DIVERSIFIED FLEXO CONFIGURATIONS WITH IN-LINE PROCESSES

If we look at modern flexographic installations you often find machines with complex designs that meet every kind of market requirement. These demand the research and development of many different combined machine configurations with on-line flexo or gravure operations.
These combination presses are designed either to tackle problems related to the nature of particular critical printing materials which require coating before printing (primer) or to produce sophisticated graphic structures of some packages, mainly for foodstuffs, which require brilliant or protective over lacquering of the printed layer both in the flexible and rigid packaging market.
These operations of coating before printing or lacquering after printing, either in continuous or registered pattern to the print, both on the front or reverse of the web, can be performed in flexo with a downstream flexo unit equipped with independent vertical drying hood which allows additional operations without jeopardizing the maximum performing speed of the machine.
If for specific products you need to apply a cold seal, wax or PVC coating, then you have to utilise one or more gravure units in-line with the flexo machine.
The majority of the flexo lines for printing and converting folding carton feature in-line flexo units to perform additional product forming operations in register to the print on the C.I. drum. These lines for folding carton production are then completed by platen or rotary die cutters produced by the Cerutti Group.
The introduction of the direct drive technology has undoubtedly favoured the engineering of these combined lines as it provides a quick and precise digital synchronization through a digital axis between the print and all the online additional equipment which follow after the C.I. printing section.
The commitment pursued by Flexotecnica in the projecting and manufacturing of these combined lines produced for the market worldwide witnesses the development of flexography which has allowed this process to achieve high quality standards.

MEGAS PRESS: THE GIANT OF FLEXO FOR SPECIALITY PACKAGES !

If the true advantage against competition is the coordinated integration between the consolidated production experience of the end user and the proven know-how of the machine manufacturer, the highly engineered printing press MEGAS fully meets this challenge.
In fact where the requirements of finished specialty packed products demand very wide web printing presses and for big printing repeats it becomes imperative to search solutions which maximise their usage to achieve profitability.
Suited for longer runs, this printing press is equipped from 2 to 8 print decks, either with central impression or with independent impression cylinders (stack type); the MEGAS is ideal where the dimensions of the package require to design a large format supporting structure with extremely robust mechanical solutions, in addition to a high standard of automation to gain efficiency and reliability.
The total automation, extended to all press areas and functions, features the entry of a printing job and its computerised information management through the numerically controlled FNC-3000 system linked with a quick and safe change of print cylinders and anilox rollers assisted by the robotised SAFELINK® system.
Another area where press automation becomes essential to gain efficiency is the inking system with the application of on-press automatic wash-up system SPEEDY CLEAN which provides auto cleaning of all inking units thus assuring faster ink changeovers.
Only significant developments taking place in the field of robotics and CNC deck positioning, digital drives and controls can help gain constant profitability for flexo producers who rely on this type of wide web presses for the production of their big packaging sizes.

THE X12 WINNER OF FLEXO TECH AWARD FOR INNOVATION

The X12 incorporates a number of important innovations aimed at remarkably optimising the machines productivity and efficiency, requirements which are demanded more and more in today's market when selecting new potential investments of this level of technology.
Infinite combinations of colours, special primer coatings required on certain substrates or printing motives with sophisticated graphic artwork and the demand of a finish over-lacquer can all be achieved on the X12 without jeopardizing production speeds.
To assure the utmost flexibility in using 12 print units combined with a drastic reduction of the press downtime, the X12 also incorporates the SSC system (Safe Sleeve Change) developed by Flexotecnica to allow the make-ready of idle print units while the others are in print in the safest and most practical way.
The X12 features consolidated direct drive technology in addition to the numerical control system for monitoring the print process using friendly designed Touch screen and Icon interface with remote controlled wireless keypads of new generation (WI-FI technology).
The design of the print deck is further enhanced by a new "Pipeless" doctor chamber design that removes all ink piping from the operating area to outside the machines substantial side frames.