FINISHING equipment manufacturer A B Graphic International (ABG) has revealed it is gearing up for its ‘most significant presence’ at LabelExpo Europe next week in Brussels.
ABG will be unveiling its automation solutions as part of a portfolio of 17 finishing machines across the show.
The central theme of the stand will revolve around ABG Connect, the company’s automated workflow solution for the labelling industry. ABG Connect aims to streamline the print and finishing process by connecting all stages into one automated workflow.
ABG explained the solution, developed over nearly a decade, brings commercial and efficiency benefits. Collaborations with a self-adhesive label converter and MIS specialist CERM have resulted in a ‘plug-and-play’ solution that uses the latest JDF/JMF messaging format to connect customers’ management information systems to their ABG finishing lines.
One of ABG Connect’s key advantages is said to be a boost in productivity and operator efficiency. ABG will conduct live demonstrations using the Digicon Series 3, in conjunction with CERM and the Omega Horizon multifunctional table-top winding solution.
Products on display will include advancements in non-stop winding technology, featuring the non-stop line 530 and the Automatic Servo Unwind (ASU), a new generation of servo non-stop unwind. ABG will also showcase its latest rewind solution, the ASR+, which incorporates auto-cutting technology. These winding solutions will operate alongside ABG’s new Converter platform, a modular converting line described as offering higher speeds, new flexo technology, and a smaller footprint.
ABG’s 430mm-wide Digicon Series 3 will also feature at the exhibition. Designed to meet demand for wider web converters, this model will be a beverage specification machine, equipped with new flexo technology with higher semi-rotary speeds for ‘enhanced’ print registration and quality. The 430mm-wide model retains all the existing modules of the 350mm machine, including flatbed screen printing and the Big Foot 50-ton hot foil emboss unit with a swivel head. These modules can be jointly installed on the Digicon Series 3 430, allowing for foiling and embossing in a single pass.
ABG will also be showing off its latest turret rewinder model, the Vectra, which replaces the Vectra SGTR and ECTR. The Vectra is said to offer faster speeds and will be available with and without glue and in all web widths up to 670mm.
Matt Burton, ABG’s global sales director, said, “LabelExpo Europe will be the largest showcase of our latest innovations yet, with a significant focus on increased automation. As ever, we are eager to engage with new and existing customers, updating them on our market-leading finishing equipment and demonstrating our commitment to fully meeting their expectations and share a beer after such a long time.”
