Improved investment climate boosts Nilpeter’s Labelexpo sales

On the last day of Labelexpo Americas 2006 Nilpeter’s well-known order bell rang for the 20th time.

It signified an order for a ten-unit FA-4 UV-flexo combination press placed by Group Lelys in Montreal. However, the star of the show was the company’s American-built and redesigned servo-driven FB-Line. No less than ten of these modular flexo presses were sold, with the majority ordered by US label converters. In many respects this fact offered further proof that American label and packaging printers are back on the investment trail. Previous Labelexpo shows held in Chicago have tended to show an order bias towards Latin and South American buyers.

At 7,500 square feet (700 sq/meters) Nilpeter's booth was one of the largest exhibitors at the show. It provided the North American debut of the servo-driven FA-Line, a third-generation press for printing a wide range of pressure-sensitive labels and film-based packaging applications. The model displayed had ten flexo units, a 16-inch web width and an AVT 100 per cent web inspection system. It was shipped to Syracuse Labels in New York State.

Representing the modular and revamped FB-Line – made in Cincinnati – was an FB-3300S equipped with eight flexo units with hot air drying and UV-curing on the last unit. Rotary screen and hot foil modules are optional. This is the factory’s first servo-driven and completely shaftless press. An extended version of the show press will be installed by a Spanish label converter. The FB-3300A, a non-servo sister press was shown at the Kurz stand – demonstrating how far cold foil application has been taken by label converters.

Nilpeter also demonstrated a servo-driven MO-3300S platform press with five offset units, a flexo unit and a rotary screen module. It features fast make-readies and an advanced Press Management Center for economic printing of even relatively small runs. Output includes top-quality labels, cartons and packaging. The show press was later shipped to W S Packaging in Wisconsin.

‘This year’s Labelexpo Americas was an above-average show in terms of the quality of visitors and their interest in our presses. It was especially notable for a stronger than usual willingness by American converters to invest in the very latest narrow-web technology. This factor kept our sales staff very busy, with live presentations of the FB-Line press especially creating much interest’, said Jakob Landberg, sales director. 'This factor also reflects a global trend among converters operating in a maturing industry to look beyond pressure-sensitive labels. Many now seek to expand their service into producing film-based labels, such as shrink sleeves and wrap-around labels,’ he added.