Gallus targets ECS 340 at manufacture of commodity labels

Labelexpo Europe 2009 saw the Gallus Group launch a press designed for the cost-effective manufacture of commodity labels. The Gallus ECS 340 press is based on a robust core of technical granite.

Commenting on the launch, Stefan Heiniger, vice-president research and development of the Gallus Group, said: ‘Thanks to its extremely high load-bearing capacity, technical granite is ideal for use in machine construction. It is responsible, among other things, for the user-friendly design of the Gallus ECS 340. The printing units are suspended on the granite structure, allowing the printer easy access and thus ensuring ease of operation. What’s more, granite is a natural raw material whose use has a very positive impact on the CO2 balance of the Gallus ECS 340. The eco-friendly design of the Gallus ECS 340 is underpinned by the ease with which the granite can be recycled once the press reaches the end of its life cycle.’

For labels with limited finishing requirements in commodity applications – such as food and pharmaceuticals, substrate costs can account for up to 50 percent of the label’s total cost. This means that the amount of waste produced impacts strongly on the margin of a job. The Gallus ECS 340 is designed for maximum waste reduction, with the web length measuring just over 11 meters for an 8-color machine.

One of the first Gallus ECS 340 presses has been in action at Barthel GmbH in Essen since mid-2009, primarily for the production of food labels. Herr Esser, production manager at Barthel, commented: ‘It is remarkable just how quickly the press gets into register and, above all, stays there – without any register control whatsoever. Our paper waste has been cut dramatically.’

The very short web path means that adjustments made during production are visible immediately, while the dynamic feed ensures that the print image is not altered when speeds are changed. ‘We now trust the press’ register accuracy to the extent that printers can focus on preparing the next job without having to continuously check the quality of the print results – even at top speeds,’ added Esser from Barthel.

The ECS 340 uses sleeves on the plate cylinder and anilox for fast job changeovers, which are further helped by a chambered blade system. The press comes with full servo drive technology and is equipped with cooled impression cylinders, allowing a wide range of substrates to be converted.

‘The Gallus ECS 340 is available at a very competitive price,’ said Klaus Bachstein, CEO of the Gallus Group. ‘This is due to the fact that the press has been tailored precisely to the needs of the target application segment and only includes essential functions, without compromising on quality or cost-efficiency.’ 

The Gallus ECS 340 does not need an exhaust system thanks to a new development in the UV system. The UV dryers are fully encapsulated and watercooled so that no air extraction is required, resulting in low noise levels.

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