Steve Katz, Editor03.03.15
According to Bob Chiracosta, ICE USA show director, the expo’s growth is not only due to an increased number of exhibitors, but also suppliers’ desire to show visitors first-hand their converting machinery’s capabilities. “Many companies increased their presence at ICE USA 2015 in order to demonstrate running equipment,” Chiracosta said, adding that this year’s show brought more than 350 exhibitors.
Craig Sheppard, executive director of AIMCAL (Association of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators), the organization that supported the show’s educational program, said, “We have such a concentration of our industry here, that if there is anything new, you’re going to find it, you’re going to see it, and you’re going to have the opportunity to understand it as well. And there are new and exciting things out there on the floor to see.”
The L&NW team was among those walking the show floor, and can attest to a busy expo, with crowded booths and the hum of running equipment. Here are some of the highlights:
PolymagTek featured several products, including the Extender, a self-contained oscillating tape system. With the Extender, explained general manager Ron Sweet, the tape roll traverses 1.5 inches across the face of the Contact Cleaning Roll (CCR) thereby eliminating the “line of travel” saturation caused by slit edge contamination. “This ‘line of travel’ saturation creates an increased amount of contamination build-up on specific areas of the tape – which leads to premature tape change-out – while other areas of the tape are still highly functional,” Sweet explains. “The tape oscillation feature helps to spread the contaminants out, thus extending the life of your adhesive tape by up to 1200% with regard to slit-edge contamination.”
PolymagTek also showcased a two-sided, single nip web cleaner. According to Sweet, this particular cleaner is the “workhorse” of the contact web-cleaning world, as it’s simple and maintenance-free, at a fraction of the cost when compared to competing two-sided contact cleaning technology.
Anilox roll-cleaning specialist Sonic Solutions exhibited its new Model PX-721. The PX-721 is an anilox sleeve cleaning system that uses ultrasonic technology to clean sleeves up to 70 inches long. Cleaning one sleeve at a time, the stainless steel cleaner holds 18 gallons of solution while delivering 1,500 watts of power at 68 Khz. Other features include a fixed-heating thermostat that provides a low liquid protection shut-off function; two external ultrasonic generators with a 30-minute timer; and a removable single motor rotating unit with a special grip belt drive. The PX-721 comes with three free, six-gallon containers of Sonic Kleen cleaning solution and a one-year warranty.
Brotech Graphics demonstrated its CDF330, digitally-printed label converting and finishing system. The CDF330 can be used for flexo printing, cold foil, laminating, UV varnish and spot varnish, diecutting, and slitting. Wayne Huang of Brotech North America said that while the converting system is compact, CDF adequately features UV flexo printing, semi-rotary diecutting, and hot air drying. “Its operator-friendly design maximizes operational efficiency while minimizing material waste. The CDF is nicely equipped and incredibly affordable,” said Huang.
Jemmco showcased its new JemmStat CRS100 high release conductive silicone rubber roll covering, the latest addition to its full line of JemmStat static elimination products. The JemmStat CRS100 sleeve’s soft rubber surface offers good release properties, high conductivity, excellent wear resistance and anti-static features. “The sleeve is ideal for applications processing delicate webs in need of reducing static build-up, including but not limited to, bowed rolls, idler roll covers, mill roll core covers and more,” said Melissa Lang, Jemmco’s marketing manager. The JemmStat CRS100 is custom-made in diameters of 1” to 8,” with a 2mm (.078”) wall thickness.
At the Yazoo Mills booth, the focus was on additions to the paper core supplier’s Stock Core Program. The company recently added nine additional sizes of 3” I.D. X .250 cores to its Stock Core program, creating a grand total of 103 sizes of cores in stock at all times, guaranteed. With the additional nine sizes, Yazoo now stocks 60 sizes of 3” I.D. X .125 cores and 43 sizes of 3” I.D. and 6” I.D. X .250 cores. All of Yazoo’s stock cores range from ½” to 60” in length. Yazoo representatives also discussed the recent purchase of a new high-speed, multi-knife paper tube recutting line that will assist the company’s focus on the increasing demand for its paper cores for the converting industry as well as other specialty items.
Delta Industrial, who recently rebranded to Delta ModTech, demonstrated a converting system equipped with Delta Edge laser technology. Delta Edge gives businesses the flexibility to convert a variety of complex products on one manufacturing system. Delta Edge is described by Delta ModTech as a synergy of design, engineering, software, and hardware, all integrated to work together. According to Delta, this laser technology is the perfect solution for tool-less precision multiple depth cutting in a single pass. The module can cut a variety of cuts including perforation, kiss-cut and thru-cut. Advantages include no maximum or minimum repeat and a flexible design may include rotary and semi-rotary diecutting, lamination, delamination, island placement, slitting, sheeting and more.
Harper Corporation of America exhibited a number of products, including its patented, award-winning QD ink proofing system, the HIVE (High Image Volume Engravings) anilox rolls for high resolution printing, and high quality carbon fiber bridge and plate sleeves from Harper’s newest HEX division. The flexo sleeve system from HEX is designed to minimize downtime and make-ready. The plate sleeves that make up the Harper flexo sleeve line include the thin wall plate carrier, intermediate plate sleeve, and repeat builder plate sleeve.
NDC Technologies exhibited its latest offering of gauging systems. NDC’s sensor portfolio includes twelve distinct technologies that can be configured to measure thickness, basis weight, moisture and coat weight across a wide range of coating and converted products. These sensors can be arranged as either fixed point or scanning measurements, depending on the application. NDC also provides measurement and control solutions for continuous coating operations, plus specialty patch and stripe coaters.
Davis-Standard highlighted new liquid coating technology and its latest line of cost-effective, high productivity processing systems for converting applications – the dsX series. Davis-Standard's most recent liquid coating advances include offering a curtain slide coater and developing a five-roll silicone coater. The curtain slide coater applies single layer coatings at rates up to 2800 fpm (853 mpm) with expansion capabilities up to two additional layers. The five-roll silicone coater is capable of applying 100% silicone at rates up to 2400 fpm (732 mpm). This coater is constructed of stainless steel for ease of cleanup and includes a mist removal system. The dsX technology supports cast and blown film applications with the dsX s-tretch and dsX flex-film systems. The company said its dsX s-tretch is the first cast film line of its kind featuring integrated pre-stretch capabilities as an alternative to traditional pre-stretching methods.
For more on ICE USA and to view scenes from the show floor, check out the L&NW slideshow.
Click here to read about the keynote speech on expanding into Latin America.
And for a detailed account of the AIMCAL-sponsored educational program, click here.