New Martin MBS automatic unwind/splice and LRD rewind fitted to Eurolabel’s Gidue press
Italian specialist in self-adhesive, shrink sleeve and RFID production, Eurolabel has installed a second package of Martin Automatic equipment on its latest 380 mm Gidue Xpannd press.
Founded in 1964, and still owned by husband and wife team Eugenio Brambilla and Lidia Cattaneo, the company has grown to become one of Italy’s top five specialist label converters, according to general manager, Aldo Franco. Employing 52 at its central Milan site and generating an annual turnover of around €9 million, the company pursues a policy of label specialisation in markets where premium quality is taken for granted, and margins are better.
The company currently sells 80% of its production output to the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, industrial and food markets in Italy, a situation Mr Franco as part of the second generation of management, is looking to change. ‘The Italian label market has been flat since the global crisis of 2008 so we have taken the decision to invest in flexible capacity to give us opportunities for growth. We can handle short and long run work, from simple blank labels to complex RFID technology work, which strengthens our hand in what is a very competitive market place,’ he stated.
Same again, please
An important part of this efficiency drive was the addition of the first set of Martin Automatic equipment in 2008. The MBS/LRD combination package of unwind/splicer and rewind is one of the best selling in the narrow web industry, where it primarily benefits converters that have frequent roll changes, often of expensive substrates, as is the case at Eurolabel. ‘With certain substrates we can run only 2,000 metre rolls, so have to change every 30 minutes or so. Done manually, it takes around four minutes and wastes 100 metres of material each change, apart from the time taken to stop the machine and ramp it back up to commercial production. With this equipment there are no stoppages and the waste is practically eliminated. So, we save at least two hours a day in time, have cut waste by about a roll and a half each day, and by running the press continuously, can maintain print quality,’ he added.
The MPS press is an eight colour flexo/screen/hot foil combination line, used largely to run clear on clear ‘no-label look’ work on expensive substrates. In addition to reducing material waste, Mr Franco said the savings made by reducing the amount of wasted ink and foil is considerable. The Martin installation on the MPS was so successful that when the company more recently added a Gidue Xpannd offset/flexo/screen combi line, it asked the American supplier to quote ‘like for like’.
The decision to stay with Martin was not a foregone conclusion, according to Mr Franco, who pointed out the new competition on the market. But, he added, ‘Martin equipment is simple, strong and easy to use.’ Alluding to the complex nature of some of the competitive machines, he commented, ‘Martin doesn’t complicate what is essentially a simple job with needless technology. That’s the beauty of a Martin – and that’s what makes it more reliable,’ adding that the box of spare parts supplied with the first Martin machines lies unopened and gathering dust in a corner of the production area.
More flexibility
The Gidue, with its narrower 380 mm web width, offers Eurolabel a high degree of flexible production. Fitted with five offset print stations and four flexo, the press can be converted to run with two screen units and hot foil. Dedicated to high end labels, it is fitted with 100% inspection technology to ensure quality standards are maintained. Currently, around 30% of the company’s work is hot foiled, with production speeds of 70-75 m/min. Mr Franco explained, ‘It’s not high speed production, but quality is critical, and we want to ensure we print the labels only once!’
The company has an eclectic mix of technology that includes Gallus R200B letterpress machines, a Comco Captain, two Arsomas and several Gidue flexo lines, in addition to the newer combination and digital presses, and a full suite of Arpeco, Prati and ABG finishing equipment. One might say the company is capable of handling whatever a customer demands, but Aldo Franco and his wife sees the future more in lean manufacturing and a focus on niche markets where the company’s expertise is valued and the margins better. ‘We have no intention of chasing volume – the company is in a transitional phase from first to second generation management, and the next investments we make are crucial to our continued success,’ he concluded.
