Packaging 4.0 was the focal point of Windmöller & Hölscher's most successful W&H EXPO to date.
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The recurring demonstations of the MIRAFLEX CM10 CI flexo press attracted considerable attention.
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Impressed by the speed: Visitors observe the printing of backsheet diaper film on the VISTAFLEX CI flexo press.
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There’s so much so see: Visitors planning their tour through the EXPO-day at W&H.
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A large crowd of visitors gathering at the VAREX II during the demonstration of the „TURBOCLEAN“ purging system.
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Stunned by the smooth operation of the diameter-variable AQUACAGE: visitors watching the new feature of the AQUAREX blown film line.
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Visitor inspecting one of the first heat-sealed valve sacks, made on the AD PLASTIC 2 from three-layer PE-film.
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W&H expert explaining the tube forming process on the POLYTEX tuber for PE film and / or PP woven fabric.
The event took place on June 10th and 11th 2015 in Lengerich, north-west Germany, and welcomed more than 1,000 delegates from 62 countries to learn more about how Industry 4.0 can be applied to the growing packaging industry.
W&H is positioned to achieve this thanks to the fluidity of its extrusion, printing and converting technology and it demonstrated its competency in integrating its systems to boost efficiency with live demonstrations of a total of 12 machines representing hardware for the production of flexible packaging at the event.
"That was the most successful EXPO that W&H has hosted to date," company management said at the end of the EXPO. "Never before have we had so many visitors in just two days. We received very positive feedback about our new technologies and the event as a whole."
One highlight at the EXPO was the premiere of the AQUACAGE, the world’s first adjustable water calibrator, which runs with the AQUAREX blown film line. Before this development, the flexibility of the line was limited by its single-sized calibrator. Every film width change required the calibrator to be switched out. The AQUACAGE enables width changes without the extra steps, providing customers with more flexibility and enlarging the range of possible applications.
The second world premiere was TURBOCLEAN, the new automatic purging system for the VAREX II blown film. W&H showed how resin change-over times of a three-layer film could be dramatically reduced. Thanks to new automation modules, what used to take a machine operator 30 minutes to do has been shortened to just two minutes. This is possible due to a combination of an intelligent control algorithm with the automatic pneumatic cleaning of gravimetric and vacuum conveyors.
Other developments shown at W&H EXPO
- The first OPTIMEX blown film line in five-layer configuration producing a novel 5-layer stretch hood film.
- The newly developed AD PLASTIC 2 bottomer for heat-sealed valve sacks made from plastic film.
- The MIRAFLEX S flexographic press for smaller repeats.
- The FILMEX cast film line producing very thin 'taut' stretch films for reliable load securing. The term 'taut film' describes stiff film with minimal elasticity, that regardless of its 8µ thickness has extreme holding force and puncture resistance. This film allows even simple stretch automats to achieve reliable load securing.
Visitors found it particularly interesting to see PACKAGING 4.0 in action, which W&H demonstrated by connecting more than one production process. An example of this was the VAREX II blown film line running thin, breathable backsheet diaper film that was then brought over to the VISTAFLEX flexographic press for high speed printing.
At the EXPO, W&H demonstrated the kinds of possibilities the 4th industrial revolution brings by connecting production lines and data streams in the manufacturing of packaging. Customers and W&H opened other dialogs about future projects in which PACKAGING 4.0 plays a role.
