NIPCO a success story in decorative printing

NIPCO a success story in decorative printing

1995 Situation in rotogravure printing of decorative papers Voith Paper Walztechnik AG simple impression rollers with back-up rollers large quantity of impression rollers on stock due to large number of widths Changing width meant changing impression rollers Difficulty to achieve uniform print line accross the printing width... especially when printing with asymmetric web

1995 Situation NIPCO Highly successful impression system in rotogravure for publication Voith Paper Walztechnik AG NIPCO width setting was known for publication gravure, however, it was not really of much use for publication gravure NIPCO width setting,however, was already in successful use in gravure printing for packaging (Tetra Pak) floor covering (Forbo) and textile calendering

1995 - DRUPA Printer requests NIPCO impression roller for decorative printing Voith Paper Walztechnik AG Requirements: No back-up roll No roller or sleeve change for changing printing width Printing width almost continuously adjustable Symmetric or asymmetric web position in the press Always uniform printing force over the set printing width Possible to run with ESA To print like this!

1996 The solution: Classic NIPCO width setting (left and right, independent) A NIPCO impression roller with: Voith Paper Walztechnik AG Highly flexible NIPCO sleeve with small wall thickness Hydrostatic sleeve retraction system Flexible hydrostatic support strip The result: NIPCO-D96 Many tiny and narrowly spaced hydraulic pusher elements Retraction feature integrated into the hydraulic pushers

What were the difficulties? The very first impression roller was just perfect! Then, of course, we had difficulties: Sleeves broke: Reason: Far too high pressures during automatic positioning Oil leakages:......... All solved! Significant differences in sleeve length: Reason: Large thermal expansion factor Remedy: Bracing structure (glass fibre epoxy, hard PU, other (still in development)

What does NIPCO offer? Voith Paper Walztechnik AG Printing narrow web asymmetrically positioned... or printing wide web

... or printing almost but not entirely to the edge of the impression roller... and all this without having changed a sleeve or the impression roller!... and always and automatically with uniform printing force!

... always and automatically with uniform printing force What do you have to do to obtain uniform printing force? Voith Paper Walztechnik AG Nothing at all! Setting printing force is simply done with one knob only! No necessity to balance pressures right - left

Simple changing of printing width Spigot and counter for width setting (impression roller for 2250 mm) Spigot and counter for width setting (impression roller for 2750 mm) with electronic interlock to avoid setting too wide printing width when printing with 2250 mm cylinders

And why is this interlock necessary? NIPCO-D96 impression roller with cylinder 2750 mm NIPCO-D96 impression roller with cylinder 2250 mm

And what about electrostatic assist (ESA)? Voith Paper Walztechnik AG ESA top loading ESA direct charging (in development)

And what does the future offer? higher production speeds (600 m/min already in discussion) further improved sleeve designs ESA-direct charging (already being tested)

Questions? Questions?

Thank you for your attention!