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RONKONKOMA, NY, Monday, April 28, 2008 — Simplification of press and process—two things that are far from simple to achieve, have led to Omet S.r.L. being deemed the 2008 Flexographic Technical Association (FTA)/Flexo Market News Technical Innovation Award winner for its X-Flex narrow-web press. The announcement was made at Foundation of FTA’s 2008 Annual Forum, Sunday, April 27, in Dallas, TX.
The X-Flex represents new levels of automation and waste reduction. It’s touted as having one of the most stable print platforms; as well as superior changeover times, and unsurpassed user friendliness. This is achieved by combining components and functions. Perhaps its most easily noted feature is the web path. With only 5.5ft. of web per print station, the X-Flex boasts the shortest web path of any flexo press on the market today.
One key feature of the press is a uniquely engineered print station that combines the impression cylinder and the chill roll. This is the core source of the abbreviated web path. It’s also a critical factor in the press’s ability to average only 98ft. of startup waste (on an eight-station machine).
Omet insists that while the shortened web path is the most noticeable aspect of the X-Flex, it
is certainly not the most important, particularly as it relates to performance. Other more significant variables of the X-Flex press that make it unique are:
• Identical register stability at start-up and production speed.
• Web-tension control stability in the various areas of the machine.
• Automated follow-up links to reduce the operator's variable influence in starting a new job.
X-Flex is equipped with the Vision-1 automatic register control system, which adjusts both machine and lateral web directions on each station. Each printed image is recorded immediately. The system does not require any data input, and plates can be mounted anywhere on the sleeve. Other aspects of the X-Flex that Omet says make it stand out from other presses include:
• Reduction of ink wastes. The inking system allows starting print with the same amount of ink as the content of a glass of water.
• Automatic cleaning of the anilox roll in the machine before replacement.
• Aniloxes without gears, which are easily removable.
• Removable basin.
Initial cost investment on the X-Flex is comparable to that of a digital press, yet the ROI is said to be much better. Many printers today struggle to be profitable at less than 10,000ft., but customers are asking for runs of only 5,000ft., or sometimes just the proverbial 500 labels. The XFlex can run that length and still be profitable.
Angelo Bartesaghi, president of Omet, declared that he was really excited and proud. “We
appreciate this award. Because this is a technical award, with points given solely for technological achievement, it is that much more of an honor and I want to thank my collaborators for their efforts. Together we have attained our goal.”
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