Nowadays, companies need to be highly innovative to achieve a sustained boost in their customers' productivity. At Labelexpo Europe 2011 in Brussels last week, Gallus showcased a record number of innovations, highlighting various aspects of digitisation in collaboration with its partner Heidelberg, in presenting the Heidelberg Linoprint DriveLine B and CSAT ITS 600 reel-fed inkjet presses, CERM workflow solutions, the revolutionary Gallus ECS C digital converting system - detailed below - and the new, pioneering Gallus cold die unit with Avery Dennison ThinStream technology.
Record number of innovations
The highly successful market launch of the Gallus ECS 340 entered its next stage at Labelexpo Europe 2011 as numerous innovative further developments were unveiled. The new Gallus EM 430 S with high-tech short-web concept was shown to the public for the first time. Gallus also joined forces with its industrial partner Longford to showcase an innovative multiweb solution with the Longford booklet insetter. What's more, in addition to its three screen printing plate lines – Gallus Screeny Standard, Gallus Screeny S-Line and the new Gallus Screeny Digital – the company also presented the Gallus Screeny Process Efficiency Package, which aims to reduce the total cost of ownership in rotary screen printing, and the Gallus RCS 330/430, the benchmark in the label printing industry when it comes to combining productivity with maximum flexibility and quality.
Gallus addressed the trend towards digitisation
Gallus used Labelexpo to highlight various aspects of digitisation in label manufacture. At the Gallus stand, Heidelberg exhibited the Linoprint DriveLine B reel-fed inkjet press. Primarily used in pharmaceutical applications to date, it enables complete personalisation of customer data on packaging. The new CSAT ITS 600 reel-fed inkjet press was on show at the stand of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG in Hall 9. This press is designed specifically for short runs in commodity label applications, i.e. for labels without any finishing.
The collaboration with CERM, a management information system (MIS) specialist belonging to Heidelberg, was also part of the presentation. CERM's portfolio includes specialised software modules that cover label printers' entire business process with all their specific characteristics and enable Gallus customers to benefit from innovative digital workflow solutions with a promising future.
Gallus also exhibited the brand new Gallus ECS C, a digital converting system for processing digitally printed labels that will set new standards in terms of productivity.
Gallus ECS C digital converting system
Under the banner of ‘high performance digital converting’, the Gallus ECS C digital converting system (pictured above) combines the best aspects of conventional label printing with the possibilities offered by digital printing. Gallus has created a digital converting solution based on the revolutionary Gallus ECS 340, with the innovative, format-free die-cutter at its heart. Minimal changeover times and virtually waste-free job changes are made possible by front loading, a sleeve system, chambered doctor blade, presetting and an extremely short web path.
The robust design, based on technical granite, and the Gallus register control combine to ensure exceptionally smooth operation and high processing quality even at very high speeds. The modular structure also opens up an unexpectedly wide range of applications. Almost any configuration is possible, from the compact version consisting of a die-cutter and flexographic printing unit to a multicolour configuration with finishing processes. Developed to handle the output of up to two highly productive digital presses, the Gallus ECS C digital converting system can be used whenever there is a need for uncompromising productivity at minimal cost per label.
Gallus cold die unit with Avery Dennison ThinStream technology
Together with its industry partner Avery Dennison, Gallus presented a real innovation in die-cutting that has the potential to revolutionise conventional processing. The market launch of Avery Dennison's ThinStream technology also coincided with Labelexpo. ThinStream combines an ultra-thin PET liner material with patented die-cutting technology that reduces liner waste by at least 40 per cent and requires no kiss-cutting whatsoever. With a material thickness of just 12 microns / 0.48 mils, the new liner material can produce at least 17 per cent more labels per roll. The modular die-cutting unit with the liner material can be operated as a standalone unit or integrated into an existing machine without changing the layout. This new Gallus die-cutting unit with its revolutionary die-cutting technology was shown at the Avery Dennison stand.
