Coast to Coast - November 2011

Automatic Roll Change Pays Off

GRAHAM, N.C.—Acucote, a custom coating and laminating converter based in Graham, N.C., has recently installed a Martin Automatic ECPF splicer, and is on-course for an 18-month payback on the investment. The company runs three shifts, five or six days a week, and says its lines run best non-stop, because this removes the need for manual splicing that can be unreliable, and waste time and material.

According to Paul Sanborn, VP of manufacturing at Acucote, "We tried to develop our own solution for an unwinder, but it didn't give us the desired results and ended up being very problematic." Acucote knew of Martin Automatic's reputation in web handling and approached them for a non-stop splicer. Key to the successful installation was a clear up-front understanding of what Acucote expected from its investment. "The questions [Martin Automatic] ask are the reasons their equipment is so well-engineered," Sanborn added.

Working with Martin engineers and technical sales, Acucote equipped its adhesive coating lines with Martin splicers for both the wet and dry unwinds, and with Martin automatic transfer rewinders. As part of its mission to provide technically complex, high-value self-adhesive products, Acucote runs a wide variety of substrate, including paper, paperboard, film, and fabric. With many jobs averaging only about 5,000 feet, frequent material changes are necessary.

"When we are adding adhesive to this range of substrates, changing jobs from one to the next can be challenging, but the Martin splicers and rewinders have no problem accommodating the diversity of substrates and handling roll changes without stopping," he stated.

Acucote's Martin Automatic ECPF splicer is on-course for an 18-month payback on investment.

ILLINOIS

ALSIP—Accord Carton will become the second package printer in the world to install a manroland 7-color Roland 907-6 press with coater. The installation is scheduled for late February 2012.

Robert Codo, president of Accord Carton, says, "In the last five years we've gone from $7 million to nearly $40 million in sales. There are still plenty of opportunities out there for us and we need this new machine to take us to the next level."

The installation of the new manroland will be coupled with a plant expansion to accommodate the press, as well as provide space for staging materials to efficiently keep pace with the new machine. Codo anticipates that the doubling of its capacity will allow his company to capitalize on existing new business opportunities.

NEBRASKA

OMAHA—Specialty Finishing, a full-service folding carton manufacturer, has purchased two large-format presses from KBA North America. The purchase was finalized at Graph Expo in early September. The new 6-color and 7-color presses are equipped with coaters and KBA's automation and in-line quality control features.

"We chose to purchase two large-format presses from KBA because they could offer the highest level of automation and productivity, as well as a custom-configured press for our particular needs," says Mark Wright, president. "These presses will allow our company to continue its rapid growth and offer our customers the highest level of productivity and quality that they expect."

WISCONSIN

COLUMBUS—American Packaging Corp. (APC) has ordered its second Comexi Acom Platinum custom-built gravure press to meet increased demand for capacity. As part of its equipment investment and building expansion strategy—worth $17 million—the company is installing the new press in the Gravure Printing Division located in Columbus, Wis.

Dennis Couture, VP of operations for APC, states: "The goal of the corporation is to be a leading company in the American market, with a strong commitment of providing the highest level of quality, service, and innovation. … These are a very important factors to support food, pharma, pet food, and agrichemical markets, requiring the purchase of highly efficient machinery that can meet and exceed stringent manufacturing processes, while at the same time providing efficient set-up turnarounds." pP