Flint Group has launched the rotec Eco Bridge for use in flexographic printing presses and on plate-mounting equipment for the easy mounting of sleeves.
The rotec Eco Bridge is an adapter with a breathable metal ring at the operator side which creates an air pillow to allow easy and fast mounting of sleeves. Typical adapters have only four to eight air stream holes to help mount the sleeves. In comparison, the rotec Eco Bridge forms a ring of air across the entire circumference of the adapter.
Another significant benefit of the equipment is the reduced air volume requirement. A standard adapter normally needs about 720 l/min of compressed air at six bar of pressure to mount a sleeve; this adapter can achieve the same results with only 50-70 l/min, and the required pressure can sometimes be reduced. This is more than 90% reduction in air volume needed. Not only is this a significant cost savings, but reduced air volume also equates to much less noise.
At a recent customer trial, Robert Adler, Flint Group director of sales for North America said, ‘I believe this will become a new standard of our industry.’
Press operators benefit from using the rotec Eco Bridge for easier sleeve mounting, cost savings, and reduced noise. At the first trial in Germany, the customer said, ‘Our press operator was ecstatic. Mounting is much easier than before. The noise is significantly less than normal, and the best is, we can de-mount the 420 mm Repeat Sleeve with one hand, without effort. Perfect development for our pre-press operation.’
