Vinsak Rotatek unveil Universal 850 at open house

Rotatek Printing & Packaging Technologies, part of the Vinsak Group and a global manufacturer of rotary web offset hybrid printing and converting technology, successfully concluded its open house at its manufacturing facility in Barcelona, unveiling its latest and advanced innovation, the Universal 850 hybrid printing press.  

Rotatek’s biggest and most versatile press to date, the Universal 850 combines offset and flexo sleeve technologies to deliver high-quality print quality across a wide range of substrates. 

The opening day witnessed an enthusiastic response, with visitors and converters joining from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the United States and Latin America, making it a truly global gathering. Running from January 12-16, the open house served as a dynamic platform for industry professionals to experience cutting-edge technology live, exchange insights and strengthen industry networks. 

Speaking at the event, Ranesh Bajaj, director Vinsak group and Rotatek highlighted that the Universal press platform sits at the heart of Rotatek’s packaging strategy. ‘This universal platform is where we want to grow into packaging,’ he said, adding that the modular design allows converters to combine offset, flexo, digital, foiling, lamination and inspection in a single pass, while retaining the flexibility to retool presses as market requirements evolve. 

Designed to serve both mature and emerging markets, the Universal 850 supports a wide range of applications including pharma inserts, shrink sleeves, flexible packaging, folding cartons and in-mold labels (IML). The machine demonstrated at the open house featured seven offset and two flexo printing stations and was equipped with LED and UV curing, NIR drying, auto registration, closed-loop color control and digital capabilities, with provision to add gravure in the future. Also on display was the Rietstack 850 offline die-cutting system, completing a fully integrated IML production workflow. 

The new press was officially inaugurated by the owner, Manish Desai, director of Mudrika Labels, one of India’s leading packaging companies, known for its early adoption of advanced printing technologies and its extensive fleet of flexo and offset presses serving global brands. The machine to be installed at Mudrika Labels’ facility in India will be configured for in-mold labels, shrink sleeves, unsupported films and hybrid packaging applications. With an 850mm web width, it is the widest press in the Universal range and is designed to handle substrates ranging from 12-micron films to carton board. 

Desai said: ‘This one-of-a-kind press from Rotatek is the latest technology in India and will be a game changer, especially for IML and flexible packaging production. The world moves fast, but Mudrika moves faster. We are investing in a platform that allows us to enter new markets we are not currently serving and to do so globally, not just in India.’ 

The event also saw active participation from Rotatek’s technology partners including Rietstack, Toyo Ink, Taghleef Industries, Maxcess, Actega, BST, Schober Technologies and Polilux, who engaged with converters and showcased complementary technologies aimed at enhancing production efficiency and print performance.