“Extend your content.” “Expand your gamut.” “Sophistication rules!” Three resounding points constituted the message delivered at Nilpeter’s Nov. 12 “Bases Loaded” Open House in Cincinnati, OH. The event attracted some 160 flexographers, a considerable amount being printers/converters.
Consisting of corporate briefings, trend analysis, live equipment demonstrations, a plant tour and multiple networking opportunities, the day proved to be full, offering attendees a look at Nilpeter’s new U.S. Technical Demonstration Center. Its floor was carefully arranged to mirror the one at corporate headquarters in Denmark.
Carrying the baseball theme forward, positioned at first base was the FB Press; at second, the FB-3; and at third, the FA4*. Essentials, like hot dogs, pretzels (in roll shape) popcorn and Cracker Jack also made cameos.
In an afternoon filled with demonstration after demonstration:
- Nilpeter’s FB press was called to bat to illustrate how converters can extend content and a fold out label was printed
- The FB-3 was drafted to depict the impact of expanded gamut printing on two distinct jobs, with quick change features of the press, so essential in the lineup, utilized during on the fly job changeover
- The FA4* also incorporated rapid changeover on two jobs, but enlisted requisite high end design elements that brought several inline converting features—die cutting, lamination, etc.—as well as multiprocess print, into play
Smart & Dynamic Equipment
Technical sessions conducted early in the day saw Paul Teachout, vice president sales and marketing in North America and Forum 2016 co chair, allude to generational shifts driving the need for smart equipment and dynamic packaging. “We are adapting technology and emerging trends to our equipment and changing the way people go to press,” he decreed. “Nilpeter is taking the traditional press platform to a new level and engaging with the next generation to welcome in next generation printing.”
Teachout credited innovative technology, creative solutions and excellent support with leading off in the game’s changing direction. “Innovation is in our DNA. People and partnerships build mutual success. Sustainable growth is our driver. Flexo, an inline process, is alive and thriving.” He continued, “Our vision is clear. Our commitment is 100 percent. As Nilpeter approaches its 100th anniversary in 2019, precision and accuracy have become critical. We’re taking a scientific approach to printing to take all applications to new heights. We’re shifting from manually driven or gear driven presses to sophisticated and automated machines.
“Software is replacing toolboxes. Multiple print processes, positioned together on one platform are offering the best of everything. This is high performance manufacturing, designed to provide every level of sophistication necessary to meet any converter’s needs.”
Teachout reported annual press sales at $165 million and mentioned that Nilpeter will install a FB-3 press at Clemson University’s Sonoco Institute in February 2016 and introduce its Panorama digital line to North America in March. Before closing, he reminded all that the millennial generation embraces Nilpeter’s “Clean Hand Technology” and said, “Nobody is attracted to stirrer sticks and Dixie cups— they want to use their thumbs.” Case in point—the FA4* is knob free and operates off what in essence are iPad screens.
Printing = Manufacturing
Chip Tonkin of Clemson University followed Teachout on the program and delivered a presentation entitled, “Future of Packaging Design And Why You Should Care.” He too pointed to holistic packaging development workflow and encouraged everyone to “See print as a manufacturing process and run to the numbers. Get to the point where we do everything by the numbers. Get the subjective nature out of it.”
Among Tonkin’s predictions: “100 percent inline and inspection measurement systems soon won’t be optional on press. Digital will play a key role and industry is still working its fit with the market and business module. Advanced functionality will become increasingly important. We’re just dipping our toes in the water. The day will come when printing will be seen as another way to make things.”
Tackling the topic of ever present concerns, Nilpeter’s Robert Wray listed, “minimum waste, longer dwell times, higher production speeds, easy, fast change of tooling, low tooling costs and outstanding decorative details.” Chris Baldwin, the technology center director, echoed similar sentiments. He emphasized value added solutions in concluding that, “Converters are being pushed to deliver beyond the traditional print job and offer full flexibility as they contend with more real estate, more applications and more options.”