RK IMSP-350 Intermittent Printing & Die Cutting Machine, 1 to 12 Colour

A short run of labels usually needs two machines: a press to print the roll and a die cutter to cut it. Between the two sit a roll change, a second set-up and a second operator. For printers who run many small jobs, that handling time costs more than the machines.

The RK IMSP-350 puts both jobs on one machine. A flexo printing unit, available from 1 to 12 colours, sits in front of the die cutting unit, so plain stock is printed and then cut in one pass with the print and the cut registered to each other. The cutting section is the RK IMS intermittent die cutting machine, which switches between semi rotary and full rotary modes.

An intermittent machine moves the web forward in exact steps instead of running it continuously. The step length is entered on the screen, so the repeat is not tied to the size of a cylinder. One common teeth magnetic cylinder, in 120 or 150 teeth, carries a flexible die that is changed for each job, and cuts any repeat from 25 to 250 mm. In semi rotary mode the cylinder cuts repeats from 20 to 80 percent of its circumference; in full rotary mode it turns through its whole circumference for each cut.

Half cut (kiss cut) cuts the label and leaves the liner whole, so labels rewind as a roll. Full cut cuts right through, so finished pieces travel on the long and short vacuum conveyors for collection. A re-pass print mark scanner reads the mark on pre-printed rolls, so rolls printed elsewhere can be cut in register too. Unwind and rewind take rolls up to 600 mm diameter on 3 inch air shafts, and the machine runs at 100 to 150 strokes a minute.

RK Label Printing Machinery Pvt. Ltd. has built label and packaging converting machines in Ahmedabad, Gujarat since 1995 and exports to 23+ countries including the USA, UAE, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.