Defining an Industry

Terms define technology, but for package printers, wide-format presses are enabling them to define their industry.

by Joy English, Assistant Editor

THE PACKAGE-PRINTING industry is filled with numerous terms and definitions, spelling out the processes that form its daily functions. Although these definitions help with understanding and categorization, in the end, it's the equipment that must perform. Today's wide-format presses do this well, providing the converter with everything from ease of operation and increased speeds and widths to customization.

Functionality

Multifunctionality, especially in regards to press capabilities, is vital to a converter's ability to add value to its customers' printing jobs. And top press manufacturers are offering wide-format presses with wider widths and increased speeds that accomplish an array of functions.

Windmoeller & Hoelscher's Novoflex® CM and CL presses combine wide printing widths and long repeat lengths to create wide-format presses with diverse functionality. The Novoflex CM, available in 8 and 10 colors with repeat lengths of 49-1/4˝ (8-color) and 34-1/4˝ (10-color), and the 10-color Novoflex CL press, with a 49-1/4˝ repeat length, both offer speeds up to 1,300 fpm. An optional speed enhancement package increases speeds to 2,000 fpm. Both of these presses include the ProControl® TS Windows-based operator panel with full-order menu, along with an advanced high-precision deck positioning system for reliable, high-quality printing at any speed.

The Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 102 press offers "one-pass productivity," printing on both sides of the sheet in a single pass. Coupled with this, the press' functionality is increased with such features as a preset feeder with an automatic monitoring/detection system to ensure reliable, smooth sheet travel; a stable, high-quality print inking unit; and a modular blanket washup device, a self-contained system for reduced material consumption, disposal, and maintenance costs. The 70˝ by 100˝ press, available in 2 to 12 colors, also prints on stocks with a thickness range of 0.03-0.8 mm.

When it comes to offering a multifunctional press, understanding the customers' needs is key. Paper Converting Machine Co. (PCMC) kept this in mind when it developed the gearless Infiniti II press. Lisa Prunty, marketing specialist for PCMC, said, "Our customers paved the way for this new press."

PCMC combined features from its Avanti gearless press design and the Infiniti press to form the Infiniti II. Prunty said, "We took the best of both worlds, and redesigned the Infiniti." The press offers enhanced register controls and increased print quality. It also has an anilox pusher for enhanced ease in operation. The Infiniti II is available in 8 or 10 colors with widths from 41˝-57˝, repeats of 14˝-32˝, and speeds up to 1,500 fpm.

The Fox-Series is one of Retroflex's wide-format presses, available in central impression or stack configurations. It features high speeds, auto registration, motorized deck positioning, and chambered doctoring systems with composite cavities. It comes in widths of 50˝-125˝, repeat lengths of 72˝, and line speeds up to 3,000 fpm. The press also comes in 1 to 10 colors. Configurable for both in-line and off-line installations, the press is user-friendly with changeable on-press plate sleeves.

RDP Marathon designed its RDP 380V press to be a high-performance, wide-format press for high-end markets and long runs. With a 38˝ straight through web lead, this machine offers speeds up to 1,800 fpm, and prints on substrates ranging from light form bonds to heavy paperboard, foil, and film. It also features the Maraflo V™ 4-form roller commercial inker that was designed to provide converters with an integrated dampener for maximum ink transfer at any speed.

All of these presses, with their own variety of features, are helping create a new definition of functionality, exceeding converter expectations.

Customized

The words "customize" and "customer" have the same roots of origin, centered on the idea of building/altering a product to fit one's needs. Several press manufacturers are making this idea the main building-block for their presses.

Inta-Roto manufactures special-order, extra-wide flexographic presses in 1 to 6 colors. These central impression and stack type presses come available with such features as an enclosed ink applicator/doctoring system with pneumatic blade clamping for a speedy blade and seal change; sleeve-type plate cylinders; gear or gearless drives; repeats of 60˝+; automatic washup; and Mathews-type plate lock-up systems.

