Dominion Packaging of Richmond, Virginia, has selected the latest technology in flexo printing to produce premium folding cartons for the tobacco, food and beverage markets. The advancement is based on the installation of a TRESU Flexo Innovator press (FI1400-10, 55-inch, 10-units). The flexographic in-line press is equipped with rotec® High Speed Sleeves and rotec Atlas Adapters from Flint Group. This particular combination of sleeves and adapters provides optimal control of plate bounce by absorbing press vibrations and providing added stability, thus permitting the press to run at faster speeds while still allowing for a solid kiss impression.
The polyurethane composition of the High Speed Sleeve provides the compression necessary to reduce bounce-induced skipping (a common occurrence on press as speed is increased) and offers a wider impression latitude, which enables the printing of half tone images and solids on the same print deck with a consistent print quality throughout the job. Additionally, since the sleeve has a durable compressible surface, plates can be mounted to the sleeve using an inexpensive 5 mil transfer tape.
For even greater stability at high print speeds, the Atlas Adapter with a special carbon fiber structure and a hard surface presents further vibration dampening characteristics and affords maximum print performance. Randy Butler, Dominion Packaging Flexo Operations & Converting Manager explains, “The materials used in the rotec sleeves and adapters allow us to print a very fine dot structure; it helps us to eliminate cushion tape and allows us to print a wide range of products at the highest level of dot reproduction.”
According to Wes Johnson, Regional Sales Manager, Flint Group Flexographic Products, “The maximum line speed of a typical folding carton press would normally be around 1,200 fpm, but we were able to employ a combination of the rotec High Speed Sleeves and rotec Atlas Adapters to allow for the production of quality product at the maximum speed of the equipment. Dominion Packaging is probably the only folding carton producer using 150 LPI plates for this print segment, and this press could possibly be one of the fastest folding carton presses the industry has seen to date.”
Dominion Packaging’s Randy Butler, Flexo Operations & Converting Manager, and Brett Hawkins, President and CEO, are pleased with the speeds achieved on the new TRESU Innovator press equipped with rotec® sleeves and adapters.
