Nilpeter Press Helps Clever Improve Changeovers

Following the installation of a classic FA-Line press, a new 10-color FA-4* flexo press was delivered to Clever Etiketten in Leipzig, Germany, in February. According to Jens Ellrich, Clever’s managing director, the new press is predominantly used for jobs requiring high quality.

When planning the investment, two essential details were the press's printing quality and the possibilities for fast job changes. These two aspects are top priorities for Clever, since a majority of its job runs range from 20,000 to 100,000 running meters.

Servo Technology Replaces Mechanics

Features like the CLEANINKING system, the fast tool change, the sleeve technology, and a very short web path on the FA-4* proved to be especially advantageous. Not only are the setup times reduced, but the amount of waste is also lowered. Another major plus is that settings, performed mechanically with traditional printing presses, are done by servo-motors. This means that all parameters of a given job may be stored in the system, allowing for automatic pre-setting of the press when the job is recalled.

Fine Tonal Gradations in Flexography

For Ellrich, the reproduction of fine tonal gradations is an important criterion when producing high quality labels. This is particularly important in the health care sector labels Clever produces, which frequently include delicately colored images and soft gradations. Because of this, prior to investing in the Nilpeter press, consistent tests were carried out on various flexographic presses from different manufacturers.

Clever’s printing tests on the FA-4* confirmed an outstanding reproduction of halftones. This fact, combined with the general profile of the new press investment profile, was ultimately the decisive factor in choosing the FA-4*. With the acquisition, three of the five presses at Clever are now Nilpeter presses.

A Fully Loaded Press

The configuration of the new 420mm, 10-color Nilpeter flexo press is comprehensive. The press is equipped with a screen cassette for printing of opaque white and special effects, and features cold foil stamping and lamination for value-added printing. The production of multi-layer, self-adhesive labels with inline printing of front and back is made possible by a cross-over unit.

The FA-4* is also the first Nilpeter press to support operator control by remote tablets. The ACS system (Air Control Satellite) for wireless press operation gives the printer more liberty, since the operation is no longer bound to a PMC. The menu for the control has been designed so that the handling is as intuitive as possible.

Production Completely Converted to Low Migration Inks

Clever’s customer base spreads across different market segments. One of the more important segments is the food industry, which is why, three years ago, the entire plant was converted to low migration inks, even though these are not required for all printing jobs. Notably, for applications for pasteurized foods, the company has developed a label solution, which is now patented. The label changes color when the pasteurization is complete. This label will be printed on the new FA-4*.

Source: Nilpeter.