For custom-made gravure presses, Inta-Roto's machines are the conventional, fixed-cylinder type with a single impression roll; sleeve-type impression roll; repeat range of 72˝ and widths up to 136˝; cylinder, compensator, and servo drive electronic registration; and web treating stations, to name a few. Converters may also have Inta-Roto rebuild an old press with mechanical drive changes and control updating. These options provide converters with the flexibility to design a wide-format press to meet their every requirement or update an older machine.

Covering a range of widths, the Bobst Group's customized Champlain presses are for in-line printing and converting. These presses are available in widths up to 56˝ with gravure or flexo printing. The 45˝ wide Champlain is available with a flat-bed or rotary cutting solution, and the 56˝ press is available with a flat-bed diecutter. Both wide-format machines are generally for large cartons, and installation includes a custom-made delivery and stacking system to meet the production demands of the converter.

New introductions

Several wide-format presses have recently been introduced to the package-printing industry, adding to the array of options for converters.

Comexi America recently completed the first of its new F1 10-color presses—the F1 2510 CNC GL. With a repeat length of 14˝-33˝ and a web width of 42˝-66˝, the press features all of its print station adjustments located outside the press' main frame, providing improved cleanliness. Intended for film and light paper converters and for the cup and plate industry, the press runs 0.010˝-0.030˝ thick material.

Another new press, to be unveiled at Drupa 2004, is the Gearless 8NG flexo press from Flexotecnica, the flexo division of North American Cerutti Corp. The new central impression press, available in 8 or 10 colors with widths from 40˝-63˝ and speeds up to 1,640 fpm, features a tool-less, quick changeover of print and anilox sleeves; Speedy Clean automatic ink wash-out system, with minimal solvent consumption; and the FNC-3000 print monitoring and management computerized system that incorporates Windows NT, touch screen, icon interface, and storage of all printing parameters. It also includes the SRS (Smart Ride) System and Sleeve Ejector.

Fischer & Krecke (F&K), at a recent open house at its headquarters in Bielefeld, Germany, introduced its new Flexpress 96S press. The new press combines Flexpress Motion®, a custom-tailorable logistics system; Flexpress Extension®, an extendible repeat length option created by using two print units to print one color, each printing half of the repeat; and Flexpress View®, a computer-controlled service system for modem or secured Internet connection that allows F&K's technical support team to provide service 24/7. It also has a width range of 75˝-98˝, repeat length of 28˝-72˝, and speeds from 1,640-2,000 fpm, and offers a maximum repeat extension of 137˝. All of these features combine to make a cost-effective press with short-run capabilities for the preprint linerboard industry.

Among other new wide-format press introductions, MAN Roland, Inc. is now offering the Roland 900 in three larger sheet formats—44˝ x 63.7˝, 47˝ x 63.7˝, and 51˝ x 72.8˝ with the largest press, the Roland 900 XXL delivering 328 percent more print area than the conventional 40˝ press. The Roland 900 handles medium- to long-run packaging and large-format applications. It also features the PECOM press center, a networkable system that enhances print quality and productivity by automating print production. The JobPilot feature makes off-line makereadies available for all print jobs, and with Prepress Link, the press can transfer job parameters directly from prepress files. Additionally, the press prints on thin papers up to 1.2 mm/0.048˝ carton stock.

BHS Printing Machinery recently installed several wide-web paperboard systems, including the 1,150 mm (45˝), 8-color press with BHS AutoSet Pro™ platen diecutter. The press is fully servo driven with computerized job prediction, memorization, and recall. The press also has a fully automatic wash-up and sleeve system for print tooling and job flexibility. BHS offers press systems with web widths up to 55˝.

So, while technological terms define the package-printing equipment, it is the equipment that is helping define the industry.

Resources

BHS Printing www.bhsworld.com

Bobst Group www.bobstgroup.com

Comexi America www.comexi.com

Fischer & Krecke www.fischer-krecke.biz

Heidelberg www.heidelberg.com

Inta-Roto www.inta-roto.com

MAN Roland www.manroland.com

N.A. Cerutti Corp. www.cerutti.com

PCMC www.pcmc.com

RDP Marathon www.rdpmarathon.com