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Returning to the picturesque town of Harrogate in North Yorkshire is always a pleasure but I had to admit to a degree of uncertainty surrounding the newly focused North Print and Pack show. I needn't have worried however, as despite a rather slow first day, the number of visitors steadily increased and both the second and third days saw the D&K stand generally busy with an increase over the 2011 show of around 10%.
The show saw the debut of 2 new D&K laminators to the D&K range, both derived from existing models.
First was the Europa EL, based on the award winning Europa. The EL adds an inline heated embossing unit which can be turned on and off at the flick of a switch and this drew much general interest at the show.
Second was the Jupiter 35L, a landscape version of the standard 35m/minute portrait version. Over and above the Jupiter 35's standard specification, which includes a high pile Feeder and Jogger at the delivery, the Jupiter 35L adds an air shaft mandrel to speed film roll changes.
Feeding the sheets in the same way as when they are printed means that the gripper edge is always clean, even in the event of the sheet being sealed. In this respect there is minimal issue with film roll-back and laminated sheets lay flatter; a benefit for any subsequent automated finishing processes.
The Jupiter 35L is also a clear winner when it comes to productivity on the larger sheet sizes of SRA2 and B2, where around 40% more sheets can be laminated per hour by feeding landscape.
I doubt that the sounds of big multicolour litho presses running at full speed will ever be heard at the show again but I hope that the increasing sounds of customer footfall and exhibitor satisfaction means that we will all be back to do it again in 2015.
John Hancock
Sales Manager, UK & Ireland
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