TRANSDUCER OPTION OFFERS CONVENIENCE
Dover Flexo Electronics, Rochester, NH; 603/332-6150
Co. offers special option for idler roll tension transducer pairs: an integrated interface/amplifier that outputs a 10 VDC signal proportional to tension. Transducers with the special option are powered by 24 VDC. With the development of the 10-V output option, the necessity for customers to purchase and install an extra transducer interface/amplifier card when purchasing a pair of tension transducers has been eliminated, co. reports.

POUCH EQUIPMENT ADDS SLIDER
HCI/Karlville Development USA, Miami, FL; 305/533-1051
The HCI single-web pouch machine can produce bags using the new Minigrip/Zip-Pak^® Slider as well as conventional Zip-Pak resealable packaging. The slider spool is mounted to the conventional zipper spool and fed and sealed in a similar process as conventional with dedicated special molds required. An ultrasonic unit seals the bag edges to prevent leakage. A vibratory bowl feeds the slider clip to a station that inserts the slider clip over the zipper track. The final station opens the slider so the pouches can be sold in the open position for more efficient filling.

INK JET FILMS PERMIT HIGH RUN SPEEDS
Avery Dennison, Painesville, OH; 440/358-4700; averydennison.com
Fasson clear ink jet-printable layflat films are said to permit high run speeds, excellent performance, and extended market reach. Films offer superior topcoating chemistry, excellent layflat performance, clear film facestocks, and exceptional printability, co. reports. Can be used in label trials or prototype products. Available in matte #75589 and gloss #75597.

REWIND SHAFT DESIGNED FOR LOW TENSION
John Dusenbery Co., Randolph, NJ; ph: 973/366-7500; dusenbery.com
Differential rewind shaft is designed to accommodate lower rewind tensions on slitter/rewinder. Product suits applications with very low to moderately high tension requirements, such as films, papers, and laminates. Mandrels are designed as an option on any of the co.'s slitter/rewinders and also can be retrofitted on many of its existing machines. Co. also can produce mandrels to upgrade equipment manufactured by other companies.

SOFTWARE ANALYZES PRODUCTION RUN
ei³ Corp., Montvale, NJ; 201/802-9080; ei3.com
SiteOutlook Sentinel^SM on-line software converts raw data from a production run into a report that enables quick identification of potential problem areas, co. says. A reference job is established in which equipment operating conditions become the basis of an on-line comparison. Software is activated through the Internet to monitor current production conditions. This information is analyzed using advanced statistical algorithms, which filter out real problems from nuisance alarms. Once the problems are identified, an e-mail or pager alert is sent out to the responsible party automatically. From this information, the user is then prompted to take corrective action. Currently available to qualified customers on a monthly basis.

UV FLEXO INKS FOR PAPER & FLEXIBLE SUBSTRATES
Environmental Inks and Coatings, Atlanta, GA; 800/466-9573
Ultra Flex II^™ UV flexo ink system for paper and films is said to have exceptional color strength and clean printing characteristics required for printing strong solids with vignettes or fine type. Reportedly offers high strength with low viscosity for four-color printing. Available in a complete line of blending inks for use with co.'s Easy Ink Controller computer mixing system.

SILICONE SPLICING TAPE HAS EASY RELEASEScapa North America, Windsor, CT; 860/688-8000
Scapa 598 is an easy-release, heat-resistant silicone splicing tape designed for use on p-s adhesive-coated tapes, labels, and other substrates. Product is a single-coated blue PET tape that features a modified silicone adhesive to withstand high temperatures. Said to unwind smoothly and easily and remove cleanly, leaving no adhesive residue.

OZONE IMPROVES EXTRUSION PROCESSES
Enercon Industries Corp., Menomonee Falls, WI; 262/255-6070; enerconind.com
O3zonator^™ Series features specially optimized dielectrics and very high power densities for maximum performance, co. says, adding that it improves extrusion coating and extrusion laminating processes. Systems reportedly are economical and accommodating for applications in which space is limited.

AIR-COOLED BRAKES ARE VERSATILE
The Montalvo Corp., Portland, ME; 207/797-8710; montalvo.com
V-Series pneumatic air-cooled brakes are available with an integral fan cover. Single-disc brakes offer highly efficient heat dissipation characteristics along with a patented “no-tools” design for quick and easy pad changes, mfr. reports. Offered in three standard sizes with multiple torque ranges, series reportedly is well suited for a variety of shafted or shaftless unwind applications for corrugating, printing, or converting.

