Omet Open House Spotlights “Innovation with Passion”

Omet Press 2ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL—Bill Mulligan calls the invitation to “Follow the light!” both “simple” and “ingenious.” He uses the same words to describe his firm Omet’s iFlex press. In welcoming some 60 people to Omet America’s Elk Grove Village, IL headquarters and demo center on Wednesday, June 29, he spoke directly to the attributes of the economy or entry level narrow web press. When fitted for UV LED production, it boasts of the shortest web path—26-ft.—of any machine on the market.

To illustrate the points being made, two complete jobs were demonstrated. First came a 7-color process job—a Carlsberg beer label, then a Galbani Mozzarella label, representing more traditional 4-color, non UV work. The jobs were run a total of four times each over the course of the two day open house. It attracted more than 30 printers/converters as well as representatives from 22 supplier business partners. Members of both groups networked continuously when not watching the press in action.

Omet offered this brief market outlook before demonstrating the iFLEX and its capabilities. “Self adhesive labels, by far the most important labeling method, are increasingly being used in the beer and soft drinks markets. Special effects are often originated by the use of cold foil, varnish or creative die cutting to increase appeal. Use of laminated effects or transparent substrates is also quite common.”

Bill described the iFlex as “robust, yet compact,” as well as “easy and efficient.” It offers a maximum speed of 630 fpm on a web width of 14.5-in. Print width is 14.13-in. Print repeat ranges from 5.5-in. to 18-in. Unique to the press: It features a single gear on each flexo print unit. That detail of engineering is said to offer increased stability while delivering precision in registration and control. Critical componentry carries designations beginning with “i”: iLIGHT and iVISION for automated preregister and registration systems.

Omet buildingIt’s the iLIGHT preregistration system that prompted the “Follow the light” instruction. It incorporates a laser pointer device fitted to every print unit for the purpose of guiding the operator in alignment of all cylinders in mere seconds. Smart cameras comprise the iVISION system, which allow the operator to fine tune register of each color, one by one.

Beyond print, Omet’s Converting Express feature, linked to the iFlex, combines the firm’s Easy Change Die Cut (ECDC) unit, a slitting unit and its “Rock’ n’ Roll” matrix stripping section to offer what is billed as “non stop and smooth converting operations, even with today’s complex label shapes.” Diecut repeat ranges from 8-in. to 24-in.

Joining Omet for the introduction to the demo center and press were the following business partners, all of whom participated in a tabletop exhibition encompassing the perimeter of the pressroom:

  • AVT
  • BST eltromat
  • Correct Touch Graphic Arts
  • DMS
  • ebeam
  • Flexo Concepts
  • Flexo Wash
  • Flexografix
  • GEW
  • Harper Corporation of America
  • J.M. Heaford
  • Kocher + Beck
  • Kurz
  • Nazdar
  • Precision Flexo & Gravure
  • Rossini North America
  • Rotometrics
  • spgprints
  • tesa tape
  • Vetaphone
  • X-Rite
  • Yazoo Mills