Richmond, B.C.-based Flexstar Packaging has installed the first MIRAFLEX S flexographic press from Windmoeller & Hoelscher (W&H) in North America. The press has been in full operation since November 2015.

“We have wide-web presses at Flexstar,” says Flexstar president Marc Bray. “The MIRAFLEX S is a narrow to mid-web press that complements the machinery we have and is able to reliably tackle any kind of job we need to run, regardless of size or if the job is a PET, OPP or thin-gauge PE application.”

Bray adds that the company is benefiting from the Flexo ControI Insetter feature, which has increased the productivity on matte finish applications.

The MIRAFLEX S was designed to facilitate quick job changes for narrow- to mid-web jobs. The trusted TURBOCLEAN wash-up system cleans all decks within 3.5 minutes so changeovers take just minutes. Another benefit of the press is the reduction of waste, with as little as 75 feet of substrate from unwind to rewind. Repeats range from 10 to 31.5 inches.

The press was part of a larger expansion undertaken by Flexstar. The company recently added 32,000 square feet of space for increased warehousing and specialty converting applications. The addition will also house an innovation center. Other equipment acquired by Flexstar includes a third laminator, a third pouch machine and a wide-web laser scoring unit.

As a part of Flexstar’s commitment to long-term social responsibility, the company is working on a regenerative thermal oxidizer to eliminate VOC emissions. A heat exchanger will capture energy for plant heating and specialty lamination applications requiring hot room curing. The project is scheduled for completion in fall 2016, making Flexstar the first flexible packaging converter in Western Canada with this technology.

Flexstar Packaging
(604) 273-9277; www2.flexstar.ca