Despite the global economic downturn, LabelExpo Americas 2010 held in Chicago proved a positive event for Nilpeter. It took orders for eighteen presses over the show's three days (in which visitor numbers increased by 5 per cent compared with two years ago). The Danish press manufacturer introduced two new UV-flexo presses, each demonstrated with 8-colour units, among a total of 5 Nilpeter presses displayed at the show. A prototype of a new approach to in-line die-cutting was an innovative addition that attracted much attention.
"We had a good flow of visitors, including Latin American countries. There were far more sales opportunities than two years ago", said Jakob Landberg, sales director, adding that "people are coming out of their igloos". He said that even before the show opened, the company was taking orders from certain converters wanting to beat the queue. "We were especially encouraged by visitors' interest in our new FA-6 UV-flexo press. Its wider width of 22 ½ inches (570 mm) is ideal for converters entering the flexible packaging market as part of a one-stop label and packaging service. It also meets the needs of converters who regularly handle extremely long runs of conventional labels, such as 120,000 metres for example."
Nilpeter also introduced the FG-4200 with a wider web width up to 16 ¾ inches (425 mm). Equipped with a film package it can process various label and packaging materials. Each of the print units incorporates dual servo drives and the latest lightweight sleeve-plate technology. Positioned between the modular FA-Line and the high-performance FB-Line, FG-Line high-range UV-flexo presses are manufactured in Nilpeter's plant in the USA. Andy Colletta, CEO of Nilpeter USA: "The US market has been waiting for a sleeve based narrow web flexo press – we feel a very high interest and demand already for the new FG-Line."
The latest version of the FB-3300S ran with a combination of UV-curing units, with water-cooled chill rollers, and hot air driers. The in-line finishing functions included a leaflet/label or booklet system for running promotional products. Running with a web width up to 13 ¾ inches (350 mm), the print units allow fast adjustments and rapid anilox roll changes. Servo-drives control the principle functions.
New Approach to Die-cutting
Revolver is the name of Nilpeter's radically new approach to die-cutting. Visitors saw a prototype of a complete module that allows operators to load successive solid tooling, or magnetic flexible die plate cylinders, into the module and index them in just a few seconds. In terms of press setups the die-cutting function is often seen as an afterthought. As a simple-to-operate in-line device, Revolver not only saves valuable time, but also reduces start-up waste. It also offers ergonomic benefits for operators, while helping to extend die life by eliminating handling mishaps.
Flexo Versus Digital
A Nilpeter FB-3300S successfully represented UV-flexo printing in the series of LabelExpo Technology Workshops, introduced for the first time and held in a neutral environment. Three different self-adhesive labels were printed using four different imaging technologies: UV-flexo, UV-InkJet, dry toner and wet toner with complementary finishing processes. Each job used the same EskoArtwork pre-press tools and MIS job files/workflows from three system suppliers. Nilpeter's contribution featured the latest High Definition (HD) flexo plates. A neutral moderator ran the well-attended workshops. The aim was to allow attendees to see how each of the competing technologies could produce the same job origination on identical substrate qualities, and so optimize label print performance and quality. Nilpeter also demonstrated another off-stand FB-3300, this time on the Kurz USA stand where practical demonstrations showed how different forms of block foiling can be integrated in-line with conventional flexo printing.