CONTROL AIR PRESSURE EFFICIENTLY
Pnutek, South Beloit, IL; 815/624-8930
Standard Pressure Controller (SPC) is said to offer a simple, cost-effective way to control air pressure using an analog signal. Controller uses a feed/bleed technique to control pressure accurately and efficiently where necessary, co. reports. SPC is designed to sense output air with an accurate temperature-compensated transducer, comparing it to the desired pressure as set by the input or control signal and “feeding” or “bleeding” air to the output to correct any error conditions. Features include auxiliary control valve capability for increased flow requirements; no trim pots or other analog set-up adjustments; microprocessor control; and selectable main valve deadband and auxiliary valve deadband.

NARROW RIBBON UNWIND IS EASY TO INSTALL
Telstar Engineering, Burnsville, MN; 952/890-9440; telstareng.com
Narrow ribbon unwind add-on unit is designed to supply ribbons of magnetic stripe material, tape, or hot stamping foil to the hot stamp or laminating system. The unwind holds multiple spools of material that are tensioned independently and guided into the application point. Ribbons can be spaced as near as 1 in. apart. The unit is said to simply bolt to the parent machine and is ready to use.

FILM FEATURES HIGHER TEMPERATURE RESISTANCE
Metallized Products, Winchester, MA; 781/729-8300; 888/MPI-8088
Line of cross-linked PE films is said to offer a low-cost alternative for high-temperature applications such as labels and tapes. Film has a softening point of 350 deg F that reportedly allows it to be used for higher temperature applications than conventional PE film. Available in thicknesses from 1-10 mils and can be supplied on rolls up to 80 in. wide or slit to customer specifications.

FILM OFFERS STIFFNESS, CLARITY, & GLOSS
New England Extrusion, Turners Falls, MA; 413/863-3171; 800/537-3180
Inflex^™ M0466 film reportedly features enhanced stiffness, clarity, and gloss. There is a 72% increase in MD Secant modulus (stiffness), which can be beneficial if a converter wishes to downgauge a structure, the mfr. reports. Increased stiffness is said to improve handling, package performance, and the overall “feel” of the package. Product is said to show an 18% increase in gloss and a 27% decrease in haze.

SYSTEM DESIGNED FOR HARD-TO-CUT MATERIALS
New Era Converting Machinery, Hawthorne, NJ; 201/670-4848; neweraconverting.com
Co. offers flying shear cut-off system for unwinds and winders, plus a patented zero fold-over automatic winding system. Both systems are called ideal for difficult-to-cut materials requiring clean, straight cuts with no debris generation.

GEARLESS PRESS REDUCES DOWNTIME
Kidder Inc., Agawam, MA; 413/786-8692; kidderpress.com
Arcus GT ten-color gearless press combines Siemen's electronic gear technology with co.'s transmission system. Cantilevered station design with easy-access platforms is said to allow convenient accessibility, ease of operation, and reduced downtime. Available in standard widths to 57 in.

ROLLER OFFERS FLEXIBILITY
Christian Maier GmbH & Co., Heidenheim, Germany; +49 07321 317-0
Airflex^® roller reportedly can be used as splitting roller as well as lay-on roller. Both executions are air pressure adjusted during operation.

TOPCOATING PERMITS INK JET PRINTING
PDL Polymers, Akron, OH; 330/794-6616
Poly Data 663 topcoating is designed for a variety of plastic films, foils, and laminated foils. Topcoated films will accept ink jet printing, co. notes. PSA labels made from films are said to be durable and to allow manufacturers to supply on-demand labels.

SOFTWARE PROVIDES SOLUTION TO VISCOSITY CONTROL
Norcross Corp., Newton, MA; 617/969-7020
The WinVisc software package is a two-component MS Windows-based control system comprised of a DDE driver and a VB-based operator interface. Provides communication with MP2000 or MP90 controllers, and the system's operator interface displays data and interacts with system operators. Software acts as a link between a user's PC and the MP2000 or MP90 controllers on the plant floor. This innovation is said to replace the typical control scheme where each MP2000 or other controller, located at an ink or other process station, provides microprocessor control only on an individual station basis.

