SubscribeAmcor Flexibles Installs the SL4V Sleeve Washer from Flexo Wash to keep up with increasing workloads.
Sleeve Washer
Increased demands for higher flexibility, higher efficiency and shorter print jobs have meant a greater need for a quick and efficient washing of print sleeves.
Danish flexible printer, Amcor Flexible Raackmann, Horsens has met these demands by installing the latest SL4V Sleeve Wash from Flexo Wash. Amcor was not unsatisfied with their existing sleeve wash unit for one sleeve. But it simply could not keep up with the amount of sleeves that needed washing each day. Therefore Amcor decided to install the new development from Flexo Wash: The SL4V - a sleeve wash unit that simultaneously washes 4 print sleeves in only 10-15 minutes.
The SL4V is now installed at Amcor and according to Print Supervisor, Mogens Gloggengiehser the machine is working wonders for Amcor. At the Horsens plant Amcor daily washes between 60 and 80 sleeves. The majority of these sleeves are laser engraved sleeves, but also plates mounted on plate sleeves are quickly and efficiently washed in the unit.
Print Machine Washing
“Compared to having a wash unit for only one sleeve, we are today, with the SL4V, saving around 10 man hours per day", explains Gloggengiehser, "and the operator can now focus on other press-make-ready functions instead of washing."
When asked about comparing the SL4V with manual washing of the sleeves, Gloggengiehser replies: "We have always used automatic equipment to wash our sleeves and I can only imagine how many man hours could be saved by going from manual washing to the SL4V from Flexo Wash."
The Amcor Sleeves are taken to the washroom directly after printing, where they are cleaned within 2-3 hours before being left for storage. "In this way we always have 100% clean sleeves and we never have to worry about problems occurring from dirty sleeves", says Gloggengiehser and continues: "The 10 minute wash cycle fits our working routine very well and the flow of sleeves from printing to washing to storage works very well for us."
Of major machine benefits, Mogens Gloggengiehser mentions that the machine is extremely easy to operate: "Sleeves are very easily inserted in the unit, the doors are closed and the start button is activated. 15 minutes later the totally clean and dry sleeves can be taken directly to storage."
Gentle Cleaning
The gentle cleaning process using only cleaning liquid, water, soft brushes and air blow means that there are never risks of damaging the sleeves, which is also a crucial point at Amcor. Especially when compared to manual washing with solvents and brushes, where damages on the small "dots" of the plates, will occur if not handled extremely carefully.
Eco-Friendly Print Sleeve Cleaning
The ecological issue is also essential to Gloggengiehser: "At Amcor we are a green company and the working environment together with the surrounding environment is of great importance to us. Therefore we are very satisfied that the SL4V is fully automatic and uses eco-friendly cleaning liquid."
The SL4V Sleeve Wash from Flexo Wash is made of stainless steel material. The unique combination of liquid spraying, soft moving and rotating brushes together with water rinsing and air drying ensures a very gentle and efficient washing of the sleeves.
Special rubber cones tighten the sleeve ends and ensure that the inside of the sleeves are not exposed to cleaning liquid. These cones together with the vertical placing of the sleeves make it extremely easy to load the sleeves in the unit.
The unit is controlled by a PLC with a user-friendly operating panel, where different washing programmes can be chosen.
The Sleeve Wash is also available in a larger version for 6 sleeves, the SL6V.