Neo buys D&K Europa PB laminator from Graph-Pak

Australian printer Neo (formerly New Litho) has purchased a D&K Europa PB with perfector laminator from Graph-Pak for its Sydney facility.

Neo NSW general manager Clinton Daley told Sprinter that it procured the machine as it needed a reliable second laminator for its Sydney facility named Sprint, which is a joint venture between Neo and RealBase.

As a return customer of Graph-Pak’s, the company talked through its requirements with Graph-Pak managing director Tom Ralph, who suggested the D&K Europa PB, with an optional perfector as an add-on.

“We also reached out to a few friends in the industry who have purchased these laminators and they all have said that this machine is incredibly reliable and simple to use. The decision to purchase this machine was an incredibly easy one,” Daley said.

“Much like all of our machine suppliers, Graph-Pak has been a trusted supplier of Neo’s for years. All our laminators – in both our Melbourne and Sydney facilities – have been supplied by Graph-Pak.

“Ease of use, instead of speed, was at the top of the list as this machine would be a backup laminator to our existing Autobond. We also wanted a machine that would be simple and easy to maintain for our operators.”

The D&K Europa PB replaces an old Komfi that was reaching the end of its life and since parts were becoming more difficult to obtain, Daley said the business decided to replace the machine.

“Not having that second laminator created a bottleneck in the production process throughout our busier periods. Also, with velvet soft-touch becoming more prevalent in the marketplace in addition to the standard matte or gloss laminate, we were continuously changing laminate rolls,” he said.

“The Europa has helped remove this production bottleneck in our facility but has also given us the ability to change between different laminate finishes seamlessly.”

Taking a closer look

Capable of running at speeds of up to 20m/minute for one- and two-sided laminating, the Europa PB is a fully automated, up to B2 sheet size laminator for digital or litho print. Optionally a sheet length up to 1,050mm can be accommodated.

It features unique double-sided configuration comprising two separately controlled laminating stations, each with a heated chrome roller and rubber nip roller to give an identical finish to each side of the sheet.

One laminating station can be turned off when laminating a single side. The adjustable burster automatically separates sheets, and a cushion of air supports them as they are delivered into the catch tray. A scrolled infeed roller presents lightweight and digital output to laminating and nip rollers, where a missing sheet detector helps prevent unwanted wraparounds.

Its other features include a de-curl bar, which can be adjusted on the run, to assist in giving a flat sheet when laminating single-sided whilst the positioning of the perforator overcomes any potential issues caused by poor film roll profiles and allows higher speeds to be maintained.

Its mandrel also has a hinged support and film that can be adjusted laterally on the run to minimise waste and down time. The suction feeder offers a deep pile for longer-run work and is easily adjustable for a variety of different sheet sizes.

It is also available with longer feed tables – in 88cm, 95cm and 105cm – and other versions of the Europa include standard single-sided and EL-single-sided with embossing station.

According to Daley, the short time required to get the machine started and up to temperature was a feature which appealed to the business the most. Flowing on from that, the uncomplicated and effortless process to facilitate different sheet sizes was also a feature which he felt that his team would appreciate.

“The sheet also feeds through the machine incredibly flat which means that for the guillotine operator the sheets are not only easier to handle but also delivers a more accurate cut on the guillotine,” he added.

“As we continue to grow our NSW footprint, the Europa gives us that peace of mind when it comes to our laminating process. The Europa purchase ensures that moving forward, we are not only able to continue to be best in class but also able to be flexible enough to meet the demands of the current market.”

Ralph said Neo was after a machine that would produce high quality real estate work.

“In real estate, you want the best laminating results – real estate, particularly, uses super glossy, bright effects. So, Neo wanted a machine that would produce that quality on both sides of the sheet identically,” he mentioned.

“Having already sold them three different machines over the last decade, I knew their requirements and this machine ticked all the boxes. The shipping was delayed slightly, but once it got installed, everyone was happy, the training was done, and we’ve never had a problem with it since.

“It’s a very user-friendly machine that goes from cold to heat in ten minutes or less. It’s designed to be semi-portable too, which is a big advantage for businesses that don’t have a lot of room or have spontaneous production spurts.”

He added that the sale of the D&K Europa PB laminator to Neo strengthens the company’s position within Australia.

“It’s a compliment to say that I have installed the last four machines in the Neo Group – it is quite an accolade. The Neo team enjoy working with us, which makes it a just a pleasure for everybody,” he said.

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