New product launches along with first time exhibitors, digital printing and new trends were the makings of a vibrant Flexo 2005 in Birmingham, UK (March 15-18), where among the main attractions were the on-site best practice seminars led by key industry experts. Attendance figures and statistics have still to be audited but unofficial total participants numbered 2605. This included Andy McCulloch, Pre-press Manager from Dyson who won a mini Ipod in the IIR Exhibitions pre-registration draw.
In addition to on-stand focus, the show’s time to market theme was carried forward through the T2M Advisory Centre. The centre provided visitors with independent advice on the most appropriate flexo or digital solution to apply to specific job requirements. Enquiries were wide ranging and included projects as diverse as customised shrink sleeving for fencing posts, and conversion of quick-release adhesive-backed post-it notes.
Key industry companies confirmed a vibrant and successful flexo 2005 with exhibitors reporting a steady flow of visitors and high-level interest throughout the show.
A new line of Sleeve Washers was launched by Flexowash and president, Henning Kongstad also confirmed a successful show. “This is our fourth flexo show and the best so far. Traditionally we are well established in the label market, but for this show we were aiming at wide web and launched our SL1500 Cuatro Sleeve Wash syste. We were busy every day and took a serious level of enquiries”.
First time exhibitor Luscher introduced Flexpose QS, a sleeve mounting system that enables sleeves to be mounted on its Flexpose direct laser ablation system without the use of air mandrels, increasing sleeve throughput.
GEW launched e-Brick, a modular and compact space saving electronic power supply with less than 30 per cent of the volume and 20 per cent of the weight of conventional systems. The 3-phase input is balanced under all running conditions and high power factor is claimed to result in up to 30 per cent less energy consumption on some systems. With the incorporation of digital printing at the show, the company also featured Jetcure for UV cured inks.
First time Exhibitor Agfa demonstrated its dot.factory. “The interest in our Dotrix digital inkjet printer at flexo 2005 was phenomenal. We ran live demonstrations via satellite link from a customer in Belgium and had full house attendance everyday of the show” stated Colin McMichael, Agfa sales manager.
Aimed at the developing shrink sleeve market, Ink manufacturer Intercolor introduced Optiflex SF, a free radical UV cured ink formulation for shrink sleeve films with high adhesion and fast curing speeds. The new ink system offers strong adhesion that permit the ink to fuse with the substrate immediately including untreated metallised surfaces.
Macdermid Graphic Arts launched the new Lava system for round or flat platemaking for conventional solvent or thermal processing using a specially developed photopolymer plate.
Aiming at the label market, MIS provider, and first time exhibitor, Shuttleworth Business Systems introduced its new label software package. The system incorporates estimating built around user defined templates.
Dupont Imaging Technologies introduced its next generation thermal developer, Cyrel FAST TD4260 to serve wide web customers. The newest member of the Cyrel FAST dry platemaking system is available for plates up to 1067mm wide and 1525mm long allowing a finished plate to be produced in just under one hour.
New from Tectonic is K2it a low cost print inspection system offering the benefit of wireless image transfer. On demand images of live print runs are transferred from an installed K2it to networked PCs for inspection to nominated personnel. K2it permits both quality control and allows management to monitor print runs.
First time exhibitor SOMA Engineering from the Czech Republic, introduced its servo driven Mini, Midi and Quick range of CI printing presses for conventional or UV flexo printing in widths from 820mm to 1270mm.
Adhesive tape manufacturer Tesa exhibited Softprint Steel Master TP (thin plate) adhesive tapes on a narrow web, video plate mounting machine. The tapes were developed for use on steel cylinders and feature small, completely closed, spherical, evenly distributed foam cell.
Saueressig launched its Infinity ITR (In The Round) sleeve technology for the production of seamless raw sleeves. “We anticipate turning some very positive enquiries into orders. The level of enquiries taken were of a serious nature and we are very happy with the outcome of the show”, commented Dick Bertling.
