For many applications

This co. introduces a new range of pressure-sensitive piggyback constructions, which is a label inside a label and comprised of a single facestock and two liners. A piggyback label construction enables the top-layer label to be peeled away and affixed to another surface. These labels are increasingly used in applications such as promotional and coupon labeling, direct mail, medical/laboratory applications, and multi-part continuous forms. These piggyback labelstocks are developed for inkjet, laser and copier applications. The co.'s range of face materials includes 50 lb. Laser Plus, 50 lb. Data, Transfer Premium Plus, 54 lb. Raflacoat, and Kromekote® Extragloss. All piggyback labelstocks use the co.'s proprietary permanent adhesives.

Raflatac, Inc., 828/651-4800, fax: 828-651-4860, www.raflatac.com

For any application

Polyguard™ core plugs are said to provide protection for a variety of roll types. The standard core plug has up to 12 supporting ribs for strength. The heavy-duty core plugs have a flangeless design for easier stacking. These core plugs also offer double plugs that allow pallet-pack shipping for narrow width rolls, anchor plugs with a unique self-locking mechanism and a deep anchor design that permanently bonds spool components, and pad plugs specifically engineered to secure and protect rolls from damage during storage and shipping.

Niagara Caps & Plugs, 800/458-0465, www.niagaracapsandplugs.com

For DOD applications

This co. introduces its new low-temperature UV inkjet inks for drop-on-demand (DOD) applications. The new inks were designed to offer important performance and production benefits to inkjet printer manufacturers and converters. The low-viscosity inks require no heating in the printhead before use, enabling manufacturers to develop simpler, lower-cost inkjet printing systems for UV inkjet technologies. Commercial printers and converters using these high-performing inks are said to gain the flexibility to print on a wide range of heat-sensitive substrates such as plastics, films, foils, metal sheeting and paperboard.

Jetrion LLC, a div. of Flint Ink, 734/622-6218, www.jetrion.com

For vision sensors

In-Sight® Explorer™ is software designed for its family of In-Sight vision sensors. Explorer is said to combine easy development of vision applications with efficient administration of a vision sensor network. The new In-Sight Explorer software includes a suite of development, management, and monitoring tools. This software will provide information to simplify the entire vision application development, which includes connecting a vision sensor, configuring a vision application, operating a vision system, expanding a vision network, as well as maintaining, monitoring and reporting.

Cognex Corp., 508/650-3140, www.cognex.com

Reduces operator lifting

This roll unloading technology is said to significantly reduce shaft handling and related lifting injuries associated with operating turret winders. This option is available for all the co.'s turret winders for film and coating applications. The new design features two arms for lowering and unloading full rolls onto a cart. One arm pivots away from the winder for roll removal while the second arm holds the shaft in place. This eliminates all unnecessary lifting and simplifies the unloading process.

Davis-Standard, 860/599-1010, www.davis-standard.com

With branded airshaft

COR-LOK® airshafts for cantilevered installations in narrow-web applications are now available with the Lateral Adjust (LA) option. The new system is designed for use with label presses. The LA option is built into the airshaft. An easily and safely operated handwheel facilitates side-to-side +/- 4 in. adjustments while the machine is running and production continues. The system includes the co.'s exclusive adjustable core stop flange. The airshaft can be inflated with an air gun or through a toggle valve.

Converter Accessory Corp., 800/433-2413, fax: 610/863-7818, www.handleyourweb.com

For narrow webs

The ELSCAN Micro system is designed for flexible, web viewing in label and business form printing and narrow web converting. By means of color digital video capture, the system is able to see the printed image in detail. With its compact size and easily upgradeable, open PC architecture, the ELSCAN Micro offers easy integration and long life cycles without obsolescence, says co. Open architecture components include a Firewire video card and a small junction box for the computer interface. No special cabling is necessary for installation.

Erhardt + Leimer, 864/486-3000, fax: 864/486-3025, www.erhardt-leimer.com

To change thickness

The FastGap® system used by extrusion processors to change sheet or film thickness without stopping production is now capable of yielding even more extruder uptime. The new and patented Toggle FastGap™ system prevents downtime, unlike the standard FastGap. Both standard and Toggle FastGap systems effect changes in die gap by applying force at regular intervals along the lower lip of the die in order to bend the lip. To eliminate lubrication with the Toggle FastGap, the old mechanism was replaced with an array of toggles along the width of the die. Instead of the sliding motion of the keys, there is the rotary motion of the pins and bushings at the ends of the toggle shafts.

Extrusion Dies Industries, LLC, 715/726-1201, fax: 715/726-2205 www.extrusiondies.com

With digital three-phase

The SECO™ M5000 Series digital, three-phase DC drive is a programmable, microprocessor-based adjustable speed DC drive. Available in line regenerative and non-regenerative styles, the M5000 controls the speed and torque of an industrial DC motor using a minimum of panel space, wiring time and cost, says co. The M5000 Series meets the requirements of all DC drive applications—from basic single-motor installations to the most demanding multi-motor systems. The unit allows keypad control of each parameter while the digital readout provides on-line monitoring of drive operations and performance, reports co.

Danaher Motion, 440/995-3200, fax: 440/995-3204, www.danaherlinear.com

Made of polyester

This co. introduces a new .020 in. polyester doctor-blade material. This product is designed to replace steel containment blades on chambered doctor-blade systems. As the steel containment blade wears, the worn material goes into suspension and becomes part of the ink system. These steel particles are thought to be a cause of anilox roll scoring and other forms of roll damage.

