Since its introduction at Drupa 2004, the Bobst Titan SR8 (www.bobstgroup.com) cantilevered slitter/rewinder has reportedly gotten rapid approval in the converting field by both small, independent companies and larger, multinational converting groups. Its success has not been restricted to any specific market or global region but appears to be worldwide, the supplier says.

One of the machine's latest orders—for a 65-in.-wide Titan SR8—came from Banbury, UK-based Morane, a subsidiary of Bunzl plc. Morane is a top European manufacturer of high-quality coated films for print protection and for security films used to authenticate documents such as passports and national ID cards.

The Titan SR8 processes the full range of Morane's polyester (PET/PE) and polypropylene (BOPP/PE) laminates in thicknesses of 27 to 250 microns. The machine is outfitted with automatic knife- and laser core-positioning systems, automatic slit-roll unloading and closed- and open-loop tension control.

Perhaps the most important aspects of the installation (particularly for the UK) is that Morane's Titan SR8 has a 2-in. top differential rewind shaft together with a 3-in. bottom differential rewind shaft. An unusual thread-path, roll-change system enables rapid changeover of roller types for the different materials being processed.

"We're looking forward to improving our slitting capacity with the new Titan SR8, which promises to be very versatile and will substantially increase our productivity," says Mark Palmer, managing director of Morane.

The SR8 is also capable of slitting polypropylene (MOPP) pressure-sensitive tear-tape material (26 to 125 microns) for sister company PP Payne. PP Payne is a pioneer of p-s tear tapes for consumer packaging, operating advanced manufacturing facilities in the US, the UK, Indonesia, Brazil and India. Morane, PP Payne and another Bunzl sister firm, Laminex, recently merged into a single business known simply as Payne. The combined operations are expected to have annual 2005 sales of US$90 million.

"I am delighted that we will maximize the potential of each of these businesses by bringing them together as Payne, building on the substantial investment by Bunzl to further develop our technology, quality and service," says Tony Edwards, managing director of Payne.