Print and converting combine in Chicago

22 September 2014



Together, the co-located CPP/Graph Expo 14 shows form the leading industry event for the US converting/package printing market. The shows run concurrently at Chicago’s McCormick Place venue during28 September-1 October.


Among the exhibitors will be AzTech Converting Systems, which designs and manufactures a wide variety of roll to roll converting equipment. It includes the Colordyne 1600PC series production class 1,600 x 1,200dpi high resolution, high speed inkjet print system powered by Memjet, complete with inline laser or rotary diecutting and finishing; and the DieMaster series of modular rotary diecutters with precision servo web control which has the capability to register to a pre-printed web. There is also the ECL series booklet inserting and diecutting system; the PLC controlled BSR and ISR series of high speed slit and rewind equipment for processing a variety of substrates including, thin, unsupported films; the RollX90, a 90 degree rotatable roll to roll rewind doctor; and various modular unwind and rewind stands which may run in tandem or with existing equipment. Booth 4413.

CSi Packaging Industry (booth 4222) provides innovative solutions for handling folding carton blanks for tobacco, liquid and general packaging applications. The company has developed novel solutions for extremely high speed blank handling for the world's leading carton packaging manufacturers. It offers standardised state of the art equipment for high speed blank folded carton case packaging, combined with case erecting equipment and end-of-line case palletising. CSi also designs equipment to handle packaging reels which interfaces with slitting lines to provide fully automatic reel handling and palletising for a range of applications.

Energy Sciences Inc (ESI) is encouraging converters with central impression (CI) flexo presses to try electron beam (EB) curing of inks on printed packaging materials. CI flexo printers can now wet trap inks around a drum without any interstation thermal dryers, the company states. The Gelflex-EB ink system, developed by Brazilian company Technosolutions, uses 90% less solvents than conventional solvent-based flexo ink systems. The higher solids content is said to result in the highest colour consistency and print resolution available in CI flexo today. Users can print 70 lines per centimtre (180 lpi) and even stochastic frequency modulated screening with Gelflex-EB, "enabling high fidelity and continuous tone images that exhibit fine detail". It is said to provide extended colour gamut capabilities, creating a photographic experience free of visible printing artifacts, such as subject moire and rosettes. Smaller dots also mean cost savings. Gelflex-EB inks have a higher opacity than conventional solvent inks," says Brian Sullivan, ESI's vice president of marketing and sales. "Printers don't need to put as much ink down. Between the increased opacity, the higher solids and the smaller dots, Gelflex-EB inks generate savings in the range of hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, especially with the whites." Significant energy savings are also claimed. Booth 4615.

Goss International will highlight the advantages of its web offset technology for packaging applications in booth 1257. The company will place particular emphasis on its Sunday Vpak press for cost-effective short run packaging applications. Mike D'Angelo, Goss managing director for the Americas, says: "The Sunday Vpak press system is now successfully installed and proving its compelling value proposition in the US for both flexible packaging and folding carton applications. In addition to these customer installations, we have also opened our first ever Packaging Technology Centre as a centre of excellence dedicated to research, testing and demonstrations with our customers, partners and industry suppliers." Recipient of a 2014 InterTech Technology Award, the Sunday Vpak features quick change sleeve technology said to deliver outstanding quality and fast job changeovers for board and film substrates. It is available in web widths of 520mm up to 1,905mm and runs at speeds up to 7.6m/sec. Finishing and other printing processes, including flexo, gravure and digital stations, can also be added to customise inline production. Printed samples from the Packaging Technology Centre will be shown as part of the exhibit.

Graph Expo 2014 will be the first public showing in North America of the "game-changing" Highcon Euclid digital cutting and creasing machine. Appearing in booth 1262, Highcon will be inviting printers and converters to see live demonstrations of this digital converting solution for paper, cartonboard, labels and microflute, which eliminates the need for a conventional die. The Euclid is claimed bring huge benefits in substrate range, design flexibility, supply chain management and shelf appeal. The patented Digital Adhesive Rule Technology (DART) for creasing and the array of high powered lasers for cutting, enable intricate cutouts, partial cutting, variable cutting, and marking in one pass.

