What's new in decorating printing & finishing.

A pad print/ink-jet combo, high-tonnage hot-stampers, and an 8-color offset printer for 15-gal pails are some of the unusual displays to look for.

Launched at NPE '91 will be new screen, pad, and dry-offset printing equipment that offers increased production speeds, smoother and easier operation and greater compactness. Many of these new products also feature modular construction, more versatile microprocessor controls, automated product handling, and multicolor printing and uv-curing capabilities.

Show viewers should also look for new hot-stamping and heat-transfer products that offer greater versatility and easier operation, and state-of-the-art electronic controls. New introductions in coatings and surface treatment will also be on display.

SCREEN AND PAD

PRINTING

A first-time introduction to the North American market of a novel German

pad/ink-jet printer combination will be made by Enercon Industries Corp., Menomonee Falls, Wis. The Printflex Variosafe machine combines pad printing with ink-jet printing. It's suited for both image reproduction and printing variable data such as serial numbers with a single pad stroke on 2D or 3D objects.

UV inks have been slow to penetrate pad printing, but Teca-Print U.S.A. Corp., Billerica, Mass., will launch a new pad-printable uv-curing ink and universal vacuum tooling fixture. UV cure minimizes solvent use and allows for immediate handling or further manufacturing processes directly after printing.

Trans Tech America, Inc., Schaumbur, Ill., will show two latest additions to its Tampoprint Rapid 2000 Series of pad printer: the Rapid 2000/90, which prints up to a 4 1/2-in. diam. area at 4200 cycles/hr, and the 2000/130, which prints up to 3 1/2 in. diam. images at 5000/hr (PT, Jan. '91, p. 87).

Also to be exhibited by Trans Tech are two new pneumatically driven pad printers: Tampoprint TS 50/80/41 and TS 80/100/41, which feature a flexible design that permits two different stroke adjustments. In addition, Trans Tech will feature the new low-cost Tampoprint Hermetic 61 pad printer with patented sealed ink-cup system, which can print a 2-in.-diam. image at up to 4200 cycles/hr.

The new Logica 100-125 series of pad printers, featuring a reportedly unique "motion management system" that allows speak performance without sacrificing smooth operation, will be introduced by Cassco Machines, Toronto. Multicolor printing at up to 2500 cycles/hr is possible with this numerical/pneumatic control system.

Also with a first-time introduction at the show, is Pad Print Machinery, Inc., Yonkers, N.Y., with a new PLC-controlled pad pritner, Model LC150LP. This unit features plate sizes up to 24 x 6 in., and can print up to four colors when fitted with suitable part conveyor.

Dependable Machine Co., Cedar Grove, N.J., will introduce a new automatic four-color pad printer with linear conveyor (Model 150-4L), and new printing pads said to be longer lasting and to offer sharper printing (PT, March '90, p. 95).

Service Tectonics, Inc., Adrian, Mich., will feature its Pat-A-Print 805 pad printer, now available with a new 10-station racetrack conveyor for two-color printing, as well as its new four-color Pat-A-Print 814C printer with racetrack conveyor. Also new from the company is the hand-operated 606 Pat-A-Print machine.

Reisch & Associates, Westmont, Ill., will introduce a one-piece combination ink tray/magnetic plate holder, which provides rapid mounting and quick changeover of pad-printing plates and ink colors. The company will also feature new x-y cross tables with adjustable magnetic mounting plates for fast, accurate alignment of printing nests and fixtures. Also to be demonstrated by Reisch is a new line of heavy-duty, portable parts conveyors and dryers for pad-printing systems, and a new line of portable desk-type uv-exposure units for making photopolymer printing plates in-plant.

Imtran Industries, Inc., Rowley, Mass., will introduce a modular approach that allows printers and indexers to be combined to meet changing needs. Each component is engineered to complement others through common mounting methods and electrical "umbilical-cord" connections. Unified microprocessor control of the various components is programmable to accommodate different indexing systems. This approach will be featured at the show with a x-y Machine Positioning Device, which positions each entire printing head to aid registration of multiple colors.

A new automatic container and 3D parts screen printer, the Autoroll A, will be introduced by Autoroll Machine Corp., Middleton, Mass. It's compact (84 x 60 in.), variable-speed (30-90 parts/min), and extremely flexible and simple to changeover and operate, the company says.

Graphics International, Highland Park, Ill., will launch the Novax M screen printer, which is fully automatic and designed for one or more colors on cylindrical, elliptical and flat containers. It is said to be more compact than the company's standard Novax models, and has quick-release, slot-on print heads that allow one main printing unit to drive five additional heads, if necessary.

Kammann Machines, Inc., Garden City, N.Y., will launch its new K-7 highspeed automatic container screen printer, which is said to offer greater versatility and higher speed.