BAG MACHINE PRODUCES VARIETY OF SIZES
H.G. Weber & Co., Kiel, WI; 920/894-2221; hgweber.com
The 5XF variable-size bag machine combines the size ranges of three machines in one. Produces square-bottom bags of one, two, or three plies in a range of widths and heights. Bags formed on the machine are said to be used for packaging everything from bakery and popcorn to coffee and pet food. Machine reportedly holds its settings and adjustments precisely to ensure consistent bag formation, and servo drive system eliminates the need for changegears, which helps save set-up time. Bag tube lengths can be changed quickly and easily with just the touch of a keypad, co. reports.

GAUGE CONTROL DESIGNED FOR BLOWN FILM EXTRUSION
Reifenhauser Inc., Ipswich, MA; 978/412-9700; reifenhauser.com
REIcotherm automatic blown film die gauge control system is a mono or coextrusion die with cartridge heaters and integrated thermocouples arranged at close spacing around the die gap. The control principle is based on temperature adjustments at the corresponding heating zone: At thick spots in the film, the temperature is increased, and it is reduced at thin spots. Film thickness is measured by a capactive thickness gauge that oscillates around the film bubble on a track. The gauge head is of special design for sticky or scratch-sensitive films.

ADHESIVES FEATURE CUSTOMIZED PROPERTIES
Advanced Polymers Intl., Syracuse, NY; 315/451-1755; 877/MSPHERE
Gel-Tac 213D and 219D are transfer-coatable microsphere adhesives featuring customized properties for use on PP and PE films. Both water-based adhesives are designed to allow film substrates to be removed and repositioned multiple times, while keeping a stable tack over time, mfr. says.

INKING SYSTEM PROVIDES CLEANER PRINTING
Sun Chemical Ink (GPI), Northlake, IL; 708/562-0550; sunchemical.com
HydroTense 2000^™ corrugated inking system is said to contain a unique defoaming chemistry combined with colorants, resins, and additives. This formulation reportedly assures that presses will perform without micro-foam voids and that anilox cells will be filled with ink.

PRINT SHORT, LONG GRAVURE RUNS
Schiavi SpA, Piacenza, Italy; +39 0523 493 111; bobstgroup.com
SG 2000 gravure printing press is said to print short and long runs efficiently and productively. Runs at speeds of 700 mpm when fitted with special drying chambers, co. reports. The inking group is said to be fully enclosed so there are no ink splashes, even at the highest speed. Press reportedly takes less than 15 min to go from the last meter of print in one job to the first meter of print in the following job.

MOUNTING MACHINE DESIGNED FOR GEARLESS PRESS
J. M. Heaford Ltd., Altrincham, U.K.; +44 161 9285679
Designed to mount plates directly onto sleeves used with a gearless press, mounting and proofing machine has servo drives to both the plate cylinder sleeve and to the proofing drum. The same pivoting cantilever base air cylinder is utilized for quick sleeve changeover.

ANILOX ROLL OFFERS IMPROVED INK RELEASE
Ceramic Anilox Engravers Ltd., Durban, South Africa; +27 31 2051066
Anilox roll features improved ink release and volume control; superior impact and abrasion resistance over conventional anilox rolls; and chrome-to-ceramic conversion and roll-manufacturing services, co. reports. Specialized plasma-coating processes are said to ensure improved durability and corrosion resistance.

POWER UP IN ADVERSE CONDITIONS
Corotec Corp., Farmington, CT; 860/678-0038; 800/423-0348
SmartStart^™ power supply start-up control is said to allow power supply operation despite adverse conditions in the treating station, such as excessive moisture or condensation. Designed to gradually increase power in order to evaporate moisture from the treating station and ultimately allow normal operation. If a fault is encountered, the system will make corrections until the maximum output of the power supply can be achieved.

See page NPD16 for “Trends in Hot Stamping”

PAPER NAPKIN CLINGS TO CLOTHES
Using Post-It Note^™ adhesive technology, Arnold Gureff of Sunnyside, NY, has developed a stay-in-place paper napkin designed to cling to the user's lap instead of falling on the floor.

The patented No Slide Lap-Cling Paper Napkin is a multilayered napkin with an absorbent top and bottom layer and a moisture-resistant layer for handling food or beverage spills. Fabric-friendly removable strips are designed to secure the No-Slide Lap Cling paper napkin to the user's garment.

The paper napkin can be produced in perforated roll form, similar to paper towels, so that each napkin may be torn off singly or in units of two or more. It is said to be manufacturer-friendly in that only two improvements to the ordinary paper napkin are necessary to produce it.

For more information contact the licensing dept. at 718/729-7747.