Packaging Solutions
Heidelberg has presented its extensive portfolio around label production at not one, but two events in September. Gallus, a subsidiary of Heidelberg, demonstrated all the possibilities around digital and conventional label printing as well as digital finishing in the narrow web field at Labelexpo in Brussels (Gallus digital press folder). At the Label Day at the Wiesloch-Walldorf site, visitors saw complete production workflows for wet glue and in-mould labels (IML) on Speedmaster machines.
The IML production showcase featured not one, but two world premieres. With the FoilStar Cure, it is now possible for the first time to realise the reliable application of cold foil on IML foils across the entire run on a Speedmaster XL 106. The new IML Performance Package significantly increases productivity.
Visitors to the Label Day, however, also got to experience the production of wet glue labels live in two workflows, one on a Speedmaster XL 75 eight colour double coating Anicolor press with Multicolor, and one on a Speedmaster XL 106 eight colour double coating perfecting press with FoilStar for applying cold foil. In both cases, finishing took place on an Easymatrix 106 FC for hot foil embossing. The quality inspection was performed by a Diana Eye 55.
‘At the Label Day, we showcase our technological innovativeness in this important market segment,’ explained Stephan Plenz, member of the management board responsible for digital technology at Heidelberg. ‘The machines are precisely matched to the customer’s respective requirements, and help the customer to achieve profitable production in the growth market of labels. With our modular printing systems in offset, digital and flexo technology, on the web or on sheets, we can meet the customer needs of the label world in an innovative and economically efficient way.’
For the second world premiere, Heidelberg showcased its new IML Performance Package at the Label Day. This has been developed specifically for thin cold foils with a grammage of 45 µm to 100 µm to enable stable processing with high speed and maximum performance. The new package was demonstrated on a Speedmaster XL 106 eight colour press with coating unit and the CutStar roll sheeter. The package consists of special modifications in the feeder and in the delivery, a modified sheet transfer between the individual units, and antistatic devices. The first users of this package achieve a significantly improved net output in practice, and have already ordered additional machines with this equipment.