IMC America, in booth 4708, will offer information on products from several suppliers. Recmi Industries offers log stacking/bundling systems, fully automatic palletisers, and a compensating stacking, rotary trimmer. Penn Graphics Equipment has the new PGE 350 semi-automatic logmaker for operation inline with high speed flat sheet folding machines. Imanpack specialises in custom packaging, wrapping, carton loading, sealing and palletising. Camotion has the PAR LDP log depalletiser and Cartesian palletiser. SMC automatic and semi-automatic roll handling systems with roll dollies, tracks, turntables and strip stations will also feature.

As a Total Solutions Partner, Mark Andy's booth 4213 will demonstrate the company's complete support of its customers' printing operations, "delivering innovative solutions that maximise uptime and optimise workflow efficiency". In addition to its narrow and mid-web printing presses, the company offers Rotoflex finishing solutions, and a complete line of consumables and pressroom supplies. All Mark Andy products are supported by what is said to be the largest customer service team in the industry, delivering spare parts, technical service, PM programmes, retrofits and rebuilds, as well as dedicated hands-on training through the Mark Andy University.

QuadTech (booth 3740) is to present "the world's first" inline colour measurement and ink control system for packaging presses. The QuadTech Color Quality Solution utilises the company's Color Measurement System with SpectralCam to enable automatic sharing and processing of colour data between inline colour measurement and offline colour measurement industry leaders. Maintaining colour quality throughout a print run provides new levels of colour accuracy and assurance to converters and brand managers that colour specifications have been met, says QuadTech. Another powerful solution for converters is the Inspection System with SpectralCam. It is said to be the only system that provides 100% defect inspection and true spectral colour measurement, enabling accurate, high quality colour packaging. The QuadTech Web Viewing System can be used as a stand-alone system, or in conjunction with the Inspection System, for real-time digital viewing of the moving web and optimum error detection. The ICON Platform, a single, user-friendly centralised station for all QuadTech press controls, provides instant data for makeready savings in terms of equipment setup time, labour and materials. Also, QuadTech's Waste Management System and Data Central for Inspection can use this live and stored information to optimise efficiency by pinpointing defect areas for removal and controlling quality. QuadTech PDF Verification is a software add-on for packaging converters that compares approved artwork against an actual printed sample to verify correct press setup, ensuring accuracy and quality, enabling operators to catch errors before they print. The QuadTech Register Guidance System with MultiCam is a closed-loop colour-to-colour register control system that enables printers to achieve good copy quickly, reducing waste.

TS Converting Equipment will be exhibiting in booth 4227 with sister company Compact Foilers, which manufactures a module for inline foiling on offset presses. TS itself will be displaying the latest range of Elite Cameron core cutters, slitter rewinders, coating and laminating machines, and their ancillaries such as differential rewind shafts and automatic knife setting systems. Information on the latest CW range of compact low cost slitters will be available. These machines suit most applications, are built to individual specifications and are normally available on a short delivery. Information on the new CW800 clean slitter will also be available for customers who require a clean web for medical, print and food packaging applications. This overhead feed machine is equipped with a double-sided web cleaner, automatic reel ejection, laser core and auto knife setting with blade cleaning. The HM range of hot melt coaters with inline coat weight measurement, corona treating and slitting of all types of adhesive tapes and laminates will also be displayed.

www.cppexpo.com
www.graphexpo.com
www.aztechconverting.com
www.compactfoilers.com
www.csipackagingindustry.com
www.ebeam.com
www.elitecameron.com
www.gossinternational.com
www.highcon.net
www.imcamerica.com
www.markandy.com
www.quadtechworld.com
www.tsconverting.com

 



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