Universal Converting Equipment

FOR SALE - Atlas TS350 Turret Slitting Machine

2011-10-14T10:37:00.000+01:00

A new Siemens PLC controls the machine with a touch screen operator interface. A ConverterGuide 4 Digital guider has been fitted. This machine will outperform a lot of new machines. It has our latest ball lock differential shafts and our Computacore laser core alignment system making set up and changes very quick and easy.

The machine is 1300mm wide with a shafted unwind. Access to the knives is easy from the walkway between the unwind and the rewind. The machine has rotary shear knives and also razor slitting.

MACtac U.K. Ltd improve both quality and customer service by installing the latest highly automated X9 Slitter Rewinder from Ipswich based Universal Converting Equipment.

2011-09-27T11:12:00.001+01:00

Universal Converting Equipment have sold a highly automated duplex centre wind Slitter to Bemis group company, MACtac U.K. Ltd for use at their Northampton facility.

MACtac U.K. have a reputation for fast delivery of quality, label product, maintaining this requires periodic investment in emerging technologies.

“When the decision to invest in a new slitter rewinder was taken, our principle considerations were short run productivity and the capability to process label stock and some open adhesive substrates - The Universal X9 with its auto-knife setting, laser core-alignment, auto-roll offloading and automatic tension control (along with the Universal’s experience in handling label stock) made Universal’s X9 a clear contender in our procurement process. The more aspects of the converting process that we can automate, the better service and quality we can offer our customers.” says Rachel Barton of MACtac U.K.

“Working with our sister company Universal Adhesive Systems Limited has given us considerable experience in handling label stock and substrates with open adhesives. We applied our experience to ensure issues surrounding knife cleaning, web-path geometry and roller covering performance were minimised. Also the X9 features closed loop rewind tension (load cells) control as standard, this always gives superior results compares to equipment with open loop control.” says Universal Converting Equipment Technical Director Dave Ward.

Knife setting control panel

The transport that delivered the new Universal X9 also removed the redundant slitter, it was therefore essential that the new slitter was commissioned immediately and without problems. This was achieved and throughout the the commissioning phase not a single scrap roll was produced.

Operator assisting camera systems

More information - www.universalx9.co.uk

Lithium ion and solar cell manufacturers increasingly embracing web processes

2011-09-14T12:39:00.000+01:00

Universal Converting Equipment are exploiting their substantial knowledge in web-based manufacturing processes to facilitate customers’ development in emerging energy technologies.

Lithium Ion and Solar Cell manufacture are two fields enjoying exponential expansion and with such rapid expansion comes a greatly increased need for innovative manufacture processes. Universal’s extensive experience in developing new manufacture processes places the company in an increasingly strengthened position when it comes to assisting Lithium Ion and Solar Cell manufacturers in refining and improving product lines.

“Lithium Ion and Solar Cell technologies have proven themselves and are widely accepted by both manufactures and end-consumers as being ‘the way forward’. We specialise in integrating technologies such as web handling, tension control and coating, with other systems to provide a complete production cell offering an efficient and cost effective solution to the processes required to manufacture these emerging products. One of the challenges is reducing the manufacturing cost of these products to increase their acceptability.” says Managing Director Alan Jones.

Web guider goes touch screen

2011-08-30T13:11:00.002+01:00

Universal’s popular retro-fit edge, line and broken line guider the ‘Converter Guide 4’ (which has strengthened the company’s reputation for increasing machine efficiency through reducing waste and simplifying setup) is now fitted with a touch screen human interface as standard.

“When we spoke to customers about web guiding systems in general they told us that needlessly complex and overly comprehensive user-interfaces (from some third party suppliers) often led to stoppages, and excess waste. In response to this feedback we developed a touch screen system that prioritises the important functions, without hiding more infrequently used controls behind complex menu systems. Customers have responded extremely well to this development.” says Managing Director Alan Jones.

“In addition to having a very simple two-step setup process, the ‘Converter Guide 4’ has been designed to be simple enough for any customer with an in-house engineer to install themselves. This machine can make huge improvements to any machine anywhere’. says Technical Director Dave Ward.

