VERSTRAETE PRINTING COMPANY

Verstraete Printing prints 20 million polypropylene (PP) labels per day, which are supplied to injection molding and blow molding companies operating in the packaging industry. Using in-mold labeling (IML) technology, the labels fuse with the plastic packaging. Producing in-mold labels requires extensive knowledge and experience, which, combined with its 280 highly trained and professional employees, makes Verstraete Printing a global player.

Verstraete Printing sought to increase the speed of die-cutting large labels (385 x 180), combined with a significant reduction in the existing labor-intensive manual handling steps during this processing stage, and decided to entrust this complex task to IMA.

IMA has developed the following solution:

• The printed polypropylene strips are guided to the correct position at the cutting blade by servo-controlled pushers, depending on their size.
• The strips are then cut to exact dimensions into rectangular packs (750 labels per pack) using a hydraulically driven blade and pressure plate.
• Servo-controlled pushers transport the cut stacks to the die-cutting machine, which cuts 200,000 labels per hour thanks to a combination of pneumatic and hydraulic movements for two-level die-cutting, with the specified tolerance ensured by an additional centering module.
• After die-cutting, 1 or 2 bands are applied, depending on the type of label.
• Thanks to the machine’s automatic adjustability and the quick change of die-cutting blades, Verstraete Printing can easily switch to other types.

Koen Verstraete, general manager of Drukkerij Verstraete:
“The project launched in collaboration with IMA represents an important step for DV in the further automation of our production process. DV is pleased with its collaboration with IMA and will therefore designate them as a partner in the search for unique process improvements.”

For more information about this project, please contact Bart Aerens at 050 385 666 or at www.machinebouw.be.