Breakthrough rotary die-cutter launched

When label industry veteran Ian Bates was appointed managing director of specialist converting machinery distributor LPP, it was clear that company owner Les Bradley was putting a firm succession strategy into place.

Bradley says he will now concentrate on developing sales of Rotary Technologies equipment in Europe, with the title of managing director and owner, Rotary Technologies Europe Ltd. ‘The geographical scope of this new company is basically everywhere which is not North and South America, so we are now looking for agents to supply and service the Servo 3000, as well as our breakthrough digital print die-cutting machine, the TCC 3300.’

The TCC 3300 rotary die-cutter uses a single magnetic cylinder, similar to a semi-rotary system, but the web does not shuffle back and forth. Instead the web runs at a constant speed, and the die cylinder cams to get into position for the next cut. This allows a current maximum speed of 300 ft/min (106m/min) to be achieved, but with the flexibility of a single magnetic cylinder, making job changeovers a simple matter of changing the magnetic flexible die.

The TCC 3300 has completed beta testing at Southern Tape & Label, where it has been running full production jobs for several months.

‘We have been using Rotary’s (Servo 3000) reregister system on our flexo presses for years for our digital finishing and were excited when they approached us with their new die-cutter,’ says Bob Ramsey Jr at Southern Tape & Label. ‘The TCC 3300 is extremely efficient and sets up fast. We’re able to finish more jobs per day, allowing future growth of our digital business. In the near future we will be moving the TCC 3300 in-line with our Jetrion press to print and die-cut at the same time. The TCC 3300 is highly automated and efficient. It actually brings itself into register.’

The 8-servo axis die-cutter has a compact design, being 6.5ft from end to end and with an approximate 15in web path from unwind to rewind. The TCC 3300 utilizes a fixed magnetic cylinder for mounting industry standard flexible dies covering a range of label repeats between 7-15.75in. The maximum speed is currently 300ft/min depending on the label repeat. The unit has auto-registration and a touch screen for set-up.

Rotary Technologies has a strong track record in innovative converting systems. The company has enjoyed enormous success with its Servo 3000 re-register unit, which can be used for a number of applications, including peel & read label conversion, adding a servo in-feed to an older mechanical machine, and providing a re-registration facility. There are now over 500 installed worldwide – with 150 of those sold by LPP.

New LPP managing director Ian Bates was previously a customer for these units. ‘I bought four Servo 3000 units for MPS, Paragon and Essentra,’ recalls Bates. ‘We bought it for waste saving but soon moved to develop various new converting options – for example 14 color re-register jobs and peel and read labels, which is the most common use of Servo 3000 units.’

Industry background

Ian Bates has been in the label industry for 31 years, starting as a press operator then working his way up to group operations manager within the Paragon Labels group. After a time heading up Gerhardt US, Bates spent three years looking after Chesapeake Labels’ Wrexham and Dublin facilities before moving to Essentra, where he looked after nine sites around Europe. ‘This involved site closures and amalgamations and building a new greenfield site in Newport,’ says Bates. ‘I actually used LPP to help move the presses from Essentra Hull and Kimbolton to the new site. The timescale involved meant that I needed a reliable and professional team to ensure the deadline for moving was met.’

LPP Services, which handled those press moves, is still an important part of the overall LPP business, and is overseen by Fred Osborne and Les Bradley’s eldest son Craig.

LPP is the UK and Eire agent for a number of key brands including Rotary Technologies, Nikka Camera inspection systems, Flexor inspection rewinders, Teknek web cleaners and FlexoMaid anilox cleaners. ‘We look for the best all round products to ensure we are providing long term value,’ says Bates.