Find out more about the Universal Digital Web Guide...

CCS Automatic Core Cutter

2009-11-16T08:47:00.004Z

Universal Converting Equipment have developed a range of core cutters to compliment its other converting equipment.

The machines have been developed to conform to the latest safety standards. Automatic and semi automatic operation makes them very simple to set up and use. The latest servo technology ensures precise cut lengths at high speed. The touch screen interface is used to set the required core lengths and numbers and the core cutter does the rest.

Features such as core wall thickness measurement, core length measurement, auto set up, combined 76mm and 152mm tooling are all available.

These core cutters have been designed for the quality conscious company who want a high productivity core cutter.

Slitter Rewinder Orders

2009-07-13T13:46:00.003+01:00

Despite the relative gloom in the converting industry, we continue to pick up orders for new slitting machines. At a time when everyone is looking to pay less for new machinery, we have sold two of our X9 high performance slitting machines. The output and quality gains from this machine mean that a fast pay back can be obtained justifying the purchase price. Both machines have gone to customers outside of the UK.

At the same time, sales of our low cost X7 slitting machine have also increased. This machine was designed as a quality machine, with high build quality but with a lower performance specification than the X9 allowing a lower selling price. It is ideal starter machine for converting companies.

These machines are part of a range of slitting machines produced by Universal Converting Equipment that also include the narrow width X3 slitting machine and the high speed X8 hot stamping foil slitter.

Upgraded Kampf Slitter Rewinder

2009-06-29T12:37:00.002+01:00

Universal have just completed the upgrade of a Kampf center wind slitting machine in the USA. The machine has been fitted with a new control system, new digital drives, differential rewind shafts and Computacore laser core alignment. The upgrade has made a huge improvement to the productivity of the machine with output increasing by more than 200%.

The machine was originally purchased to process thick material. However, as the needs of the business changed, it was required to process coated PET at less than 1mil thickness. The old control system was unable to control the material adequately. Since installation the quality of the rolls has improved, set up time reduced and machine running speed has increased.

The pay back on this investment will be very fast. The same improvements can be seen on other slitting machines. We offer all the technologies and more on our new slitting machines. We have also upgraded machines from Titan, Atlas, Kampf, Goebel, Ashe, Cameron, Elite Converting, Langston. Whether you have a center winder, centre surface, surface or two drum winder, we have a range of upgrade packages to greatly improve the productivity of your slitting machine.

Slitting Machine Upgrades

2009-06-02T11:46:00.004+01:00

Its been a busy week so far. Some optimism appears to be returning to the converting world. We have seen a large increase in the sale of upgrade systems. This may have been stimulated by the need to improve the productivity of existing machines as companies hold back from purchasing new machines.

The first step in improving slitting machine productivity and the quality of slit rolls is a machine condition report. One of our engineers uses a structured check list to test all aspects of a slitting machine including bearing conditions, roller coverings, drive set ups with the result being a detailed condition report on your slitter rewinder. On completion, a remedial programme of work is agreed. Where possible, our engineer corrects faults as they are found. Part of this programme can be improved training.

Every week our engineers come across machines which used to run at 450m/min and now operate at 200m/min. This is normal the result of poor maintenance and poor training. To correct this aspects is relatively low cost so the pay back is extremely quick.

Once you slitter rewinder is running at its original speed, you then find that it is stopped for half of its life due to the time required for roll changes and job set ups. We have developed a number of systems that help with both:

