Flexographic printer Parkside Flexibles has made an undisclosed investment to install two Universal X6 slitting machines, which were installed at its flexographic printing sites in the UK and Malaysia.

Offering product consistency and reduced changeover times, the new machines will enable Parkside Flexibles to create improved packaging, which includes aluminium foil-based laminating structures.

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Universal Converting Equipment managing director Alan Jones said: “Although the Universal X6 machines supplied to Parkside were our standard model, some of their specifications had tighter tolerances than normal.

“It was very satisfying when Parkside visited for the machine acceptance trials that the products were all processed without problems. The X-slit slitting system provides a lot of flexibility as well as fast and accurate set-up.

“Rather than dedicating products to machines, Parkside found they could run their range of materials through the X6 without problems. Precise knife setting and closed loop control ensure reproducible results.”

Both the Universal X6 slitting machines feature closed loop rewind tension control with load cells providing feedback, providing the exact amount of winding tension through machine acceleration and deceleration.

“It was very satisfying when Parkside visited for the machine acceptance trials that the products were all processed without problems."

They also feature the X-Slit slitting system, which uses automatic positioning to control the position of knives and anvils to very tight tolerances, and can automatically position razor blades.

Furthermore, the Universal X6 slitting machines facilitate wrinkle free operation by incorporating a ‘Quad’ wrap material drive system in the Universal X6 slitter rewinder.

Unlike nip roller and vacuum roller based systems, the rewinder does not create slippage, scratches, noise, energy wastage or crease formation.

The X6 slitter rewinder is also capable of measuring the length of each print repeat and then generates a report and graph showing the variability through the roll.

Image: Universal X6 slitting machine. Photo: courtesy of Universal Converting Equipment.