Mondi Heerlen B.V., Netherlands, has boosted its production of silicone-coated and speciality release liners by installing a custom-designed, double-sided flexo printing machine unit from Danish flexo technology provider TRESU.

Mondi has upgraded its TRESU flexo inline printing machine with two new custom-designed printing units, which enable fast-job change and higher converting speeds.

The new TRESU machine coats a variety of papers between 30 and 60gsm in web-widths of up to 1700mm. Thanks to advances in TRESU’s mechanical design, the new machine can achieve speeds of up to 800m/min, thus boosting silicone release liner output to 330 million m² per year.  The improved performance is due to TRESU’s new design, which overcomes the problems of vibration at high-speeds. Key features of the new design include a wider side frame and high-strength, lightweight rollers made from composite materials that run smoothly at over 4,000rpm. 

The press replaces a flexo printing line installed by the company in 1996 that had delivered continuously high performance, with relatively low maintenance burden, for over 15 years. Like the original press, the new machine also features an ink deck positioning system (IDP), which automatically stores print impression data of similar or previous jobs for easy, automatic uploading, with minimal need for manual calibration. This in turn allows greater accuracy in set-up, so that target speeds and quality parameters are reached in a shorter time, reducing start-up waste significantly. Typically, a job-change is possible within four minutes.

Rob Vos, Operations Director Mondi Release Liner, says, “TRESU offered us an in-line, customized solution, designed to our specific requirements. We wanted a product and a service which would grow with us as a business, to meet our performance potential, and TRESU continues to deliver. TRESU has worked with us personally to achieve our goals, ensuring automated, fast job changes, at increased production speeds. No time is wasted.”

Mondi Heerlen is part of the Business Unit Mondi Coatings & Consumer Packaging, within the Mondi Group. Mondi operates across paper and packaging processes, manufacturing paper, converting packaging and supplying release liners. The company is active at every stage of the paper and board value chain, from the growing of the wood for pulp, to high quality finishing. TRESU systems are capable of printing on a wide range of materials, including tissue, paper, board and flexible packaging, in addition to silicone materials.

Allan Sander, TRESU Sales Director, says, “TRESU are committed to creating optimum, personalized solutions for customers and want to exceed their expectations. We enjoy having a close and proactive relationship with our clients, offering training, product management and any customized developments necessary. Throughout our product’s life cycles, we provide a support network, from the initial unique design, to on-site commissioning and future application of our latest technology. Mondi is a great endorsement of TRESU equipment’s reliability and durability.”