Scandinavian label producer Nordvalls Etikett has installed a new Martin Automatic MBS unwind/splicer on an ABG Omega slitting/rewinding line to eliminate a production bottleneck caused by the Omega operating at slower speeds than the company’s printing presses.
The investment is the latest step in Nordvalls’ “Nordvalls 2.0” strategy and marks the sixth Martin MBS installation across the group in the past decade. The non-stop unwind/splicer technology is already deployed on a range of Mark Andy, Gallus and ABG Omega lines at Nordvalls’ production facilities across Sweden, Norway, the UK and Germany.
According to Nordvalls’ Group CEO Patrik Jenemark, the company values the reliability and efficiency gains delivered by the technology. “What we value most of all is the reliable efficiency they bring to our production. By allowing us to run the presses non-stop, we produce more per shift, maintain consistently higher quality, and significantly reduce the level of wasted substrate.”
He added: “They give us a perfect splice every time, which improves press uptime and reduces operator fatigue. And not having to stop the line to change rolls manually and then ramp up speed afterwards, gives us a more consistent quality.”
The latest installation was specifically aimed at increasing throughput by removing a downstream constraint in the finishing process.
Looking ahead, Mr Jenemark said: “We see four clear trends in our sector: personalisation/customisation; niche brands; sustainability; and regulatory compliance – and our investment strategy is designed to fulfil all of those requirements going forward.”
Martin Automatic sales manager Chris Chappel commented: “As pressure grows on converters to supply top quality products with shorter lead times, the more the production process can be automated the better. Our relationship with Nordvalls goes back many years and the reason it continues to flourish is the simple efficiency of the MBS machine and the quick ROI it offers.”
