Slitting for success

1 December 2009



The slitting and rewinding industry is showing positive signs despite the economic downturn. Sonali Advani looks at the various innovations and installations in recent months


By the autumn of 2008, talk of recession dominated around the world. But a little over a year on, some media reports are predicting an end to what is being called one of the worst recessionary periods. While there have been many factory shutdowns, company closures, acquisitions and mergers, there have also been some positive developments. Many manufacturers and converters have continued to invest in developing and installing new technology and machines.

Addressing the need to convert a wide range of delicate substrates, AB Graphic International has launched the new Omega VSR vertical slitter rewinder that can be supplied with a servodrive option for speeds of up to 400m/min. It is available in web widths of 330, 430 and 530mm.

“With the increased use of servo driven presses many of our customers are required to convert a wider range of delicate substrates,” says AB’s Tony Bell. “The VSR servo driven version provides precise material handling throughout the machine.”

Another new machine that addresses the needs of ‘optimal tension control’ has been introduced by Rotocontrol. With a compact design, the RSC 340 and 440 models have S-Drive servo web control and software, a vertical inspection area, and swing arm mounted operator panel and monitor. The rewind height can be adjusted, and the slitting system includes in and outfeed nip to ‘ensure optimal tension regardless of rewind tension setting’.

US based Catbridge Machinery has unveiled a fully automatic, three-shaft turret slitter. Capable of winding cored or coreless, the new Model 334 comes with a shaftless floor pick-up unwind, automatic core loading, and finished roll discharge. It is claimed to enhance productivity and quality, and cut waste.

The company has also introduced the Model 210 two-drum surface winder, which is said to be suitable for a range of materials from ultra light non-wovens and tissues to heavy paperboard.

A new 73 inch wide, four-shafted, fully automatic turret rewinder from Jennerjahn Machine is claimed to produce 150ft rolls of digital imaging material in less than 25sec each. The new machine is the company’s first four-shafted turret style rewinder. The developments will reportedly improve the automation and cycle-time for the high speed machine. (Source: Converting magazine, USA).

At Labelexpo Europe, Swedish company Grafotronic demonstrated a new machine capable of multiple production modes covering many types of finishing of pharma related labels and booklets. It has been developed in co-operation with a large producer of pharma labels.

The modular machine has servo driven units for each function, with multiple line Braillejet printing and UV drying from Atlantic Zeiser, inkjet for multiple line back and front numbering, and Nikka 100% vision control with Braille inspection.

“Our entry level machine is ideal for starting in the pharma label market as there are no limitations to add modules to the machine when required. Our fully equipped line is ideal for the experienced producer of high volume, multiple line finishing as virtually all types of products can be processed in one machine,’ says Mats Marklund, MD of Grafotronic.

Continuing to invest

The latest innovations in the slitting and rewinding arena have already been well received, with many converters placing orders despite the difficult financial times.

An example is Elsner Engineering’s new RRW-1400 fully automatic rewinder for counter rolls, a high speed system designed to convert giftwrap paper, PP and PVC film. It accommodates web widths of 700-1,400mm for single roll production of core and coreless products. It can also be equipped for three-up production.

Jay Roth, regional sales manager, says: “The industry has been asking for such a machine for several years now and we received three orders immediately after its launch.”

Alan Jones, of Universal Converting Equipment, notes: “The market for slitting machines appears to be split in two - the first sector is looking for high performance machines with automation to help reduce labour dependence. The second sector is for low cost machines.”

Universal has tasted success in both these segments. It recently sold the high end X9 slitter to a leading global flexible packaging manufacturer. The X9 is said to produce consistent quality rolls at high speeds with the minimum operator intervention. “Although high speed machines such as the X9 are not cheap to produce, their productivity and quality provide a rapid payback,” says Alan Jones.

In the low cost segment, the company’s X7 slitter has recently been supplied to a converter in Dubai. Flexible packaging specialist Alcan has invested in three Euromac slitters for its factories in Italy and France. These have been developed to process special aluminium foil laminates and two of the machines feature automatic slitting and roll off-loading.

In the UK, Advance Tapes has ordered Ghezzi & Annoni’s FA300 fully automatic slitter, with a full wrapping and pick and place packaging line. Supplied through UK agent Eurograv, the equipment will be the second of its type in the UK.

Integrated with the 1,650mm slitter is G&A’s new ATI 30 tape packaging machine. This can pack rolls individually, as a tower pack or as a concertina pack, delivering up to 30 packs/min.

The first Faes System Blau in the UK has been sold to Redditch based Thermal Transfer Solutions through Nick Duffy, the sole UK distributor for the Swiss manufacturer.

Show success

Emis, of Poland, debuted at Labelexpo Europe and has reported ‘signing many contracts’. The Flexor 400IS 100% inspection machine was a major highlight, featuring a Nikka inspection camera which can inspect web widths up to 400mm. “The full integration of the camera into the Flexor machine makes it possible to stop the detected fault on a doctor table accurately at speeds of up to 250m/min,” says Emis.

The company’s Flexor 380C+ Jumbo, a 380mm wide hybrid machine for slitting, rewinding, die cutting and inspecting. At the recent ICE Europe 2009, Alpha Converting exhibited the latest version of its AlphaSpool RSM off-line spooler, which can run roll to spool, spool to spool, or spool to roll. It will wind polyester film to pressure sensitive foam and spool in a variety of patterns.


Rotocontrol RSC 340 Rotocontrol RSC 340 Emis Flexor 380 C+ Emis Flexor 380 C+ Universal Converting X9 Universal Converting X9

External weblinks
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AB Graphic International
Alpha Converting
Catbridge Machinery
Elsner Engineering Works
Emis
Eurograv
Euromac
Faes
Ghezzi & Annoni
Grafotronic
Jennerjahn Machine
Nick Duffy
Rotocontrol
Universal Converting Equipment

Emis Flexor 380 C+ Emis Flexor 380 C+
Universal Converting X9 Universal Converting X9
Rotocontrol RSC 340 Rotocontrol RSC 340


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