Pioneer Balloon Installs W&H’s 8-color PRIMAFLEX CL

LINCOLN, R.I.—Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corporation announces the sale of an 8-color 52˝ (1,320 mm) PRIMAFLEX CL flexographic printing press to the Pioneer Balloon Company of Wichita, KS. The press was installed at the company’s El Dorado, KS plant in early December 2006 and is now fully operational.

The PRIMAFLEX CL represents W&H’s latest variation PRIMAFLEX central impression flexographic sleeve press. It differs from other PRIMAFLEX versions due to its extended repeat length which features a maximum print repeat of 42.1˝ (1070 mm). W&H’s other PRIMAFLEX variations—the CM and CS—feature repeat lengths up to 31.5˝ (800 mm).

According to Pioneer Balloon’s Executive Vice President Betty Vlamis, the company requires a press with extended repeats to accommodate the production of its trademark Qualatex Microfoil balloons. The PRIMAFLEX will be printing on metalized nylon film that is then converted into various balloon shapes and sizes. “The simple round silver foil balloon of yesterday has evolved,” explains Vlamis. “Although the film is the same [a vapor coating of aluminum onto biaxially-oriented nylon], the balloons that are made from it now come in different shapes.”

Vlamis explains that the Microfoil balloons can be customized for a particular product such as the “Coors Silver Bullet blimp balloon”, or combined with an inserted module to produce ‘balloons with a beat’ like the “B-Bops” music balloon. Using a simple on/off switch, one can play excerpts from original hits by original artists, or listen to licensed character voices sending birthday wishes. In addition to metalized film substrates the PRIMAFLEX CL will also print on poly film that will be converted into packages to hold latex balloons also manufactured by Pioneer.

The PRIMAFLEX CL flexographic press installed by Pioneer Balloon includes 8 color decks, a maximum material width of 52˝ (1,320 mm) and a maximum printing width of 50˝ (1,270 mm). Production speeds measure up to 1,000 fpm (300 m/min) and print repeats range from 14.5˝-41.25˝ (370–1050 mm). The press also features W&H’s EASY-SET fully automatic impression setting system and the PROCONTROL Touch Screen Main Operator Panel designed for easy handling by the operator and to have all production steps under control.