MPS Automatic Process Control - Next generation
MPS fundamentally believes that today’s market place has an intrinsic need for automation in order to drive down the cost price per 1,000 labels, especially for short runs. MPS has therefore introduced Automatic Process Control (APC). APC stands for a no-nonsense automation for the most relevant parameters in the process of label production.
Under the APC umbrella three products are available;
1. APC-plate mounting
2. APC-print settings
3. APC-die cutting
APC-plate mounting
With the launch of the APC-plate mounting, MPS not only works on press automation, also on pre-press automation. High quality labels and optimal productivity require 100% accurate plate mounting. Mounting tolerance is max. ± 0.03 mm or ± 30 ?m (1,18 thou of an inch).
The plate mounter uses an optical measurement system to determine the exact position of the printing plate on the positioning table. It mounts the printing plate precisely and fully automatically on the printing cylinder.
Next to quality and accuracy the plate mounting process is judged as “boring”. With the new Automatic Plate Mounter (AMP) the plates are mounted on the cylinder fully automatically. No visual inspections are needed and results are spot on, regardless of who is operating the plate mounter.
The mounter can handle print cylinders and sleeves.
As a result, several printing machines can be operated with one single plate mounter.
Thanks to precise mounting, you benefit from higher printing quality and more efficiency in the printing process.
APC-print settings
APC-print settings stands for an automated servo control of the relevant press settings. These press settings are:
• Print sleeve; double positioning servo technology.
• Gap Control (material thickness); double positioning servo technology.
Advantages
The advantages of APC-print settings offer a whole new world of press opportunities.
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Automated loading of settings
Thanks to APC, press settings can be loaded completely automatically for: -
Initial jobs: press settings can be loaded automatically out of the press’ s calibration database.
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Repeat jobs: press settings are stored in the job memory. Meaning that with a repeat job, the different print settings are loaded automatically.
In this way, set up waste for both initial and repeat jobs are decreased dramatically. This makes APC-print settings a real must for today’s printing presses. -
2. Customized calibration
Servo motors need to be set to a starting point. This is called the calibration point. APC offers pressroom managers the unique possibility to calibrate the press themselves. It is now up to the pressroom manager to choose his or her calibration point, resulting in a perfect match to the desired working protocol. -
3. Improved print quality
With APC, the well known Crisp.Dot flexo printing quality of MPS presses has even been improved. With the extreme accurate servo positioning motors, press operators report a further increase of print quality at all print speeds.
APC-die cutting
The last step in label printing and converting inline has been automated as well. With the introduction of APC-die cutting the MPS engineers have automated the die cutting settings. High precision positioning servo technology take care of the perfect die cutting pressure for each die cutting design and for each self adhesive material.
With the use of job memory;
• Initial jobs: die cutting settings can be loaded automatically out of the press’ calibration database.
• Repeat jobs: die cutting settings are stored. Meaning that with a repeat job, the previous fine tuned die cutting settings will be loaded automatically.
iMatrix
MPS has developed a new way of matrix waste stripping and rewinding. iMatrix is the name of a new and tension controlled stripping system offered by MPS today. The iMatrix technology allows the press to die-cut and strip matrix at very high press speeds. Also when the label shape and/or material are very difficult to strip. Speeds have been reported up to 600 ft/min!
More info: www.mps4u.com