Converting Focus - March 2012

Arkwright Improves Productivity

BEACON FALLS, Conn.—Arkwright Advanced Coating, Inc. of Coventry, Rhode Island reports significant productivity gains after incorporating new Goldenrod Model 1250 DFB differential shafts into their older slitter/rewinders.

Arkwright, a division of Italy's Diatec Group, is a leading coater and converter of paper and film for the reprographics industry. Converted products from Arkwright are typically produced on rolls from 24˝ to 72˝ wide, and are used in high-quality imaging end products.

Giorgio Girardi, plant engineering manager at Arkwright, said the decision to upgrade their machinery with new Goldenrod shafts was based on a need to improve operating efficiency at their plant. "Technology changes fast in this business, and we are always looking at ways to improve our operations," he said. "We saw upgrading to the Goldenrod shafts as an affordable, effective way to get higher productivity out of our existing machinery."

Phil Pretto, Goldenrod's Eastern sales manager, recommended Goldenrod Model 1250-DFB 6˝ diameter differential shafts for the retrofit. These shafts use surface roller bearings that minimize drag and are designed for low tension applications or for larger diameter differential winding needs. Results, according to Girardi, were immediate.

The Arkwright machine operators, who were skeptical at first, were impressed at how simple the Goldenrod shafts were to set up. "They were used to it taking two hours or more to set up and adjust our old shafts, and the Goldenrod shafts took 15 minutes or less," said Girardi.

Perhaps more importantly, Arkwright is seeing significant productivity gains from the conversion to the Goldenrod shafts. "They allow us to convert at much higher speeds, at least 30 percent faster than our older shafts," said Girardi.

Upgrading of existing machinery will continue, said Girardi, and Goldenrod shafts and chucks are part of the plan. "We achieved great results from a relatively simple upgrade," he said.

Atlas Converting Subsidiary in China

Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd. has recently completed the incorporation of its new China-based subsidiary, A.C.E. (Shanghai) Trading Company Ltd., which is located in the Pudong business district of Shanghai. The core team for Atlas and Titan at A.C.E. (Shanghai) Trading Company Ltd. will provide support in both sales and service activities for all Atlas and Titan slitter/rewinder customers throughout Greater China, which continues to be a very important market for the company.

Raymond Chan continues in his role as regional sales manager for the Atlas and Titan product range in Greater China, and Daniel Zhang continues in his role as service manager and is responsible for all service, spare parts, and customer support operations at the company.

"We are delighted to have established our own, autonomous subsidiary trading company to represent our operations in China," confirmed Alan Johnson, managing director of parent company Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd. in the UK. "We look forward to developing a much stronger relationship with our customer base in China for both the Atlas and Titan product ranges and now having our own group company in place will certainly help us to achieve that objective as effectively as possible.

Higher Productivity

KENNESAW, Ga.—Heidelberg's Dymatrix diecutters are designed to minimize makeready times by saving data for repeat jobs. ABOX Packaging (Kaufman, TX) reports that a Dymatrix 106 CSB diecutter helped the company achieve an increase in productivity of around 25 percent. "We can diecut, strip, and blank, and go directly to the gluer. There's no more manual scrapping or offline blanking. The Dymatrix 106 CSB is incredibly efficient," said company President Keith Thompson.

Likewise, after folding carton converter Proteus Packaging (Franklin, WI) installed a 57˝ Heidelberg Speedmaster press, its next move was to acquire a 57˝ Dymatrix 145 diecutter with Heidelberg Logistics.

"We installed the Dymatrix because of the sheet size, and to add to our diecutting capacity," said Tim Wayman, executive vice president and chief operating officer. "Our industry is always about matching size. The combination of the XL145 and the 145 CSB will give us more blanks per sheet at a higher rate of speed."

Montalvo Turns 65

GORHAM, ME—In 2012, the Montalvo Corporation celebrates 65 successful years of providing leading electronic web control equipment, brakes, clutches, and other control devices to the converting industry worldwide. President Edwin Montalvo says, "Our focus is on providing innovative, comprehensive web control equipment, upgrades, and solutions for our customers and helping position them for the future with greater productivity and efficiency."

The Montalvo Corporation specializes in the analyzing, upgrading, and servicing of customer's web tension control equipment in the converting, paper, foil, nonwovens, and plastic film industries, as well as packaging, medical, and high-tech applications.

The company began in 1947 when Edwin J. Montalvo, Sr., with degrees in engineering and law, began as a New York City-based manufacturer's representative. In 1970, he changed careers and introduced his patented, air-cooled, dual-disc, multiple-range brakes and clutches, building prototypes in his basement.

From this background, Montalvo founded The Montalvo Corporation in Maine, where the company began producing its electronic tension control systems and load cells. It expanded facilities twice, and moved in 2000 into a brand-new, larger manufacturing and office headquarters in Gorham, Maine. Edwin Montalvo, Sr., passed away in 1985, leaving a legacy of world-class quality in the products and services of his company. pP