Corrugated 2002: The Right Mix

PARIS, FRANCE—Corrugated 2002 organizer, Reed Exhibitions, reports the international show for boxmakers and converters "broght the right mix of machinery and equipment." Notes Barbara Davis, events sales manager, "[The exhibitors] maximized their investment [with] their participation and ensured that buyers and specifiers found it simple to identify and purchase the products they were looking for."

Corrugated 2002, Parisian Isles, France, ran from June 10–15, 2002, and reports Reed, "closed its doors having welcomed 8414 visitors, with 65 percent returning for more than one day, giving a total of 13, 896 visits over the six open days." The show stats reflected the global nature of the event, says Reed, with visitors representing 107 countries, an event record. "The event has been acclaimed by both exhibitors and visitors as being extremely successful," adds Jane Harris, exhibition director. "In particular, we have been praised for delivering a truly global audience of boxmakers and converters."

Bobst Group
Bobst Group says Corrugated 2002 brought keen interest to the company's stand. "More than 700 companies from five continents visited our stand during the show, " reports Jean-Marie Gsell.

"Bobst’s impressive stand demonstrated the company’s latest innovation in automatic die cutting of corrugated in the shape of the SPO 160-APR Matic Autoplaten Automatic," reports Pauline Covell of Converting Today.

Bobst says sheets are fed in register whether they are of uneven length or laminated with an uneven overlap. The correction range is length plus or minus 4 mm (.160in), and skew plus or minus 2mm (0.080in). Excellent edge to cut register of +/- 0.3mm (0.010in) is claimed, providing consistent box quality. Rated at up to 6,500 sheets/h, it can convert stock ranging from solid from 1mm to corrugated up to 9mm. Maximum sheet size is 1,600 x 1,100mm (minimum is 600 x 520mm ). During the show the Dynaload prefeeder and SPO 160-APR Matic was running an ice cream pack in G flute with 180g/m2 coated liner, six up on an 800 x 1,200mm sheet. The flexo four colour plus UV varnish post print was produced on a Masterflex 160-A Matic.

"The second job run on the Bobst diecutter was a CD box of F flute offset litho laminated on the Asitrade MPC IV also launched on the stand," reports Covell. According to Bobst, with a speed of 180m/min, the machine laminates up to 10,000 litho printed sheets/h to a web of single face board. The output for longer sheets is claimed to be 20 per cent higher than the previous model – the MPC-111. Two orders have been confirmed and a third is expected, adds mfr.

Esko-Graphics
Covell also reports a product introduction from Esko-Graphics; the Kongsberg DCM22 (for digital converting) automatically can load and cut board directly from CAM software, she says.

"The Kongsberg DCM22 is ideal for cutting and creasing pre-printed sheets from different sources in close register, such as silk-screen prints, digital prints, and flexo prints," reports Tom Naess, Esko-Graphics product manager of sample making and SRP. "By eliminating the costs and time associated with cutting dies and going directly to production once the CAD design is ready, short run orders of up to 300 pieces can be really profitable." According to the mfr., the DCM22 offers automated sheet cycling, featuring a load frame that instantly and simultaneously loads a fresh sheet and moves away the completed sheet.

Valco Cincinnati
Valco Cincinnati demonstrated a series of innovative gluing and glue-line inspection systems, Covell reports. "The 900 Combi station, for example, launched at the show, is a completely reversible all electric valve system. Interchangeable, it can glue both outside and inside (top down and bottom up) and on both the tab and the fourth panel." Covell also says the company’s glue-inspection system was demonstrated on a Martin 61 E on the Bobst stand. According to the mfr., the CGS 40 gate sensor checks adhesive volume to ensure the proper amount of adhesive is present, verifying adhesive integrity for positioning and length.

Rapidex
"An unconventional transverse box maker -- the RAPIDBOX -- was launched by Rapidex," reports Covell, "In what is described as a 'technological revolution,' rather than the sheet being positioned and stopped under the tool, the tool comes to the correct position over the sheet, which is travelling at constant working speed. The result," notes Covell, "is it 'allows small or medium size box orders of large dimensions and all types, with a production speed close to that offered by longitudinal slotters/diecutters, but without the high investment.'"

Mfr. says using advanced electronics and servos the three in one operation (slitter-scorer/slotter/rotary diecutter) runs at up to 1, 000 sheets/hour. It has multiple box capability (multiple outs across and multiple ups through) of all box styles from of any corrugated board type, with virtually unlimited dimensions, up to 2 800 x 10 000 mm (110 x 400in), claims the company. The infeed module of the compact machine comprises pull rolls, creasers and slitters; the first rotary tool provides slotting tranverse creasing and lap cutting; the second rotary tool carries up to four different die tools and the discharge consists of pull rolls, creasers and slitters. (RAPIDEX, Pierre Maillard, sales director, Zone Industrielle d’Ecouflant, BP 3087;' + 33 (0) 6 80 13 21 82).

Other companies reporting success include BHS and Kohler Coating. Lars Engle of BHS Corruaged GmbH adds, "Our company can look back at an extremely successful show." And Herb Kohler, Kohler Coating president, reports "leads generated have been top draw."

Another corrugated expo, SINO-Corrugated 2003 (March 27–29, 2003, Shanghai, China), recently has been added to Reed's portfolio of exhibitions, says the trade show organization firm. "Over 100 companies have alreayd signed up to exhibit at SINO," Reed reports. "Over 70 percent of the 8,000 net sq m of available floorspace already has been sold, with the exhibition projected to be twice the size of the first event held in late 2001."

For more information about Corrugated 2002 or SINO-Corrugated 2003, contact Jane Harris at +44(0)121 252 4068; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


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