136 | Labelexpo Americas 2022 / Finishing and converting featuring the NSU 670mm converter and Vectra turret rewinder, which the company says it can essentially run non-stop.‘Our nonstop converting line is designed to run essentially nonstop when a converter is doing something like a one-to-two color or blank label,’ says Jim Kehring, west coast regional sales manager at AB Graphic International, adding that the demonstration shown at the booth was much slower than what the converting system is capable of.ABG’s booth also featured the Ecoleaf unit from Actega Metal Print, which ABG manages direct sales, marketing and customer service for the Ecoleaf technology.Paulo Grasso, sales director for Ecoleaf at Actega, described Ecoleaf as a ‘technology to substitute many traditional metalized substrates.’ Grasso also added that the Ecoleaf doesn’t use plastics Converters look for ways to add value to labels at Labelexpo Americas 2022to process its foils but rather processes metal fakes on sleeves to be transferred to the substrates, recycling whatever is left over to “BECAUSE WE PRINT THE DESIGN WE WANT be used on the next pass. AzTech Converting Systems showed its 13in semi-rotary METALIZED ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE FOIL press which is capable of 250 ft/min depending on the size of the BEFORE IT’S IN CONTACT WITH THE SUBSTRATE, label being cut. The dual rewind, servo-driven machine is said to THIS GIVES US THE CHANCE DIRECTLY AFTER be able to control die-cutting to minute degrees. The machine can be controlled through a single HMI, that is designed and PRINTING TO CURE THE INK SO IT’S NOT programmed in-house.FLUID ANYMORE AND MORE STICKY, GIVING According to Jared Bochat, technical service, AzTech Converting, CONVERTERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY changeover on the system is roughly 10 minutes with the capability to change from semi-rotary to full rotary with just a WITHOUT HAVING IT BEING PULLED AWAY”click of a button.Bar Graphic Machinery demonstrated its BGM elite machines, add to it,’ says Trusbak.including its BGM Elite iSR label inspection slitter rewinder, At the show, the company also announced a strategic partnership showcasing speeds of up to 984 ft/min. The company also brought with Cerm on the integration of the Cerm system with Grafsk the BGM Elite eDSR Easy Load die-cut slitter rewinder and the Maskinfabrik’s machines. On the topic of partnership, CEO of BGM Elite Comfex digital fnishing system, compact, cost-effective Grafsk Maskinfabrik, Uffe Nielsen, says: ‘Interfacing Cerm software systems designed for ease of use and high speeds compared to its with the GM automation platform gives print shop owners instant market competitors. in-depth production overview. At the same time cost is saved as The Berhalter spoke about its Swiss Die-Cutter B6 at its booth, external “data collection” boxes are no longer needed.’which is touted as the fastest machine of its kind on the market KTI presented it MTR series of turret rewinders in web widths up with the capability to deliver 500 strokes/min. to 22in, roll diameters up to 16in and speeds up to 750 ft/min. In Berhalter touted the Industrial Internet of Things connected addition, the machine has four spindles, an integrated dancer for capabilities of its machine as well. Allowing operators or shop superior web control and PLC touchscreen controls, which Derek managers to quickly check the machine to ensure it’s running at full Wheeler, vice president of sales at KTI, says allows for a much more capacity and remotely run diagnostics. user-friendly experience.‘You can see the running value, blade sharpness, OEE, and even At its booth, Lemorau featured the Smart-L digital fnishing receive alerts for when the machine is due for maintenance,’ says machine. The press can be ftted with a linerless lamination station, Reto Frei, senior sales manager, Berhalter. semi-rotary or full rotary die-cutting, six circular knives for slitting, Delta Modtech brought its newly updated Crusader Converter and a rewinder. The company highlighted the software included featuring Edge Laser technology, which according to Mike Wagner, with the machine that allows operators to easily import and export business development at Delta Modtech ‘allows the machine to run job and production data, giving more insight into daily operations very accurately at higher speeds than just about any other laser with the opportunity to improve OEE.cutter in the industry.’ Martin Automatic completed a sale of an LRD rewinder Wagner added that the laser can change patterns on the fy, it was showcasing to LMI Packaging on the show foor. CEO making a roll of labels with multiple patterns much more quickly, of LMI packaging, JP Moran, said the decision to go with the with speeds running up to 300 ft/min depending on the pattern machine was based on the experience it had with another Martin of the cut. Automatic machine.Featuring six machines in its booth, Grafsk Maskinfabrik The company also showcased its MBS unwind butt splicer which highlighted its DC350Flex high-speed label fnisher. Fitted is said to be able to work nonstop on labels, fexible packaging, onto the machine was a multi-web module that could produce and shrink sleeves. Based on the sale of its rewinder, the company multilayer labels. spoke about the ease of use of its machines, ‘Our goal is to always Lykke Trusbak, director of labels segment at Grafsk Maskinfabrik, make the operator’s job easier, so hearing what JP had to say is just says that many of the machines featured at the show are fully music to our ears. Increasing productivity, improving downtime, modular, which allows new converting equipment to be ft onto and just making people’s lives easier is what we’re always striving the line depending on what the customer needs. This equipment for,’ says Gavin Rittmeyer, vice president of sales and marketing at can also be controlled by a singular HMI with software developed Martin Automatic.in-house by Grafsk Maskinfabrik, which makes operating easier and, ‘makes us standout because when you look at our competitors, To watch a video from the Digital Embellishment Trail at they have extra screens depending on the number of passes, but Labelexpo Americas 2022, visit https://bit.ly/3CXv5x0ours is fully integrated onto one screen no matter how much you labelsandlabeling.com