Flexo Concepts, 508/830-9606, fax: 508/830-0277, www.flexoconcepts.com

For converters

Fresh-Lock® Zipper introduces a new line of reclosable retort zippers. These polypropylene zippers are designed for retort and other high-temperature packaging applications, and are capable of resisting the high temperatures demanded by the retort process. They are available for both bottom-fill and top-fill pouch applications, and can be used in stand-up pouch or three-side-seal pouch designs. New equipment is not required because the zipper is easily incorporated into existing form-fill-seal equipment currently being used for zipper applications.

Presto Products Co., 920/739-9471, fax: 920/738-1458, www.fresh-lock.com

For nonwoven wipes

The new ENR Series automatic nonwoven wipes perforator rewinder offers users the opportunity to unwind, perforate, slit and rewind a set count of nonwoven product sheets per roll—automatically. Two models are available in the Series; an ENR-760 at 30 in. wide and the ENR-1000 at 42 in. wide. The ENR-760 will produce four 7-in. wide finished rolls per log at up to 15 logs per minute, which provides 60 finished rolls per minute. The ENR-1000 will produce six 7-in. wide finished rolls per log at up to 15 logs per minute, which provides 90 finished rolls per minute.

Elsner Engineering Works, Inc., 717/637-5991, fax: 717/633-7100, www.elsnereng.com

With high thermal capacity

The BTBA Tension Control Brake features a three-part system to ensure maximum heat capacity, reports co. An integral fan works with the finned rotor to cool the brake, while the co.'s open designed guard allows heat to dissipate away from the machine. Cross drilled holes in the rotor further increase air flow, adding a critical element to the BTBA's optimal heat dissipation. The BTBA retrofits shaft-mounted brakes with a straight bore requiring no flange.

Nexen Group, Inc., 651/286-1054, www.nexengroup.com

To dry coatings

The SFA infrared air heater system was designed to dry coating on Microporous Membrane Film. This medium wavelength electric infrared heater has rapid heat-up and cool-down capabilities. Heated air enhances the drying process and has independent controls. Optical pyrometer reads and controls the temperature of the film exiting the heater system.

Radiant Energy Systems, Inc., 800/486-7786, fax: 973/423-5228, www.radiantenergy.com

With easy roll retrieval

This co. recently signed a contract to supply the new PrintMaster VC. The PrintMaster VC is an automated version of the standard roll storage system allowing printers one-touch pushbutton operation for easy roll retrieval. With its unique design, the carousel system can be expanded in height or width to fit any spacing limitations. This system is said to eliminate any damage issues due to the ease of roll storage and operation of the unit. Each system comes equipped with heavy-duty nylon slings making it easy for one person to load.

HarperScientific.com, 866/588-8686, fax: 704/588-3371, www.harperscientific.com

For process heating

This co. provides through-air drying technology that can be used for process heating a wide range of air-permeable products such as nonwovens. In this through-air dryer, heated air is supplied to the interior of the dryer enclosure through a perforated plenum mounted above the product line. A suction plenum beneath the line mechanically pulls hot air through the product. Heat transfer is almost instant, throughout the thickness of the product. Air drawn in through the suction plenum is returned to the burner chamber for reheating and re-use. For products that are heated in an indexing operation, an air bypass system can be used to keep the dryer at operating temperature, cutting recovery time to a bare minimum and reducing energy costs.

Glenro Inc., 888/453-6761, www.glenro.com

For packaging & nonwovens

VersaBlue® 50 adhesive melters are said to deliver enhanced flexibility, reliability, durability and performance to high-volume, high-speed packaging and nonwoven operations. The precision melter technology provides precise adhesive add-on weights and reduces maintenance. This adhesive melter offers variable-speed AC motors and multiple pump selections to meet specific manufacturing requirements. The VersaBlue melters are currently available in 12-, 25- and 50-liter tank sizes with 100-liter sizes becoming available in mid-2004. The grid and reservoir tank design reduces adhesive degradation while maximizing adhesive throughput.

Nordson Corp., 800/683-2314, www.nordson.com

With new enhancements

The Printkote Advantage® family of C1S and C2S bleached paperboards has significantly enhanced its aesthetic characteristics. This enhancement is a new styling that gives each Printkote Advantage product absolute whiteness. Because of this new enhancement with no color shade at all, it is said to facilitate faster make-ready times and quicker press approvals by reducing the need for color corrections on press. The lack of OBAs also improves the color stability and consistency of images printed on enhanced Printkote Advantage by exhibiting the same brightness under different lighting conditions, and the fact that it fades and yellows less over time.

MeadWestvaco, 203/461-7645, www.meadwestvaco.com/prg

For pulp & paper

The LEWA Series M900 dye metering system for the pulp and paper industry is said to provide accurate, repeatable flows and minimizes downtime between production runs. This system features pump heads with sealless PTFE sandwich diaphragms that provide +/-0.5 percent accuracy and >99.97 percent repeatability to assure uniform dye intensity on the finished paper.

American Lewa, Inc., 888/539-2123, fax: 508/429-8615, www.americanlewa.com

Production tool

The new Model 5900 series static generators and static generator bars are said to give users the temporary adhesive force of positive and negative ions to aid in a variety of converting and processing operations. This effective production tool offers a means of temporarily bonding or holding in place various similar and dissimilar materials, without the need for glue, double-side tape or mechanical strapping devices. Converting operations that can benefit from these generators include edge pinning to prevent shrinking of film on chill rollers, glueless/tapeless lamination of multiple sheets prior to sheeting, electrostatic purging of air from wicketed bars prior to packing, plus general temporary binding of materials.

Takk Industries, 800/792-8255, sales@takk.com

UV/Ozone

UV OZONE PLUS is a new dry surface treatment technology that uses ultraviolet light and ozone to both clean and modify the molecular surface of solids. Low pressure UV light is used to generate a unique combination of wavelengths that both clean the surface of contaminants and modify the bond strength of the surface atomic layer.

Optical Associates Inc., 408/232-0600, fax: 408/433-9904, www.oainet.com