Unilux Expands LED Inspection Strobe Line

SADDLE BROOK, N.J.—Unilux will present the newest shape of the LED stroboscopic inspection future in Booth 1457 at LabelExpo Americas 2010, Sept. 14-16 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Chicago. Unilux will introduce the LED 2X2, a compact unit available with flood or spot capability, and the LED 15X2 and LED 20X2, a pair of new units that extend the capability of the LED 10X2 introduced a year ago at LabelExpo Europe.

Unilux also will display the LED 1XF, equivalent in illumination to the popular Cricket; the LED 1XS, equivalent in illumination to the Scout; the LED 1X3, equivalent in illumination to the Tracker; the LED 5X2, which is similar to the LOL-20; and the Pocket Pixel -- plus the proven LOL-5, LOL-20, LOL-40, Guardian, Cricket, Tracker and Miti-Lite.

LEDs' softer light eliminates the need for operators to dial down inspection-light intensity or use frosted glass to avoid harsh reflections when working with foils, metalized substrates, and other labels or packaging with highly reflective coatings on high-speed lines. Combining the lights with specific reflector designs provides even illumination across the entire web surface.

While LED inspection lights carry a higher initial cost than the strobe lights with Xenon lamps, they do not have the same replacement costs and can operate effectively even if some of the lamps burn out. This enables printers and converters to maintain full inspection capability during a run and permits lamp replacement during routine maintenance or press changeover.

Unilux solutions are built around stroboscopic surface inspection lighting that enables operators to spot defects at full production speeds, which can exceed 750 meters per minute (2,200 feet per minute). Operators can use their knowledge of products and production systems to determine the severity of the defect and take steps to find and eliminate its cause. The company has combined its high-speed inspection lighting with high-speed video and photography systems to provide engineering departments with visual data to develop long-term solutions to repetitive production problems.