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Technology
Flexo press introduced
At a gala event held in picturesque southern Germany, on April 18, 2007 at the Uniprint Knauer GmbH (formerly UV-Flex GmbH), Aichstetten package printing facility, Fischer & Krecke introduced their first CI flexo press, the Flexpress 16S WetFlex™, engineered for commercial application of Sun Chemical’s process. WetFlex™ is a solvent-free, environmentally friendly printing process that saves money and delivers extraordinary print quality. 260 international guests, including distinguished package printing executives from throughout the world, scrutinized the performance of the press, installed and ready for commercial production, and examined the high grade print it produced.
Rainer Schroepfer, Uniprint Knauer Managing Director said, “We were delighted to welcome so many knowledgeable and distinguished guests to our facility and to present our WetFlex™line, which performed flawlessly.”
In his speech to the visitors Rainer Schroepfer pointed out the benefits of the innovative process with respect to print quality, standardization of the process, and eco friendliness. He also praised the expertise and the enthusiasm of all the representatives of Fischer & Krecke, SunChemical, ESI, and Saueressig who had worked on the project. “Without these extraordinarily knowledgeable partners, we would not be where we are after only a few weeks of intense testing work,” says Rainer Schröpfer.
Guests also were treated to presentations by representatives from Sun Chemical, developer of the UniQure™ inks and by Energy Sciences Incorporated, supplier of the electron beam curing system employed by the Fischer & Krecke WetFlex™ press.
Featuring the rugged construction typical of all Fischer & Krecke presses, the Uniprint-Flex press is a 10 C Flexpress with a print width of 1350 mm (53 inches) and repeat lengths or 320 – 1050 mm (12.6 – 41 inches). It has a mechanical speed rating of 2000 fpm and is designed for printing and in-line lamination of aluminium foil, film and co-extrusions. Additionally, the press line includes an in-line laminating process, where radiation cured adhesives are applied at the CI press, further contributing to the uniqueness of this application.
According to Andreas Kückelmann, Managing Director of Fischer & Krecke, a WetFlex™ press is not just a press for solvent-based inks without conventional dryer. “A lot of research and development work was involved in redesigning the inking system to adapt it to the innovative process,” says Kueckelmann
