Review - Labelexpo Europe 2023 | Sustainable and Versatile Slitters

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Review of Labelexpo Europe 2023 and Sustainable Solutions

Following a successful exhibition at Labelexpo Europe 2023 in Belgium, NICELY has returned with an array of promising leads from the packaging and label industry. Despite concerns expressed by some sectors about a sluggish market, our observation indicates that market demand remains strong.

As highlighted in last year's C2 issue, Nicely made an accurate prediction regarding a substantial surge in sales for our EG-8002 and EG-7008 series within the Label & packaging industry due to high demand. This prediction has proven to be on point, with continued robust demand for NICELY slitter rewinders across various packaging segments, involving food paper packaging, composite label applications, and film-based packaging. This demonstrates the resilience and adaptability of the label and packaging industry in response to changing market dynamics and a growing emphasis on sustainable solutions.

In this article, Nicely will share with C2 readers three models that garnered significant attention at Labelexpo Europe 2023, along with a successful case of repurposing older equipment sustainably.

EG-8002 Series: Outstanding Performance and Automation Advantages of Large Roll Diameter Slitter Rewinders

Let's start by exploring the features of the EG-8002 large roll diameter slitter rewinder. This model has been engineered to cater to a wide range of slitting applications, including large-format label materials (pressure-sensitive adhesive), film, paper composite materials, and thicker-range food packaging paper board.

One of the standout features of the EG-8002 is its center winding mechanism, which enables precise tension control for thin & thick materials. This results in exceptional roll winding performance, ensuring the highest quality output for various materials.

In terms of technical specification, the EG-8002 truly stand out with its capabilities. It accommodates with a roller width up to 2600mm, boasts a maximum roll outer diameter of 1200mm, and operates at an impressive speed of up to 800 meters per minute (M/min).

Beyond its exceptional mechanical configuration, EG-8002 series incorporates a comprehensive automation feature that significantly enhance productivity and efficiency. Including :

• Motorized web threading.
• Automatic knife positioning system.
• Motorized finished roll unloading, and add-on functions for weighing, packing, palletizing finished rolls.

For a high-volume production requirement, the EG-8002 undoubtedly is a highly recommended model from NICELY.

EG-7008 Series: Meeting Diverse Slitting Requirements with Top-and-Bottom Shaft Winding

The EG-7008 series utilizes a top-and-bottom shaft winding method, which is a widely adopted technique in the slitting industry, especially for film-based applications. This series is another favored choice among professionals in the label and packaging industries. While it offers a slightly smaller roll diameter compared to the EG-8002, with a maximum of 800-900mm, it impressively maintains an operational speed of up to 600 meters per minute (M/min).

The EG-7008 series offers a minimum slitting width of 25mm, greatly enhancing operational ease with its one-sided operation configuration. Additionally, the dual-shaft unloading method ensures a seamless transition from rewind section to automated conveyance, packaging, and palletizing. To simplify the downstream roll handling process, Nicely provides a comprehensive one-stop solution for customers seeking streamlined operations.

EG-1N01: Exploring a New Era of Automated Small Roll Label Slitting

Small roll label slitters have been a longstanding cornerstone of NICELY's production lines, renowned for their stability and durability. Some of our customers still rely on the first-generation small roll slitter rewinders for their thermal cash roll applications. However, due to the intensifying price competition and the labor-intensive nature of these models, Nicely’s EG-1N series have gradually faded from our primary product offerings.

In recent years, small roll slitter models have undergone significant transformations, driven by the surging demand, which has made it imperative to reduce reliance on labor-intensive processes and pushing for the development of fully automatic production lines. This evolution has garnered significant attention in the field of liner-less thermal labels and has accelerated production cycles for POS rolls.

At Labelexpo, NICELY's EG-1N01 fully automatic small roll slitter rewinder stood out as a captivating model. Its impressive suite of automation features includes ：

• Automatic paper core loading.
• Automatic tail material cutting.
• Tail material adhesive application.
• Finished roll conveying, and finished roll bagging/boxing.

Responding to the growing demand from customers for reduced paper core consumption, the EG-1N01 small roll slitter (1" & 1.5") introduces coreless roll winding capabilities. This innovation not only leads to a decrease in paper core usage but also aligns with users' sustainability goals.

Sustainable Upgrades: NICELY Drives the Retrofit Revolution for Eco-Friendly Slitter Rewinders

In the realm of sustainability, we all have vital roles to play in exploring ways to achieve growth while respecting the limits of finite resources. At NICELY, our commitment goes beyond our own sustainable development; we are dedicated to partnering with our customers to jointly pursue this goal.

We propose to our customers the opportunity to meet evolving market demands with their existing slitter equipment. NICELY offers comprehensive solutions for upgrading older slitters. This approach ensures that replacing outdated equipment with brand-new ones is not the sole option, thereby promoting the concept of sustainable utilization.

Leveraging extensive design and manufacturing expertise, NICELY has initiated the process of upgrading primary and secondary slitter rewinders, ranging from 3 meters to 8 meters, whether they are Nicely-branded or from other manufacturers.

In the past, Nicely has successfully reinvigorated primary slitters of a discontinued brand in the market. This year, we accomplished a retrofit project for a 6.5-meter primary slitter rewinder in the United States. This project enabled our customer to use the machine for slitting new materials for the market. The modification project encompassed various aspects, including ：

• Update of hydraulic control systems with energy-efficient motors.
• Upgrade of main motors to energy-efficient ones.
• The enhancement of winding tension through the replacement of contact pressure rollers, and the implementation of numerous other improvements.
• The replacement of the PLC controller with a highly efficient control and drive system.
• A complete overhaul of the human-machine interface system, enabling data-driven production monitoring.

This successful retrofit project is a crucial part of NICELY's dedication to environment-friendly upgrades. Besides being proud of our strong skills, we greatly value helping customers modernize their equipment for new purposes and, most importantly, working together to promote environmental sustainability.