Improved performance in gravure printing for sustainable films
Windmöller & Hölscher is once again breaking new ground in the gravure market with its updated HELIOSTAR II press. Production speeds of up to 600 m/min. are therefore no problem even for demanding print jobs. The overall performance of the HELIOSTAR II has been significantly increased by improved production stability and control even at top speeds. And HELIOSTAR II is best equipped to print sustainable films made of MDO-PE.
The stability and overall production control even at top speeds mainly derive from the installation of a new Sensor tracking system and the use of SUPERGRIP idler rollers. The former ensures extremely fast register control, which is no longer pneumatically controlled but motorized, thus ensuring a faster response to material movements in the press. With the SUPERGRIP idler roller W&H developed a completely new technology, which guides the material through the machine in a much more stable manner. The revised gravure printing press also breaks new ground in automation: Simple, intuitive machine operation and handling are guaranteed by the central PROCONTROL panel with direct access to all machine functions and quality parameters. Especially the deeply integrated VISION control system enables the operator a detailled and precise job control for best machine performance and job quality. Thereby all production parameters are recorded and can be used for further downstream processes via W&H's own IoT System RUBY.
Best equipped to print sustainable films made of MDO-PE
With the new HELIOSTAR II W&H gives a response to the ongoing trends regarding increasing sustainability requirements and shorter print jobs combined with frequent job changes. Especially when it comes to printing sustainable films like MDO-PE, which is always quite a challenge due to the extremely stretched material that does not run homogeneously over the entire working width, the gravure press is perfectly equipped through its register control and the SUPERGRIP technology.
The HELIOSTAR II series includes the two machine types HELIOSTAR II S and HELIOSTAR II A. The HELIOSTAR II S is extremely flexible and can be configured for all packaging films, laminates and papers and special customer requirements. Whereas the HELIOSTAR II A is positioned in the market with up to 10 printing units for the core area of flexible packaging.
