Reel System Divides And Resizes Webs On-Site

Handling reels up to 4.5m in width, two metres in diameter and nine tonnes in weight, the Mobile Reel Divider is said to be capable of dividing a parent reel in to multiple webs.

The new mobile reel dividing machine from Colombier (UK) is said to be designed to handle large format reels and has been trialled in the UK.

The Mobile Reel Divider (MRD) is claimed to be the only machine of its type in the UK that is able to provide mobile large format reel dividing or resizing at a customer's own premises.

It complements Colombier's existing mobile resizing machines and is said to be suitable for the repair of damaged stock, or changing the width of a reel of paper, whilst maintaining the original mill tension, which is important in modern high speed presses.

The finished reel, or any multiple reels out from the parent will all retain their original livery and runability on press is guaranteed, claimed the company.

The MRD is said to provide a method of changing the width of large reels of paper without the need to unwrap or unwind the parent reel.

The MRD machine can trim off as little as 0.8mm from a reel, reducing trim waste to the minimum with all debris being removed by a waste handling system making the machine suitable for operating in the most modern press rooms without fear of airborne contamination.

To complement the new machine a patented core reduction system will also be available.

Cores of either 150mm, or 152mm can be reduced to a standard 76mm core without having to rewind.

According to Colombier mobile reel resizing is growing in popularity with paper mills, printers and publishers as a cost-effective way of fully utilising inventory for the recovery of damaged or stone indented reels, resizing of redundant stock, re-pagination and the recovery of wet damage, for instance.

As well as the claimed operating advantages of using Colombier's mobile equipment, transport savings can be realised, as well as the environmental benefits of reduced carbon emissions.

The Colombier group said it has European-patented exclusivity for mobile reel resizing and operates machines in all major European countries.

Demonstrations of the new MRD machine to large web printers and paper mills have already generated positive feedback for its capabilities and service.

Ben Humphries, customer services director of Polestar Sheffield, said: "We were impressed with the fine tolerances and ultra-clean operation of Colombier's new MRD machine.

It provides an excellent solution to the problems of wet reel ends, or other damage and the fact that it can handle the largest current reel sizes is a significant bonus." Tony Carr, purchasing manager of Prinovis Liverpool, Europe's newest gravure printing operation, said: "As a new plant we produce high quality, high volume colour publications, including magazines, newspaper supplements, retail publications, home shopping and travel catalogues.

Having the capability to resize large reels on-site, means we keep costs to a minimum and our operational efficiency at maximum.

It's an excellent system and a very clean process that we're sure to make use of." Colombier's UK operations director, Rob King, said: "We've introduced the new MRD specifically to complement our existing machines.

The machine provides is cost-effective solution for mobile reel dividing and is built to handle the new generation of large format gravure press reels running to the most demanding of specifications.".

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