M-Tech Plastics of South Africa invests in advanced equipment for its flexible packaging operations

M-Tech Plastics based in Gauteng, Johannesburg, South Africa has invested in the latest converting equipment to enhance its fast-growing flexible packaging operations. "We've embarked on equipment purchases in line with our expansion plans," announced Barry Le Roux, Managing Director of M-Tech Plastics.

The latest investment consists of the newly installed Titan ER610 compact slitter rewinder, supplied in collaboration with Beswick Machinery, the local agent for Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd. in the UK. The company also plans to order a Nordmeccanica Super-Combi coater/laminator and a Rotomec ELS ten-colour gravure press, both scheduled for delivery in 2013.

The Titan ER610 is an affordable, high-performance slitter rewinder designed to run at a production speed of 450m/min and can handle a minimum 35mm slit width, with a rewind diameter of 610mm. The 1650mm web width machine installed at M-Tech Plastics also features an integral edge-trim extraction system and an integral shaftless unwind for a maximum 1000mm diameter roll. The pneumatically-controlled braking system provides accurate web tension control and a digital edge guide system controls lateral movement of the unwind reel. Also included is a high-speed HMI control system with a 10" touchscreen terminal, non-language symbols, compact flash memory and fault diagnostics.

The control system simplifies operation. Installation and operator training was carried out by qualified technicians and the ER610 is already having a very positive impact on quality and service to M-Tech's customers.

Established in 1990, M-Tech Plastics has evolved in to one of South Africa's leading converters of flexible plastic packaging materials. The company produces high quality gravure printed BOPP, PET, PVC, PE and paper, as well as duplex and triplex laminations. These include 5 layer co-extruded Nylon, EVOH, Nucrel & Surlyn barrier films which are all produced in line with ISO22000/HACCP quality and food safety management systems.