Core alignment system - Computacore (video shown on previous blogs). Reduces core setting time and improves accuracy of positioning.
Automatic Knife Positioning - Greatly reduces set up time for shear slitting. Systems are also available for razor slitting
Closed Loop Tension Control - To obtain good quality rolls, you need good tension control. Our Total Tension Control System uses closed loop control of unwind and rewind tensions to give you the ultimate in tension control
Ball Chuck Differential Shafts. We have fitted these to a wide range of converting machinery including most make of slitting machine. When combined with the core alignment system, set up times are minimised.
New Drive and Controls. A lot of the older slitting machines were very well built but their control systems are obsolete and lack many of the features of new machines. Adding a new drive and control system onto a slitter rewinder can give it another 20 years of life. We have standard systems for center wind slitters, surface wind slitters, centre surface slitter rewinders and two drum winders.
ConverterGuide 4 Web Guiding System. Most web guiding systems are complicated to set up and can cause significant down time if not set correctly. Our system is as simple as we could make it yet very fast and precise in operation. If hydraulics are used for the existing system, these can be removed and replaced with an electric actuator. No more drips of hydraulic oil contaminating the material.

Hot Melt Coating Linerless Labels

2009-05-22T07:54:00.007+01:00

Hot melt coating is now widely used to produce pressure sensitive labels. The traditional method of printing pre-manufactured label stock is now being attacked by printers who want to produce their own label stock in-line on the printing press. This can be achieved by adding a hot melt coating station onto the print press. The coating unit applies pressure sensitive hot melt adhesive or other types of hot melt adhesive only to the areas requiring adhesive. This means that the adhesive can be applied in stripes or patches. This can increase efficiency and also allow special products to be manufactured with, for example, print underneath the adhesive.

In the last five years there has been a growing trend to reducing packaging waste. As a result, there has been a growth in the use of linerless labels - when the labels are applied there is no liner to throw away. Universal Converting Equipment has worked with Universal Adhesive Systems and ITW Dynatec to develop a solution for this market. Special coating technology is used to apply up to 16 narrow stripes of adhesive onto materials up to 600mm wide. Fast change die design allows the coating pattern to be change in a matter of minutes whilst still achieving precise coat weights.

The Universal hot melt coating system can be built into existing equipment or supplied as a complete coating line with in-line silicone coating, slitting and turret rewinding. For the label printer, more of the product added value is in their hands and once the technology is installed it opens up the possibility of other new product areas. Hot melt coated linerless labels are now a significant part of the printed label market.

Computacore Laser Core Alignment Order

2009-05-21T17:25:00.003+01:00

Since we started putting video of some of our products on YouTube we have started to recieve more enquiries. We had a potential customer find our Computacore laser core alignment system video. After the exchange of a few comments and then some emails, his boss has just place an order with us for a Computacore system to go onto a Titan SR6 slitter rewinder. The system should be installed at the end of next week. The wonders of new technology.

More details on this system can be found in earlier blogs or on our web site. We have a range of upgrade systems for converting machinery including slitting machines, slitter rewinders, winders, coating and laminating machines.

Converting Machinery Upgrades

2009-05-21T11:44:00.004+01:00

Universal Converting Equipment has been involved in the design and manufacture of converting machinery for many years. Initially, Universal built drive and control panels for converting machinery. These control systems were sold to manufacturers of converting machinery and to end users to upgrade their existing machines. The typical converting machines were centre wind slitting machines, center surface slitter rewinders, surface driven slitters and winders, two drum winders, coating machines and laminating machines.

More recently, Universal moved into the manufacture of slitting machines, producing a high performance machine and a low cost machine, rewinding machines, hot melt coating machines and hot melt laminating machines.

The interest from our customers in upgrading machines has increased considerably in the last few months as budgets for new machines have been cut back. As a company, we have the expertise to take on a wide range of projects from small projects like adding a new guider or tension control systems, to new drive and control systems and then to a complete mechanical and electrical upgrade.

In recent weeks we have taken orders for drive and control upgrades for Titan slitting machines, Kampf slitting machines and a Dusenbery slitter rewinder. We have also fitted several core alignment systems in conjunction with new differential rewind shafts. As the cost is low compared to new converting machines, the payback is very fast - just what is needed when the economy has slowed down.

