Kolding, Denmark - At China Print 2017, TRESU will present flexographic ancillary solutions, hybrid printing lines and coating systems that bring enhanced productivity, quality and process control to numerous packaging printing applications (May 9-13, New China International Exhibition Center, Beijing, China). 

A complete ancillary programme for automated ink control

TRESU’s ancillary programme, comprising the TRESU F10 iCon ink supply system and sealed chamber doctor blades, is a unique, total solution for controlling ink logistics in flexo presses and units, from bucket to substrate. This significantly reduces material and ink waste, setup times, emissions and manual intervention, as well as facilitating quality consistency at speeds that can exceed 600m/min. 

The F10 iCon ink supply system 

The TRESU F10 iCon ink supply system regulates the flow, pressure and viscosity of flexo ink throughout the press, without manual intervention. The supply system maintains predetermined pressure levels by keeping chamber ink-depths constant, based on measurements at the chamber inlet. Its software stores ink data for instant recall when a job is repeated.

In addition, the F10 iCon provides thorough automatic cleaning of the chamber, allowing a complete ink change cycle in minutes. Moreover, ink loss is minimised as at least 90 percent of ink remaining in the chamber and hoses after production is returned. 

Chamber doctor blade systems deliver uniform ink laydown

TRESU’s chamber doctor blade systems bring reduced ink and substrate waste, uniform print quality, increased press speeds, shorter cleaning times and reduced emissions. Assisted by the company’s patented seals and constant pressure maintained by the supply system, they prevent leakage and air contamination, ensuring clean, blister-free print result with fast drying characteristics, better reflection and higher gloss values. When doctor blades need replacing, TRESU’s patented clamping systems enable quick changeovers in less than two minutes. The chamber programme includes lightweight, corrosion-resistant carbon fibre chambers that offer protection against detergents and adhesives with pH values in excess of 9.0. There are also ceramic variants. All converting and coating applications are covered, from closed-cassette chambers for label presses up to 6000mm-wide types for corrugated board and tissue printing.    

TRESU’s MaxiPrint chamber is an ‘all-in-one’ concept for wide-web printing situations, comprising a chamber doctor blade, inking system and integrated cleaning system with robust water-shot mechanisms. 

The Flexo Innovator hybrid press for increased productivity and flexibility

TRESU’s Flexo Innovator hybrid press utilizes an inline configuration to print and finish paper, carton board, laminates, metallic substrates and unsupported films with both water-based ink and UV OPV coating media.

The press can be customised to include processes such as variable data printing, specialcoating, reverse printing, embossing, cold foil and finishing to facilitate single-pass solutions for added-value products. Flexo Innovator is available in widths between 670mm and 1700mm. 

iCoat flexo coater for easy and fast application of added-value varnishes 

TRESU will also demonstrate the productivity of its iCoat 3000 flexo coater for applying added-value varnishes to digitally printed folding cartons and synthetic materials, seamlessly inline with the HP Indigo 30000 Digital Press.

TRESU iCoat applies TRESU’s private label iVarnish range of UV-curable or aqueous varnishes, optimised to offer excellent adhesion properties on both plastic as well as board substrates. TRESU iCoat has a maximum speed of up to 4600 sheets per hour (3450sph in four colours), handling substrates of maximum format 750mm x 550mm in paperboard and metallised boards between 250µm and 600µm. It also accommodates PVC and polypropylene substrates up to 630µm, and PET substrates up to 400µm. The coater comes with quick-change sleeve technology and automatic chamber cleaning.  

TRESU provides single and dual-coating machines, coating circulators, sleeve cutters and specially optimized consumable products including coating material and tapes, so digital printers can adopt a fast, efficient coating workflow. TRESU iTape is a double-sided adhesive, bringing superior dot gain control and varnish transfer, and fast frictionless demounting without sleeve damage.  The TRESU iCut plate cutter provides a fast, straightforward means of imaging flexo plates for the post-print spot coating of digitally printed folding cartons.