Flexible Packaging discusses technologies and trends that affect roll-to-roll handling with Martin Automatic.
Gavin Rittmeyer, Vice President/Sales and Marketing, Martin Automatic.
Q. What trends have an impact on the future of your markets in flexible packaging?A. The trend toward short-run printing in flexible packaging has made narrower web
widths more attractive. Another trend is toward offset and combination inline
printing, for a broad range of materials, including film, laminates, paper and
board. Martin continues to design and enhance our nonstop unwind and rewind
platforms to accommodate these developments. In addition we have seen
remarkable growth in the international markets over the past decade. In 2010,
our international installations exceeded those of North America. Today we are
positioned to grow and service our customers on a global scale.
Q. What do you view as the most
significant advances in your markets?
A. With advances in drying and curing technology, along with improvements in
drives and controls, presses can now run webs at much faster speeds. At the
same time, the increasingly lighter and thinner structures only run
successfully at lower web tension levels. These opposing trends of lower
tensions and higher speeds present real challenges for splicing and web
handling. Not that long ago, a rate of 1500 feet per minute was considered
fast. Early last year, on a CI press, we installed a zero-speed splicer (with
our MDR Magnetically Driven Roller technology) and automatic rewinder capable
of non-stop transfers at 3000 fpm.
Q. What improvements are customers seeking, and how are vendors responding?
A.
Seeking higher profits remains a constant with our customers. Generally they
seek process advacements that improve their quality, shorten their lead times,
and reduce their waste and operating costs. Martin has been helping customers
meet those objectives for over 40 years: not stopping for roll changes means
jobs are finished sooner; a nonstop process with excellent tension control
means higher quality printing, curing and laminating; efficient production
means better utilization of resources and less waste.
Q. How does the current interest in
sustainability play in your markets?
A.
No question that sustainability and “green processes” are capturing a lot of
attention. While renew, recycle and reuse are important, we believe the
discussion should start with preventing as much waste as possible. For example,
the Waste Reduction System on our splicer allows the converter to use the
maximum amount of substrate possible–reducing the quantity of core waste that
goes to the landfill or the recycler. Utilizing the maximum amount of raw
material on a roll results in higher profitability and greater sustainability
Q. Can you cite a recent customer’s benefits of using one of your systems?
A.
Product variety and speed to market are key success factors among consumer
product companies. The ability to run a broad range of substrates and to quickly
change from one substrate to another is vital to maintaining market share and
profitability. Recently, we provided a butt splicer and rewind to run 25-micron
biaxially oriented polypropylene and up to 19-point paperboard for a customer
that ventured from label converting into flexible packaging and folding carton.
Easy changeover among the extremes of materials and consistency of butt splice
quality allow this and other customers to make the bold move into a
multisubstrate environment.
Martin
Automatic Inc.815-654-4800;
www.martinauto.com
