Packaging
Omet X-Flex
Monday 05. October 2009 - The X-Flex is a machine concept that combines many years of Omet experience in the narrow web flexo market to produce a label press that has achieved international acclaim and awards. Launched at Labelexpo Brussels in 2007, the X-Flex quickly established itself as a high class, high speed performer, with live print demonstrations at exhibitions around the world.
Described as an extension to the printers brain rather than a production tool, the X-Flex is designed for simplicity of use and is available with a long list of innovations that make it an ideal solution to label printers problems.
At the heart of its innovative design is a straight-through web path that generates exceptionally low waste and unmatched print stability. The X-Flex has the shortest web path in the industry, with only 1650 mm (65″) of substrate per print station, and produces the lowest waste of any press on the market, only 30 m (98 ft) of waste on an 8-colour machine.
The X-Flex print unit is a new concept that integrates the impression cylinder with the chill drum for improved print quality. With fewer than normal mechanical parts, and lower inertia, register control during acceleration and deceleration is improved. The press is faster into register, and has an optimised tension control system for handling filmic substrates.
Additional features on the X-Flex include Omets proven gearless/shaftless sleeve design, an innovative new ink pan that requires only 0.25 litres of ink to print, a quick change gearless anilox system for very rapid changeovers, long lasting doctor blades, and Vision-1 automatic register control system, which adjusts both machine and lateral web directions on each print station.
The X-Flex can also be specified with a SMART Pressure Adjustment System that automatically sets each print sleeve repeat change into precise impression position. The sleeves offer high precision and maximum stability to eliminate vibration and reduce maintenance.
Available in two web widths, 340 and 430 mm, the X-Flex has an extensive list of options including: a sliding rail system for cold/hot foil and lamination; a new Stork screen cassette; Twin-Cut tool-less die cutting or servo-driven rotary die cutting; turn bars; large diameter infeed; gravure print stations; and an inline label creation system. The X-Flex is capable of running materials from 12-micron unsupported film to 250-micron carton board.
Top print quality is available via the fully automatic Vision-1 system fitted. This integrates pre-register and press control during production and dramatically cuts waste during job changes. The new design of flexo print unit, which combines impression roll and chill drum, offers better print quality at all speeds by allowing the press to get into register more rapidly and optimising tension control for filmic substrates.
The X-Flex has movable UV cassettes for easy web feeding, and is available with a combination of UV/IR/hot air drying to suit all types of ink. The independently driven die cutting station has an extractable die cassette, and the reel capacity at unwind and rewind is identical to reduce the number of stops for roll changing. Rated at 200 m/min, the X-Flex is designed to operate at full speed across a variety of substrates.