Nilpeter demonstrates gravure plus extended gamut on India-built FB3300S

In demonstrations on the Nilpeter stand at Labelexpo India 2014, the gravure unit was printing a white as the first down on a metallic beer label.

Extended gamut 7-color UV flexo printing was also demonstrated on the same press line using the Opaltone separation system and Fint inks. The  project uses Apex GTT anilox rolls. Separations were carried out by Color Dot in Madras imaged to MacDermid plates. Other partners were Avery Dennison, Swedcut, Rotometrics and Tesa.

The gravure unit features adjustable doctor blades, an ink circulation system, viscosity control and a compact extended drier. The unit is prepared for both front- and reverse-side printing, and offers quick job-change and set-up. Although it uses many of the features of Nilpeter's Denmark-designed concepts, it was independently designed by the design team in India led by Alan Barretto. The unit is fully explosion proof and contains the solvent emissions within the unit, where they are captured by filters.

Further, the press on show is equipped with a corona treater, web cleaner, chill drums on all units, movable cold foil and a 100 percent print defect inspection system.

Nilpeter is investing heavily in its Chennai-based manufacturing operation, where a technology center will join similar facilities in Denmark and the US. Nilpeter India employs 35 staff and the design team is linked via CAD systems to Nilpeter's Danish and US operations 

Most ancillary units for the Indian-built FB3300 S are imported, so the machines are not being built as 'lower cost' alternatives to US built FBs. 'They main advantage for Indian printers is they do not have to pay import takx or take out international currency loans,' says Jakob Landberg, global sales director at Nilpeter. 

Landberg is particularly excited about the potential of the new gravure unit in the Asia-Pacific market, where such units are more often employed to print opaque whites rather than metallics. 'This alone can bring a return on investment of one year,' says Landberg. 

As India's biggest label converters expand internationally, Nilpeter is starting to receive enquires for multi-substrates presses - particularly for shrink sleeves. 'But these will be FA presses brought in from Denmark,' says Landberg. 'Today we are building this market from the ground up.'

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