NARROW-WEB PRESS PURCHASE PAINS?

Combo's continuing evolution

There are strong signs of growth in particular end-use applications for narrow-web printing, and the development of the multi-process press makes serving all of those growth markets a more realistic goal.

With sales of shrink labels for bottles and other containers set to double between 1994 and 2004 (according to Keymark Associates' "Opportunities in Shrink Film Labels for Bottles"), the demand for a gravure element to be added to combo presses is sure to expand. Nilpeter A/S announced in May of 2001 it would incorporate gravure into their future combi-print machines, and, at Labelexpo Europe, introduced its M-3300 offset press with a gravure cassette. Also new last year, Chesnut Engineering's SUPRA 1600 was designed for short-run, narrow-web work and incorporates optional screen capability and flexo units with gravure.