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Nilpeter launches new UV-Flexo and InkJet technology at LabelExpo Americas 2008

Nilpeter closed the latest LabelExpo Americas, held recently in Chicago, in an upbeat mode. Global inflation may be a major threat to the world economy, but overall growth for the global label industry remains fairly buoyant in most market sectors. Reflecting this, Sales Director Jakob Landberg said, 'Despite the current financial problems, we experienced a positive atmosphere and had an extremely successful show with orders firmed up for 26 machines across all lines'.

Nilpeter's exhibition highlights included:

* The successful introduction of the FG-Line of flexo combination presses.
* The North American debut of CASLON, a full-colour InkJet and flexo printing platform.
* New print units for the FB-3300 UV-flexo labels and packaging press.

• The new FG-Line is a mid-range press positioned between the FA-Line and the high-performance FB-Line. 'G' stands for 'Global', which means it incorporates features designed to give converters a competitive advantage anywhere in the world. For example, each of the print units incorporate dual servo drives and incorporate the latest lightweight sleeve-plate technology. The maximum web width is 13.75 inches. Manufacturing is split between Nilpeter's plants in Denmark and the USA. The show version ran with eight UV-flexo units producing film and paper self-adhesive.

• The CASLON platform combines drop-on-demand InkJet printing with one or more flexo printing/coating units and rotary die cutting. It uses Xaar's 1001 drop-on-demand print heads for printing UV-curable CMYK ink sets for labels and packaging. The front-end, developed by FFEI, allows users to print variable data printing on the fly, or print single copies of full-colour labels on practically any material to a maximum resolution of 720 x 360 dpi. CASLON offers eight greyscale levels. It achieves a top speed of 25.3 m/min. (82 feet/min.) at a 360 x 360 dpi resolution and 8 grey scales. The show version ran with two FA-4 units handling a maximum web width of 420 mm (16.5 inches). One applied a UV-cured varnish, while the other applied an opaque white background for clear-on-clear film labelling.

• An eight-colour FB-3300 in the FB-Line series of modular UV-flexo presses was demonstrated. It boasts a redesigned print unit that gives faster adjustments and rapid anilox roll changes. Servo-driven FB-presses have a maximum web width of 420 mm (16.5 inches) and produce PSAs and flexible packaging at a top speed of 228 m/min. (750 ft/min.). The integral UV-curing lamp units are fitted with integral water-cooled chill rollers to assist the converting of heat-sensitive materials. Options include screen process and hot foil modules.

• Although not shown, Nilpeter received strong interest for its latest MO-4 offset-based platform press. It is designed for both long and short runs of premium-quality products, using freely configurable offset, flexo, rotary screen or gravure print units. Offset blanket sleeves and flexo plate sleeves are now incorporated.

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