Miraflex S to debut at Windmöller & Hölscher Packaging 4.0 event

The event, taking place June 10-11 in Lengerich, Germany, will include demonstrations of a range of Windmöller & Hölscher equipment and technology for flexible packaging production.

This will include demonstrations of three flexographic and one gravure printing presses. A Vistaflex CL 8 will show the printing of diaper film at speeds of 800m/min with in-line slitting. The highly effective Easy-Check C system automatically measures color quality during production operations.

A Miraflex CM 10 will show an example of printing with high ink coverage and massive drying, and new modules to improve print quality will be introduced.

A Heliostar S will be demonstrating newly designed sensor technology and its register accuracy for both inks and coatings The press will run a thin packaging film printed at speeds of 500m/min.

Miraflex S, the newest model in the Miraflex family, will have its public premiere at the event. Launched at the start of the year, Miraflex S has expanded this Windmöller & Hölscher product range as it is an 8-color press available in widths of 640-820mm. Repeats start as small as 250mm, which results in lower plate costs for smaller formats. A maximum repeat of 800mm provides the flexibility to also print larger formats.

Versions have been designed with speeds of 300m/min or 400m/min in order to address the spectrum of job sizes Windmöller & Hölscher customers take on.

The press fits under ceiling heights of 4m and can take up as little as 10m in length.

Other demonstrations to take place during Packaging 4.0 include extrusion on the blown and cast film lines Aquarex, Varex II, Optimex and Filmex, and the conversion of film to useable packaging, including the AD Plastic 2 valve bottomer for film valve sacks and Polytex, a tuber for film that will be shown producing highly complex tube constructions with venting and embossing used for special applications.

Windmöller & Hölscher said the equipment to be shown represent ‘intuitive and integrated technologies’, and show the possibilities the ‘fourth industrial revolution opens for the manufacturing of flexible packaging, with integration of production lines and technical data streams.’

The company added: ‘[We] will respond to the mega-trends in the industry and will answer pressing questions about the rising prices of raw materials, scarce resources, price pressure and the challenge of finding qualified workers.

‘As an industry leader in machinery for film extrusion, printing and converting, Windmöller & Hölscher is in a unique position to herald Packaging 4.0.’