Two Drum Winder Upgrade

2009-05-21T08:18:00.003+01:00

We have just installed a new drive and control system on a Cameron two drum winder. The base machine was over 30 years old but was very solidly built and the customer didn't want to scrap the machine. Installing the new drive and control system has made a huge difference to the performance and the safety of the machine. The machine will run at 1500m/min using closed loop control of tensions and rider roll pressure to ensure rolls of the correct density are produced every time.

A recipe system has improved consistency of product and a record of setting used for every set of rolls is saved within the system. At the same time the safety systems on the machine were upgraded to conform to the latest standards.

We have completed similar upgrades to two drum winders from Cameron, Jagenberg and Masson Scott machines. This is part of a range of drive and control upgrades we have for slitting machines used for slitting and rewinding paper, plastic films and other materials. The upgrades to machines from companies such as Titan, Atlas, Dusenbery, Cameron and several others complement to new slitter rewinders that we produce.

Universal X8 Foil Slitter Rewinder Off-Loading Rolls

2009-05-20T15:31:00.000+01:00

X8 Foil Slitter Rewinder

2009-05-20T14:25:00.001+01:00

Universal X8 Foil Slitter running hot stamping foil at 700m/min.

TS350 Turret Slitting Machine

2009-05-14T07:58:00.005+01:00

We have a fully refurbished TS350 Turret slitting machine available for sale. It has been mechanically refurbished including new bearings and new roller coverings. A new drive system has been added with SSD drives. A new Siemens PLC controls the machine with a touch screen operator interface. A ConverterGuide 4 Digital guider has been fitted. This machine will outperform a lot of new machines. It has our latest ball lock differential shafts and our Computacore laser core alignment system making set up and changes very quick and easy.

The machine is 1300mm wide with a shafted unwind. Access to the knives is easy from the walkway between the unwind and the rewind. The machine has rotary shear knives and also razor slitting.

Call us for a quote +44 1473 403333
or mail us info@universalconvertingequipment.com

Below are some pictures:

Computacore with razor and core positioning

2009-05-13T17:53:00.004+01:00

Another video showing the core positioning system in action has been added to YouTube. This time it shows the system on one of our slitting machines. As well as indicating the correct position for the cores, it also shows the correct position for the razor blades. Setting up is so simple.

Budget Price Slitting Machine

2009-05-11T22:02:00.004+01:00

Universal has launched a range of budget priced slitting machines under the name Universal X7. These machines are built to a budget price but they are not built cheaply. Prices start at £60,000 for a 1300mm wide machine with 610mm rewind diameter and a running speed of 300m/min. There are a range of options to add to the machine.

If you are looking for a new machine but you have a restricted budget give us a call on +44 1473 403333 or contact us through the web site. Click here for the enquiry form.

Computacore Laser Core Alignment

2009-05-11T21:34:00.005+01:00

We now have some video of the Computacore system on You Tube.

Universal X9 Update

2008-11-17T22:54:00.003Z

The technology used in the Universal X9 slitter rewinder has been developed over many years. The closed loop tension control system ensures that the rewind tension control is precise as it can be. Data logging records set tensions and actual tensions so you have proof that your most valuable product - the finished rolls you send to your customer - have been wound to the correct tensions.

The X9 integrates a range of technologies to automate the following functions:

Unwind tension control
Guider eye positioning
Shear knife positioning
Rewind tension control
Core positioning

Set up time is minimised and control over the quality of the finished product is maximised.

Universal have used this technology to develop its hot melt coaters and hot melt laminators. Precise control of tension and other machine conditions is vital when hot melt coating or hot melt laminating. All the technologies required to build a class leading slitting machine are incorporated into the hot melt adhesive coating systems.

Many of the technologies are also available as upgrades for existing machines. These include:

Computacore laser core alignment
ConverterGuide Digital 4 Web Guiding
Computaslit automatic knife positioning
Closed Loop Tension Control
Shaftless Unwind
Differential Rewind

Universal are moving the technology forward at a pace for those who have products that require the best.

Slitter Rewinder

2008-11-14T16:54:00.001Z

High performance X9 slitter rewinder has taken the lead in performance terms over other types of slitting machines. It runs fast with Total Control of web tension.