International Converting Industry News

Published: May 01, 2001

Covering the Full Spectrum of International Industry News, Events & Activities

Installations
BP Amoco Adds Ashe Equipment
BP Amoco has taken delivery of an Ashe Sapphire slitter/rewinder at its Performance Films site in West Yorkshire, U.K. It has a PC-based touchscreen control system, flux vector AC, three-motor drive, and hug drum.

The installation was easy, says BP Amoco production manager Paul Cooke, and he is impressed with the performance features and ease of handling of the new equipment. He adds that the company expects this investment will enable it to continue to maintain its competitive edge.
Supplier Information
Ashe Converting Equipment, Ipswich, U.K.; +44 (0) 1473710912; ashe.co.uk

Bielomatik Installs Sheeters
ANDOVER, ENGLAND—A Bielomatik cut-size line has been ordered by UPM-NorService GmbH, a sub. of Nordland Papier AG. The new line has variable-size formats and includes a complete wrapping line. Maximum working width of the sheeter is 720 mm, or three pockets of A4. The AC direct drive is reported to provide a maximum speed of 500 mpm.

Bielomatik also reports the successful startup of a folio sheeter at Modo Paper Hallein in Austria. That sheeter has a working width of 2,150 mm. The company reports that up to eight paper rolls can be processed simultaneously using four backstands due to the fact that two paper rolls can be hung side by side in one backstand.

Supplier News
CCS Profits from Hot Melt Coater
As a manufacturer and converter of adhesive-coated materials, Coating & Converting Solutions (CCS), West Midlands, England, has been serving the food packaging, medical markets, and more since its inception in 1998. The company credits its rapid growth rate to the purchase of an Elite Cameron hot melt coater.

CCS managing director Tony Webb says, “At present we are producing in excess of 40,000 square meters of material per day through the coating machine, and our turnover has escalated dramatically, which would not have been achievable without exceptional performance from the Elite Cameron coater.”

CCS reports it can manufacture products to 1,250 mm wide and 2,000 m in length, or convert in-house to any width or length. Film products with coat weights down to 10 gsm are achievable, CCS says, and the purchase of the coater has allowed the company to develop and coat more delicate and thinner materials than ever before.

Webb explains, “I chose Elite Cameron for a number of reasons. I knew their technical ability and engineering were to a high standard, and their electronic capabilities were much more advanced [than those of other companies].”
Supplier Information
Elite Cameron, Somerset, England; +44 (0) 1823-283411; elitecameron.com

BBA Nonwovens Opens in China
OLD HICKORY, TN, USA—BBA Nonwovens has opened an airlaid nonwovens plant in Tianjin, P.R. China. The plant produces both hybrid- and thermo-bonded airlaid grades in different basis weights as uniform or composite structures, with or without super-absorbent materials.

The 18,000-sq-m facility includes a dry forming, semi-swing airlaid production line supplied by M&J Fibretech with a capacity of 16,000-20,000 metric tons.

Valmet to Open Tech Center in Italy
BEDFORD, ENGLAND—Valmet Converting will open a new technology center at its Valmet Rotomec SpA business unit near Milan, Italy. The center, which will cover 2,000 sq m, is scheduled to open in 2002.

It will feature Rotomec gravure and flexographic printing technology; coating and laminating; Atlas & Titan slitting, rewinding, and handling solutions; and General vacuum metallizing systems.

Delpro Expands Factory to Include Synpro Products
GLOSSOP, ENGLAND—Since acquiring Synpro Machine last year, Delpro Ltd. has transferred Synpro's manufacturing operations to the newly expanded Delpro factory.

Synpro's product line includes a range of carbon fiber chambered doctor blade systems for printing and coating applications.

Gary Johnson will be design engineer for the Synpro sales team.

Preco to Market Bruno Presses in Europe
LENEXA, KS, USA—Preco Industries and Bruno Machinery, Troy, NY, have formed a strategic alliance in which Preco will expand its array of hydraulic die-cutting press offerings with the marketing and selling of Bruno's large-tonnage presses. Preco will begin selling Bruno presses in a territory that includes 28 countries, primarily in Europe.

Association News
European Flex-Pack Associations Merge
HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS—Two European flexible packaging associations have merged. FEDES has been integrated into Euroflex, and in the new structure, FEDES will represent the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises.

The merger is intended to improve efficiencies, cut costs, and create one voice for the flex-pack industry in Europe for legislators and customers.

An FEDES congress will be held in Budapest, Hungary, May 24-25 for flex-pack converters from both Eastern and Western Europe. It is open to nonmembers. For information contact Euroflex/FEDES, Laan Copes van Cattenburch 79, Box 85612, NL-2508 CH, The Hague, The Netherlands; +31-70-312-3913; euroflex.org.