(September 15, 2008) Leading Italian manufacturer, Omet, literally 'stopped the show' with a display of its new and award winning technology at Labelexpo Americas in Chicago.   The company's stand was permanently overflowing with visitors keen to see the new Award Winning X-Flex in action, as well as the latest version of the best-selling VaryFlex-F1, with its innovative 'Flying Change' technology. 

According to Omet's American Distributor, Steve Leibin of Matik: "The label converters who visited the Omet booth were all keen to see why the X-Flex had won the 2008 FTA Award for Innovation.  When they left, they told us that the live demonstrations we ran answered all of their questions, and more!" 

Acknowledged by many to be the new benchmark for label productivity, the 430mm wide 8-colour X-Flex in Chicago showed why, with its short web path, it is the new leader in reducing set up times while achieving very low substrate waste. 

Fitted with the latest Vision-1 automatic inspection system, the X-Flex guarantees tight register control and top print quality right up to its top speed of 200 m/min.  By integrating the printing unit and cooling drum, Omet claims the X-Flex offers the quickest and easiest job changeovers on the market, as well as providing the tension control required for handling the new and increasingly popular filmic materials. 

Another press that really caught the eye on the Omet stand was the latest 530mm VaryFlex-F1, which in 10-colour form was shown optimised for flexo, rotogravure, screen, and offset printing, with hot & cold foil, and holograms.  But, what really impressed the audience was the VaryFlex's new ability to     change jobs 'on the fly' without any form of pre-register, and without slowing the press from its maximum speed. 

"We designed the 'Flying Change' initially for high speed text changes, such as language variations on global packaging styles.  The technology brings the print unit with the new copy up to speed before simultaneously engaging it and disengaging the unit with the old copy.  Although probably of greatest use for copy changes on the black plate, the system can obviously handle any colour and any graphic," explained Marco Calcagni, Omet's Sales Director.

Capable of handling materials from thin plastic film to carton, and with interchangeable units, sleeve print technology, and gearless drive, the Varyflex-F1 is already rated as the most flexible production system on the market.  Its Vision-1 register system gives it the ability to produce top quality work at high speed, and its new 'Flying Change' capability makes it even more capable. 

"By close of show, we had taken different orders for our technology, ranging a lot of different applications from companies around the world.  For Omet, this Labelexpo turned out to be a significant milestone for our international business," Calcagni concluded. For more information, please contact: Matik North America 860-232-2323 visit www.matik.com