Italian press manufacturer, Gidue, has developed a servo driven X-Combat press for automatic reel-to-reel production of packaging materials. Based on the design of its well-proven flower concept print head and E-Combat press, the X-Combat is equipped with MR and ATR non-stop, unwind and rewind system. Federico d’Annunzio, managing director of Gidue says, “With this development narrow web converters can use their broad skills in UV flexo to penetrate other packaging markets that are placing new demands on printers for shorter runs and just in time deliveries.
"The exceptional level of skills in quick changeover developed by label printers will become useful in competing in the wide web environment”.
One of the company’s first installations of the X-Combat was an eight colour, UV flexo press in South Africa that prints up to 530mm wide and is designed for the production of PVC shrinkable sleeves and 30 micron BOPP.
The press was specifically manufactured without additional converting equipment for dedicated, non-stop, high-speed roll-to-roll production.
The MR unwinder is a semi-automatic double unwinder that assists the operator to change reels at a speed of 30 to 40 metres a minute without the need to stop the printing press.
Gidue says the primary objective of this new development is to provide the industry with an economic non-stop solution that significantly reduces waste on the press.
Not only is there now no need to stop the press during reel changes, it is possible to use small rolls or even the end of rolls that are often discarded and considered as waste.
The MR includes two unwinders that can be brake or servomotor driven, a dancer operated tension control and a Marriage Roller splicing system.
The ATR is a fully automatic turret rewinder that includes a dancer operated tension controller, a slitting unit, a Banana Roller, a blade-cutting device and a double spindle rewinder on a rotating turret. Each spindle is servo driven. Reel changes at 200m/min are achieved with reel diameters of up to 1000mm possible.
The ATR is dedicated to the high productivity required for the flexible packaging industry as well as for cartons where non-stop production is a must.
The dancer operated tension control feature allows cutting of very thin filmic materials as well as carton board up to 450gsm.
