nilpeter.com Press Release Innovative UK independent to install its eighth Nilpeter flexo press

The OPM Group has ordered a nine-unit FA-4 UV-flexo press, the company's eighth press from the Danish printing press manufacturer. Installation is in early January at OPM Flexibles, located near Bradford, not far from OPM’s headquarters in Keighley, West Yorkshire. The division was setup in December 2000 to produce high quality filmic labels and flexible packaging, especially pouches and sachets. It uses state-of-the-art UV-flexo technology under clean-room conditions.

The new servo-driven FA-4 will join two other nine-unit Nilpeter presses: A servo-driven FA-3300 S installed in early 2005 and an FA-3300. Both have 330 mm (13 inches) web widths, whereas the FA-4's maximum web width is 420 mm (16.5 inches). Its configuration includes a cold foil unit, interchangeable Nilpeter/Stork Drop-In UV-rotary screen modules and three laminating/coating units. The FA-4 can operate with either seamless photopolymer sleeves or plates, depending on the application and run length.

The FA-4's extra width and proven high performance for both film and paper-based products were factor's behind OPM's choice, 'It will give us the extra capacity to handle increased growth for our health and beauty accounts', said Chris Ellison, managing director. 'Much of this work involves PE-based sachets, pouches, and film-laminated products. The trend among major buyers is towards smaller volumes, which often include batches for market trials.'

OPM is an independent multi-award winning company. Established for over thirty years, it currently has 56 employees. It operates a Macintosh-based artwork studio. The main factory includes four FA-2400 flexo presses and an FA-240 flexo press. Much of the company's success has come from identifying niche, short-run markets for film and foil products, as well as producing premium-quality prime labels, peel/reseal labels, multi-layer products and security labels.

The modular FA-4 UV-flexo press has a web width of 420 mm (16.5 inches) and a top speed of 175 m/minute (575 feet/minute). It can handle a wide range of multi-substrate packaging and labelling materials, aided by a servo-driven infeed, servo drives on all print units, as well as a mid-feed pacer and die-cutter units. Chill drums positioned at every print station allow a constant surface temperature for thin, heat-sensitive films. An absence of gear wheels on the printing cylinders not only avoids the risk of gear marking, but also gives greater flexibility with repeat lengths. The unwinder and rewinder take 40-inch diameter reels. A taper tension control on the rewinder maintains uniform web tensions.

Options include freely interchangeable Drop-In rotary screen cassettes. A hot or cold foil option allows metallic printed effects while the delaminating/relaminating module is used in reverse-side printing of primary labels. Printing is by either conventional flexo plates or lightweight photopolymer sleeve constructions. Easy-load plate and anilox sleeve technology reduce job change-over times.