Comexi's Innovative Technology Enables Wipak UK to Provide More Sustainable Solutions

11 February 2022

The innovative technology of Comexi, a global supplier of solutions for the flexible packaging printing and converting sector, translates into significant benefits for its customers. Wipak UK, a company specialising in the production of sophisticated, high barrier films for food products, has purchased a Comexi S1 DT slitter with double-sided laser scoring. The new capabilities resulting from this investment will allow the family-owned company to further develop its sustainable packaging portfolio.

Ramon Jonama, the Comexi Area Manager for the United Kingdom region, explains that this "innovative technology patented" by the company not only allows “for saving costs regarding the addition of labels,” but simultaneously makes “the perforation laser on both sides of the film. This
results in cost reduction, plastic savings, and increased productivity.” The S1 DT slitter, which is already in operation at Wipak UK’s site in Welshpool (Powys, Wales), is one of the few machines installed around the world that can perform these sophisticated applications.

Andrew Newbold, Wipak UK’s Managing Director, comments that the inclusion of this machine in Wipak’s largest project investment in the United Kingdom, which was announced in 2020, is key to the production of packaging that has a low carbon footprint, contains recycled content and is kerbside recyclable. He further explains that Comexi was chosen as the supplier due to its technical expertise and track record of supplying machines for the wider Wipak Group.

The Comexi S1 DT, with laser in-line, is a slitter which provides excellent results in both quality and productivity, even in regard to the most demanding jobs, due to its state-of-the-art control elements and high degree of automation. Cores, knives, laser heads, photocells, and almost
every adjusting element of the machine are self-calibrating, as a result of an extremely interactive and easy-going user interface. This unique automation of the Comexi S1 DT gives the operator, without the need to intervene, the possibility to load the reel into the machine and deliver finished reels.

The turreted version of the Comexi S1 DT is capable of performing jobs which require a large number of output reels, and is also able to work with the thickest materials used in the flexible packaging market, including aluminium, wax, and other special or complex materials on the
market. Furthermore, this machine includes Comexi’s laser module. This system allows every converter to run any imaginable flexible packaging laser, including easy open, micro-perforations, windows, resealable, and a long etcetera list. Comexi's in-line laser patented systems facilitate
subsequent applications and processes, increasing productivity, capacity and customer benefits.

The Comexi S1 DT allows for a high degree of customisation, as well as many automated options, such as splicing tables, automatic reel unloading, video camera inspection, and label robotization of finished reels, thus fully guaranteeing complete system control and an exceptional increase in productivity.

Wipak UK is part of the Wipak Group, a Finnish global supplier of premium quality, sustainable, and innovative flexible packaging solutions for food, medical devices, and pharmaceutical products. Çomexi began its relationship with the company, which has 11 manufacturing plants
across Europe, in 2005 with the acquisition of the first Comexi slitter. The purchase of other laminators and slitters has subsequently strengthened the confidence between the two companies.

About Comexi – www.comexi.com
Comexi, founded in 1954, has extensive experience in manufacturing equipment for the flexible packaging conversion industry. As a world leader, it operates five product lines, each specialized in a different conversion process: flexography printing, offset printing, laminating, slitting, and digital services. Furthermore, it has a Service and Technical Assistance Business Unit that offers service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The company has two production plants: one in Riudellots de la Selva (Girona, Spain) and another one in Montenegro, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). There are also two offices in Miami (USA) and Moscow (Russia). Moreover, Comexi is represented in more than 100 countries. This commercial network allows us to have proximity to our customers in order to optimally respond to their needs.

Comexi includes the Manel Xifra Boada Technological Centre, Comexi CTec, where the company provides support and shares its knowledge with various groups involved in the flexible printing industry process.

For further information:
Jesús Navarro – (+34) 677 489 237 – jesus.navarro.ext@comexi.com
Jorge Serra – (+34) 972 477 744 – jorge.serra@comexi.com