During the PlastFocus 2024 exhibition, Pelican Rotoflex unveiled its latest advancements in converting machinery, marking a significant milestone in the industry’s technological evolution. Among the highlights of the exhibition were the live demonstrations of Pelican’s groundbreaking new models – the Solomark 6450 rotogravure press and the Acrostar turret slitter, both emblematic of Pelican’s ongoing dedication to innovation and meeting the dynamic demands of the market.

Speaking to The Packman, Yash Shrimanker of Pelican highlighted the company’s commitment to developing state-of-the-art equipment tailored to the evolving needs of the industry. The Solomark 6450 rotogravure press, a flagship of Pelican’s new-generation machinery, has remarkable features designed to enhance performance and efficiency. Operating at speeds of up to 450 m/min, the press offers superior web handling capabilities, accommodating a variety of films including thinner, more sustainable substrates. With a unique semi-floatation dryer incorporating 3D and 2D hole technology for rapid drying, coupled with a high-efficiency ventilation module, the press ensures minimal residual solvent on the substrate. Moreover, it addresses contemporary market requirements such as minimal waste, shorter web paths, multiple pre-registration options, integrated registration control, and reduced ink consumption, thus minimizing overall wastage.

The Solomark 6450 also offers a faster job changeover, facilitating swift transitions between jobs with multiple options in ink trolleys, thereby enhancing productivity and reducing downtime. Its advanced web handling system, equipped with a counterweight infeed dancer and high-performance motion controller, guarantees precise tension control from unwinder to rewinder, enabling quality production at high speeds.

In the realm of precision slitting, Pelican introduced the Acrostar turret slitter, engineered to meet the demands of increasingly complex and sensitive materials. With changeovers accomplished within 30 seconds, regardless of the number of ups, the Acrostar boasts remarkable efficiency. Its closed-loop tension control on the rewinder, coupled with load cell feedback, ensures consistent, high-quality finished reels. Additionally, the Acrostar is lauded for its energy and manpower efficiency, offering increased productivity without a corresponding rise in energy consumption or labor. Notably, its innovative shaft support design extends the life of the differential shaft, even under rotational loads, thus enhancing durability and reliability.

“The Solomark 6450 rotogravure press and the Acrostar turret slitter at PlastFocus 2024 underscores the company’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of converting machinery technology. With these innovations, Pelican continues to set new benchmarks for performance, efficiency, and reliability in the converting industry, ushering in a new era of productivity and sustainability,” said Shrimanker.