebier
ANI Printing Ink
Asitrade
Bosch Rexroth
Ciba
Cito-System
Creo
Curioni Sun

Label converting revelation on W+D stand Label converting revelation on W+D stand
Curtain coating among Nordson innovations Curtain coating among Nordson innovations
New colours in Pantone formula guide and chip books New colours in Pantone formula guide and chip books
More than 394,000 visitors helped to ensure the show's success More than 394,000 visitors helped to ensure the show's success


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