12.10.14
According to Nick Coombes of SGS Packaging Europe, Clarkson Services, in conjunction with Vianord, has completed the first installation of “Easy to Plate” equipment in the UK. SGS has installed the first components of a modular line at its main plant in Kingston-upon-Hull.
“After researching the market for additional capacity, increased automation and ensuring plate manufacturing consistency and quality, I decided that Vianord’s EVO automated flexo system was the leading solution available today,” says Steve Babb, managing director of SGS’s Hull plant. “The installation was completed ahead of time and after producing over 2000 plates in the first three weeks, we have been delighted with the performance and high quality of the end product.”
In 1993, SGS was a pioneer in CDI technology. The latest equipment, which has been supplied by Vianord’s UK agent and pre-press specialists, Clarkson Services, consists of three elements of the manufacturer’s modular system: the EVO 5 BPD, EVO 5 E and EVO L/F. These include a Batch Processor with inline automatic Dryer, an Exposure unit, and a Light Finisher, respectively.
Vianord’s equipment is intended to reduce handling of the plate for maximum quality and consistency. “This is a highly productive system that is low on maintenance with an online monitoring system, allowing us to predict life-cycles, carry out preventative maintenance, and importantly, diagnose faults if they occur,” says Ray Clarkson.
The wash out section has servo drive, which gives a soft start with progressive adjustment of the oscillating and rotating brushes that is determined by the speed of the plate.
Internal workings are visually viewed by internal micro cameras located at the processor exit and at the plate transfer, which are displayed on a screen mounted on the dryer system known as “Live Process Control.” The monitor is equipped with multi-screen viewing and remote technical camera assistance. The line has an automatic integrated plate punch.
“The automatic plate transfer from wash area to dryer is critical to reducing energy loss and the discharge of solvent vapors into the plate making area,” adds Clarkson. “The micro cameras allow the operator to view the plate quality on the multi-view screen before it enters the dryer section.”
The dryer utilizes “intelligent plate transfer,” which includes automatic aligning and selection of the closest drawer available to avoid unnecessary movement and loss of time. Each drawer is monitored so that the operator knows what is being stored and where. Temperature uniformity is controlled by separate interfaces with high-speed airflow to speed up plate drying.
“Our company has been serving this industry for 34 years and has seen and worked with a variety of technology and manufacturers – but we do believe that Vianord has developed something special – something that raises the industry standard by providing more control of the processes involved,” says Dale Clarkson. “It was a perfect fit for the high volume of work that SGS generates and to ensure high quality plate making production.”
“After researching the market for additional capacity, increased automation and ensuring plate manufacturing consistency and quality, I decided that Vianord’s EVO automated flexo system was the leading solution available today,” says Steve Babb, managing director of SGS’s Hull plant. “The installation was completed ahead of time and after producing over 2000 plates in the first three weeks, we have been delighted with the performance and high quality of the end product.”
In 1993, SGS was a pioneer in CDI technology. The latest equipment, which has been supplied by Vianord’s UK agent and pre-press specialists, Clarkson Services, consists of three elements of the manufacturer’s modular system: the EVO 5 BPD, EVO 5 E and EVO L/F. These include a Batch Processor with inline automatic Dryer, an Exposure unit, and a Light Finisher, respectively.
Vianord’s equipment is intended to reduce handling of the plate for maximum quality and consistency. “This is a highly productive system that is low on maintenance with an online monitoring system, allowing us to predict life-cycles, carry out preventative maintenance, and importantly, diagnose faults if they occur,” says Ray Clarkson.
The wash out section has servo drive, which gives a soft start with progressive adjustment of the oscillating and rotating brushes that is determined by the speed of the plate.
Internal workings are visually viewed by internal micro cameras located at the processor exit and at the plate transfer, which are displayed on a screen mounted on the dryer system known as “Live Process Control.” The monitor is equipped with multi-screen viewing and remote technical camera assistance. The line has an automatic integrated plate punch.
“The automatic plate transfer from wash area to dryer is critical to reducing energy loss and the discharge of solvent vapors into the plate making area,” adds Clarkson. “The micro cameras allow the operator to view the plate quality on the multi-view screen before it enters the dryer section.”
The dryer utilizes “intelligent plate transfer,” which includes automatic aligning and selection of the closest drawer available to avoid unnecessary movement and loss of time. Each drawer is monitored so that the operator knows what is being stored and where. Temperature uniformity is controlled by separate interfaces with high-speed airflow to speed up plate drying.
“Our company has been serving this industry for 34 years and has seen and worked with a variety of technology and manufacturers – but we do believe that Vianord has developed something special – something that raises the industry standard by providing more control of the processes involved,” says Dale Clarkson. “It was a perfect fit for the high volume of work that SGS generates and to ensure high quality plate making production.”