Packaging

Specialist Dutch label printer Hofprint Etiketten invests in PRATI VEGAplus

Thursday 01. July 2010 - High quality and speed for a broad range of label applications, including non-printing applications

PRATI, the Italian-based manufacturer of self-adhesive label print-finishing machines, is proud to announce that Hofprint Etiketten, a specialist Dutch label printer, recently installed the VEGAplus LF330, its top-line die-cutting label finishing machine, suitable for a range of printing and non-printing applications.



Based in Groenlo, the Netherlands, Hofprint Etiketten specialises in the supply of customised labels to a range of industries. One of these is the textile label industry where, for example, the company recently undertook a project involving the finishing of plastic labels applied to medical garments. To meet the stringent demands of both this industry and others, the company looked extensively for a suitable label finishing tool.



“Serving a wide range of markets and versatility was a key selection criteria,” says Mr. Albert Hof, Managing Director of Hofprint Etiketten. “I am Italian-minded and have had a long lasting relationship with PRATI. Always good service and always with a smile. When they introduced me to the VEGAplus, I was hooked instantly. Excellent quality at a good speed – and suitable for a wide range of applications. Just what we needed.”



Tailor-made machine for specific demands

With its modular design, the VEGAplus series can be customised to meet the specific needs of individual customers. Alongside its versatility, the VEGAplus boasts superb accuracy and a top speed of 200m per minute – satisfying the most demanding requests. The version customised for Hofprint Etiketten is equipped with an unwinding module for diameters up to one metre – including the roll-lifting unit, two die-cutting stations and an automatic register control. The rewinding module is processed on a glueless three shafts turret.



Hofprint Etiketten also had some additional requirements. The company needed automatic pitch winding and a number of specific attributes for textile labelling – such as pinfeed holes. These holes enable the textile to run perfectly round, ensuring a smooth run through the machine.



“Those extra requirements were necessary to meet the deadlines of our customers,” explains Mr Hof. “You need to be careful with the logistics of textile labels. The pinfeed holes ensure there are no problems whatsoever in the transportation within the machine. This saves us time and money and makes sure everything is on a roll.”



Multifunctional applications

Mr. Hof also comments on the multifunctionality of the machine: “We do a variety of finishing jobs on the VEGAplus LF330. The machine allows finishing of both non-printing and printing applications. We do, for example, UV flexo printing and thermal transfer for a variety of label applications. We then pass the label reels on the VEGAplus for regular die-cutting finishing jobs. At the moment, medical label applications are booming and we are getting a lot of requests. This is where we really appreciate the PRATI technology – the VEGAplus is so fast and flexible we can handle both large and small print orders.”