Labelexpo Americas: New Products

From prepress hardware/software and high-tech printing systems to new substrates, inks and digital-finishing equipment, here's just a sampling of new products to be shown at Labelexpo Americas 2008.

By Chief Editor Mark Spaulding -- Converting Magazine, 8/1/2008

“Sleeved” ELS-D Series press

Aquaflex (Booth 343) will exhibit the addition of the ELS-D series to the popular ELS servo-press line. This new ELS variant will feature dual-axis, servo-driven printheads utilizing cantilevered, sleeved plate cylinders, automatic registration, electronic job storage and a robust remote diagnostics capability. Currently available in the 16-in. web width on the ELS 16-D, the dual-axis, sleeved printhead, or “D” series will also be offered in 10- and 13-in. widths.

Universal platform hybrid press

The new Universal Platform on the Xpannd hybrid press from GIDUE (Booth 1241) offers the possibility to interchange, under perfect modularity, the RSI and the famous Flower™ flexo process head. With the Hi-Offset Xpannd combination presses, recently certified by the German SID Institution, the value of the printed products is extremely widened. More new technologies to be shown: The latest cost-efficient, hot-stamping technology, the Intelligent Register 2.0 using cameras placed on each printing station and allowing the perfect register with reduced waste and perfect monitoring of the machine printing pressures.

Cleaning equipment

Flexo Wash (Booth 939) will display the new FW Handy XL, a narrow-web anilox cleaner and the new PK EZ Clean Plate & Parts Washer, both designed for entry-level, narrow-web flexo printers. These stainless-steel machines, along with the Flexo Wash technologically-enhanced PK200 Wash-Rinse Top Load Parts Washer and the newly designed PK-92 Rotary Screen Washer, demonstrate the depth of equipment available.

Three high-tech presses; digital platemaking

The RCS 330 servo-driven press from Gallus (Booth 5901) will show attendees how jobs can be changed over with virtually no waste and without the need to even stop the web. The Gallus TCS 250 press will feature for the first time a rotary diecutter offered as an option. The Gallus EM 280 press will produce a multi-layered Brand Protection (BPA) job including Gallus Screeny and feature for the first time a servo infeed/outfeed system. That system will be located at the Kurz Booth 1817. The all-new Gallus Digital Screeny uses digital laser technology (Esko) to produce plates without the need for films and integrates into current or future digital workflow.

AMAGIC Foils (Booth 455), author of the famous “Cold Foil For Dummies,” will introduce its new KOLDfoil line in 15 different shades of silver, gold, matte colors, blue, red and green. Included UV-printable silver, which does not require primers for proper UV-curable ink adhesion.

Modular inkjet printing

The prototype narrow-web DSI (Digital System Integration) module from Stork Prints (Booth 529) boasts an “open platform.” It is easy to integrate into the printing presses from many label-press manufacturers. With top speeds of up to 35 mpm, the single-pass inkjet printing module offers fast changeover times and handles all main paper and film substrates. It gives label printers the chance to complement their existing press with inkjet technology, effectively topping up productivity with short, high-value, full-color runs, or configure it as a dedicated press.

Continuous size-variable web press

Muller Martini (Booth 5924) will showcase the Alprinta-V continuously size-variable web press for faster changeovers and extensive cost savings. Two Alprinta-V static units will be shown: One unit will be offset, the other flexo, giving package producers a first-hand look at the hybrid-printing capabilities. Many diverse product samples produced on the Alprinta-V will also be displayed along with a live demonstration of an actual size-part change so attendees can see just how quickly the Alprinta-V can be changed over.

Cushion-mounting tapes

R/bak SA3000 Series of cushion mounting tapes from Rogers Corp. (Booth 1334) now come with improved handling features. The SA 3000 Series comprises three levels of compressibility to accommodate the full range of flexographic printing applications from process work to combination jobs as well as line and solid work. SA 3000 Series products combine Rogers’ field proven open-cell urethane cushion technology and specially developed acrylic adhesives in a product construction that is designed to handle easily while providing excellent printing results.

