Finishing & Screen Printing

Drupa 2008, Dusseldorf, Hall 12, Stand D25 Innovative Strapping Technology State-of-the-art strap production in Europe

Wednesday 14. May 2008 - Print products are very special, newspapers, magazines, and high-gloss brochures or flyers have one thing in common: they need packaging that secures products reliably for transportation but should also be economical and environmentally friendly.

Strapping technology has proven to be the best solution for this sector. Other industries also benefit from the advantages of modern strapping technology, like the logistics, corrugated and mail-order industries. The different stretchable plastic straps with memory for retaining tension, guarantee reliable product friendly packaging and can easily be recycled. Moreover, experience with strapping technology has proven to be the most efficient and economical method with the lowest material and energy effort.
During the DRUPA 2008 fair customers have the chance to seethe latest state-of-the-art technology from strapping system manufacturer, MOSCA, of Waldbrunn / Germany for themselves.
The variety of machines shown ranges from a low-priced all-rounder up to high capacity strapping machines that keep pace with the fastest high-speed stackers (see box text). The wide range offered by the company located in Waldbrunn near Heidelberg offers strapping solutions from the smallest bundles up to the largest pallets and includes the production of conveying systems as well as the strapping material production. The strap production capacity in 2007 was approx. 20,000 metric tonnes.
During the fair, interested visitors will find a separate area relating to strap production on the MOSCA stand.
Commitment to the German location
To avoid strap production shortages in the future MOSCA AG is making major investments in its Strap Production Division. The entire strap production including warehousing, shipping and administration will be relocated to a new plant facility in Muckental, only a few kilometres away from the headquarters (Picture 1). This is how MOSCA intends to stay ahead of the growing requirements for quality strapping material whilst retaining the shortest possible delivery times. The most modern strap production in Europe delivers the best pre-conditions: not only the fully-automatic production, but also the warehousing, shipping and administration offer the latest in leading edge technology.
This new location also offers further plant extension possibilities. The user profits from the close proximity to the headquarters as combined shipping of machines, spare-parts and strapping material are realisable without any difficulties.
During planning, construction and operation of the new strap production facility, MOSCA attached great importance to all environmental aspects. Visible evidence from outside of the building is the installation of solar panels on the roof of the 135m long by 10m high and up to 65m wide hall that represents one of the biggest systems in the region. The total surface of the solar system is 3000m² and has a capacity of 330kW.

New packaging concept for strap coils offers advantages
The packaging of the strap coils has been optimised considering environmental aspects. To reduce packaging waste, Mosca will no longer use cardboard side-discs that were fixed with three straps on the coil. In future these coils will utilise a light stretched adhesive film that eases the handling of the coils (picture 2). The time for changing the coils will be shortened, as the film can be removed in one procedure and the strap can be threaded immediately. The annoying cutting of each strap binding is no longer required.
Additionally the coils include more strapping material; the extended changing intervals are a beneficial result. Instead of 6500m on a 5mm PP strap coil, 7000m can now be processed. On top of this, the film packaging guarantees optimum dust protection for the running surface of the strap. The compact design of the rolls offers a new concept for effective packaging solutions during the shipment of trucks and containers. Each coil is clearly marked and therefore will be traceable to check when and on which machine the strap has been produced. Once again MOSCA AG sets new standards with this new packaging during strap production.


Box text:
From the all-rounder to the high capacity machine:
Practical improvements for each application
Especially for the requirements of the print and graphic industries packaging specialist MOSCA of Waldbrunn offers numerous strapping machines that can be used for different applications. Even the short cycle times during the print of daily newspapers are no problem for the strappers. During the DRUPA fair visitors can see the efficiency of the ultrasonic sealing technology (picture 3) and see the fully-automatic strapping machines SONIXS-TAI and SONIXS-TRP in action. Both machines work at a capacity of up to 70 cycles per minute and can be integrated into automated lines offering the highest available reliability. The machine type SONIXS-TR is now offered with an integrated bundle stop but additionally with an automatic top sheet dispenser. The SONIXS-TRI is used for inline strapping and – also like the other fully-automatic strappers – this machine can be adjusted to different applications by the use of numerous options.
Similar is the fully automatic pallet strapping machine KCT-131 that vertically straps different palletised goods (picture 4). This machine also offers interesting improvements: a label can now be printed on the top edge protection as a label printer was directly integrated into the automatic edge protection system. Using this system clear pallet identification by hand or automatic scanner is possible at any time. The machine can be offered either with the proven sealing system KSR-2 or the SONIXS ultrasonic sealing system. As the SONIXS-sealing heads can process both PET and PP strap the user profits through potential strapping material savings. Cost reductions in a double-digit percentage can be realised. Further savings can be made by the strap welding device that is offered as an accessory for all pallet strapping machines: during coil changes this device connects the strap ends without loss of material. In addition time savings can be made during the coil change. The strap welding device is mounted directly on the strap coil dispenser. There is no need to enter the safety sector to operate; stopping of the automated line and the related down-times can be avoided this way.


Also other machine operating speeds have been advanced. The new machine type UATRI-2 for inline strapping of corrugated cardboards is now available with the ultrasonic sealing head. Pneumatics are no longer necessary. This reduces connection and follow-up costs. Other interesting features are the automatic size adjustment and the higher operator and maintenance convenience. Optionally this machine is available with the previously described strap welding device. During the DRUPA fair this machine will be showcased for the first time.
Customers searching for simple strapping solutions will find the appropriate machine on the MOSCA stand. The automatic strapping machine RO-M offers a favourable price/performance ratio. Overly technical options have consciously been removed to reduce costs for the user. The automatic strapper RO-M will be offered with a frame width of 800mm x 600mm and is a multi-purpose all-rounder for various applications (picture 5), e.g. for boxes and print products.