New Wide-Web VISTAFLEX CX

Thanks to its unique concept, the central impression (CI) VISTAFLEX C, the top model of Windmöller & Hölscher''s range of CI printing machines, continues to hold a special position. Installed in Europe, North America and Asia, more than 40 presses are producing superb quality print results day in day out. The new 2,200 mm 8-colour VISTAFLEX CX was demonstrated live to visitors from the trade at W&H in-house EXPO at Lengerich headquarters, which opened its doors on May 8 and 9 as well as 12 and 13. W&H provided EXPO visitors with free round-trip transportation between the Düsseldorf fair grounds and Lengerich several times a day.

Outstanding print quality at speeds of up to 800 m/min as well as extremely short job change times, also with large size print designs enabled by the innovative VISTA-PORT robot handling system, are the features that make the VISTAFLEX CX a unique system when compared to other presses. Ambitious printers are capable of completing more than 20 job change-overs a day.

The decisive roll in this process is played by the VISTA-PORT, which – fully automatically – loads the plate cylinders and anilox rolls into the colour decks. The VISTA-PORT allows several production runs to be preplanned and prepared in advance. The system optimizes the sequence of orders and positions the plate sleeves and anilox rollers for the next job while the machine is running. In this way job change times of less than 5 minutes can be achieved.

The essential benefits of the VISTAFLEX as compared to conventional sleeve machines, which have been widely discussed in the industry over recent years, are bound to carry even greater weight when it comes to the VISTAFLEX CX with its maximum printing width of 2,200 mm and maximum repeat length of 1,250 mm. While wide print cylinders and rollers are found to increasingly cause problems due to the dimensions and weights to be handled, the change process of the VISTAFLEX CX runs fully independently and is not affected by such difficulties.

There is no need for adapters to accommodate repeat length increments, which obviously saves plate costs and, in addition, has a favourable effect on the print quality. The anilox rolls are laid out as change shafts, which means that sleeve systems are dispensed with, while at the same time tolerances and anilox costs are reduced.

At W&H in-house EXPO, the VISTAFLEX CX will be demonstrated in production at 800 m/min.

Lengerich/Germany based Windmöller & Hölscher is an internationally leading manufacturer of flexible packaging machinery and equipment. The product line encompasses blown and cast film equipment, flexographic and gravure printing presses, machines for surface finishing and processing of paper, films and woven plastic fabrics, as well as FFS (Form-Fill-Seal) packaging systems.