NEWS IN OFFSET PRINTING

Kase Equipment Co., Willoughby, Ohio, will launch what is said to be the world's first eight-color offset printer for decorating plastic pails from 1/2-gal to 15-gal size. It's said to have unique features that facilitate changeovers, increase production rates, reduce maintenance, and provide superior print quality.

A new four-color container offset printing system, Model DSP-12W U.V.M., prints on containers from 1 to 6 gal with handles installed, requiring only one operator. It will be shown by Desco Equipment Corp., Eastlake, Ohio.

Graphics International will feature an upgraded version of its Omso Large Dial Model 155 COM-LD dry-off-set printer for decorating round, tapered containers up to 6 1/2-in. rim diam. and 7 in. tall.

Van Dam Machine Corp., West Paterson, N.J., will demonstrate its newly introduced dry-offset plastic cup printer, Model 560 COM-III, which offers increased size range -- up to 7-in. diam. -- and higher production speeds -- up to 500 parts/min.

FLEXO PRINTING

DEBUTS

One of two new flexographic printing systems from Bell-Mark Corp., Orange, N.J., is the Free-Standing Flexographic Printing System 1234-HSFD. It prints images from 4 in. to 60 in. in widths up to 120 in., either off-line or in-line with extrusion and/or diecutting.

Bell Mark is also introducing a single-color flexographic printer. It's aimed at film extruders who need to print warning messages or any variable information. It has a simple friction-driven design, fountain design to accept an ink pump, engraved roll for precise ink distribution (4 in. wide x 12 in. circumference), and speeds up to 300 ft/min.

HOT STAMPING, HEAT TRANSFER

Exemplifying how hot-stamping machines are moving up into higher tonnages, Acromark Co., Berkeley Heights, N.J., will introduce its Model 850 Series 20-ton vertical press for large-area applications. This is reportedly the second machine of this size, and the largest yet made (PT, Oct. '90, p. 85).

Air Hydraulics Co., Inc., St. Louis, will debut its new Accu-Roll box-motion roll-on hot stamper, designed for tapered parts, large flat objects, adn corner wrapping. Large heat transfers or foils can be applied without air entrapment, according to the company. The air-operated press has stroke up to 27 in. and roller size up to 6 in. diam. x 12 in. long.

What's said to be one of the most advanced microprocessor controllers for hot stamping, the Cassco System Controller, will be featured by Cassco Machines, Toronto. This system, which requires no programming and displays all machine functions in plain language, is now standard on all of the company's hot-stamp machines.

Kensol-Olsenmark, Inc., Melville, N.Y., will demonstrate at least five recently introduced hot-stampers. They include: Model 328R for 360 degrees peripheral foil applications; 400PR for applying foils to continuous profiled or flat extrusions; Model 46-5 ton unit; Model 158 8-ton hydraulic press; and Model 185 16-ton hydraulic press.

Franklin Manufacturing Corp., Norwood, Mass., will bring out new half-ton, 2 1/2-ton and 15-ton air/hydraulic presses. And Linear Dynamics, Green Brook, N.J., will display a complete range of new hot-stamp presses from 1/4-ton to 10 tons. The company will also launch a new microprocessor controller that's said to be very user friendly, with both digital and analog displays.

Norwood Marking Systems, Downers Grove, Ill., will launch a computer-controlled heat-transfer machine, the Jaguar, designed to print product-identification data on products and packages both in-line and off-line. It prints up to 4 x 4 in. area on plastic films and nonwovens.

Also new from Norwood is a heavy-duty, industrial-style flat-stock imprinter, Model FSI, that can feed, imprint and shingle falt stock, bags, cards and flat labels. Norwood will also exhibit its new compact, electronic, servodriven, Continuous-Motion Hot-Stamp imprinter aimed for use with extruders, converting, horizontal form-fill-seal and other packaging equipment.

United Silicone, Inc., Lancaster, N.Y., will make two first-time product introductions at the show. One is the Cosmetica 2000 peripheral foil decorating machine designed to cover irregularly shaped plastic components with square or round corners of a minimum 1/32-in. radius. Its single rubber roller applies continuous decoration to all sides of a part, and overlaps at a single location with an accurately matched starting and finishing point. Sophisticated controls reportedly enable changing part shapes rapidly without cumbersome toolign swaps or manual program changes.

The company's other new product is a peripheral marking achine, Model US 2400, said to accurately align and hot stamp additional copy and design features on cylindrical plastic objects that have already been decorated by other means (e.g., silkscreen or offset printing). Registration is by means of a photo-optic sensor and servomotor that accurately orient hot-stamping designs with previously printed graphics. It has a servomotor-driven chain conveyor that transfers the parts and a half-ton vertical hot-stamp press.

FOILS, HEAT-TRANFERS

Kurz-Hastings, Inc., Philadelphia, will introduce a new hot-stamp foil, dubbed Performance Series SR Tuff/Coat, said to feature outstanding abrasion resistance, which the company will demonstrate using #3 grade steel wool. CFC International, Chicago Heights, Ill., will also debut a new series of abrasion-resistant metalized foils, offering a very bright, mirror-like finish.

