Notes from Labelexpo 2023

The trade fair is the ultimate meeting place, and Labelexpo wanted to be a special place for Prati to meet everyone, not only customers and distributors but also those who have been with them throughout their first 50 years of history. The key to this success was the finishing and inspection technology for printed rolls and packaging, available in multiple models, which allowed Prati to establish a global presence.

By Daniela Binario

There were many moments that will become memories… starting with the Prati party, organized on September 12th in their own 400 m2 booth to celebrate the 50th anniversary with good food, wine, and live music. During a “finishing tour”, Prati also met with the press and celebrated this milestone with those who, in various ways, contributed to building their history. This included founder Pietro Prati, who laid the foundation in Marradi in 1973 and, although not physically present, was there through memories of journalists who had met him in the past and a video wall that showcased his smiles alongside those of the remaining collaborators in Faenza, in a series of images that marked the days at the fair. In short, the entire Prati team was there to celebrate this moment!

Live Technology
Here is what generated the most interest among the seven exhibited machines:

DIGIFASTone – A fully digital finishing line for both printed rolls and die-cutting, it was successful due to its versatility. It works with a wide range of materials with thicknesses ranging from 12 to 350 microns, including self-adhesive labels, clear-on-clear labels, wrap-around labels, shrink sleeves, plastic films, and unsupported paper and plastic materials. Furthermore, thanks to its fully automated setup without the use of flexible dies, magnetic cylinders, cliché rolls and anilox rollers it allows for reduced operating costs.

DIGIFAST20000 – Designed to integrate with HP Indigo 200K printing machines, and not only, it can perform various types of finishing, from varnishing to total or selective printing, from decoration to finishing works on both rolls and sheets for additional processes. Its innovative feature, the JetFx unit, which applies spot varnishing in perfect print register on the reel, in combination with the lamination unit, has impressed many. It increases productivity, reduces setup costs and times, making it ideal for a wide range of applications in flexible packaging.

SATURN Omnia – An “all-in-one” finishing solution that amazed with its extreme flexibility. It can perform multiple processing steps on a single line: from roll to roll, from roll to sheet, and from roll to stack. The audience appreciated it also because it allows the production of wet glue labels without the need to invest in new sheet-fed equipment. Among the novelties, the possibility of semi-rotary die-cutting was highly requested.

JUPITER – A converting line with Wide Modular control that offers maximum safety, defect-free quality, and modularity for flawless inspection of labels and flexible packaging. Chosen for its high speed (up to 400 m/min) and wide web width (670 mm), it only stops to allow the elimination or correction of predetermined defects. It can handle various materials from 20 to 350 µm with three different rewinding tensions for unsupported films, self-adhesive labels, and “clear-on-clear” labels.

DIGICOMPACT – The epitome of ergonomics, in just three meters of space, it can perform traditional and digital finishing on all materials (from roll to roll, from roll to sheet, from roll to stack). It is increasingly in demand due to the rise in digitally printed labels. The flexo unit is suitable for spot printing and varnishing. Equipped with a low-energy cold UV curing system, it does not require chillers.

SATURN Bidi – Safety is the keyword for this table for control and inspection of digitally printed labels in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical sectors. Thanks to its bidirectional configuration, it ensures 100% quality control, certifying “0” defects in printing, counting and cutting precision. During the fair, an Australian customer purchased their third SATURN!

VEGA+ BKL & STAR+ – An offline production line for booklet labels, VEGA+ BKL, combined with the glueless rewinder STAR+, has garnered significant success among traditional companies seeking solutions to increase profit and productivity. It is appreciated for its high level of automation and efficiency. At the fair, it was running at a speed of 250 m/min, achieving a real production of Raining Labels, resulting in over 10,000 rolls of self-adhesive labels in just four days, equivalent to 12 pallets ready for shipment to the healthcare sector. This further confirms Prati’s commitment to the environment by avoiding material waste solely for the fair demonstrations.

LIGHTNESS AT THE FAIR – In addition to the machines, Prati also aimed to bring a sense of lightness by selecting 101 thoughts from various famous authors. Based on the assumption that nothing happens “by chance,” each guest could “draw” a phrase and discover what message the universe had in store for them at that moment. This initiative was highly successful, with several people, after reading their own “thought of lightness,” drawing another one to share with their loved ones, while others immediately shared the content via their mobile phones.

What about behind the scenes?
In addition to the faces encountered and agreements signed at the fair, each edition is archived in the company’s stories also for what was experienced “off the spotlight.” In various moments of conviviality, smiles are taken home, and previously unknown talents are discovered, not only among colleagues or collaborators but also within oneself.

How can we forget the dinner organized by Prati on September 13th at the Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo, located in the heart of Brussels? It was not just a dinner to celebrate the 50th anniversary with business partners but also a way – with the beauty of the setting and the excellence of the food – to personally thank each one of them. Among those present were QLM, Rodden Graphics, Saprograf, Digital y flexo, Prati USA, Letra Graphix Pvt Ltd, Royal Coat, Printech ME, Performance Packaging, Raining Labels, In-print out, FPE, GPS, and Kisscut.

And to conclude, a surprise
“Somebody” (who knows who), while walking through the streets of the city center, overheard some Prati employees saying, “Guys, how nice would it be to visit the Atomium?” And so, on the evening of September 14th, the Prati team, those who had held on until that moment, some with tired voices, some with spare shoes in their bags, gathered to have dinner at the most picturesque restaurant in Brussels, offering enchanting views from its spheres.

Chiara, Annalisa… you have fulfilled a dream. A heartfelt thank you from your Super Team!