Thermal Perfector Laminator's World Launch

Autobond has chosen Northprint 07 for the worldwide launch of the Mini 105 TPHS (thermal, perfector, Heidelberg, stacker) laminator.

Autobond has chosen Northprint 07 for the worldwide launch of the Mini 105 TPHS (thermal, perfector, Heidelberg, stacker) laminator, which the Derbyshire (UK) manufacturer believes will become one of its best selling models.

The new Mini 105 TPHS is claimed to laminate stock from A4 to B1, on both sides in one pass, at speeds of 60 metres per minute, which equates to 5,000 sheets per hour (sph) of B1 or 7,300sph of B2, whilst the landscape design gives it a footprint of 2.8 metres x 1.8 metres.

Autobond will also show at Northprint its Mini Digital 36, which has been designed to laminate output from digital presses.

The new Mini 105 TPHS has a Heidelberg Speedmaster rising pile back separation stream feed head with a vacuum feed table, allowing continuous and accurate feeding of a range of stock.

The feed head is processor controlled and receives continuous job data from an encoder on the laminating roller.

Reliability is further aided by the robust construction, which incorporates 30mm thick steel side plates, said Autobond.

Autobond managing director John Gilmore, said: "This is an important addition to our product line-up and Northprint is perfectly timed to introduce the Mini 105 TPHS, which will be the largest laminator in Autobond's Mini series.

We believe the laminator's speed, versatility and compact size will appeal to a wide range of sheet-fed printers, as well as the traditional finishing or laminating trade house." The laminator can apply matt or gloss OPP and acetate film on to stock ranging from 90gsm - 650gsm.

Features include Siemens electronics and a touch screen control panel, PLC and inverter drives, a digital sheet counter, adjustable anti-curl bar, pneumatically adjustable in-feed nip rollers and a pneumatic air clutch to provide a constant tension between the laminator and the sheeter, said the company.

The Siemens electronics has allowed Autobond to include remote diagnostics facilities, so that customers anywhere in the world can have immediate help if they have a problem.

Gilmore explained: "The level of automation and features, such as the quick release airshaft for fast changing of film rolls mean that make-ready is less than five minutes and requires only two sheets.

This makes Autobond laminators cost effective at short runs, whilst the high throughput also means that long runs can be handled efficiently.

The degree of automation has made the laminators so straightforward to operate that we can normally train someone within a day to use one and the machines are generally in production a few days after they are delivered." He added that the Mini Digital TP has become a very popular model amongst digital printers, who increasingly want to improve the image quality and durability of the final printed product.

That has traditionally presented certain difficulties, as stock coming out of most digital presses is low in moisture and high in static, making sheets difficult to separate and feed.

In addition, some toners, particularly oil-based toners, are difficult to get film to adhere to unless the adhesive is heated to a high temperature and there is a substantial amount of pressure in the laminator's nip rollers.

The Mini Digital TP is said to create nine tonnes of pressure in the nip rollers and, combined with the ability to heat the adhesive to 140 degrees Celsius, overcomes the traditional problems associated with laminating digital print, ensuring good adhesion between the film and the sheet.

The machine laminates stock single or double sided from A4 to 36cm x 59cm at up to 30 metres per minute, which equates to 4,500 SRA3 sheets an hour.

The footprint is 2.2 metres x 1.1 metres, yet the Mini Digital TP benefits from all of the features of the larger Autobond machines, such as 30mm thick steel side panels, added the company.

Autobond's range includes B3, B2 and B1 laminators, which are available as single-sided or perfecting machines in landscape and portrait formats.

Water-based and thermal film versions are available.

There is also a selection of different feeders, joggers, sheeters and ancillary items.

Autobond is also a manufacturer of encapsulating equipment.

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