Meyercord Co., Carol Stream, Ill., is introducing new gravure-printed heat-transfer labels designed for rigid plastic substrates. New gravure process technology is said to produce highgloss, economical labels for cosmetics, toys and housewares. The special carrier system reportedly shortens dwell times, thus improving throughput uring the application process.

Si-Cal, Natick, Mass., will exhibit new silk-screened heat-transfer decals that provide a high-gloss finish. Also new are silk-screened decals for polyethylene (including special versions for PE foam), which require no flame treating.

Pro/Mark Corp., Manchester, Conn., will be demonstrating its thermally applied graphic system. Images will be fused to a high-gloss ABS appliance housing. Also featured will be the company's newly-introduced dry decorating system for polyolefins, which requires no pretreatment of the resin, thanks to special inks.

And for something a bit different, Press-Cal III is a newly patented rub-on transfer designed for industrial applications to be featured by Delprint Inc., Chicago. It's produced by a screen process in one or multiple colors, gloss or matte finish, on plastic carrier sheet. (Press-Cal III is said to be easy to apply (at room temperature, without diecutting), colorful, and permanent, giving a hand-painted look. It reportedly can withstand industrial usage and outdoor exposure. According to company sources, the new rub-on transfer contains less than 6 ppm of soluble heavy metals.

NEWS IN COATINGS, PLATING

A new two-component polyurethane coating with a soft, leather-like texture at a thickness of only 2 mils, will be launched at the show by Akzo Coatings, Inc., Troy, Mich. Durasoft coating is part of the company's Plastoflex line of plastic coatings, available in both waterborne and high-solids versions for a wide variety of semi-rigid, rigid and flexible substrates. These include TPO, ABS, PC, SMC, and nylon blends.

The new polyurethane coating is reported to offer increased durability, flexibility and adhesion, as well as low gloss and excellent mar and abrasion resistance. It is available in virtually any color. Originally developed for automotive interior film, the coating is also being aimed at office furniture and appliances.

Exxene Corp., Corpus Christi, Texas, will exhibit a new low-gloss coating of very high transparency. The company will also feature a new scratch-resistant antifog coating, reportedly effective at temperatures from -20 F to 160 F.

Enthone-OMI, Inc., New Haven, Conn., will be demonstrating its new process for plating GE Plastics' Ultem polyetherimide, as well as a new process for selective plating of plastics for EMI shielding. The company will also feature its newest line of electroless copper/nickel coatings for EMI shielding.

DEBUTS IN SURFACE TREATING

Carlisle Machine Works., Millville, N.J., will launch a new automatic flaming and bottle packing system, which uses a modified CGB4-12 stand-up flamer. The company will demonstrate flaming and packing of bottles automatically; packing will be done by a six-axis, articulated robot being shown for the first time.

Also to be introduced by Carlisle Machine is a microprocessor-controlled "flame management" system. UV sensors in the 80F Flame Management System detect the absence or presence of flame. Automatic shutdown sequence is actuated if the sensors fail to detect the flame.

Still another product to be launched by the company is a bottle conveyor with spin-flaming accessory. The atter removes hard-to-flame bottles from the conveyor, then spinflames them and returns them to the conveyor.

In corona treating, Pillar Technologies, Inc., Hartland, Wis., will feature two new families of power supplies: high-efficiency P-2000 series from 0.5 to 5 kw; and compact, high-frequency/high-voltage P-5000 series from 5 to 100 kw. The company will also display its recently introduced bare-roll treater station, new user-friendly narrow-web treater station, and a custom-designed wide-web station.

Lectro Engineering, St. Louis, will demonstrate a recently updated version of its in-line Lectro Treat single-file bottle line. This proprietary technology is similar to corona treating, but uses lower frequency, which is said to be safer, and also can operate at distances up to 30 in.

Growing applications for plasma surface treating to clean plastic surfaces and promote adhesion of inks, coatings and adhesives is suggested by the increasing number of suppliers of plasma equipment. Four such companies will be exhibiting at the show: Enercon; Branson/IPC, Hayward, Calif.; Himont/Plasma Science, Inc. (formerly Plasma Science before its acquisition by Himont, Inc.), Belmont, Calif.; and Technics Plasma, Florence, Ky., a new division of Krauss-Maffei Corp., in whose booth it will be exhibiting. Technics Plasma will demonstrate treatment of a PP car dashboard for adhesion to urethane foam.

Branson/IPC will launch a new Model 7150 plasma-treatment system for industrial applications. It has a large reactor chamber with an effective work center of 19.5-in. diam. x 30 in. deep. Menu-driven microprocessor control program offers multistep capabilities and storage up to 20 process recipes.