Coveris partners with Alphasonics for anilox cleaning

Coveris, the UK’s leading label business and one of the world’s largest packaging companies, have chosen Alphasonics UCS Ltd. as the recommended partner for anilox cleaning across their UK label sites. With the aim of ensuring quality delivery and faster make ready times, ten systems have been installed across three sites, with a view to expanding the portfolio to forty machines in the near future.

With Coveris’ vast printing and finishing capabilities across multiple sites, cleanliness of the aniloxes and reduction of ink waste is an imperative requirement. After extensive cleaning trials at Coveris’ Cramlington site, Alphasonics were selected due to the quality and evenness of cleaning, alongside the guarantee of zero roll damage. Furthermore, it was found that with a regular cleaning regime in place using Alphasonics, two rolls are cleaned simultaneously in less than 3 minutes.

The trials were overseen by Site Manager, Andy Hedley at Coveris’ Cramlington site. When commenting on the process of choosing Alphasonics, he said, “From day one, Alphasonics were our preferred choice for cleaning systems. We set quite stringent targets which they were able to achieve. The technology’s ability to allow us to minimise waste and enhance our colour management which came through loud and clear in our trials. We want to ensure we consistently deliver industry leadings quality standards, and Alphasonics and their equipment will give us exactly what we need.’

The installation consists of ten ‘Melanie’ benchtop systems from Alphasonics, which have been specially adapted to include standalone rinsing and support stations, as well as an adapted drive mechanism.

Alphasonics say the combination of their ‘Active Cavitation’, ‘Supersweep’ and ‘Alphasound’ technologies the rolls are rendered 100% clean, 100% of the time. This technology framework delivers improved make ready; greatly reduced waste; eradicates over-pigmentation of inks; enhances print production quality and allows for easy anilox inventory management.