Water-based, screen inks; digital-label press

Sun Chemical’s (Booth 6123) AquaPro is the next generation of water-based ink technology. It offers superior print densities, user-friendly press stability, excellent performance on paper and film substrates, enhanced thermal resistance, and easy clean up. Platinum White enables rotary screen-like opacities to be achieved with a single flexo pass at flexo web speeds. It is a user-friendly product that delivers increased line speeds, faster changeovers, improved color separations and reduced costs. The SolarJet™ digital-label, four-color, web-fed press offers printers an economically viable solution for print runs of 10,000 labels or fewer with a speed of 80 fpm, freeing up their flexo presses for the higher-volume jobs.

Soy inks and more

Introducing the first-ever, water-based, flexo inks using renewable soy-resin technology, Flint Group Narrow Web (Booth 5713) says these inks meet Soy Seal™ approval, provide great printability, good color strength, are stable on press, and easy to use. CombiScreen VOC-free inks are available in Pantone base colors, are ideal for combination printing and can be used on all label substrates. Newly formulated Flexocure Ebony ink provides superb blackness while Flexocure Ivory provides the whitest white in a UV-flexo ink, says co., rivaling UV-screen whites.

Release liners and substrates

Rayven (Booth 1719) will display a new 48-gauge (ultra-slim) PET release liner. This narrow-width slit product is available in large-diameter rolls. Also on exhibit will be economical, pressure-sensitive adhesive for films; and inkjet papers and other adhesive-coated products for the label market.

Tension-control upgrades

Among the products at The Montalvo Corp. Booth 5738: For light-tension applications will be C-Series brakes, N-Series load cells, S-3100 tension controllers, the TNT tension-roller assembly, and the DTI-3400 dancer controller. Co. specializes in upgrades for lines including Mark Andy, Comco, Nilpeter, AquaFlex, Rotoflex, Rotopress, Webtron and others. There will also be tension-control product demonstrations.

Web inspection, guiding systems

BST Pro Mark (Booth 837) extensive array of new web-inspection, web-guiding and print registration-control systems to be unveiled at Labelexpo Americas 2008 include (1) the S UPER HandyScan® 4000, which features a high-resolution digital camera, Virtual Repeat Technology™, a graphic user interface, touchscreen image navigation, 100% scan, Combi-Scan and optional in-line color monitoring and job recipe save. (2) The Shark™ 4000 LeX 100% inspection system now handles webs up to 80 in. wide and speeds up to 2,200 fpm. (3) A complete line of plug-and-play web-guiding systems for narrow-web applications, using the new ekr500 controller, ultrasonic or infrared sensors and an optional splice table. (4) The CLS Pro 600 for web guiding of continuous or broken printed lines, contrast or web edges uses automatic LED lighting and a color CCD camera that provides laser-guided precision. (5) The AR4000 register-control system is designed for offset and in-line flexo presses. Its ultra-compact CCD camera package with intelligent image processing insures perfect control of color-to-color register, front to back control and color-to-cut or perforation and color-to laquer or varnish on flexo presses. (6) The ISM In-Line Spectral Measurement unit provides spectral measurement and density of the colors measured in-line at press speeds up to 3,900 fpm.

Short-run offset web press

Codimag’s (Booth 3429) VIVA 420 Aniflo semi-rotary web press, with a revolutionary new ink train, is a short-run offset solution with quick changeover and low waste. It has a wider web width of 16.5-in. and offers print repeats from 8 to 17 in. in waterless-offset print quality. Semi-rotary technology does not require changing cylinders or gears for format changes. The new short ink train utilizes flexo ink feed with offset image carriers and transfer. The press is designed for short to medium runs, allowing 300-lpi and stochastic rulings.

Digital prepress solutions

Digital-imaging systems specifically designed for narrow-web applications will be among equipment displayed by Anderson & Vreeland, Inc. (Booth 529). Materials to be displayed include Polywest sleeves that are lightweight, offer greater cut resistance and excellent stability. Anderson & Vreeland supports these products with almost 50 years of flexo experience that results in smoother and easier integration of technical advancements affecting flexo prepress, including digital workflow.