Coimbatore-based manufacturer, Macro Print Engineers India (MPEI) had launched its Macrobond Sheet Master 1020 (30 inch x 40 inch) fully automatic thermal laminating machine with hot water circulating heat technology in 2008. The machine was exhibited by MPEI at a global platform during Drupa 2008. It was later upgraded to provide a combination of thermal and wet lamination along with auto-feeder and auto-sheeter.

Managing director, P Veeramuthu, says: "Over the past five years more and more printers have been bringing laminating in-house in an effort to save money and generate new income streams. Automation of the machine has been designed keeping in mind the lack of skilled labour and lady personnel engaged on the shopfloor."

Combo lamination: thermal and wet
The machine is capable of handling jobs in the size ranging from a minimum 300x220mm to a maximum of 1020x760mm for a paper range of 90-650 gsm. It has a vacuum table conveyor for accurate feeding and adjustable de-curl bar for different thickness of paper apart from an inline sheet separator.

Veeramuthu says: "It provides thermal lamination at the speeds of 4,000 sheets per hour and wet lamination at 6,000 sheets per hour. The kit has a production capacity of 40 metres per minute and is adoptable for films of up to seven microns."

With a warm up time of 30 minutes the machine consumes 16KW power at a compressed air requirement of 250 to 350 litres per minute. The machine achieves a maximum operating temperature of 140 degrees through circulating oil or water as its heating elements.

"The spares and accessories incorporated in Macrobond Sheet Master 1020 are in collaboration with European companies, which are tested and proven in worldwide market," adds Veeramuthu. The hot water circulating system is from Tool Temp Switzerland whereas the sensor is German made. The machine has a UK made variable drive to control the speed.

MPEI
MPEI is an ISO 2001:9000 certified company. Within a span of two years there have been ten installations of Macrobond 1020 with the recent one at Mansa Print and Publications, Baddi installed in January 2011. The other firms which have installed this machine include RR Donnelley in Chennai, Unitech Laminators in Hyderabad, Eagle Press from Chennai, Jalandhar-based Evergreen Publications, Spenta Multimedia in Mumbai, Sakal Group’s Wikas Electrical in Nashik and at Yessar Agency’s Roja Print House in Sivakasi. One area where growth for laminating has been particularly strong is in the digital sector. Lamination can improve the appearance and durability of the printed product.

This is reflected in MPEI’s 200 installations of its compact models of sizes like 24-inch and 14-inch thermal laminating machines, which is ideal for digital press and digital studio’s commercial purposes.

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SPECIFICATIONS

Maximum sheet size 1020 mm x 760 mm Minimum sheet size 300 mm x 220 mm Pile height feeder 1000 mm Paper weight 90 to 650 gsm Maximum speed 6,000 sheets per hour (wet lamination)                   4,000 sheets per hour (thermal lamination) Operating temperature 140 degrees Floor space (L x W x H) 5m x 1.5m x 1.5m Power consumption 16 KW Weight of the machine 2500kg Contact P Veeramuthu             macrobond.india@gmail.com             +91 98430 29695