In the 10 years since Maxteq opened its doors, the Melbourne-based supplier has established a stellar reputation for offering a complete range of solutions for virtually any label or flexible packaging challenge. Now, with several of the company’s principals releasing new products at Labelexpo, the company’s range is set to expand even further.
Maxteq has built its growing product range with care and careful research to ensure it represents outstanding quality, is supported by strong R&D programs and is aligned to the company’s social, ethical and environmental values.
This has led to partnerships with leading manufacturers including Nilpeter, Grafotronic, BST, Lundberg Tech, Ecograph, AfiniaLabel and NeuraLabel, on technologies that range from presses, finishing and embellishment solutions, to consumables like doctor blades, with the company garnering a growing installation base across Australia and New Zealand.
For Andrew Maxwell, a 30+ year veteran of the packaging industry, the anticipation of adding new products to that range is as fresh as ever. That excitement is evident in his voice as we chat to him about the new product releases at Labelexpo, where Marketing Manager Bess Maxwell and Project Coordinator Stuart Williams represented the company.
Leading those releases was the latest press technology from Nilpeter including the FA-17 (450 mm) and wider FA-26 (670mm web width presses) which offer outstanding performance for short-run production of labels and flexible packaging. Nilpeteralso showed a combined press integrating flexo printing units from the FA-Line with the advanced Screen Truepress
“The FA-17 has been a key component of the renowned NilpeterFA-Line for some time and this updated model features a number of advances, including Digital Shadow technology, capturing crucial data on usage, performance and maintenance needs,” Andrew observes.
“But it’s the new FA-26 which created more excitement. A compact, robust machine, it features a unique landscape design that expands customisation opportunities to meet a wide variety of print requirements. It can handle a wide range of flexible substrates and self-adhesive label materials, using water-based or solvent inks, and the choice of UV, LED and E-beam processes in any combination, and multiple drying and curing options –always with precise register for the highest quality printing at any speed.”
Grafotronic, which Maxteq added to its portfolio just 18 months ago, also promoted its latest releases, including the DCL2 Haptic – a quality, precision embellishment solution ideal for high-end applications like wine labels, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and technology products.
“The fully-modular 355mm DCL2 can be configured with high-speed flatbed screen printing, hot stamping, foiling and embossing; holographic films; die-cutting; flexo printing and varnishing, lamination and cold foil, and more,” he says. “We have already seen a number of significant installations of Grafotronic solutions recently, including fully automatic dual-beam laser die-cutting systems, with more to come. The DCL2, together with nine other new releases for a total of 10 machines on the LabelExpo stand, is sure to increase the popularity of the brand.”
Andrew is quick also to mention the BST range of cameras, inspection systems and web guiding systems. “We have been partnering with BST for some time, and their 100% and surface inspection systems, solutions for colour management and colour control, and web guiding systems are the industry standard – and they can easily be retrofitted to any press, slitter/rewinder or, in fact, any roll-to-roll processing system, to provide superior quality control at an affordable price.”
Complementing the production equipment are other, critical solutions like desktop digital printers from Afinia Label and NeuraLabel, which allow the production of high-quality, short-run labels using either dye or pigmented ink.
“Desktop printers offer great value and a ‘foot in the door’ to new markets,” Andrew explains. “At Labelexpo, visitors wereable to also see the new Afinia Label X350 digital roll-to-roll press, which is under a metre square and markets in this region for under AUD150, but offers 1600 dpi quality print in speeds up to 28 m/min, providing a great option for transitioning from desktop to mid-scale production.”
While waste management often gets less attention than the printing and converting equipment, Andrew says the ability to efficiently and economically deal with trim and matrix extraction can significantly reduce waste volumes and lead to higher productivity and profitability.
“The Lundberg Tech range of waste-extraction systems for label converting ensures smooth handling of self-adhesive label waste for maximum productivity and convenient, cost-effective waste handling, and they had their latest on show at Labelexpo also.”
Andrew says there’s no need to wait for an expo to explore the right solution for your business.
“Our team of product specialists can not only provide the information and advice businesses need to select the right solution for even the most demanding applications, but the technical expertise and service support to ensure it delivers the very best value, long-term,” he says.
“Whether it’s an international corporation, or a small boutique business, the Maxteq promise is the same: The right solution, in the right way and always with the right support.”
