Laminator Increases Productivity For Converter

Cartotecnica P2, a print services provider based near Milan (Italy), benefited from productivity gains of almost 20 per cent following the installation of a GBC Centurion 2 thermal laminating system.

Cartotecnica P2, a print services provider based near Milan (Italy), benefited from productivity gains of almost 20 per cent following the installation of a GBC Centurion 2 thermal laminating system.

The Centurion2 was installed in June and was the first installation in Europe of the new high-speed, lamination system from GBC Films Group.

It was introduced in response to the ever-increasing installed base of 102-cm wide commercial presses said GBC.

After researching existing systems on the market, Cartotecnica P2 found no comparison for the impressive capabilities offered by the Centurion 2 added GBC.

"We were about to replace our traditional laminating machine.

After comparing different solutions, we decided in favour of GBC's Centurion 2, as its high speed, flexibility and quality performance were impressive.

Another strong point is the Centurion 2's versatility, enabling us to run sheet sizes from 25cm x 28cm up to 102cm x 140cm at a maximum speed of 60 metres per minute.

That gives us the opportunity to use a wide range of thermal lamination films, in various thicknesses and finishing characteristics; glossy and matt polypropylene, acetate, linen as well as coloured metallic finished thermal films.

Presently we go through over 16,000 linear metres of film in a typical eight-hour shift," explained Rodolfo Pellegri, the managing director of Cartotecnica P2.

Cartotecnica P2 has been operating in the Milan area since 1979 and draws on three generations of experience in the paper-converting sector.

The current production facility covers an area of 2,000 square metres and is equipped with a complete range of machinery for paper conversion.

The company serves clients in the advertising, packaging and publishing industries, on behalf of northern Italian publishers and printers.

Its range of services includes lamination, varnishing, die-cutting, mounting, folding and gluing, as well as manual finishing of the products.

"Our customers can obtain a complete range of finishing services for their printed material at Cartotecnica P2, making us a full-service partner rather than just one of many suppliers," said Pellegri.

The Centurion 2 has enabled Cartotecnica P2 to attain significant gains in efficiency as well as productivity added GBC.

"Replacing a traditional laminating system with a device like the Centurion 2, which uses pre-glued thermal film, has resulted in a number of important advantages.

First of all, the new GBC system has allowed us to avoid all human errors linked to our old procedures, where it was necessary to establish in advance the right quantity of glue to be applied on the film.

The Centurion 2 paves the way to an improved, standardised error-free lamination process and increased productivity.

Make-ready times and waste are reduced, furthermore the powdering and drying time is eliminated and it is a very user-firnedly and environmentally-friendly system," commented Pellegri.

He was particularly impressed by the Centurion 2's full integration with a feeder, a separator and a stacker and an optional closed circuit water cooling system with chill roller.

"That assures the best output.

Simply put, we feel the Centurion 2 is the perfect solution for laminating high volumes of printed materials," he added.

Given the productivity gains and reliable performance with its first Centurion 2, plans are already underway at Cartotecnica P2 to purchase a second system.

Roberto Parola, GBC's sales manager in Italy, confirmed that Cartotecnica P2 is seriously considering a second investment, possibly for early 2005.

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