Gallus and partners share technologies and vision

Avery Dennison’s Mentor facility has been confirmed as the new Gallus ECS 340 demo center, and the machine manufacturer used this as an opportunity to gather together several business partners presenting complementary technologies on UV curing, air drying systems, mounting systems, finishing equipment and materials. 

Digital was a key topic, with Michael Ring, vice president, Gallus Digital Solutions, presenting the case for digital and hybrid label printing, and pointing out that short runs and personalization have become leading drivers for emerging technologies. Dan Maurer, vice president of digital at Heidelberg USA, explained that 400 Heidelberg engineers are currently devoted to digital innovations, representing about 50 percent of the company’s technology investments. ‘Today’s digital technologies provide virtually unlimited opportunities for differentiation by brand managers, including personalization, anti-counterfeiting techniques, versioning and short runs,’ commented Maurer.

These presentations saw the Gallus Labelfire 340 digital hybrid press introduced, as well as Omnifire, a robotically operated printhead which can be used to custom print 3D objects for instant personalization at the consumer level. Gallus technicians demonstrated the Gallus ECS 340 press later on during the day in the Avery Dennison demo room, after which the guests were given a tour of Avery Dennison’s R&D facility.

Read more about Heidelberg’s digital transformation in L&L issue 3, 2017, and here.

Supporting developments in printing were presentations from: GEW, Inc president Brian Wenger on the advantages of UV curing and his company’s ArcLED technology; Prati’s Claudia Fabbri on advanced finishing systems; and Chuck Irons, sales and business development leader at XDS, discussing hot air-drying systems for water-based inks, and how improvements in technology allow printers to migrate more easily between UV- and-water based inks. Chris Blackwell from Avery Dennison presented the company’s flexo plate mounting tapes, while Gregg Gayle of Agfa presented JM Heaford plate mounting technology, which his company provides.

‘It’s a great day in flexo label printing when complementary products and technologies come together,’ said Gayle, while Wenger characterized the open house as, ‘a great opportunity to educate the printing audience on ways to reduce energy costs and maintenance with built-in flexibility.’

Christof Naier, general manager of the Gallus label business, detailed operational improvements coming to Gallus customers by virtue of the pending acquisition by Heidelberg US, including increased cooperation and training with Heidelberg service personnel to handle more first-level support, especially for the Gallus ECS 340, Gallus Labelmaster and Gallus Labelfire 340 press lines.